|  | The rains continued and the summer of 2004 proved 
      to be one of the wettest in history --  a good year to establish a 
      garden. I kept planting to fill in the empty spots --  rudbeckia, 
      autumn joy, purple jew, perennial lantana, verbena and quite a few 
      portulaca to give some color to the front bed. |  |  |  |