“It’s just spring having a tantrum,” she said. “It’ll be over in ten minutes.”

The real spectacle began when the jacarandas along the creek started to bloom. It wasn’t just a tree turning purple; it was a detonation of violet so intense it hurt to look at. The blossoms fell like confetti onto the still, brown water, and Lila spent hours trying to catch the blue-tongue lizards that sunned themselves on the warm rocks, drunk on the warmth after their long, cold sleep.

“Nanna, there are bees everywhere!” she exclaimed, her eyes wide.

She was right. As quickly as it came, the storm passed. The sun re-emerged, setting the wet, shattered gum leaves on fire with diamond light. They went outside to find a double rainbow arcing over the barn, and the sweet, petrichor smell of rain on baked earth.