Wet California Winter

Santa Rosa Plum Bud Break - February 12, 2017

It's been a beautifully wet winter in California.  Some moan and whine.  I delight in the rare, rich rain.  Dormant spraying failed this winter as opportunities conflicted with rain events.  Today, fruit buds are swelling with the leader of the pack, Santa Rosa, breaking today.  The buds are plentiful; so when the winds come - and they will come- there should still be enough strong fruit to develop and enjoy in June.

Cherry tomato from the 2016 season.

Cherry tomatoes from the 2016 season continue to produce.  Even though the quality isn't premium like in mid summer; there are still cherry tomatoes on the sheltered side of a plant.  They can be smashed up with some peppers that are still hanging on for some fresh salsa.  It's time to pull the thing out and make way for a bed of beets.

Waltham 29 Broccoli

Broccoli was planted in late summer from seed.  I simply threw the seeds out and walked away.  Remarkably, every single seed germinated providing an abundance of produce.  It's already starting to bolt.  The cauliflower started with such promise; but the rain spoiled it.  Only enjoyed one head of cauliflower.  Sad!

Iceberg Rose

Little to no maintenance has been preformed on the roses yet this year.  They should have been pruned and sprayed by now; but, again, weather has re-directed garden efforts to thumbing through seed catalogs indoors.  When the sun does shine, weeds grow to Jack and the Beanstalk size.  No lie.  This afternoon, Ajax and I tackled weeds.  Tomorrow morning may erase all our efforts.

Regardless of this wonderful bounty of winter rain, I must ask Californians to continue to conserve water.  Get used to it.  It's a way of life.  This bounty is going towards replacing the debt from the drought years.  Thanks for doing your part.

Hands in the Earth

"Cultivators of the earth are the most valuable citizens. They are the most vigorous, the most independent, the most virtuous, and they are tied to their country and wedded to its liberty and interests by the most lasting bonds. As long, therefore, as they can find employment in this line, I would not convert them into mariners, artisans, or anything else." --Thomas Jefferson

In the past few days, the San Joaquin Valley has had wonderful, steady rain.  At times it came down hard.  Sometimes it turned to hail.  Mostly, it was simply steady and sweet.  The earth is soft and rich and easy to work.  Weeds slip out without a fight.  Root crops slide out without breaking.  This is the best time in the garden.  Everything from puttering (my favorite) to hard labor is a bit more enjoyable after this latest wash.

Some baby onions were pulled for the kitchen and some worn out heads of lettuce were removed to the composter in anticipation of sowing onion seeds.  Green onions are easy to grow but whenever green onions are needed in the kitchen, I grab any variety of onion seed that has sprouted and needs a little thinning.  Bunching, red, yellow, or brown onions all work well.  I don't even remember what variety is pictured above because I did such a poor job of labeling the rows this past fall.

Same with the labelling for the carrots.  Don't know the variety of these twisted carrots; but they will be cooked up tomorrow with many more of the same along with some peas and onions for Sunday dinner.

The heat is on the way; but until then I'll enjoy the cool of the snow up in the surrounding mountains and the soft, sweet soil to work for the hardy summer garden.

Frosted Scotch

Frost formed on the Scotch Moss this morning.  Thank goodness.  More freezing weather is good for the fruit trees.  Well, not so good for the citrus trees.  Citrus is covered on super cold nights (in the 20s) using a beach umbrella draped in plastic.  It’s easy up and easy down.

Now that the freezer door is open, California needs some moisture in the form of snow up in the high Sierras.  Many are getting nervous that the hopes of another bountiful water year will be dashed.  I’m hopeful but practical.  The garden is equipped with water saving irrigation.  Nothing radical – just practical.  I’m ready either way. 

You know I’m just happy to not be wearing swamp pants.  And that’s the truth.

Mamas’ Day

Mamas’ Day was great.  The morning started early out in the garden finishing the tomato supports.  It was cool and breezy.  It was so cool I had to grab an extra shirt.  Excellent.  I snagged an onion for dinner and strawberries for a big bowl of fruit salad.  Notice the dust on the strawberry leaves.  A change is coming. I would loved to have tied the twine to the tomato supports and started planting the tomatoes; but my back had different plans.  Stooping over or bending was not in the plans.  I went to the kitchen to get some “upright” work done. The clouds began to roll in.  I had to change to sweat pants and a sweater.  Lovely.  The wind started to blow.  When the rain came some windows had to get shut. Sweet rain.  My babies probably ordered the weather just for me.  They’re good that way.  I really don’t mind that there was one tragedy due to the storm. It was a nice Mamas’ Day.

Sweet Rain

Brussels Sprouts – Long Island Improved

Lemon – Variegated Pink

Rose -  Pope John Paul II

Pansy - ?

Pansy – Mammoth Red

Grapefruit – Rio Red

Sweet Peas – Royal Blue?

Apricot – Blenheim  This is the 2nd fruit tree to bloom following the Santa Rosa Plum.

What Happens When It Rains

After a recent storm, I went out to inspect the garden to survey for damages.  Fortunately, there wasn’t any and everything was freshly washed with rain.  The sun was out bright and strong in a clear, blue sky.  Something in the gravel caught my eye. Maybe it’s because my glasses were on the stool, but I couldn’t quite see what the heck it was.  Can you see it?  It’s that little white dot in the middle of the photo.  I had to get a bit closer. Perhaps it was a balloon that had drifted over the garden wall and disintegrated.  It was mostly white with some bright colors spreckled in.  Is spreckled even a word?  You know what I mean.  Closer.  I needed to get even closer to figure this out. I’m on my knees now.  Is it a wadded up balloon?  I just can’t tell. It’s some kind of 101 Dalmatians toy doohickey thing-a-ma-bob.  How did it even get here?  I’ll never know.  Probably a crow had it and, while flying over the garden, chose to unload it’s burden. Now, whatever it is is sitting by the garlic chives.  The storm brought about another question that I’ve had for some time. Why and how do worms wriggle up concrete steps only to dry out in the sun and leave a mess?

Rain is expected to continue on through the weekend which makes it great weather for Super Bowl Sunday.

Here Comes the Sun – Doot-N-Do-Do-Do

No rain this morning; but evidence of its visit lingers.

The broccoli is only leaning slightly to the south…not as bad as I thought it would be.

Bienvenido a El Nino!

It’s been raining for days around here!  It’s rained so much that my broccoli is starting to fall over.  And I don’t care.  I’ll take the rain and snow (in the Sierras) any day.  These storms are needed terribly.  Maybe I can get out to take some photos soon. For now, I’ll just enjoy hibernating.

Wind, Dirt, and Drizzle

  

California finally received some rain.  My part of California received wind and dust.  Yuck.  We were warned that there would be heavy rain and wind.  The rain amounted to a heavy drizzle or mist.  Big deal.  And this “storm” was a tropical storm so it was humid.  Double yuck.

 

The plants enjoyed the mist and humidity.

Radishes

The radishes are breaking through. I think the peas will follow. Today started out with a gentle, soft rain. I enjoy this as much as possible because dry, hot oven-like weather is on its way. The plants thrive in this wonderful weather. Even the weeds look lovely; but they gotta go. Tumbleweeds are already propagating in abundance. I think at the time of Armageddon that not only will cockroaches survive but tumbleweeds will flourish. Until then, I'll enjoy watching my radishes grow and probably eat way too many at harvest time and get a belly ache. Keep on raining.