by Lorraine on March 2, 2012
Well, it is now March and usually by now it’s quite common to see many wildflowers blooming along our roadsides but this year is different.
There just has not been enough rain this past winter and that means there will not be a display of wildflowers for the average person to view from their cars as they travel down a road or freeway.
I have a tendency or radar, to be scanning the slopes and open areas along roadsides and the freeway, looking to see if there is anything to catch my eye that says spring has arrived. I manage to not drive off the road but if there is a place for me to pull over and park, I will and investigate what has got my attention.
Usually we begin to see displays of California Poppies, the state flower, along with a variety of Lupines ( Arroyo Lupines) that are seasonal and can generally be seen from the road with dark purple flowers and dainty tips of white on each blossom.
But not this year.
I have seen some California Sunflowers/Encelia californica on the hillsides, putting out their bright yellow flowers from green shrubby plants, but that’s about all I have seen and it’s disappointing to me.
I have found it necessary to do some supplemental watering in my own garden to offset the lack of rain. And many plants are blooming although it looks like the Margarita BOP’s are not going to have too many flowers this time around.
But the Woolly Blue Curls/Trichostema lanatum look fantastic with deep, blue flowery stems, the Channel Island Poppy continues to show off and many of the sages are blooming as well.
Sometimes nature just disappoints us and can be quite harsh, but regardless of her intent, there is still beauty to be found in all circumstances and in her various presentations…
Search for her beauty today and everyday, because it is to be found everywhere you look and you don’t want to miss viewing something that just might make a difference in your day.
by Lorraine on February 16, 2012
It has been a very dry winter this season unlike last winter when it seemed as though we were being rained upon almost all the time. Everything was so saturated and one storm was particularly intense as it blew in from the southwest, smashing against the house with high winds.
I remember that I had a problem with water coming in underneath the front door and into the hallway. Ha, ha…lot’s of fun. I’m outside in the driving rain, completely covered up in rain gear and attempting to cover up the front door in plastic as everything was whipping around me but all the time I kept thinking how lucky I was that I wasn’t someone that was faced with losing their home in a flood as they were back East at the time.
Then I had a temporary flashback of a particular El Nino year when it seemed the state of California was going to drown and I had a leaky roof. I would climb up on it when it was raining (Not the smartest thing to do) with huge rolls of plastic and attempt to hammer it down and keep the inside of the house free from leaks, all the while making sure I didn’t slide off and get hurt.
(One of my more enjoyable experiences of being a single Mom. And a “thank you” to my son Ryan who was right along beside me, building his character.)
But the storm from the previous winter ruined the wooden front door although somehow my flooring survived the assault and out of this, one of my sons gave me a beautiful new front door a few months ago.
So, I’m digressing here…I think I was talking about the lack of rain we’ve had this year and I have been doing some supplemental watering in the garden. I’m disappointed that none of the wildflower seeds I had sown a few months ago, have appeared. But the poppies are plentiful and I noticed this morning that one has a cheery, orange flower bouncing upon itself.
A couple of days ago I purchased four large bags of shredded bark and this weekend I plan on spreading most of it out in the areas where things are a bit bare. All I need to do is get them out of the trunk of the car.
Where’s a man when I need one?
As I was saying, the weather has been odd this winter. I few weeks ago it was hot and that’s when I had a rattlesnake in my sitting area and then yesterday, it became very cold (Something I hate) and it hailed!
So what’s next? I think most of us are still hoping for more rain, as we certainly need it but in the meanwhile my garden still looks beautiful. And at the end of the day, I can enjoy the tranquility and peace it provides to me and know that life is good and each day brings it’s blessings if we are only paying attention.
