After the rain comes weeds. This is a particularly prickly one, but not so bad as thistles! New growth comes in many forms, and this one, I think, will eventually produce some rather pretty, sticky, and prickly flowers.
Tag: new growth
Fire season has begun! Up the coast, along Highway 101, the first fire has broken out near Gaviota. The land is hilly and grassy, and rugged in areas. This makes stopping the fire more challenging, and when the winds pick up, it can travel so fast. We have been having a heat wave in the 90s F for the past few days – today is supposedly the last one like that in our area. Then, down into the 70s F, which is much nicer. I used to love the hot winds, but they have become more fierce and destructive over the last few years that they are more frightening than ever.
This photo shows what we can be up against. The new spring growth, becoming lush in our seasonal rains, changes to dry, dead tinder for a wildfire. The swath of grey is last season’s new growth.
Yesterday it was over 80F. Today it is a cool 69F. Little rain. Still, life continues. New growth on a pine at the local garden, where flowers are in bloom everywhere. A walk in the open space nearby found mockingbirds singing away, looking for wives, and staking out their territory. It’s a stunning time of year.
From a walk last spring . . .
With the rare rains we have had, life jumps out in a wonderful abundance. In a local park, I walked in an area I had never before seen, and enjoyed seeing and smelling the beginnings of a California spring. In particular, this vine with its small white flowers caught my eye – tucked under the trees in a spot of sunlight, it just glowed.
The Glass Aerie 