The rains started February 15th and rained through the 19th. We recorded another 3.25 inches of rain, bringing our rain year total to around 19 inches so far. The weather went from 80 degrees to low 50’s during the day and low 40’s at night. By late Thursday, the storm had moved east but we had cloud cover until Saturday. This picture was Saturday morning and you can see just a light dusting of snow on our mountains, but I am sure there was more snow on Friday. It was quite cool Saturday morning but by afternoon it had warmed back up to the mid 60’s. Now we are in the last week of February and our weather is switching back again to dry and warm. Today the temperature hit 93 here. As I write this at 6 pm, it is still 75 degrees.
As a result, everything is starting to bloom. We are a month to 1 1/2 months early with everything. I have lived in California a long time. It is not unusual to have warm days in the winter, but it is unusual for them to go on for so long.
Sunday morning I woke up to 65 degree weather. After my Pilates class in the morning, I walked through a swarm of bees. Don’t worry, they were happy and did not bother me in the least. They were looking for a place to make a new home in this parking lot with a few areas of flowers. The sound they made was happy. Happy for the warmth and lack of rain perhaps. I don’t have a fear of most bees. I find you can always talk to them and they listen. When they are aggressive it is usually when they are defending their new home and protecting their queen. Even then, the just gently nudge you away. This was the moment I felt spring was definitely starting and there was no turning back. When I arrived home, white butterflies were flitting through my front yard where the clivia was just starting to bloom its orange brillance. Here are some pictures of what is blooming.
White honey figs in February. Never before.
Apricots in February. Never
Grapes in February. Never.
Plus so many flowers that came out in early February, a full month early. A monarch butterfly followed me through the yard today while I used water from the rains that filled the wheelbarrow to water the plants. I’m just saying the birds are happy, the bees are happy, the butterflies are happy, the lizards are really happy. My yard is lively in a fun way.
For those of you in the snowed in areas, this may be hard to believe. Even for us in California, it is hard to fathom such a long bout of warm weather in the winter. The sun is up until almost 6 pm and rising earlier now to. Like the year of the horse, spring is galloping towards us.
I am thinking of going to the beach tomorrow. Two friends have reported that the ocean feels like July and they have been in swimming. I shall see and report back.
Reflections Outside My Window 