SOUNDS OF SUMMER

Last weekend I was sitting outside after the sun went down and I heard, for the first time at this house, crickets. The sound of crickets at night is purely the sound of summer to me. I am not sure why we have crickets in the neighborhood now, but I am happy to hear theirContinue reading “SOUNDS OF SUMMER”

IT’S MAY, IT’S MAY, THE LOVELY MONTH OF MAY

May is the most excellent month. We start May 1st with flowers as the blooms arrive. May grey started off the month. So cold and damp was it that we needed a fire two nights in a row to keep warm. We often light a fire outside for May Day but this year it wasContinue reading “IT’S MAY, IT’S MAY, THE LOVELY MONTH OF MAY”

SPRING FLOWERS

I noticed a hummingbird looking for a place to nest. She was checking out the trees in my front yard which looks especially appealing right now. The Clivias are blooming and one is a slightly lighter orange than I have ever seen. You can see the two shades below. They are putting on such aContinue reading “SPRING FLOWERS”

MARCH AS SPRUNG FORTH

It’s March and the rains are still coming, but much lighter than the storms of February. Still we hope to have a March miracle. We turned the clocks forward and for the first time, I felt like I truly sprung into spring. I noticed blooms on my apricot tree. I am hoping the strong wingsContinue reading “MARCH AS SPRUNG FORTH”

FEBRUARY RAINS

The rains arrived in February, gently as first and then heavier downpours.  In between the two storms we had, the wrens where absolutely singing the loudest songs I have every heard.  They seemed filled with joy.  My staghorn plant which looked close to death from the hot dry winds we had in November, December, andContinue reading “FEBRUARY RAINS”

DRY JANUARY TAKES A WHOLE NEW MEANING

January arrived with strong winds and super low humidity.  Actually, the winds started in November and burned through the foothills of our town and the farm area behind us.  We lost a lot of houses in that fire, but nothing could have prepared us for the fires in Pacific Palisades and Altadena.  I’ve lived inContinue reading “DRY JANUARY TAKES A WHOLE NEW MEANING”