As the crispy dry autumn morphs into wet green winter here in our summer-dry climate zone, I start to awaken from hibernation along with the frogs and salamanders. Evergreen leaves are glossed up with the first rains, the air is freshened and the Northern California hills go from dusty beige to vibrant green again. DecemberContinue reading “December Gardening: seasonal tasks and harvests”
Category Archives: Sonoma County
Hot Gardeners (the literal kind) and Hoof Prints In the Veg Patch—a summer update
Be safe while gardening in the heat! Heat illness can be serious, so please take steps to prevent danger to your health while working in the garden or outdoors. Plus, an update from the organic garden in summer and the inter-planted vegetable beds–with deer netting! California garden blogs
Grow Shade for Heatwaves–a review of the hardiest trees in our garden
Shade trees are a great relief during a heatwave. Plant a shade tree to cool the air around your house or city. Learn the benefits of trees to you, your community and the environment. Plus, which trees are the hardiest in my Sonoma County, California garden. They support wildlife, help stop climate change, relieve stress, and recharge groundwater. American gardening bloggers | Edible gardens.
The Garden Springs to Life–time to get our hands–and seeds–in the dirt!
My kitchen table has become pregnant with potent life forms. All those seed packets I bought over the winter, the leftover ones from recent years and all the packets of my own saved seeds are piled, stacked, organized, disorganized, reorganized, moved, returned, and generally in an active state of flux there. It’s that time ofContinue reading “The Garden Springs to Life–time to get our hands–and seeds–in the dirt!”
A Soggy Slog of a Blog–testing my resiliency (I give myself a C minus)
Ah the joys and challenges of rural life. I wasn’t overly worried when they said another atmospheric river was headed our way here in California a few weeks ago. Yeah, yeah, I thought. Been there. It’s just hype. Charge up the home power station batteries and get some firewood ready. Challenging My Resiliency And sure,Continue reading “A Soggy Slog of a Blog–testing my resiliency (I give myself a C minus)”
‘Tis the Season for The Olive Harvest, Persimmons and Winter Warmth Without Fossil Fuel
In our garden here in Sonoma County, California, the holiday season also marks festive activities like harvesting the olives for milling into oil, picking persimmons and feijoas and admiring the fall color of the parrotia persica. Winter pruning, wildflower seed scattering, tree planting, and a reflection on going carbon neutral are on the winter garden tasks list.
Spring Awe–Buds and Bugs
Nature does not stand still and wait for us to catch up. It’s a glorious spring after all the winter rains we finally enjoyed after so many drought years. Verdancy is erupting in the garden and the air is abuzz with activity. There are summer veggies to plant and damselflies to admire. The ladybugs areContinue reading “Spring Awe–Buds and Bugs”
The Frogs are Happy, Dormant Pruning Is Done, Bareroot Is Planted, Fungi Is Fruiting and Seedlings Are Started–Whew
I’ve lost track of how many atmospheric rivers have come through California so far this rainy season, so I just looked it up. The answer is fourteen! (KGET) Not that I noticed when one ended and the next began. I’m not complaining. I’m delighted to see that Lake Sonoma is full again, as is ourContinue reading “The Frogs are Happy, Dormant Pruning Is Done, Bareroot Is Planted, Fungi Is Fruiting and Seedlings Are Started–Whew”
Saturated, Inundated, Swamped…
Which of these watery words of overwhelm should I use? When it rains it pours? Trying to keep my head above water? We’ve gone precipitously from an historic drought to getting flooded with back-to-back atmospheric rivers. My heart goes out to those who’ve been caught at the dangerous end of the weather impacts. We wereContinue reading “Saturated, Inundated, Swamped…”
Winter Garden Reflections
The winter shadows are long across the landscape, creating dramatic patterns amongst the fallen leaves. We’ve awakened to ice on the bird fountains many mornings and felt grateful for the warmth of our wood stove at night. Even Puffball Kitty, well-outfitted in her full-puff winter coat, and not put off by a bit of coldContinue reading “Winter Garden Reflections”