First signs of spring seem to be showing, even though we never really saw much winter. A friend reports seeing two snakes warming themselves on a trail hike yesterday, but the swallows have yet to ‘Come Back to Capistrano”.
Sayeth the sage,
“I guess it can be explained thusly:
When the Earth finds its tilt
And its place in orbit
To be just right…
Our natural areas are dry, but as beautiful as ever, and our natural gardens remind us of the value of our reciprocal relationship, because when we water and nurture them, they respond in kind.
“In Spanish, la querencia refers to a place on the ground where one feels secure, a place from which one’s strength of character is drawn.
Happy New Year from all your amigos at Tree of Life! We hope your recollections from 2024 are wonderful and your hopes for 2025 will be exactly what you need to keep you moving forward towards them.
December is too early to predict a seasonal rainfall total, but since we are starting so dry, in regards to this month’s garden tasks, we should probably plan for a dry year. There is no rain in sight on the long term forecast for the remainder of the year. Just beautiful sunny days, enviable for the rest of the country, and impossible for us, without imported water.
The days are markedly shorter, the nights cooler, and our winter gear can soon make its way into our wardrobes for daily use. Our plants are in transition too, breathing a sigh of relief after those brutal heat waves last summer. Native plants literally spring to new life with the first rains, and fall weather signals them to open their little doors and windows for winter moisture to come in.
A person finds joy in giving an apt reply
And how good is a timely word.
Proverbs 15:23 NIV
From a native plant horticultural perspective, it’s New Year’s Day every October 1.
Native plants are still in dry season mode and are almost poised to receive water and start growing. We have always considered September 15 the start of a new horticultural year.
