spring?

[deborahjross]

Spring appears to be giving us a sneak preview. We've had daytime highs in the 70s, and, as they say, "the sap is flowing." I went for a "wildflower walk" at work on Tuesday and counted 12 varieties (I include non-natives like periwinkle, forget-me-not, and Scotch broom). At home, the first asparagus spears have poked their heads above the insulating straw, and the flowering quince -- bright coral blossoms -- is exuberant. We're nearing the end of the grapefruit crop and will get maybe another half dozen. At a certain point, it's hard to tell the ripe (which have been on the tree 12-18 months) from the ones that flowered last spring and are still little and bitter but have now turned yellow like the others. Size is sometimes helpful, also ease of picking. At some point, I just give up, call it quits, and wait for next winter.

Nights and early mornings are still frosty, though. Rose and I have been leaving early to do driving practice on the way to her morning classes. By midday, it's time to shed those warm clothes, so layering is essential. We may still get cooler weather and more rain. Rain, although messy, would be nice, as it promotes a generous blackberry crop. But we are enjoying the sunshine so much, I would not presume to instruct the weather gods.

Comments

[cardigirl.livejournal.com]

It was 85 here yesterday.

I could wait a leeetle longer for hot weather to come to the desert... :P

[deborahjross.livejournal.com]

Ouch, yes. If it's 85 now, what will it be in August? Does it cool off at night? We're dipping to the low 40s, so mornings are a bit nippy. I don't expect this spate of fair weather to last. We won't get freezing temperatures again, but back to the 50s until April or May.

[cardigirl.livejournal.com]

Ooops, sorry, that was me.