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| Our normal wet season has started off with a huge bang this year - so far since the rains broke our Summer drought in Nov, we have gotten 14 inches (8 in the last 6 days) of rain where I live (normal is about 6 season to date). This is normal for our wet Winters, but not normal for so early - has broken all records for total rainfall to date. Anyway, I just went around the garden (one day break in the rain - we expect more tomorrow), and the paper whites (yes, we grow them outside here), hellebores, camellias, rhododendrons, & azaleas are all starting to bloom. Some of the older roses are still putting out blooms - the "nodding" aspect of some of them is particularly useful in pouring down rainstorms. My Mme Caroline Testout has several blooms that are fully open, and survived the rain just fine. The lawns have greened up amazingly, and even some Naked Lady bulbs I planted 3 weeks ago have put up the tips of new foliage. Every year I have to remind myself that our climate is really a "dry season/wet season" climate, where many plants slow down or go dormant during our Summer drought. Now is when the garden wakes up and starts to explode with bloom. Next will be the early roses in Feb - the banksiae, gigantica hybrids, and some of the chinas. Since we hardly ever get freezes, no worries about the new foliage. I just have to remember to stay off the beds and do any gardening only where I can reach from the driveway or paths. I love this time of year! Jackie |
Follow-Up Postings:
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| So do I, Jackie! We've not gotten anywhere remotely close to the rain totals you've gotten, but still, I love to see the plants respond to the rain. Our garden is always happiest in the winter. Jeri |
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- Posted by sherryocala 9A Florida (My Page) on Tue, Dec 4, 12 at 14:31
| Your climate is so amazing to me, and nature's survival techniques provide little miracles everywhere out there. We're dry now, relatively speaking. Humidity is still way higher than yours but lower (34%) than our normal (65+%) and no rain to speak of since Oct 25th. It's 79 degrees which is nice. November was awful - cloudy and chilly for days on end. I'm just hoping the freezes hold off for a long time. Sherry |
Here is a link that might be useful: If only sweat were irrigation...
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| Much less rain than yours, Jackie, but still the plants can tell the difference between that and watering, and are looking very happy. I hope there'll be lots more to come but every little bit is welcome. We were so fortunate not to have any major fires this October, and can now relax until next year. Actually, contrary to popular opinion, we do have four seasons in California: drought, floods, earthquakes and fires. Some of them overlap but we always like to do things a little differently in southern California. Ingrid |
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| This is pretty much something that has happened north of San Francisco. The rest of the state has close to average rainfall or even less. My cousin in Fort Collins Colorado has still not had any rain at all this season. I'm keeping an open mind about what the rest of winter will bring, but it is a hopeful open mind. And yes, I absolutely see a difference in the plants between irrigation and natural rainfall. Since I use spray rather than drip in most of our ornamental beds, you know it has to be the quality of the water rather than the delivery system that makes the difference. Rosefolly |
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| I'm east of SF, and while we haven't seen the same totals as you, we're still way above average rainfall for this time of year. I am SO loving not hand watering - haven't had to hand water for a few weeks now. I love the smell and feel of the cool, moist air. The mums are continuing to bloom, well past normal time as our temps have been mild, the roses putting on heavy and very healthy foliage. Life is good right now. |
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- Posted by kittymoonbeam So. CA sunset 23 (My Page) on Wed, Dec 5, 12 at 11:52
| Happy for all of you. No. CA is so pretty. We got clouds a just a light rain but the cooler temps gave me some big colorful blooms regardless. Hoping for a good snow layer in the Sierra this year. |
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- Posted by jacqueline3 9CA (My Page) on Wed, Dec 5, 12 at 14:40
| I agree that all of the plants seem to prefer rain to irrigation. However, Rosefolly, I don't think it is because of the "quality" of the water. Our piped water comes straight from local reservoirs that collect rainwater, so it shouldn't be that different. It might have something to do with the temps, the humidity, (ie cool and damp instead of hot and dry) and the fact that it rains everywhere, not just where I happen to have put irrigation. Whatever the reason, I am happy that the plants are so happy. Jackie |
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| Jackie, you are fortunate. I don't know the origin of our water, but a number of plants become progressively more chlorotic during irrigation season, and green right back up when they are on natural rainfall. This suggests to me that mineral content of the irrigation water is interfering with the plants' ability to absorb nutrients. Rosefolly |
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- Posted by daisyincrete 10? (My Page) on Thu, Dec 6, 12 at 3:50
| I have often wondered why plants look as though they have had a pick me up after a thunderstorm. Apparently, it is because the lightning causes a chemical reaction in the air that causes the nitrogen and hydrogen to make a form of nitrogen that plants love. Then the rain takes it into the ground for the plants to take up. So, I suppose it is a form of pick me up!! Daisy |
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- Posted by mendocino_rose z8 N CA. (My Page) on Thu, Dec 6, 12 at 8:49
| It's more than wet here. We were afraid we might lose the driveway. Yesterday I spent hours pruning in the fog with wet gloves and clothing. The hills are greening up. I am so happy to take a vacation from watering. I'm amazed that your Rhododendrens are blooming. Ours won't for months. |
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