The Groan of Spring

Did you hear it? I certainly did, it was a bit incessant, that sound the earth makes at the transition into spring. It didn’t happen on March 20 (the first day of spring), for it begins a bit of time before the “official” start. When I can’t precisely say. But one day I’m walking around on the property, checking this or that, or adding something to the compost pile, or weeding here and there. And suddenly, you hear it. At first I mistook it for the wind, especially given the particularly wet and stormy weather we’ve been having (all the better for the organic fertilizer pellets I’ve been spreading).

No, it’s definitely a groan. And not so much the “just-out-of-bed-but-not-yet-caffeinated” groan or the “I-didn’t-know-my-knees-could-be-so-stiff-from-sitting” groan age has brought to me. It’s the kind of involuntary groan of pleasure one would make after waking up from the best nap ever, on a sunny day, feeling perfectly refreshed and ready for anything.

After the long semi-stasis of winter, as the days warm a bit, and (more important) the length of the days increases, it’s as if some giant inertia in nature suddenly reaches it’s precise tipping point and gently, slowly, begins to roll in motion. Though the weather has been fairly volatile this month (“, in like a lion, out like a lamb”) the dynamics of creeping into spring are subtler.

One day I’m thinking things in the garden have been pretty settled and relatively undemanding, and then, suddenly I realize I have to start spreading compost, early season organic fertilizer, cultivating, pulling massive amounts of opportunistic plant growth (otherwise known as “weeds”), and (panic!) getting seeds set in the greenhouse.

Ah, but the joy of the change in seasons, the unmitigated anticipation and expectation. Spring, with it’s fertility and renewal, promise of new life, has come again, and, suddenly, I’d better get out in the dirt.

Mmmmmm…Tastes Like Orange!

RMH citrus has been reaching a sublime state of ripeness—Meyer lemon, grapefruit, oranges. Though a bit pithy dog, the fruit is juicy and very tasty and wonderfully sweet/tart. Here’s a picture of the oranges & grapefruits I had for dessert and breakfast…mmmmm.

As it rains in March so it rains in June

I’ve been reading the Farmer’s Almanac, that our friend Ingrid gave me, and the above quote is one of the bits of folk wisdom reserved for this month. But, really, this much rain in June? We’ll see.
(In case you’re interested, the book predicted a dry March.)

~Timothy

When is enough enough??

I was talking with my dental hygienist yesterday (look! No cavities!!), or, actually, she was talking to me, and I was talking between the teeth scrapping. BUT, the point is, the topic of the weather came up, and I found myself speaking from a gardener/grower’s perspective—another milestone on my evolution.

This year started with a weather pattern that felt uncomfortably familiar to three years ago—heavy rains to start the year, and then a warm, dry spell. Thankfully, the weather over the last few weeks has broken that and offered a sense of relief that we’ll have a fairly “normal” rainfall year. (Knocking on wood hoping that the recent rain patterns continue.)

Sonoma County Water District measures of stored water are great , and we’re certainly doing well with overall seasonal rainfall.

We’re on a well, so we are particularly concerned that there is enough rainfall to replenish the ground water and aquifer tables, but we’re feeling confident. (For a few weeks in late January/early February, I was worried I’d have to restart the irrigation in some locations.)

The rains aren’t just important for stored water, they are critical for how native plants, grow. For example, native grasses and wildflower blooms are really dependent on the amount of consistent, ongoing rainfall, and they are particularly vulnerable if there is rain that causes them to sprout followed by dry weather that can cause them to wilt.

I have developed an eye for the early sprouts of many wild flowers, and I have gotten in the habit of spreading some native flower seeds every year. Last year offered a wonderful display of California’s abundant diversity of flowers, and we are looking forward to a repeat this year also.

So I say, bring on the rain (in measured, but consistent amounts to avoid flooding) so that spring blooms can take advantage of the increasing light and warmth to get a foothold in advance of spring growing.

I can’t end a discussion of the weather without mentioning how disappointed I am with how the media handled the recent “possibility” of snowfall in the Bay Area. I’ve lived in the area my entire life, so I was here in 1976 when snow hit the ground—it was fun as a kid, but, really, I prefer to live where it DOESN’T snow. So, take the hype elsewhere. Also, though I don’t fully recall all the details of the last snow event, did anyone really think it felt like snow was a possibility?? The weather casters these days seem to be more interested in hyping the weather than in reporting it…

Though, I did marvel at how much snow fell in the hills around Healdsburg the weekend before all the hype. (I just prefer to keep it in the hills and mountains where it belongs!).

Seedin’

I’ll be starting spring veggies seeds in the greenhouse this week in anticipation of April planting (though we need to watch for frost into April). This year, we need to do some additional advance planning because we’ll be registering our growing with the county, and they require a comprehensive list of what is being planted.

In the meantime, the vegeyard is bursting with a variety of cool weather greens like kale, spinach, mustard greens, and broccoli! Yum!

Final Thought: Eating Right

As part of my recommitment to being healthy and eating well, I’ve been doing some additional research and reading on nutrition (as well as consulting with a fantastic dietician. I am even more committed to the philosophy that vegetables should NOT be shunted aside as a side dish but should be the focus of your meal. It’s the other things like meats, starches and fats that should be built around a great helping of vegetable and/or fruits! Such an easy change to make—just start eating things in different proportions with things that grow in the ground the majority.

Eating better starts now!

~Timothy

First day of spring: Sunday, March 20

Easter: April 24