Until two weeks ago I couldn’t venture outside, due to the impact of the atmospheric river storms. While providing much needed water supply to California, these storms caused a lot of damages and life-threatening conditions to the state with heavy rain and damaging wind gusts.
The skies on the other hand, have been very colorful.
The past months have been very cold here in California. We were so grateful December for the rainfall after such a very long period of dry weather. Since then, it has been cold, extremely cold. On Saturday and Sunday, we had our first heavy snowfall of the year. This morning as well, we had some light snowfall.
California is colder than usual at this time of year, and it appears that Mother Nature is done with us. Still, we are grateful for every bit of rain we get.
Backyard in a blanket of snow.
Plants and trees were covered in snow, and as a result, we had a few broken branches.
Plants covered icicles and snow.
Sculptures and yard decorations alike were covered in snow; it wasn’t until the following morning that we all stepped out to clear the driveway and let the kids build a snowman.
Sculptures & Decorations covered in Snow.
Indeed, snowfall makes everything it touches and covers look beautiful, and brightens the World. The flip sides to this beauty can be quite damaging and devastating: road closure due to massive flooding, debris, cracks, fallen trees, fallen electric poles, mudslides, rockslides, erosion, etc.
As I anticipate the arrival of Spring, I wish everyone a warm and safe Winter.
And just like that, Summer is over. Hello Fall …
I have been looking forward to welcoming Fall with its cooler weather and much needed rain. California is on fire, the air quality has been bad for a few weeks now with ashes falling from the sky and settling everywhere. We need relief and God knows those brave men and women fighting out there need some extra help. My heart and prayers go out to those who have lost everything in these wildfires.
Thick Smoke from fire.Smoke from fire.
The sun and moon remained orange for a few days due to smoke from the wildfires burning in the surrounding areas.
Orange sun from fires smoke.
Life has been very interesting with a hyperactive 2 year old in the house. Keeping this little one entertained while maintaining my sanity is challenging and a new rewarding experience. I am learning to be still and patient. My older kids on the other hand are doing really well with Distance Learning and I am so proud of them; especially my teen, who is excelling in all his advance classes.
I didn’t get to enjoy my garden and tend to my plants as much as I wanted lately. Between a hyperactive kid, a scorching hot weather and the poor air quality from the fires; my hands were tied. The Irrigation Timer stopped working due to a damaged valve and all the plants didn’t get water for a couple of days, leading to some plants eventually dying. We got that taken care for and everything is back to normal. The air is still quite unhealthy, but we are able to enjoy outdoor time during most evenings.
Insects and animals alike are preparing for Winter.
Some neighboring squirrels have been storing food all around our property, which of course, have been located and removed. One persistent squirrel is attempting to find shelter in our backyard, underneath the platform next to the storage shed. It has damaged the climbing Jasmine and chewed up drip lines to access the location. We’ve set up traps and hoping to catch it very soon.
It’s also time for grasshoppers to mate and lay their eggs into the ground. These eggs will remain dormant underground through the winter and young grasshoppers will hatch in Spring.
Grasshopper mating and laying eggs.
For a while I couldn’t figure what exactly were these small flat discs on branches. They turned out to be Katydid eggs, which are deposited on either branches or leaves to Winter over and hatch in Spring. Katydid are group of insects related to grasshoppers and crickets.
Katydid Eggs (hatched).
Wishing each and every one of you a wonderful, blessed, peaceful and safe end of Summer 2020.
“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.” — John F. Kennedy
Nature has blessed us with snow today!
Happy Thanksgiving.
It’s been so long since it has snowed this much in the High Desert, with some areas seeing more snow than others. The neighborhood is alive with children and adults building snowmen and engaging in snow ball fights. It is such a beautiful day and I am thankful for Nature’s gift on this Thanksgiving day.
Snowy Mountains.
“Gratitude turns what we have into enough.” – Anonymous
As Spring is nearing, bulbs are emerging out of the ground and buds are appearing on trees. The night seems to be getting a lot colder and we’ve had quite a bit of rain lately.
Purple Gem WaxFlower.
A lone Grape Hyacinth …
Grape Hyacinth.
Purple-Leaf Cherry Plum trees have began flowering and leafing out.
Purple-Leaf Cherry Plum (flowers and buds).
Navajo Globe Willow are leafing out.
Navajo Globe Willow leaf buds.
Julia Rose Itoh Peony is sprouting and looking healthy.
Julia Rose Itoh Peony sprouting.
Butterflies and moths are out …
I found a Painted Lady Butterfly (also known as the cosmopolitan) resting on the driveway. I love its orange-brown wings with black and white spots on forewing. I didn’t get to see its undersides, which has a black, brown, and gray pattern with four tiny eyespots.
By JM Perez
