At 11:07 AM +1000 29/7/98, Brent Thompson wrote: >> We're having just the opposite effect from that blasted El Ni... Everything >> in this part of California (high desert, southern California) is at least a >> month behind schedule. > >Rest assured, everything in Northern California is also nearly 4 weeks late >this year, e.g. cherries ripened end of June instead the normal last week >of May to first week of June, apricots ripened mid to late July instead of >the normal last week of June to first week of July... > We have had on of the wettest winters I have seen. The elnino osiclation just keeps moving up ( predicting more rain) according to theTV news Even the inland areas- in drought for years - are in flood. Tthe snowfields have had some of the best snow for years. Very cold here down to 3C last night. But still picking a few late habs. and my "unamed bush" still is laden with fruit. Michael Bailes. Herbarist The Fragrant Garden, Portsmouth Road, Erina. N.S.W. 2250 Australia. (OZ) International fax 61 243 651979 & Phone 61 243 677322 bookshop, nursery, media, school, garden, medical herbalist, cafe, herbal products, gift gallery, insanity. EMAIL: frgntgar@ozemail.com.au Web page at: http://www.fragrantgarden.com.au/