[gardeners] Rain in L.A.?
Ron Hay (gardeners@globalgarden.com)
Tue, 21 Sep 1999 08:23:09 -0700
Good morning, friends. It actually looks as if we in Southern California
may actually get our first rain since April, thanks to Hurricane Hilary
(yes, there really IS a Hurrican Hilary!)
It's a strange and wonderful time in a Southern Californian garden.
Chilly nights in the low 50s and daily highs in the 90s. One never knows
how to dress for work!
The limes are ripening and falling, a beautiful yellowish-green, at the
base of the tree among our reviving calla lillies and the Mexican Sage,
which is just beginning to set forth it's 4' spikes of purple flowers.
One of the strangest sights of all is what our friend, Lore, calls our
Yom Kippur Lilly. She bought a Madonna Lilly for her Pesach table, but
since she lives in a high rise, gave it to us after Passover. I
dutifully placed it in the ground, and lo and behold, it has set
blossoms on Yom Kippur and will bloom by the beginning of next week.
The pole beans and broccoli are thriving, next to the artichokes, which
now have leaves about 2.5 feet long. The tomatoes and tomatillos are
just about done with for the season. My wife canned 3 quarts of sauce
from the next to the last batch we will pick. 15 quarts is not bad for a
season that has been iffy at best, because of the coolest summer since
1985.
And the passion fruit! We have harvested a dozen as of yesterday, with
another 55 or so yet to go, despite the cool nights.
It's been sooo cool, as a matter of fact, that my Jewish colleagues in
my office say that they NEVER remember such cool High Holiy Days. What
weird weather we are all having.
Penny, I hope you find that pipe! But please be gentle with your
resident "mainiac." :) I hope you are, more importantly, spared any
damage from your impending rain.
As for our rain, we look forward to its possible arrival with joyful
expectation. One never realizes how much grime and grit build up on
trees and plants until the first rain of the season washes them off and
they sparkle in the sun after the rain. And the air!
Rain-washed air is a true joy! Not to forget the mountains. When our air
is rain-washed the mountains to the east are limned against an achingly
blue sky, as if etched against the azure horizon.
Well, I'd better turn this moth into a butterfly and get in to the
office.
Enjoy your gardens to the fullest!
Ron