Winter

The previous post of November 16, 2025, said winter had arrived. Well then winter disappeared. Almost spring like or more like fall temperatures have been prevailing as of late. Midday temperatures are reaching well into the high 70's. 

However, the trees and shrubs are without their leaves

In foreground: Chilopsis linearis (Desert willow)

    and in background: Cercis occindentalis (Western redbud)

The view along the western side of the house is mostly in the shade this time of the year. The strawberry plants are "dormant" and the Aristolochia californica (California pipevine) is without leaves.

         Chilopsis linearis (Desert willow)

When the early spring arrives this tree is in splendor with  lovely flowers. I do believe it is my all time favorite trees. While living in Santa Fe we often traveled to Albuquerque, New Mexico. where this tree was in abundance. In the spring the splendor was "luscious"! Stay tuned, as the saying goes, for pictures when the Desert willow is in bloom.

This past weekend a friend who lived just down the road from us when we lived on Hessel Avenue south of Sebastopol about 8 miles, came with a tarp. With a ladder of course, he placed said tarp atop the shed.

I then carried the stored bricks so he could position them on the roof. When I raked off the leaves into the green bin from the neighbor's tree, a number of the wooden shingles accompanied the leaves. Relief, I am feeling nothing but relief to have the shed covered! 

I can relax with comfort and ease that the shed is protected no matter when or whether rain FINALLY arrives here in Northern California. For those unfamiliar with this part of the world or United States, usually by December a number of drenching rains have provided much needed moisture for the trees, bushes and shrubs. 

Shasta asleep in crate.

Each of you reading this post are invited to

 

Arrival of Winter

Clearly winter has arrived as the temperatures have markedly decreased for both the night time as well as during the day. Last evening before settling in, a garden blanket was taken out to cover the jade plant at the western corner of house. The plants that sit just outside of the east most part of the dining room's double doors was also covered with a garden blanket. When both covers were removed this morning, the plants had all survived the cold snap. My belief winter has arrived and the temperatures match the season.

Jade plant covered

Most of the leaves have fallen from the maple tree. Once they are all on the ground they will be raked up and discarded into the green bin.

The Western redbud along the west side of the house has had all of its leaves removed and are in the green bin. The "bumps" along the branches closest to the house are flowers.

I am not sure how each of you reading this post deal with all the bummer happenings like the defeat of a rational candidate to lead our country forward.  Instead an "unhinged" one was elected and will soon once again live in our national White House. Please share how you are coping with this.

This is how Shasta girl deals: sound to sleep in her crate. Her sleeping so much has been worrisome for me until I realized that this is how she is coping with all the craziness that abounds in our country. For us humans my suggestion is a frequent 

First

This has been an unseasonably cool summer. It is more like late winter or early spring in temperature. The tomato plants are not producing many fruits and those on the plants are ripening at a "snail's pace".

However, there are some delightful firsts. That is those plants with their first flower or fruit this season.

Cercis occidentalis (Western redbud)

Along the West side of the house where a hot tub sat when we moved in is this Western redbud. When originally planted it arrived at PageRefuge in 4" pot. It seems to really like its location. And this season its very first gorgeous flower was noted.  

                                                                                         

                                                                                      Lavatera assurgentiflora  

                                                                (Tree mallow from Channel Islands)

                                 

Fortunately my good friends not far from my house has this Tree mallow. It seems to love to reseed so they have many in various sizes. They allowed me to come and dig up one. It now resides along the South border of the front yard. And lucky, lucky, lucky for all who pass by can see the very first flower too.

Calycanthus occidentalis (Western spicebush)

When living South of Sebastopol I planted Western spicebushes near the wettest part of the property. I came to enjoy the unusual color of the flower. Thus one was planted along the ditch that fills with water when there is an abundance of rain.

Helianthus annuus macrocarpus (Hopi Black Dye Sunflower 

Hopi name: Tceqa' Qu' Si)

Sunflowers . . . I was introduced to this particular sunflower while living in Santa Fe, New Mexico. I was told that the Hopi used the seeds to make a black dye they then used to color wool for their rugs.

 

Fortex pole bean (Phaseolus vulgaris)

It seems I have been growing this particular green bean forever. I believe it is the very best tasting. From one year to the next I save seeds. The seeds are then planted as one of Three Sisters (corn, bean, squash).  The bean plants easily twine around the Ashworth Sweet Corn stalks for support.  And I plant Minnesota Midget Melon rather than zucchini or yellow squash which can easily be procured at the Sunday farmers market.

“I have come to terms with the future.

From this day onward I will walk

easy on the earth. Plant trees. Kill

no living things. Live in harmony with

all creatures. I will restore the earth

where I am. Use no more of it resources

than I need. And listen, listen to what 

it is telling me.”

M.J. SLIM HOOEY

Shasta girl asleep on the guest bed for her midday nap.

As is my usual practice each and every day I have a walk about the front, side and back yards. In a relatively short period of time plantings have occurred and rapid growth has magically happened. And while on my walk about I enjoy a