WatchinTheSky's WunderBlog

Summer in Feb.

Posted by: WatchinTheSky, 5:20 AM GMT on January 21, 2012

Feb 4 early afternoon

Another weekend, another high pressure event. Still no rain. January was a big letdown and February is not starting any better (if one was looking for rain!). Today looks to peak around 76 degrees and sunny - very low humidity (in the teens), only white in the sky are contrails. At least the 'big game' is not until 3:30 Sunday so lots off outside time before having to go inside for the rest of the day to catch the new SB commercials, not so excited about the teams this year.

Saw a tweet from number one daughter that 'it's so clear I can see buildings on Catalina' from Laguna Nigel.

Seems there is a slight chance for rain Tuesday-Wednesday. At least maybe it won't be so dry!

Must have 15-20 desert willow seedlings popping up. Not seeing any Humboldt lily seedlings yet, they are so difficult!

Getting excited for Red Rock country in 4 days. Hoping for some nice photo ops, scenery will be great.

Jan 28 1:30 ish PM

Well, we are well into NOT rain, in fact the opposite in my book. A mild to strong Santa Ana has set up, not as windy as predicted here - but breezy. Temps in the low 80s, very low humidity, and very clear skies. Excellent to be out weeding at the Animal Park or feeding the hummingbirds in the backyard. Unfortunately, it is so nice the bees have come back to poach from the feeders, grrrr.

Seems a bit early (I'll have to check) but the California Poppies are starting to bloom.

I'm hoping we get some more rain this 'winter'!

January 20, 9 PM ish..
A clear and starry night out as I wait for the storm that was bringing advisories a couple days ago, now, though we still have 100% chance of rain, the system appears to losing steam. As I wait, I reflect on this rain season. I reset my gauge in July, as many do. Our rain does not really start until November with only an inch average. Winter is our rainy time and February is the wettest with just over 3 inches average.
My gauge is at 4.45 which is close to normal to date, but that is not telling the story. We had a wet November, then below normal December, and January is sitting at .12" (instead of over 2") so far. An atypical season thus far and with the coming system slacking and Monday's storm seemingly now off the radar, so to speak, we could be less than 10% of normal for January.
Last year we had almost double the normal rainfall, this year could be less than half - if things don't turn around.
I'll latch on to some of sp's optimism on the rain for Saturday while I enjoy PSP and BC's snow photos. Good reminder that it really is winter! Not seeing snow for calpoppy for a while. I think Alaska would be a cool trip, Mrs WTS has been (February no less, though it was mild - 40s), I'm thinking summer would be nice :)
Speaking of Mrs, she's at Lake Havasu and got a cool photo (work related).

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1. calpoppy 8:59 PM GMT on January 21, 2012
Nice pic, Mrs. WTS! Not home so I don't know if we got any measurable rain, I doubt it. Lots of wind though :)) We will be back up in Alaska in August, Kodiak then back to Anchorage, rent a car, then down through the Kenai peninsula, rent a cabin then tour around. Denali looks promising for next year in september. So many places to go!!! Member Since: February 18, 2008 Posts: 33 Comments: 2425

2. SBKaren 9:06 PM GMT on January 21, 2012
We had a steady drizzle all night long, although I learned this morning, talking to a neighbor, it didn't start until after midnight. We headed out for a walk about 9:30ish and the sun came out. It's been out since but the winds are picking up. Member Since: February 21, 2005 Posts: 191 Comments: 14179

3. sp34n119w 7:50 PM GMT on January 22, 2012
Nice photo, Mrs WTS :) That's a nice area. I'm a bit jealous of your planned trip to Sedona and look forward to the pictures. We got eight tenths of an inch from the last storm. Initially it looked like the next would bring much less but now we can hope for about the same. Some optimism for the season is still warranted ;) Member Since: January 27, 2007 Posts: 77 Comments: 4043

4. WatchinTheSky 9:38 PM GMT on January 22, 2012
Hi sp, SB, cal! We got 1/3" out of Saturday's rain, less than expected - not terrible. Shoot, I forgot to turn off the sprinklers! I see the odds are back up for the next system, hope it pans out - though totals don't look too impressive. Suppose we don't need a wash out! Sedona should be fun, we will be mooching - er, joining our neighbors at their timeshare there. Plenty of hiking, have to make sure the rocks are still red! Just my 2 cents, the 'zinc cold remedy' did nothing for me. Thought I would try it, at least it has been over a year since the last cold :) and this ones about done (sniffle coff). Member Since: September 20, 2005 Posts: 115 Comments: 807

5. calpoppy 3:40 PM GMT on January 23, 2012
Thought you might be interested in this. The pirate botanist! http://n.pr/y8fSXY Member Since: February 18, 2008 Posts: 33 Comments: 2425

6. WatchinTheSky 12:43 AM GMT on January 24, 2012
Arrgghhh!! A pirate with a little something up his sleeve. Nice bird he had on his shoulder :) Member Since: September 20, 2005 Posts: 115 Comments: 807

7. SBKaren 1:13 AM GMT on January 24, 2012
This certainly isn't an average rainy season yet- but of course we aren't done yet. We received .49" from this storm, and I think we're done. So between the day before (.34) and today's we're sitting at .83". Now for the summer weather :) Member Since: February 21, 2005 Posts: 191 Comments: 14179

8. WatchinTheSky 10:45 PM GMT on January 24, 2012
Hi Karen, the two day here was .35" and .43" so we did not get quite as much - and back to summery weather it is! A little eastery wind to dry out our bit of moisture. Member Since: September 20, 2005 Posts: 115 Comments: 807

9. BriarCraft 6:03 PM GMT on January 26, 2012
I think maybe the jet stream is starting to move the storm track southward. In Washington, December and January are the wettest months of the year. December had only half of normal and that happened in about three days. The last half of January has been downright soggy since the snow. Meanwhile, in December and early January, much of Alaska and NW Canada got buried under record snowfall. Maybe it'll be your turn next??? Was looking at the Pirate Botanist link. What I found particularly interesting was the chart showing ages and causes of death. Very interesting! Member Since: June 21, 2004 Posts: 49 Comments: 2403

10. WatchinTheSky 6:30 PM GMT on January 26, 2012
Hi BC! I hope you are right about a shift in the 'stream' and so weather moving our way, not that I mind low 80s and cloudless skies in the middle of winter :) but variety is the spice of life! Also, it seems botany had just a few perils in the the 1800s. Not too many 'ripe old ages' listed and not your average demises either. But someone had to do it! Member Since: September 20, 2005 Posts: 115 Comments: 807

11. sp34n119w 9:28 PM GMT on January 26, 2012
Hi WTS - checking on you and your rain again. "Some" is better than "none" :) That pirate botanist link from calpoppy is great! Explorers and adventureres still put themselves at great risk ... but the things we no longer die from are many, LOL Enjoy the January summer weather, while it lasts! Member Since: January 27, 2007 Posts: 77 Comments: 4043

12. calpoppy 3:41 PM GMT on January 30, 2012
Oh no the poppies are blooming!! Everyone is wondering when winter will hit. I think it will maybe a short lived winter but it will come. But when it does come I think it will mess up all the plants and trees that have decided that it was spring. Glad you all enjoyed the Pirate link! There was a lot of money to made with finding new plants back then. Member Since: February 18, 2008 Posts: 33 Comments: 2425

13. calpoppy 1:29 AM GMT on January 31, 2012
Saw a joshua tree this morning that has a bud!! Earliest I have ever seen. Member Since: February 18, 2008 Posts: 33 Comments: 2425

14. WatchinTheSky 8:11 PM GMT on January 31, 2012
My plum tree is starting to bloom! I think there is at least one desert willow seedling pushing up some dirt, will have to check this afternoon when I get home. So sad, I was filling feeders last night and on one of the feeders was a little female Anna's. She is quite round, generally a sign of getting on in hummer years. Poor little girl wouldn't fly away so I put her in the garage overnight. This morning I put her on one of the feeders that she could hang on to. I hope as she warms up she gets a burst of energy. I know they don't last for ever, but sad to see them at the end. It was a beautiful sunny morning, but chilly - upper 30s. Member Since: September 20, 2005 Posts: 115 Comments: 807

15. PugetSoundPost 8:45 PM GMT on January 31, 2012
So sorry to hear the little hummer story.. Makes me want to run out and hug mine. And they need a refill too, so I had better hurry and do that for them. Member Since: October 8, 2001 Posts: 155 Comments: 612

16. SBKaren 12:48 AM GMT on February 05, 2012
I hear ya about the weather. It's just been so nice and I hate to admit that I really like it, because I know we need the rain desperately. I've heard we have a 60% chance by Tuesday, but I guess we'll have to wait and see. The good part about all this nice weather? The garden is growing non-stop. I posted some pictures. If you lived closer or I was heading to SD, I'd offer you some. We have WAY more than we need - and I've already given some away! Member Since: February 21, 2005 Posts: 191 Comments: 14179

17. calpoppy 9:19 PM GMT on February 05, 2012
Glad to see that the desert willow seeds were viable. Mine are a tad behind, I just planted them a couple of weeks ago and we are still getting freezing nights. An interesting note on the viability of seeds, a man I know is germinating the different species of native plants around here and the Big Bear area (mostly junipers). He sent them to a lab to be x-rayed to see what the percentage of embryos there were per 100 seeds. The results were very, very low. Some only 10% per 100, some even lower then that. I am going to collect some native mazanita seeds for him as we have several large plants by the creek. He is then going to see if he can get the same lab to see the embryo percentage and then go to the hard task of germinating them. Have a great time in Sedona!! The weather should be great, though I did see a system maybe coming in on the 9th and 10th. But who knows with this winter whether anything decent will materialize. Member Since: February 18, 2008 Posts: 33 Comments: 2425

18. sp34n119w 9:57 PM GMT on February 05, 2012
The poppies are beautiful even if they are early. Though calpoppy's budding Joshua Tree is a little frightening. Are you driving to Sedona? Well, you'll have plenty of photo ops once you get there, anyway! Have fun! Member Since: January 27, 2007 Posts: 77 Comments: 4043

19. WatchinTheSky 4:06 AM GMT on February 07, 2012
Oh Well, looks like the oncoming system is fizzling a bit or a lot. Hard to get too excited about a tenth to a quarter of an inch of rain - especially during our most rainy month. A few photos from the backyard from Sunday, a most excellent sunny day. A few male Anna's stopping for a snack. Monkeyflowers blooming up a storm (the only storm we get this year?) Manzanita in bloom, if I squint, I could imagine a dusting of snow. Like that would happen :) Member Since: September 20, 2005 Posts: 115 Comments: 807

20. PugetSoundPost 2:39 AM GMT on February 08, 2012
Looks like it is raining for you! :) Member Since: October 8, 2001 Posts: 155 Comments: 612

21. BriarCraft 6:42 PM GMT on February 14, 2012
You've got poppy perfection. And yes, it does seem a bit early, even for Escondido. If memory serves, March would be closer to "normal", but I guess any time between January and June after some rain is okay with them. Your old Anna story was touching. Somehow, we always think of predation as the cause of death, but sometimes it's disease or simply old age. Kind of you to give the little fellow shelter from the cold. A little comfort in the final hours is more than a tiny bird can usually hope for. Member Since: June 21, 2004 Posts: 49 Comments: 2403

22. sp34n119w 6:48 PM GMT on February 14, 2012
Oh, hey! You've got pictures from Sedona up! The thumbnails are lovely - must go see. Are you back? Did you have fun? Do we get a travelogue? :) Member Since: January 27, 2007 Posts: 77 Comments: 4043

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