Crop diminished by the drought, blooms and heads smaller;
flavor still excellent!!!!
Tag Archives: drought
Prickly Postcard
Drought-driven…learning to embrace alternative beauty
at Santa Barbara Stone
Filed under Exteriors, Garden, Inspiration, Postcards
Postcard from the garden wall
For the last several seasons I have not planted annuals, choosing instead to work to keep my established perennials alive and as healthy as possible in the midst of drought. Now in this first week of spring, I am missing fresh blooms to bring into the house.
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Always struggling to keep the creeping ficus on the garden wall under control; cutting lovely new shoots nuanced with color from spring-green to rust…rather than relegating them to compost, why not first bring them inside…
Adversity, at its best, can introduce us to new ways of looking at and appreciating our individual worlds.
Meanwhile back at the ranch…..episode 21
and the drought goes on…….
even after rain one week ago, the days dawn bright and clear, temperatures too warm by mid-morning to work comfortably in the direct sun;
restricted to watering only twice a week, the lawn has stayed miraculously green.
Confusion rains reigns in the garden
Cecil Brunners
Popcorn tree roses
and this one whose name escapes me, believe it to be spring.
Being November with daily temperatures nearing 90 degrees, the more tender light of fall consoles us;
the hedge roses near the front porch soldier on seemingly unaffected, bathing us in beauty.
our hearts are full of gratitude even as we long for rain.
Meanwhile back at the ranch…episode 21
Saturday morning drizzle showcases the spider village…
highlighting the architecture…
…and teasing the drought-parched land.
Meanwhile back at the ranch…episode 20
Decorating with weeds…………and other garden gleanings.
While trees, lawn and shrubs limp along without adequate water, the weeds, of course continue to flourish in spite of the drought.
When life gives you drought…..
Meanwhile back at the ranch…episode 18
A hush has come over the orchard….trees in a state of resignation. Spring has come and nearly gone, taking with it the possibility of rain.
The field, yellow with mustard just several weeks ago,
now brown.
Preparing for yet another family wedding here in July…a lovely reason to spend quality time with my trees.
Some have bravely put out new leaves,
and blossoms, in the naive belief that irrigation can replace rainfall.
Dew provides the only natural moisture.
Others have let go less hardy branches to conserve strength for healthier parts.
As I snip off dead wood and dry leaves, we talk, the trees and I, of drawing from our inner strength, minimizing self-inflicted stress, focusing on the future…
…and we pray for rain.
Filed under Family history, Garden, Inspiration, Nature, Seasons
Meanwhile back at the ranch…episode 17
CONFLICTED!
Spring has come to the garden, bringing luscious colors and bright green foliage….
…in the midst of drought!!!
Lake Cachuma, just over the Santa Ynez mountains, serves as a reservoir for our area. Seeing the lake over the weekend – a stark reminder of the severity of the situation: under 40% capacity, more than 50 feet below spill level. With another family wedding here in July, the conflict: to water, or not to water………???
Meanwhile back at the ranch…episode 15
The conversation was good, if a bit one-sided. The orchard spoke – I listened. Everything is stressed from lack of rain – lemon trees, stone fruit trees, berry vines, rhubarb……
LIFE LESSONS FROM THE ORCHARD IN DROUGHT:
in times of stress plant yourself among nurturing friends – they feed you and protect you
the nasturtiums among the fallen leaves protecting their roots from the drying sun
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plan for the future, even if it is uncertain
sustain the important – water the rhubarb enough to weather the drought
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be generous to, and help others
share the pomegranates with bird and insect
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prune dead wood for the health of the whole
release that which no longer serves you well
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explore new opportunities
poppies usually flourishing in the winter sun, now find comfort in a bit of shade
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embrace the seasons of life even if they come out of sequence and in unexpected ways
enjoy peach blossoms in January
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seek beauty
the bare ground in a weedless orchard
the vibrant color of ripe limes fallen early from the tree
mushrooms petrified by hot dry days
beauty is everywhere…
Filed under Exteriors, Garden, Inspiration, Seasons
Susan Wennerstrom | W designs 