Red tulip in Paso Robles, March 2011
During these past two weeks in the north county, the weather just hasn’t been able make up its mind. The plants think it’s spring already. On March 7, I saw my tulips opening to the sun. The red one is fully open. The pink one is on the verge of full bloom.
Pink Tulips in Paso Robles Yard, March, 2011
On March 12, I went outside just before sunset and saw this sky.
Cloudy Sky at Almost Sunset in Mid-March
Last Saturday, March 12, as I was hurrying to Farmer’s Market in Templeton, along Vineyard Drive, I saw some nanny goats with their new kids. On the way to Costco last week as we drove through Atascadero and Santa Margarita, lots of animal mothers were out grazing with their kids, colts, and lambs. I haven’t been able to get pictures of them , though. I wanted to get a video of those kids on Vineyard today on the way to Trader Joe’s, but they must have been inside. All I got was their mothers.
Cattle and Goats Grazing on Vineyard Dr Small Farm in Templeton
When I left for Trader Joe’s about 4:15 this afternoon, I knew I was racing the storm,but I also knew I probably wouldn’t go to Farmers market tomorrow and we needed provisions for the wet weekend. I made it in before the clouds let go, and it still wasn’t raining when I came out, so I stopped to look back and take this picture of the approaching storm clouds.
Since the clouds were still holding their water, I decided to stop on the way home and get some better pictures of the approaching tempest along with the signs of spring that were everywhere. First I turned onto Bennett and parked. I walked a bit with my cameras. For the video version, see below. The first four sections are recorded along Bennett Way off Vineyard Drive. You can hear how the wind almost drowns out the narration. The next two parts were taken near Bethel on Vineyard Drive. First I captured the cattle and goats,and then I aimed across the street to get the flags that were flying to show how the wind was whipping them around. The last section was taken along Oak View Road where the deer were grazing.
Last Wednesday I thought it might rain, but it didn’t. The bees are better at predicting the weather changes. Thursday late afternoon they were not to be seen on the plum tree and I thought we might not have any bees, but yesterday they were happily out pollinating the blossoms an hour before dusk. Late afternoon today there was not a sign of them. They could probably feel the storm, which has finally hit, approaching.
New Buds and Leaves Appear on This Oak Tree
Some signs of spring I observed on the way home were these: a weeping willow dressed in green for spring, oak branches full of buds ready to burst and already showing a few leaves, and green grass and new weeds everywhere. The mustard is also blooming on the sides of the road near my driveway. Best of all, my poor neglected garden on the slope behind the house is occupied by blooming daffodils and rosemary. The irises are also raising their green spears toward the sky. When I got home, I shot the storm clouds hovering over the Croad Vineyard and Tasting Room across my back fence.
Weeping Willow on Bennett Way in Templeton, Dressed for Spring
Storm Clouds over West Templeton
Storm Approaching as Seen from Vineyard Drive
Daffodils and Rosemary in Bloom on Slope behind House
Clouds of Approaching March Storm over Croad Vineyard and Tasting Room
As I write this now, the rain has been pouring for about two hours. It started almost as soon as I had the groceries unloaded. It promises to be a wet weekend, and I plan to stay warm and dry and rejoice that everything growing will be well watered, the Salinas River will flow a bit longer, and the reservoirs and ground water may be replenished a bit.