photos by Tina Saravia

There's a verse in a song that starts off like this, “It's a wondrous time in spring, when all the trees are budding,

the birds begin to sing, the flowers start their blooming”… Those are exactly what I have been observing.

With all the rain we've received last winter, the light green leaves of the persimmon (Diospyros kaki) tree covers what has been a dreary looking skeleton of branches. The olive (Olea europaea) tree leaves are so abundant they are criss-crossing in every way — note to self: cut-off the crossing branches. The ‘Black Pearl” graft on the cherry tree has flowers on the grafted stem. 

I hear the birds singing from every open window of the house. The red freesias are the envy of friends, and the California poppies (Eschscholzia californica), the California state flower, are all over the front yard. The rhubarb plant has abundant fresh gigantic leaves and striking red stems, as if saying, “I'm here you can't ignore me.” Everything feels fresh and exhilarating, and I want to see and do everything.

A few years ago, I built a rustic potting bench for myself in the side yard. I've tweaked it a few times over the years. I re-organized and cleaned it up.

I'm finally happy with how it turned-out, for now. 

What's next?

The Spring Plant Exchange is coming up soon, where we bring a plant from home, and take a plant (or 2) home. Here's a link to the Master Gardener website that also shows other upcoming events.  April 20 from 9 am until 1 pm at the UC Cooperative Extension office, 501 Texas Street, Fairfield.

https://solanomg.ucanr.edu

“It's fresh like spring, I want to sing, I want to pass it on.”