Rain, fruits, flowers and pollinators
Drought continues. In March, our site received a total of 0.9 inches of rain, 0.2 inches two weeks ago and 0.7 on 3/22. Green velvety fruits have set on the apricots. A variety of flowers are attracting bees in the pollinator plot. After tilling, the cover crop has shifted from mustard/oxalis to heron's bill and cheese mallow.
Irrigation is in progress this week, still using the traditional agricultural pipes and sprayers. We are still working out the plans for transition to drip irrigation. The apricot trees are fully leafed and green fruits are about an inch long, with a good set. The pruned branches have been collected into a dumpster ready for pick up. Plants have been hoed out from around the youngest trees to reduce competition for water.
Flowers in the pollinator plot are attracting bees and ladybugs. The purple island sage is showy, surrounded by accents of white yarrow and a volunteer yellow mustard. The warty ceanothus adds a delicate light blue along the ground and heron's bill provides tiny pink eye-pops. Aphids on the sow thistles attract lady bugs. The phacelia, buckwheat, gumweed, coyote mint, California fuschia and penstemon are looking robust and starting to set buds. Some welcome wanderers include cheese mallow, sow thistles, mustards and heron's bill. Although these are not natives, I trimmed and tended them since they add diversity for the pollinators. Tiny yarrow sprouts and buckwheat are getting started throughout the bare dirt. I am delighted to see such diversity.
The camellias planted along the library are in full bloom. For mulch and an artistic touch, I placed the fallen blooms around the penstemon in the corner. Although those penstemon were barely alive at the end of the first year, they now seem to have a good start and I have high hopes for them!
