Rain: Another 1.6 Inches (Feb. 17-19, 2011)

Since last reporting, we've added another 1.6 inches to our total rainfall for the 2010-2011 rainy season (which will end on June 30, 2011). The total now stands at 22.40 inches at my location. The historical average for February 18 is 22.50 inches in Santa Rosa, so we are now right in line with what has been normal over the years. Normal annual rainfall for Santa Rosa is just over 31 inches.

[Update: overnight on the 18th and in the morning of the 19th added another 0.5 inches of rain, bringing the total as of noon February 19 to 22.90 inches.]

Plants I'm Growing--First Blooms: Santa Rosa Plum, "Flavor King" Pluot, "Pink Snowflakes" Rhododendron

A number of plants have come into bloom in the garden in the past couple of days: the Santa Rosa Plum I planted two years ago as a pollinator for the pluots, the "Flavor King" Pluot, and the "Pink Snowflakes" rhododendron. The pluot Dapple Dandy" is now in full bloom as well.

"Flavor King" began to bloom on February 13, the Santa Rosa plum on February 14, and "Pink Snowflakes" today (February 16). The Santa Rosa plum is in the first photo, the pluot "Flavor King" in the second. "Pink Snowflakes" is below. The Santa Rosa plum calculated a year of 356 days this year, 364 days last year. "Flavor King" calculated a year of 363 days this year, 375 days last year. "Pink Snowflakes" calculated a year of 357 days this year, 367 days last year. Interestingly these six data points average to just under 364 days, very close to an actual year.

Miscellaneous: Notes of Coca (February 5, 2011)

Another unfortunate sign at my local Whole Foods.... I think that should be "Notes of cocoa." Then again, this is coffee from Peru. Maybe they DID mean notes of coca?

Rain: Rain Forecast for the Whole Week (Feb. 14-16, 2011)

The forecast is for rain this entire week. It started yesterday, Valentine's day, and rained most of the day. This morning it seems to have stopped, but more is on the way, judging from the clouds. Yesterday and overnight we added 0.95 inches, bringing our total so far for the 2010-201 rainy season to 19.40 inches, somewhat below the historical average for February 15 of 21.78 inches in Santa Rosa. Normal annual rainfall for Santa Rosa is just over 31 inches. The season goes through June 30.

[Update: Overnight on the 16th, a fairly vigorous storm blew in and dropped another 1.4 inches at our location, bringing our 2010-2011 total to 20.8 inches. That leaves us about an inch below normal, but I suspect we'll catch up quickly.]