Fava flowers

Light rain this February morning. The fava beans have shot up in size and are flowering.

Rumi: You are not a drop in the ocean. You are an entire ocean in a drop.

after the deluge, January 2017

We had around 7.81 inches of rain this month, a real treat after several years of very little rain. I am not savvy enough to be able to find historical records although I know they are out there.

As an indication that southern California was even wetter in the mountains, it was a good month for snow at Mammoth: 245.5 inches of snow. This was apparently the most ever in one month since the 1969-1970 season.

Before the deluge, I planted seeds (carrots, spinach, radish, arugula and peas) in my garden plot. Nothing showing up so far.

However, the violets are in bloom. These are volunteers. I don't know the species. Family: Violaceae. Viola sp.

The aloe is also in bloom. Family: Asphodelaceae. Aloe vera

Hello snails!

Today I spied snails new to me in my garden.

I believe they are decollate snails and apparently eat brown garden snails. Funny, I have noticed fewer of the regular snails.

Rumina decollate

Fava beans, December 2015

I grow fava beans for my winter garden. I soak seeds overnight in water and plant where I had the summer tomatoes. I suppose my hope is that this will help replenish the soil as fava beans are known to contribute to nitrogen fixation.

Family: Fabaceae; Vicia faba

Flowering black chia

The black chia seeds, organic, came from Costco. I throw a tablespoon or two into plain Greek yogurt to create a nice chia pudding.

This summer, I threw a handful of seeds in a corner of my garden. I did get one plant to grow over the summer, amazing considering the limitations from our horrible drought. One is enough. I was surprised it flowers so late in the year.