I like the rain as we need it to drink, grow crops, clean our clothes and ourselves.  Water is vitally important to life.  With climate change however the dependability of water supply is questionable.  Last year, after many years of drought, we got so much rain from these atmospheric rivers we had flooding mud slides, trees falling, and roads washing out. The flip side was that the drought ended and we ended water rationing.

Well it's raining again this winter, days on end or at least it feels that way.  For me there is so much work to in my yard.  I need to weed out the front yard.  Put in a weed barrier.  I want to plant butterfly flowers and more lavender for bees.  But I can't do it if it's raining.

I should have invested in a green house where I could plant and start seedlings for the coming year. I definitely will have to clear out a space in the garage to do rainy day garden projects.

One thing I did do last November was plant some onions and garlic.   I enjoy just getting outside to chase the garden blues away and see what Mother Nature is doing.  The garlic and onions are now sprouting 6-8” stalks!  Oh, how I love smell of fresh garlic leaves. I can smell the garlic through the leaves.

What else was Mother Nature hiding in plain sight that would remind me of the promise of spring and summer?  For me, the most exciting observation in the garden were the fruit tree buds.  Right in front of me were the fruit trees and I could see them budding!  The apple trees all had new buds and with all this water they should produce lots of fruit.  I can already taste those apple tarts and apple sauce with cinnamon, yum!

Last year, my peach trees produced little fruit.  Looking at the bud report the forecast is more buds that equals more fruit.  Unfortunately, I will still have to fight the pesky squirrels for the fruit.  I remember last year I had a single juicy peach and I was waiting for it to ripen.  Next day, all I saw was a peach pit laying on the ground next to the tree.  Squirrels 1 Brenda 0.

The pluot tree is in full budding, there are even a few white flowers poking out.  It has given me over 150 lbs. of pluots the last few years.  I have taken the excess to the Food Bank where they are always happy to have fresh fruit.

My dwarf peach tree planted last year looks like it is ready to flower.  I can see hints of pink blossoms in the buds. 

Will this be the year my avocado produces fruit?  I see buds, but are they flower buds or fruit buds? Only the next month will tell.   Mother Nature is telling me that these buds are for you! And that warm days of summer are just around the corner.  Do not let the rain get you down.  See what buds Mother Nature has for you.