Round the Bend

[grandma_kate]

'Rain, glorious rain, we suddenly have it!' Northern California has been in a terrible drought this year, the third year of the climate change effect that so many places are suffering from. Our unusually warm weather has been due to a persistent high pressure ridge that has shunted all precipitation up towards Canada and is probably responsible

Comments

[tdu000]

They've got cooler weather down in Victoria and much of the bushfire area has had some rain. We've got rain too so no need for Sydney to worry about fires. As an English woman, I never thought I'd be so glad to see the rain! I'm pleased you are getting some drought-relief too.

[grandma_kate]

Thank you for letting me know what is happening. I shall continue to pray for those who have had their lives turned upside down. I see pictures on CNN and hear reports on National Public Radio but feel more confident hearing from someone who is there. I heard tonight that half the bush fires are arson and am horrified at that information.

[tdu000]

They seem to have decided that fewer of the fires were caused by arson as they first thought but, alas, quite a few still seem to have been. And some that had been got under control were relit by these idiots, so that the firefighters had to divert their efforts to put the same fire out a second time. If anyone is caught and successfully convicted, they will be charged with mass murder and not just arson. Unfortunately, it will be hard to successfully prosecute anyone.

[amamama]

Hurrah! Nothing like rain after a long draught. Daffs in bloom by the end of the week? O.o Can I come visiting? Actually, now that we've finally got perfect winter weather, I don't want to go anywhere. I guess my daffs will peek out of the ground in about three months or so... The earliest bulbs (pretty, small yellow flowers, no idea what their English name is) will probably come up in a month and half or something, depending on how good their spot is.

[grandma_kate]

Crocus (Iridceane) comes up very early in cold areas. It is where Saffron comes from. It is so mild here that we have something blooming all year round but the real awakening comes when the bulbs come up and the trees blossom.

[amamama]

Oh yes, the crocus are early, especially the botanic varieties. And I suddenly remembered the latin name - Eranthis! Eranthis hyemalis, winter aconite. :-) We've got loads of crocus, but not the saffron variety. :-)