Fall

Can you guys feel it? In the last 3-4 days there's that subtle change that says Fall is on the way...yippeee! The usual parade up Coast Hwy is glorious and there's a feeling of nostalgia...that 'end of summer' coming feeling. I may have to go up to Big Bear and watch the boats on the lake......

A co-worker and I were just discussing that we both think we're going to have an early Fall. The Oak trees are FULL of acorns too, and she said that was an indication that we'd have a wet winter.
A lot of the Maple trees are already turning their fall color.
Who knows?

And up here it hasn't gotten much over 70-75 for the last several days, very unusual for August, we'd usually be in the mid 80's to mid 90's (I'm enjoying it though--75 is my perfect temperature, I hate the heat!)

I keep having all those same thoughts, too. Early autumn, rainy winter. Or maybe it's just wishful thinking, but it always seems to me that I can feel this slight quickening of change coming and my moods change and I get nostalgic and moody and kinda lethargic and mellow. And then I start worrying that it will get hot again and ruin everything! We've just had such an easy summer down here that I'm thankful (so far), wondering why I would want to live anyplace else.

Oh, no . . . . when fall comes I think of the dreaded Santa Ana winds, ruins it for me.

The nights have been a little chilly here. We're supposed to get some more 100+ temps in the next few days, that's ok as long as the evenings are pleasant.

The evenings have been fantastic...I can't believe it! We sleep with doors and windows open and 2 nights ago I needed a blanket....it was quite cool. Today still....another beautiful day! Just perfect here. Aren't we lucky Californians?

I'm with you, gardenerme. :-( And I hate it when everyone is going around saying what wonderful weather it is - I'm just miserable and want to lock myself in a room somewhere with a/c.

I hate hot weather more than anyone and somehow it just hasn't been that bad to me. Even though I'm not fond of Santa Anas, they do make for some really nice mornings and evenings. Must be something wrong with me....I'm happy.
Sherry

It's not the heat, it's the air the Santa Anas bring that I dread. I get horrible headaches and just feel generally sick - I'm sure it's allergies. You're right, the atmosphere is 'different' with the winds - the views of Catalina Island are fantastic. But when you are afraid to take a deep breath, it's hard to enjoy it. :-(

I think last year was worse as far as heat goes. Be happy, girlie, and don't worry about why! lol

Last summer was bad, and yes, I'm sure I'd dread every change in the weather if I had your allergies. The DH got enough asthma and allergies for both of us. It seems like many people I know are acquiring allergies in mid- age. Probably our polluted world taking its toll at some point when we're at our weakest.

One of my best gardening books is Allergy Free Gardening http://davesgarden.com/gbw/c/1658/
In it, he describes the increase in asthma and kind of correlates it to the plantings done in housing subdivisions, main streets, etc. - all male trees. It's one of the reasons we're being careful about what we plant - especially in the way of trees. I figure what good is it to have beautiful trees but not be able to open the windows or go outside half the time?

I didn't have any idea about the problems with the male ash tree until you mentioned it before and mentioned his book.
Is it the same thing with trees other than ash? All male trees of other types because of the pollen? Our largest, oldest ash is female and yes, I do get tons of seedlings, but I don't mind weeding them and I do use a lot of the seedlings. The second largest has also been here a long time and is male, but I couldn't bring myself to take it out. It has yet to be seen whether the others are male or female. We have a large pine that puts out a lot of pollen also...are they a problem, too? K, you'd probably die at my house!

It's not so much the individual trees (unless you're highly allergic to a particular one) - his point is the proliferation of all male trees compacted into an area. People get flooded with pollen. Some trees are worse than others - if they pollinate by wind, it's worse than if the pollen falls close to the tree or they are pollinated by insects. Lots of stuff goes into it, but the main thing is all the clones in the trade are males, so that's all anyone plants! It's interesting to ask at a nursery whether they have any female trees - you start to know who really knows plants!

If I could find female trees, I would have a much bigger pool to choose from. Ogren rates the different plants in his book on a 1-10 scale, one being least likely to cause allergic reaction. For instance, we've planted several Catalina Ironwood (Lyonothamnus floribundus ssp. asplenifolius), which are 4 on the scale (as is the Fraxinus dipetela). Other ash trees vary - 6, 7, most being 9 - it depends on the variety - most of the females are a 1. And of course, he can't list all the varieties. It's the same with oak, olive, willow, etc. - depends on the variety and male/female. The best are "perfect flowered" plants, both sexes in the same flower, pollinated by insects!

Also, if you have a male tree, you can sometimes top graft it to change the sex.

Yes, I went to NC once and my eyes nearly swelled shut due to pine pollen - BUT, we have half a dozen pines on our property that don't seem to bother me (unknown variety). Ogren says pines are less likely (except Lodgepole pine) to cause problems because the pollen is waxy and falls close to the tree. Perhaps it was just the huge number of pines in the area that bothered me - everything not moving had a layer of yellow on it and a lot of people suffered from it.

It's an interesting subject and I've learned a little more about plants because of it. He has another book called Safe Sex in the Garden that goes into it more. It also has great info on skin allergies, poisonous plants...etc.

Okay, I was wrong, I was wrong, I was wrong.....this weather bites!

LOL @ gypsy... LOL I hear ya! We were in the 80's and low 90's for a while.. but bam... 97 here today.. just as my brugs start to get buds.. whammo.. I should be happy Fall is so near, but I'm not, I'm sad.

Sad because it's hot? Sad because another summer's almost gone? Hate to see winter coming? Some people just get moody with the change of seasons and weather. Maybe it has to do with atmospheric changes. I love fall and the thought of winter on it's way, but do get a little melancholy.

We've been in the 80's the last couple of days. Finally it seems that summer has arrived, right when the kids go back to school. I love the heat (although if it's over 85 I wilt like a parched hydrangea) but don't like to be IN the sun. I get moody/depressed/irritable when winter comes. It's the endless gray days and rain that get to me. I almost prefer the winters we had on Long Island - icy cold, snow on the ground, blue sky and shining sun. At least I could get outside, even if I looked like the Michelin Man in my winter gear.

I love it all.....summer, fall, winter....unless it's over 80 and then I get really mean. Very snarky.

I'm the same way with the cold and rainy weather, gypsy!

Can't stand the cold - my bones ache. But if we have sunshine I can bear it better - it's the gray days that get me down. A few are ok, but DH and I have a pact - we don't retire in England unless we win the lottery and can afford holidays in the south of France or Spain three times a year! lol

Well, if you retire in England, remember your DG friends who have always wanted to go there! It's the same way living in the Northwest...you try to take a trip in Jan-February...somewhere where it isn't raining. But that's enough to get you through. I think it makes a difference if you have a woodstove or fireplace and all of the winter 'rituals' and holidays to make winter enjoyable. Have friends over for dinner more often, celebrate hot chocolate. It's just a different frame of mind. I'm looking forward to winter to actually get a little 'down time' from the garden work. Maybe that's why England and Ireland or such a 'pub' culture, do you think? For myself, that would translate into coffee-house/ bookstore on rainy days.
When it's hot and I'm at my meanest, I blame the weather on all those people who say they like it hot! LOL....I feel like they're personally responsible for making it hot. When I'm sweating and dying and they're perky and telling me how much they like the hot weather...I have the urge to kick them. I imagine that's how it feels to those who hate winter and I go on and on about how great it is. If someone kicks me, I'll know just how they are feeling. (smile) See....I told you...mean....

Ha ha...that's how I feel in the fall when the Santa Ana's are blowing and everyone says, "Isn't this beautiful weather." I'm warning you, don't do this!

I guess you'll have to kick me gypsy, you described me to a tee!

Oh not this time 'Cat Fight!" just kidding!

I use live for yrs in Inland Empire...Santa Ana Winds to need blow the smoggy out!
Back to 80's know that winds blew up to 100 mph! I will be hang on 6 ft. chain link fence... (joke from my mom).... lol....
Anna

Did everyone enjoy the rain? We sat on the front porch with our coffee and watched it. Exciting, eh, watching rain? lol

Rain, are you joking?????? We've had no rain since mid April. I'm parched!

We got just sprinkles here. Made the humidity and the flies worse!

Sorry. :-( We had a nice downpour, though it didn't last too long. Washed everything off at least. However, it increased the nasties - sagebrush and I don't get along.

You win some and you lose some. It was nice while it lasted.

I can't believe I'm actually going to say this, but I'm looking forward to the first rains. Especially since we have a tendency to flood in heavy downpours. I love the smell of rain in summer, and I love the way the garden behaves like it's on steroids after a good rain.

I like being able to enjoy the rain once in a while - not always huddled up in the house trying to stay warm! Yes, a little at a time is nice. There were actually flash flood warnings out for the mountains and deserts (and some valleys) for the weekend - and we heard thunder off and on for hours.

It was wonderful...gave us a chance to go to Julian without it being so hot. Gave me a little glimpse of winter on the way. I'm sorry the sage bothers you, K. I love the smell of the chapparal when it's rained....does that stir up your allergies?
It had already quit raining when we got to Julian unfortunately. I was looking forward to sitting outside under the umbrellas in the rain with a cup of coffee. We managed to catch it last year when they got a summer rain and it was so nice.

I assume it's the sage. I know artemisia is one culprit. Such a bore. Right now I'm waiting for an epi to bloom - that should be a nice change!

BTW, anyone who wants to see what the eclipse will be like (I won't be up, unfortunately) check here: http://www.shadowandsubstance.com/

cool link. I just said that to my dh yesterday about an early Fall We get hosed out of the season all together most of the time, so i just noticed all my big Mulberry trees lsing the leaves and they are all yellow and the branches are starting to look dry and lifeless. I have the worst Fall allergies, I think it is molds and spores off the dieing leaves, especially those trees. I love fall and i can not wait to say goodbye to the heat. I hope you are right about the rain this winter, we need it bad. Anyone heard or saw the Farmer`s almanac?

I would love to go to Julienne and sit in the rain too, I`d drink the boysenberry cider and eat pie cups and get soaked with a huge smile and love it.

I just saw a blurb on a news site that said the Farmers Almanac is predicting a heavy winter for the east, light for the west.

Does that mean, not cold or no rain?

I'm guessing it probably just means not much rain...which unfortunately means it'll be cold again like last year. Hope I'm wrong though!

Well, I went back and read the whole article and now I'm really confused. And who knew there were two almanacs? See what you think: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,294695,00.html

Sounds like i want to slit my wrist either way for California. Man, I hope they are wrong.

I'm with you there...I DO NOT want another dry winter!