As a Californian who has lived overseas for more than 30 years, the annual fire season there (also elsewhere in the west) is a particularly galling development. Like you, we usually have visited our family and friends in the Bay Area during their summer, so smoke in the air and fires have been an increasingly common and unpleasant feature of our trips. Hence, what a joy it was this past April when we visited California, including the coastal mountains and Sierran foothills in the midst of a wet spring. The hilly landscapes were a lush green and strewn with wildflowers, the air crisp and cool and utterly clear. Not sure what my point is, only that I had almost "forgotten" about this facet or face of the landscape we both love.
Regarding upcoming election, as a fellow expatriate I watch our native country with intense interest and disbelief. I vote and I hope that best in human nature will somehow prevail in the end.
A very belated thank you for your comments and thoughts Tim! Yes, this year the smoke was a reminder of so many previous trips. Thankfully we were personally only affected by the falling ash. And as to the election, well, I almost hesitate to look at the headlines each day...
I drooled reading about those wonderful foods of our home state. Farther up the coast on our trip, we indulged in white peaches and let the juice drip down our chins (couldn't help it actually), apricots, strawberries, and blackberries. These are some of my favorite parts of the west and edibles I really miss.
Thanks for more literary manuevering with the concise election coverage. I was elated for the results in France and I hope it portends well for our own country.
Wonderful images and descriptions in this post to bring me right back home.
It is all so different now and the climate change naysayers bug the hell out of me.
As farmers we've been seeing it first hand this year. Precious little rain, the water holes shrinking and no likelihood of cropping unless we irrigate from the scheme we are paid into. We're also paying out for feed pellets as the grazing is iffy and if we want to care for our pasture and soil we have to rotate, constantly. Planting trees has been the biggest thing we have done to improve microclimates within our acreage and we're sad this year as without rain, we decided not to plant the usual quota because it might well be money wasted. But no, of course there's no climate change!!!! Sigh - I shiver when I think of our summer to come and bushfires.
I love American and European farmers' markets. The extent and variety of what is offered is so tantalising. It makes me want to learn so much more about keeping our veggie garden healthy.
And re the vote - hurrah for the UK and France, I hope it works out. Here's hoping for the USA, although I'm not holding my breath...
Sabrina, as someone living in the Bay Area, I love how you've captured the surrealness of California's practically official fire season. The photo of Carmel is the perfect depiction of its odd beauty. The fog and sun always do that to the coast this time of year, yet it feels different, and for me especially after last month when a huge pine on the ridge above our house keeled over in the middle of the night due to the heat. It would have cartwheeled directly into our yard and possibly house had it not be caught in the crook of the oak tree below. We are focusing on the positive but thousands of dollars later, even with the physical damage cleaned up, I'm eyeing our beautiful redwoods, oaks and pines with a wary eye, realizing that with climate change, we need to understand that it's not just fire that can turn them into deadly weapons.
Another way you can evaluate your trees besides climate change is their age. Pine trees have a life span. Other things to look for are insect infestation. I've appreciated the talents of a good arborist and regular tree maintenance/pruning to add to the health, life, and beauty of trees. Sounds like you are blessed with a lovely forest where you live!
Thank you for this encouragement. We are so fortunate to have lived in such a natural environment for 28 years with no incident. And, yes, we are definitely hiring an arborist to do a thorough overview of our property in the next couple of weeks. We've done that in the past with a number of our trees. We'd always assumed the trees on the ridge were not on ours but they apparently within feet of our property line. So the arborist will need to survey them from our neighbors' yard.
I'll hold good thoughts that the arborist doesn't find anything serious. Years ago we were told by an arborist that our front yard trees (that we planted as 5 gallon saplings) had "fire blight" and could die. We felt as if we were told our pet would die. Fortunately, the trees bounced back and are still providing beauty to the new owners of our house.
One of my favorite aspects of reading,a friend’s words is hearing their voice—albeit in a slightly less animated tone than is usual for them—narrate the experience. I loved hearing your voice in this one. On my end it got even a little excited about the election results!
Hurrah for farmers' markets - wow, what a lovely list of goodies!
So scary to read about the fires.
Thanks for the election update - it's so interesting that you first came here under a government on one side and now we've switched to the opposite. I'll never forget the previous Labour landslide in 1997 - that was extraordinary. I was just finishing university and it felt like a different world back then!
It must have felt like such a big change! I love the feeling of excitement when the government that one supports comes into power after a long time away. It's happened a few times in my life and I remember the feelings of pride and hope. Thanks for your thoughts!
As a Californian who has lived overseas for more than 30 years, the annual fire season there (also elsewhere in the west) is a particularly galling development. Like you, we usually have visited our family and friends in the Bay Area during their summer, so smoke in the air and fires have been an increasingly common and unpleasant feature of our trips. Hence, what a joy it was this past April when we visited California, including the coastal mountains and Sierran foothills in the midst of a wet spring. The hilly landscapes were a lush green and strewn with wildflowers, the air crisp and cool and utterly clear. Not sure what my point is, only that I had almost "forgotten" about this facet or face of the landscape we both love.
Regarding upcoming election, as a fellow expatriate I watch our native country with intense interest and disbelief. I vote and I hope that best in human nature will somehow prevail in the end.
Thanks for your article!
A very belated thank you for your comments and thoughts Tim! Yes, this year the smoke was a reminder of so many previous trips. Thankfully we were personally only affected by the falling ash. And as to the election, well, I almost hesitate to look at the headlines each day...
Hear, hear to Tim's comments about hoping the best in human nature will prevail in the US and the world.
I drooled reading about those wonderful foods of our home state. Farther up the coast on our trip, we indulged in white peaches and let the juice drip down our chins (couldn't help it actually), apricots, strawberries, and blackberries. These are some of my favorite parts of the west and edibles I really miss.
Thanks for more literary manuevering with the concise election coverage. I was elated for the results in France and I hope it portends well for our own country.
Wonderful images and descriptions in this post to bring me right back home.
It is all so different now and the climate change naysayers bug the hell out of me.
As farmers we've been seeing it first hand this year. Precious little rain, the water holes shrinking and no likelihood of cropping unless we irrigate from the scheme we are paid into. We're also paying out for feed pellets as the grazing is iffy and if we want to care for our pasture and soil we have to rotate, constantly. Planting trees has been the biggest thing we have done to improve microclimates within our acreage and we're sad this year as without rain, we decided not to plant the usual quota because it might well be money wasted. But no, of course there's no climate change!!!! Sigh - I shiver when I think of our summer to come and bushfires.
I love American and European farmers' markets. The extent and variety of what is offered is so tantalising. It makes me want to learn so much more about keeping our veggie garden healthy.
And re the vote - hurrah for the UK and France, I hope it works out. Here's hoping for the USA, although I'm not holding my breath...
Sabrina, as someone living in the Bay Area, I love how you've captured the surrealness of California's practically official fire season. The photo of Carmel is the perfect depiction of its odd beauty. The fog and sun always do that to the coast this time of year, yet it feels different, and for me especially after last month when a huge pine on the ridge above our house keeled over in the middle of the night due to the heat. It would have cartwheeled directly into our yard and possibly house had it not be caught in the crook of the oak tree below. We are focusing on the positive but thousands of dollars later, even with the physical damage cleaned up, I'm eyeing our beautiful redwoods, oaks and pines with a wary eye, realizing that with climate change, we need to understand that it's not just fire that can turn them into deadly weapons.
Another way you can evaluate your trees besides climate change is their age. Pine trees have a life span. Other things to look for are insect infestation. I've appreciated the talents of a good arborist and regular tree maintenance/pruning to add to the health, life, and beauty of trees. Sounds like you are blessed with a lovely forest where you live!
Thank you for this encouragement. We are so fortunate to have lived in such a natural environment for 28 years with no incident. And, yes, we are definitely hiring an arborist to do a thorough overview of our property in the next couple of weeks. We've done that in the past with a number of our trees. We'd always assumed the trees on the ridge were not on ours but they apparently within feet of our property line. So the arborist will need to survey them from our neighbors' yard.
I'll hold good thoughts that the arborist doesn't find anything serious. Years ago we were told by an arborist that our front yard trees (that we planted as 5 gallon saplings) had "fire blight" and could die. We felt as if we were told our pet would die. Fortunately, the trees bounced back and are still providing beauty to the new owners of our house.
One of my favorite aspects of reading,a friend’s words is hearing their voice—albeit in a slightly less animated tone than is usual for them—narrate the experience. I loved hearing your voice in this one. On my end it got even a little excited about the election results!
Hurrah for farmers' markets - wow, what a lovely list of goodies!
So scary to read about the fires.
Thanks for the election update - it's so interesting that you first came here under a government on one side and now we've switched to the opposite. I'll never forget the previous Labour landslide in 1997 - that was extraordinary. I was just finishing university and it felt like a different world back then!
It must have felt like such a big change! I love the feeling of excitement when the government that one supports comes into power after a long time away. It's happened a few times in my life and I remember the feelings of pride and hope. Thanks for your thoughts!
Welcome back! Thanks for taking me on your trip!