An early California spring

The last week has been rather warm in California, and today was exceptionally so. I admit that the warmth is very pleasant, but it is way too early for 70°F highs in northern California. Indications are that this warmth may persist for some time with California and the rest of the Southwest remaining quite dry for the month.

Weather of course is not climate, but as spring conditions trend towards occurring earlier year over year, this is a strong indicator of climate change in action. Out here in the western US, the exceptional warmth coupled with low rainfall may exacerbate drought conditions. California traditionally has highly variable rain patterns (of all states in the US it has the greatest year-to-year variation in precipitation), so swings from last winter (when precipitation was well above average) to this year (where we are rather below average) are to be expected.

I wanted to take advantage of the pleasant weekend and went on a short hike today to the Stebbins Cold Canyon Reserve in the coast range near Winters, California. Unsurprisingly a lot of other people had the same idea. Few plants were in bloom yet, but ferns and shrubs were thriving. A little ways up the trail into the canyon, there was a small amount of cool water in the creek, perhaps soon to dry up if February remains dry. I photographed water striders which posed on the surface tension of the water, active in the warm sun, leaving oversized shadows on the smooth rocks in the creek bed. 

Water strider shadows in the shallow creek.  

One of my newest favorite trees, the California bay laurel (Umbellularia californica) was in bloom along the trail! At the base of its spatulate leaves there were small clusters of yellow flowers. The flowers had a pleasant smell, different from the equally pleasant smell one obtains by rubbing the leaves of the plant through one’s fingers.

Blooming bay laurel.

It remains to be seen if an early spring is really here in California. If so perhaps we will begin to see blooms in short order on the almonds, peaches and other stone fruits prevalent in orchards of the central valley. Typically almonds will begin to bloom in mid February, shortly before my birthday, followed by other Prunus species. In the foothills, an assortment of wildflowers may soon be on display.

This coming April I’m hoping to take a road trip through the southwest, another version of the really memorable trip I completed in April of 2017 that took me to some exceptional national parks and monuments. If conditions are much drier this coming spring than last year, it will be interesting to see if the effect is noticeable. For example, last year I recalled seeing snow on the transverse ranges through central eastern Nevada, and a greener than expected landscape in that state. I experienced rain showers as I camped in Moab, Utah and backpacked in the Petrified Forest in eastern Arizona. 

One of the few blooming species at the reserve.
It superficially resembles a paintbrush, but I'm not sure
what this species is.