From Southern California—
We’ve had VERY strange weather here the past two months or so— 80 degree days (instead of the usual Dec. - Jan. 68) — that plus winds. AND, no rain.
What happens is the fruit trees bloom at the wrong time of year thinking it’s Spring and then when it does rain, get cold or the winds stir up, all the blossoms drop and there goes your summer fruit crop.
We are also about to go on even MORE water restrictions here even though people are still pouring into the state and large condo building go up everywhere continuously.
A lot of people in my area are ripping up their lawns and replacing them with cactus, gravel and native plants, which is what folks do in dry, hot cities like Phoenix and Las Vegas. The city of Los Angeles has been offering cash to people who take out their lawns and median strips.
Today, it is cooler and cloudy but by now my plants don’t know whether to hibernate, bloom or flower. Strange indeed. We are a tinderbox waiting to explode with wildfires — then the ashes settle on my car and garden.
I’ve held off planting anything this winter until the weather settles down — or doesn’t.
You are in a tough spot right now. We often have the fruit tree issues in Missouri, particularly for peaches. Some warm days in winter, blooms come out and get zapped.
Fortuantely, we still have adequate water for most years. If Hubby ever gets the swimming pool set up, we would be able to have enough to keep the garden, and the fruit trees/bushes going even during a more extended drought than usual.
In normal weather we only need about 2 months stored, but sometimes we need 4 or 5 months worth.
The weather patterns do seem very odd this winter.