Date: 02/03/2003

Number: 1

How do we see signs of spring in a climate that never gets snow, and rarely gets frost? We have plenty of them. I know that spring is just around the corner when we get the first buds of the Ceanothus, or California Wild Lilac, and Arctostaphylos, or Manzanita. They're typically budding out in February or March, and are early this year because we've had a relatively warm winter. The hills are also greening up, as the plants are waking up from their summer dormancy. Yes, unlike back east where plants are dormant in winter, many plants here go dormant in summer to survive the hot, bone-dry summers. Winter and spring are their time to grow and bloom.

San Diego, CA

Latitude: 32.7 Longitude: -117.2

Observed by: Deborah J.
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