California?  We have four season just like everywhere else here on the third rock from the sun.

Really. Here are examples:

-Summer.  Mild to hot days. Don’t water garden, not enough water. Don T-shirts and sunscreen. Get great tan.  Wear sweatshirts at night; marine layer makes it feel like winter.

-Fall.  Feels a lot like summer, ramp up temperatures 10-15 degrees, no need for sweatshirts at night, marine layer vanishes making t-shirts suitable evening attire.  Sorta like summer, but at night.  Windy weather makes it uncomfortable for those worried about fires.  It’s also terrific kite flying weather, like spring. Don’t water garden; because everything is fried from not watering in summer.  Don’t worry about cleaning gutters because summer is right around the corner. (C’mon, roll with it).

-Winter.  Layer in the morning, T-shirts in the afternoon, Bermuda shorts if you’re looking for an early tan.  Wear rain coat maybe twice, three times at best.  Sweatshirts acceptable after sunset.  Like summer. Pick flowers, because the seasons are all screwed up.  Sunbathe by the pool, use sunscreen.  Don’t water garden, not enough water.

-Spring. Mothball coat/rain gear. Put away sweatshirt until about 11pm.  Ready fire gear for the coming summer, er, spring.  Put on your favorite T-shirt and swim trunks, continue working on winter/summer tan.  De-mothball rain gear, it always rains at least twice in March, like winter.  Re-mothball rain gear and whip out sunscreen, a heat wave is on the horizon.  Don’t water garden, not enough water. You see?  We have seasons. For the first day of spring, I give you summer:

Wild oats are starting to cure on some hillsides in Sonoma County, Thursday March 19, 2015. (Kent Porter Press Democrat) 2105

Wild oats are starting to cure on some hillsides in Sonoma County, Thursday March 19, 2015. (Kent Porter /Press Democrat) 2105

-When was the last time you saw dust in a winter vineyard?  That’s right. I forgot.  Last winter.

kp0319_Plow

A vineyard is plowed in the Alexander Valley, kicking up dust, Thursday March 19, 2015. (Kent Porter /Press Democrat)

Some growing regions around Sonoma County saw bud break in late January.  Grape clusters form, Thursday March 19, 2015. (Kent Porter Press Democrat)

Some growing regions around Sonoma County saw bud break in late January; growth is abundant, Thursday March 19, 2015. (Kent Porter /Press Democrat)

A dry drainage ditch which feeds in to the Russian River drainage, Thursday March 19, 2015. (Kent Porter Press Democrat)

A dry drainage ditch which feeds in to the Russian River drainage, Thursday March 19, 2015. (Kent Porter/ Press Democrat)

Okay the official temperature  wasn't 89 in Santa Rosa, but these things don't lie do they? Thursday March 19, 2015. (Kent Porter Press Democrat)

Okay the official temperature wasn’t 89 in Santa Rosa, but these things don’t lie do they? Thursday March 19, 2015. (Kent Porter/ Press Democrat)

-Kent Porter

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