Sonoma Valley Gardening in the Late Spring

After the long cold and wet Winter, the sun finally came out and in reaction came a fast burst of energy we thought would never come. But it did of course as no matter what Nature prevails. However, this year it happened more speedily than usual as if to catch up to itself. The Camellias finally bloomed in early April instead of in February. It seemed everything else did, too, birdsong and all emerging as fast as time seems to be moving itself at a sort of frantic pace.

As soon as the sun comes out the phones begin to ring. I try hard not to feel annoyed by the usual hurry-up and design something fast that can be installed immediately and before it gets too hot. The demand is usually for instant landscaping. There is really no such thing except on HGTV or with unlimited budgets. Local growers and nurseries don’t have the inventory yet and follow the natural growing rhythm of Nature itself. We are now in an age of instant gratification where Amazon prevails and where consumers have come to expect it.

Designing a Sonoma Valley garden in tandem with people’s personal tastes, the architecture of their homes and their environs, the now stringent local fire regulations, and Home Owner’s Associations’ do-not-plant lists is becoming a complex undertaking in this area. This takes careful thought and time as we grapple with the many changes in rules and regulations particularly in view of a potentially dangerous fire season this year after such a wet Winter where the explosion of growth in our hillsides will turn into tinder as big heat prevails. It’s all a crap shoot as to what to expect.

Best to be prepared. How? Think Defensible Space. Look it up on the internet and follow the guidelines carefully. If possible, add a sprinkler system for the roofs and surrounds of your home. In case of fire, it could save your home and your life. Consult with professionals as to what are the best fire wise plants, trees or shrubs and which are the worst and the ones to avoid or remove. It’s the unfortunate sign of the times of Climate Change so best to go with it than against it. Believe the science, not the deniers. At the very least remember our own experience and learn from it!

Are we now desert-scaping? Sort of. For those of us who live in the hillsides even more so as the remediation and maintenance become a huge part of the cost of living there never mind the fear. Balancing over population and over development in our natural beautiful area with its fragility in view of fire and earthquake is the name of the game. It is a price we are willing to pay to be here. It could be in a worse area of our country. We can still breathe fresh coastal air. We can still enjoy cool nights and the wildlife we are responsible for consciously stewarding through these times. As the fences go up, and the traffic on roadways increase wildlife’s old water seeking trails are disrupted.

Let’s all be more aware and responsible for our negative impact and take action with the “powers that be” to demand more safe crossings for them while we learn to respect and live with them in love and peace. They are our allies, not our enemies. Stop poisons and pesticides that kill insects, birds, raptors and their prey.

It’s all a question of understanding our interconnected here in one of the most beautiful areas of the world.

Let’s keep it that way in the Spirit of our land.