Today is an unseasonably warm winter day here in Tehachapi. The thermometer reads 62 degrees fahrenheit in the shade, on the north side of my house. It is a fair guess that it is 70 degrees on the front porch. Wow! Truly unusual for January 2nd. I should be taking the ornaments off the Christmas tree and putting away the Christmas decorations, but I can’t stay inside with all that sunshine and warmth beckoning me!
I love these moments where I can work in the garden without being bundled up!
For the last week I have been working like a busy bee around my home and at various job sites to take advantage of the balmy weather while we have it. In Tehachapi it can change in an instant. A New Year’s Eve addition to my front yard was a California native Western Redbud Tree (Cercis occidentalis). It replaces a more water thirsty Miscanthus grass. My husband Richard, and I planted it together, placing it next to an arbor, so as it grows it’s branches will frame the arch of the structure and bloom at the same time as the large lilac bush on the opposite side. This will add to the spring display in the front yard without using more water. Helping me meet two goals simultaneously.
The Redbud tree is hardly visible in this photo, as it is leafless and the trunk is such a narrow gauge, but it is to the right of the arbor.I like to take advantage of these warm winter days to plant and weed, prune fruit trees and generally tidy up the garden. It is also a great time to sharpen and repair tools, and clean out the shed. We will see how far I get before the weather turns!