Friday, May 13, 2011

First

The first lavender cutting of the year.


And the first roses.

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

A Pleasant Valley

While I wait for the time to plant and muck about in my own garden, I enjoy meandering through the agricultural area where I live and soaking up the garden views.  At least two times a week, I drive along a two lane street called Pleasant Valley Road.  Here on the Oxnard Plain in coastal Southern California, the farmers are able to harvest at least three crops a year.  This month is strawberry season.  And it's celery, cabbage and lettuce harvest time.

This morning I was stopped at a red light waiting to cross over the Pacific Coast Highway.  I looked to the right and at the horizon there was--nothing.  The Pacific Ocean is out there beyond the fields and wind break trees.  Closer in near the road, the strawberry field was a striped quilt of bright red and pale yellow polkadots on an emerald green background.  Along the edges surrounding it were bias bindings of orange and yellow marigolds.  I looked to the right.  Far off in the distance the mountains rose to the sky still wearing their mufflers of snow from last week's storms.  Nearer to me, two small oil wells were bobbing their little bird heads up and down pecking at the ground to extract the thick gooey stuff.  Next to the road, the celery stood a foot tall, ready and waiting for the pickers to arrive to gobble up the leaves and stalks.

I feel so very fortunate to live in a pleasant place, in a valley where I am surrounded with plants and fields of fruits and vegetables all year long!