At sunrise on a foggy morning, this first red-yellow rose of the year shines in the side garden, with purple bush sage in the background.
In this month’s blog:
Colors through the Fog
The January Garden: Oranges, Lemons, Apricots, and More
The Kitchen: Apple Spice Cake, Plus a Look Back at One Year Ago
January 2022 Gallery
A Eurasian collared dove returns: in our neighbor’s cherry plum tree on a foggy morning
Foggy Mornings in the Garden
Chris:
January is the foggiest month–at least in the Sacramento Valley this year. The record rains from October through December (14+ inches) soaked the ground and have provided plenty of moisture for morning fogs. The mists usually clear by mid morning, but while they last, the damp, chilly air is our version of winter here in the Valley, and I must admit I love being out in it, especially with my camera.
The misty air quiets the distant sounds, mainly the freeway’s incessant flow a half mile away, while enhancing the birds’ calls and sweet songs from around the neighborhood. Colors are enriched in the less bright air. The sharp contrasts between sun and shadow fall away, and I can enjoy the many hues of the new roses, the scarlet berries of the heavenly bamboo, the profuse yellow blooms of the coreopsis, the varied purples of the bush sage, the hearty petunias, and the glorious winter erysimum–which shows off its royal plumage between the brilliant, fruit-laden orange and meyer lemon trees.
Back garden: oranges, purple erysimum, meyer lemons
Sunrise and the Moon in the Garden. On those breezy, very early January mornings when there is no fog, the sun and moon work their own magic with the garden light. The heavens can even be the center of the gardener’s attention–especially when the moon is full and setting just before sunrise:
Sometimes, the moon itself is the “star” of the dawn garden show:
And yes, there are always the January sunsets:
Sunset with oranges, coreopsis, and neighbors’ trees
The January Garden: Oranges, Lemons, Apricots, and More
Meyer lemons, with more lemon buds and blooms, and morning dew on the lemon leaves
It has been three months since my decision not to plant my typical fall/winter veggies because of the ongoing drought. Was that a good decision? As long as the heavy rains fell in late October and through December, I was reconsidering. But now that there has been no rain for a full January, with none in sight for early February, I’m feeling good about my choice–even if I’m not happy that I had to make it.
My decision led to our cutting our overall water use by 50% in October through December 2021, in comparison to the same 3 months in 2020. We’ll see the same reduction when we get the bill for this month. But caution: despite the solid soaking we got in Fall 2021, which continues to sustain all our perennial plants in ground, the many perennials we have in pots are stressed. I’ve just begun to do once-a-week hand watering of those looking most wilty.
All in all, it’s been a happy January in the garden. The orange tree has already supplied us and our neighbors almost 200 gorgeously juicy fruit, with hundreds more still on the tree. The meyer lemon, which is 25% larger than at the same time last year, again supports over 200 large umblemished fruit –our best ever in 10 years–which we’ve barely begun using. And more buds keep appearing (see the photo just above).
The ever-expanding meyer lemon tree
Fruit-laden orange tree
Apricot and cherry plum trees. The apricot tree is budding all over and the first blooms have just appeared. Last year’s blooms flew away in a heavy wind, so the 2021 crop (20) was by far our smallest in 10 years. Here’s hoping for better results in 2022. Meanwhile, the cherry plum is full of tiny buds that should flower late in February.
First bloom and many buds on the apricot tree
Late, late strawberries and the never-say-die Fresno chilis. We had frost for a couple of days this winter, but not enough to keep the strawberry pots from putting forth a few late fruit. The Fresno chili plant just won’t give up the ghost. Now 8 months old, it still has hot red fruit. Let’s see how long it will last.
California poppies. Last spring’s poppy experiment was a rousing success. Not only did the six plants thrive through the summer, but now the four in the front garden have produced blankets of new plants that threaten to bloom riotously in spring. Let’s see what happens.
The Kitchen: Apple Spice Cake, Plus a Look Back at One Year Ago
Apple spice cake in bundt pan
Jean:
I wish I could take credit for this absolutely yummy, moist cake, but it mostly comes from a King Arthur mix: https://www.kingarthurbaking.com/recipes/secret-ingredient-apple-spice-cake-recipe
My only wrinkles, which Chris swears made a big contribution, were
- using some home-made applesauce that one of our sons sent us, rather than the cherry concentrate the recipe recommends
- using bourbon in the glaze, rather than brandy
- and topping the cake with some candied walnuts that were a gift from a neighbor
Anyway, this perfect wintertime cake helped keep our January warm, not-too-sweet, and spicy!
Fresh from the oven
More of Jean’s January Recipes?
I invite you to look back at my extensive Kitchen blog post from exactly one year ago.
January 2022 Gallery
Our latest crop of Fresno chilis, now stored in the freezer but staying hot!
Birdbath with cherry plum leaves, side garden
And on to February–our first month of Spring in the Valley!
From Sacramento to Potomac: Tales of Two Valleys 