December 13 is the birthday of our dearly departed friend Steven Ralls. His ‘Steven Michael Ralls Memorial Tree‘ that was planted on May 2, for the third anniversary of his passing, is doing well, and likely appreciates what transpired overnight. Now that it got the opportunity to disperse roots through its first season in the ground, it will receive no more supplemental irrigation.
Such irrigation will no longer be necessary. The tree is a native Monterey cypress, which survives on annual rainfall, within a locally limited season. It was only occasionally irrigated through its first season, while it was busy dispersing roots. It should do well without any such intervention next year. Now that the rainy season started, the soil will not get dry until late next spring.
Yes, it is now the beginning of the rainy season here. The second small storm passed through early this morning and continues as I write this. The first arrived on Friday night. A minor prior storm was something of a lone stray, and did little to disrupt the naturally dry weather pattern that had persisted since late last spring. Now, more rain is expected for Wednesday afternoon.
For most of us with roofs, rain will be an asset. It sustains the forests and replenishes the aquifers. This year, it will rinse away the ashy dust deposited by the CZU Lightning Complex Fires. For those without roofs, rain, although appreciated, can cause significant problems. Prior to the CZU Lightning Complex Fires, very few homeless people resided here. It is not as simple now.
Sadly, many local residents lost their homes to the CZU Lightning Complex Fires. Although most are now residing in homes, even if just temporarily, some are not. Many are still cleaning up the mess where their homes had been. Rain will obviously complicate such unpleasant tasks. Furthermore, debris flows, which become more likely as rain continues, are now a major concern.
The end of the fire season at the beginning of the rainy season is no consolation for those who already lost their homes to fire.
Felton League 
Even though we’ve never had a fire in my area, we’ve had hurricanes, and after Hurricane Ike there was a long, serious drought. Between the drought, the natural dust from hurricane mud, and the detritus from the process of demolition, everything was filthy. I’ll never forget what a change the first really good rain brought. The world truly looked new.
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Reblogged this on Tony Tomeo and commented:
This article is from my other blog at Felton League, but is relevant here. Locally, it is now the beginning of the rainy season.
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Strangely, this storm that we just got did not smell grungy like the first storm typically does, perhaps because it was technically not the first, or perhaps because I am accustomed to the grungy smell.
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