The usual state of affairs, I’m told, is Southern Californian hordes invading the Pacific Northwest, or at least such was the case before the great real estate unraveling after 2008. This past week proves that Los Angeles can stay home and still embrace the misty charms of the PNW. Having become accustomed to the ubiquity of their home-grown coffee chain, we’re now getting a taste of Seattle-style weather.
Rain, rain, and more rain. Record rain. Rain interrupted by drizzle and topped with a soupçon of fog. Epic 10-year-tropical-storm rain. A-quarter-of-our-annual-rainfall rain. Rain that brings down the canyon mud that closes Pacific Coast Highway at Malibu. Rain that overflows storm drains and brings the accumulated city filth to the Pacific Ocean (and mystery rashes to surfers who venture out in winter storms). Rains that transform freeways into asphalt Slip ‘n Slides. Last night I had the relatively rare experience of watching a movie (I Am Love) in which the delicious sounds of rain were drumming on screen while those same delicious sounds echoed against our window panes.
All of which means there’ll be more wet plant photos this week taken during lulls between the storms.
Furcraea foetida ‘Mediopicta.’ This agave relative can handle the increased moisture.
Senecio anteuphorbium turgid with rain.
Winter-red stems of Senecio medley-woodii.
Mystery cotyledon from flea market that resembles “Cotyledon orbiculata cylindrical lime green leaf” (found at Lifestyle Seeds website)
Big storm predicted for tonight. Perfect night for baking cookies and re-viewing Blade Runner, which does great movie rain.
“It’s too bad she won’t live. Then again, who does?” Great movie, Blade Runner. And I love your opening paragraph — well written and a good grabber.
Pam, another fan! “I’ve seen things you people wouldn’t believe: Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion.” This recent amount of rain is Bladerunnerish.
My back garden is a big fat swamp. If it was 30 degrees warmer I might be able to go out there and catch me some craw-dads.
Can you believe? record after record. No such thing as global climate change, right?
Weather weirdness seems to be abounding all over the planet. Your record rain is news here on the other coast. In this Zone 8 climate we have had three snows and two weeks of temperatures between 18 and 40.
I fear I’ve caused this dreaded weather pattern with my little trip to SoCal taking placce within the week!
I’m going to try to pack some good weather in my carry on and smuggle it in!
Believe it, Dustin. 710 closed at Willow because of flooding.
Kathy, so sorry about your “lake effect.” (But I hear crawdads are great with crab boil.)
Les, sounds like you’ve moved zones! Hope it’s not too much of a shock to your garden.
I’m so sorry, Saucy, that your trip to San Diego might be a rainy one. Bring the brollies along with the smuggled sunshine just in case.
we are “bracing” for the worst of the storms so far down here in southern california. storm watch hysteria. sadly, it has been pretty traumatic for some of our friends and neighbors here in laguna beach–flooded homes and businesses, toppled trees, slipping foundations, sump pump land. but we always need the rain! will give “blade runner” a try if our power holds out!
Janine, today’s storm seemed the most intense. I read that downtown Laguna was closed to business due to flooding. Take care!
I went out in the weather this morning. It seems so freaking exotic that I just love walking around in it. That said, there were lots of collisions and even some cars underwater. I hope you’re safe. I’m sure your plants are having the time of their lives!
Our newspaper has finally started coverage of what you all are going through, they’ve even said you are now ahead of us for rainfall on the month, yikes! Hope you are all keeping you head above water and there is no damage to your plants I love to covet.
I saw all the flooded streets the other night on the weather channel! Oh my! Now if you only had that cistern.
David/ Tropical Texana
BTW: Thanks for posting the Furcrea. I have a pup from a Furcrea that’s showing some unusual foliage patterns and thought it was identical to a medio-picta. I’m excited that it is different and quite nice. If it hold into adulthood, I may have something completely new.
🙂