After wandering the deserts of Calif and Arizona for almost 2 months we have just spent 2 weeks in Thousand Oaks California visiting family.  Below is a short video of my mom’s home during a family get together this last weekend.

A lot has happened since we left the southland, it has rained several inches! As we descended from the high desert of Mojave National Preserve it immediately became apparent things had changed dramatically …it has severely greened up!

As we approached the coast we were shocked at the transformation in the hills, they were covered in a vivid green. We thought we had driven into Ireland. As we all know the drought is far from over but today its hard to imagine.

Some of the local reservoirs are near full, spillways and drainage ditches are carrying water and there is rain in the forecast.

In my humble opinion the reason there is a drought in SoCal is not because of a lack of rainfall but because there are way to many people dependent on using water.

If the population in LA was half the size it is today I doubt the word “drought” would even come up in a conversation.

As people pour into the southland from Mexico, from the east coast, especially after the winter they are experiencing  and the rest the world the water shortage will probably never go away.

In the mean time it would be prudent for Californians to take advantage and enjoy this green while they can. Walk in the hills, drive the coast, take time to smell the flowers…..they most likely will soon be gone.

Lately its been a perfect growing environment in Southern California, 1-3 inches of rain every few weeks interspersed with 70-80 degree clear hot sunny weather. The natural grasses, the flowering plants, and the trees are all in full bloom. I have never seen this kind of growth in a short period.

The bad news is when the hot dry winds return and if the drought continues the upcoming fire season should be a real zinger.

This winter we have spent all together about 7 weeks in SoCal. As we continue our journey north with stops along the Pacific coast, the High Sierras and some great locations in between we will truly miss this mild Mediterranean type weather and especially our family.

Keep you Posted………..