Too Early For That

San Jose is a temperate climate kind of place. We average temperatures in the mid-seventies throughout the year - occasionally much lower, occasionally much higher. You know to expect SUNNY skies most of the time - and afternoon FOG to cool off the Summer heat.

If you look on a map, San Jose sits at the bottom of the San Francisco Bay and is nestled between two mountain ranges, The Coastal Range and the Diablo Range. This location is what gives San Jose the warm summers from being sheltered by the mountains - and the natural airconditioner from the fog drifting in from the ocean and the bay. 

Springtime in San Jose

I live in the FOOTHILLS of the Diablo Range. As Winter gives way to Spring, we usually watch our hills change from gray to green. Then the mustard greens and CALIFORNIA poppies start blooming and the green hillsides are then dotted with patches of yellow and orange/gold. It is beautiful. During a NORMAL year, this is how the hills will stay until mid to late Summer when they turn GOLDEN. It is incredibly beautiful in August.

The picture above is how the hills usually look in July - turning golden with some green still visible. But this picture was TAKEN yesterday!!! It is ONLY MAY and the hillside should be GREEN. Yes, it was raining yesterday but only a little. Not enough to change the persistent drought conditions we are experiencing. Not enough to stop the FIRE SEASON which has been declared TWO MONTH early. 

If ever there was an indicator of how bad the California DROUGHT is, my hills are definitely it. Please keep us in your thoughts as Summer and increased fire danger quickly approaches. If you know any rain dances, do them. . . and send them to me. I think I need to freshen up my routine.