January 2015

ByErik Olson

And some rain came …

Santa Barbara joyously welcomed the 6.3 inches of rain we received in December. Unhappily these rains represent only 20% of the yearly average rainfall in Santa Barbara and a very small percentage of the amount needed to end our three-year long drought. That being said, the growing things on More Mesa were very appreciative of even this small relief. Grasses and flowers are making their appearance, Cottonwoods are getting ready to burst, Red Wing Blackbirds are calling, and we have even heard tree frogs “singing” in some areas. In short, it is very lovely out on More Mesa. Enjoy!

Happy New Year!

2015jan01

2015jan02

Similar Posts

  • | |

    Living With the Lockdown – Treasure Hunt #4

    ByErik Olson

    A Flower That Blooms for a Single Day … oops a Single Night! The plant we are featuring in this hunt, commonly known as Datura, and in the Nightshade family, is unusual in many ways. First it has several names, among them: Devil’s Trumpet, Devil’s Weed and Jimson Weed*. And, unlike the Miner’s Lettuce and Willow of…

  • December 2015

    ByErik Olson

    2015 … The Year in Review The day we knew was coming, but wouldn’t welcome, arrived. In late July a group with the same members who circulated development plans for More Mesa three years ago, announced that they represented the Kalid Saud Al Shebaily Group (KSSG), owners of More Mesa. The new group’s opening salvo came…

  • |

    Spring 2017

    ByErik Olson

    Spring 2017 This Month on More Mesa … Spring Flowers: The big rains that finally came, while turning the grasses green, have not produced many wildflowers. The problem could be that the rains came too late in the season. However, careful scrutiny will reveal some Blue-eyed Grass … here and there … and some extremely…

  • November 2015

    ByErik Olson

    El Niño: A New Feature on our Web Site Weather is critical to what happens on More Mesa. Drought and its effects on More Mesa have been discussed over the last several years. Now with a “too-big-to-fail” El Niño about to alleviate some of that drought, a new section Ecology->Climate and Weather, has been added…

  • June 2015

    ByErik Olson

    Lots of Special Birds A wide area of More Mesa has been surveyed within the last few days. We are most happy to report that 34 different species were identified during this one survey. Among them were two raptors, a Peregrine Falcon and a Cooper’s Hawk. Also of very special interest were eight singing Grasshopper…

  • March 2015

    ByErik Olson

    The White-tailed Kite, MMPC’s signature bird, is a “California Bird Species of Special Concern”. It has been given this designation because the White-tailed Kite was once at risk of disappearing, and is currently found in few places in California; one important area being the Goleta Valley. And within the Goleta Valley, More Mesa is one…