By Sue KILPATRICK

“A seedling springs forth from the ground. Nature’s cycle goes round and round.”

— S. Edward Palmer

In the late 1800s this Englishman traveled the world as a medical doctor, botanist, self-proclaimed anthropologist and poet. Little did he know he would be quoted by an amateur weather watcher as she wrote about the mountains above her home in La Crescenta. This all came about after looking on Google Earth. What I saw shocked me – barren, seemingly lifeless mountainside. Was it really that bad? Then I noticed the images were taken in the fall of 2009 – shortly after the Station Fire. Yes, it was really that bad.

In comparing the pictures of then with now it is amazing and encouraging to see Nature healing itself in a comparably short span of time. The right weather conditions have come together to encourage the renewal of both the flora and fauna in our mountains. A combination of 20 inches of rain (so far this season) and abundant sunshine this week are perfect.

In the past week we experienced summer-like temperatures, accompanied by Santa Ana winds. At 4:00 a.m. one morning it was 72 degrees! Clear skies toward evening made for a spectacular sunset with pink-tinged clouds and a three-quarter full moon against the darkening eastern sky. This is January, isn’t it? Well the very fact I was pruning my roses, though I was wearing short sleeves, hat and sunscreen, reminded me it was indeed January. This current weather pattern is basically here to stay with only some fluctuations in temperatures.

Hopefully, your CV Weekly will be in your own driveway and not blown down the street by Santa Ana Winds – with possible gusts reaching 65 mph – expected Thursday and Friday! Over the weekend it will cool to the low 70s daytime and upper 40s at night. By the first of next week a rebound is predicted with the return of warm and windy weather. With most certainty, I will say, “Your umbrella can take some time off – for now!”

Just a little something to remind us that it is still winter. This week was the first full moon of the New Year. The Native Americans gave each one a name appropriate for that time of year.  Tribes living in the colder regions called this moon the Snow moon. It was also referred to as the Wolf moon. As winter set in, food became scarce and hungry wolves could be heard howling nearby.

No snow or wolves can be found in the Crescenta Valley, only a few lone coyotes!

Sue Kilpatrick is a longtime CV resident and amateur weather watcher. Reach her at suelkilpatrick@gmail.com.

  Sue Kilpatrick, weather