Sweet Orange

Tomorrow is the first day of spring, and according to Robert Frost, it is time to stop and smell the flowers, live in the moment, and appreciate what we have:

Oh, give us pleasure in the flowers today;
And give us not to think so far away
As the uncertain harvest keep us here,
All simply in the springing of the year.
–”A Prayer in Spring,” Robert Frost

What’s blooming in Southern California? Contact the Theodore Payne Foundation Wildflower Hotline, a 24-hour service, at 818-768-3533 or theodorepayne.org. Or read the OC Parks Wildflower blog.

Enjoy!

Photo Courtesy Desert USA–Wildflower Report 2010, Southern California

Note: In addition to tomorrow being the first day of spring, it is also the one-year anniversary of this blog. Happy Birthday to the Sweet Orange!

A few weeks ago, I wrote about the IBC, Irvine’s mixed-use, live-work-play district. In the future, I will write about Costa Mesa’s mixed-use, live-work-play district, South Coast Metro. South Coast Metro includes Costa Mesa’s arts and cultural center as well as South Coast Plaza, a shopping mall that includes international and local shoppers.

More on all that later. Today, I am going to concentrate on South Coast Plaza’s Annual Garden Show—especially some of the events that are appropriate for Earth Day, which is Wednesday. Many seminars and talks are available, but the following are particularly appropriate for Earth Day.  Some of the topics include composting, planting a victory garden, and lowering garden water use and, therefore, your water bill.

Thursday, April 23, 4:00 pm, Annuals and Perennials; and Practice Urban Composting

The University of California Master Gardeners of Orange County present Annuals and Perennials, discuss plants that flourish in Orange County gardens and Practical Urban Composting, home composting de-mystified, and From Garden to Table, how to plant your own Victory Garden in 2009.

Friday, April 24, 2009, 10:00 am, Gardening Green in Orange County

Ron Vanderhoff, Nursery General Manager, Roger’s Gardens and weekly columnist for the Daily Pilot, The Coastal Gardener, will give a comprehensive overview of the green issues related to gardening including, water conservation and runoff, coastal pollution, invasive plant issues and green waste concerns. He will also discuss plant selections, sustainable designs, new irrigation techniques and technology, water harvesting and composting.

Saturday, April 25, 2009, 2:30 pm, Protecting the Pacific

Douglas Kent, Author and Environmental Horticulture, Landscape Designer discusses his unique strategy for creating landscapes that help breathe life into our ocean and waterways. Kent, a successful environmental horticulturalist and landscape designer will discuss design strategies, illustrate construction ideas, and provide a wealth of maintenance tips that, when combined, will either stop and/or clean the water running off your property

Sunday, April 26, 2009, 3:30 pm, Earth Friendly Landscape Designs

Rama Nayeri, owner Creations Landscape Designs, describes the many, easy and cost effective ways to significantly reduce water and grocery bills by having an earth friendly landscape design that will combine beauty of the natural environment and improve the community.

South Coast Plaza’s annual spring garden show runs this week from Thursday, April 23, through Sunday, April 26. For a look at all the South Coast Plaza events, which includes demonstration gardens and children’s events, see the event calendar.

Tomorrow: a look at the numbers for Irvine’s University Town Center homes

Wednesday, Earth Day: a look at some National Natural Landmark spots that are suitable for a day or long-weekend trip

PHOTO COURTESY SOUTH COAST PLAZA SPRING GARDEN SHOW

Today is the first day of spring, and since spring is a time for new beginnings, this is an appropriate day to begin this new blog, which I am calling The Sweet Orange Housing Blog. In this blog, I will provide insight into housing in Orange County, mostly by focusing on development issues in the cities of Irvine and Costa Mesa. But I will also discuss other issues—both local and national—that influence the housing market in Orange County.

I will concentrate on what the housing numbers are telling us, but since the numbers don’t tell the whole story of an area, I’ll be writing about the people, places and things that contribute to making an area what it is. More on all that on Monday, when I start posting on a routine basis. Monday’s post will also explain the “Blog Reborn” part of this post’s title. For now, here is a quote that is appropriate for the beginning of the spring season and that is relevant to our current financial difficulties.

“All that is gold does not glitter, not all those who wander are lost; the old that is strong does not wither, deep roots are not reached by the frost. From the ashes a fire shall be woken, a light from the shadows shall spring; renewed shall be blade that was broken, the crownless again shall be king.”—J.R.R. Tolkien

PHOTO: spring wildflowers blooming in the southern California desert courtesy DesertUSA. Click on the link to find the locations and dates that the wildflowers are in bloom.

Note: Just as the Tolkien quote shown above is a metaphor for an appropriate, long-term view of our current financial situation, so too is wildflowers blooming in the desert. All is not lost; spring will come again. When it does, hopefully, we will have learned from our mistakes and not repeat them.