A nice lady at the water company (HVUD) phoned this morning to let me know my water usage was significantly higher than usual and my bill would be way up. I think it is very considerate that they check your past usage and warn you what to expect.

I told her I had been deep watering my trees.

At least I won’t have to pay the sewer charge on the extra usage.

It’s definitely nice not having mosquitoes. This really is Southern California weather.

I’ve been watering as hard as I can but I’ve lost quite a few azaleas, maybe one dogwood. I long ago gave up on ground covers, annuals like impatiens, and the hostas. I’m really just trying to keep the big stuff alive.

Me too, SB. My hydrangea totally kicked the bucket after miraculously surviving the freeze. My rose bush is doing well, but even my mint all died. The only thing I’m trying to save now, other than the rose bush, is the trees.

My orange tree, probably not surprisingly, is absolutely thriving in this. It’s in a container so I can take it inside during the winter, and it looks absolutely wonderful.

Ivy, you have an orange tree??? What do you do with it in the winter?

My herbs are doing great. The rosemary and lavender are in heaven. Wishing now I’d planted a lemon tree.

I’m wondering: is this a sign of things to come? I’m going to pull out all the azaleas. Maybe I should replace them with something a little more drought-resistant. Maybe even plant a lemon tree. LOL.

Well, if evolution really works, these plants will eventually adapt to this new climate. - although I think it’s a bit early to declare the heat and drought as permanent.

I do have an orange tree. It’s in a great big pot, so in the winter it comes inside. You just prune it in the fall to make sure it’s not too tall for your house.

Next year I’m gonna buy a key lime tree so I can make key lime pie.

I know the feeling. It hit 110 here last week on our thermometer on the porch in the shade!