I’ve just been in Santa Cruz, California, where my dear friend and co-author Carolyn Dille resides with her husband, Dick Walvis. Carolyn and Dick live in a lovely old neighborhood, with very hilly terrain and a distant view of the Pacific. Their gardens are way ahead of mine back in Maryland, since my daffodils were about 3-inches high and just starting to bud when I left, while theirs are at their peak, with some of the earlier varieties already spent. Rosemary and salvias—everything from 6-foot ornamentals to the culinary Salvia officinalis and bright-red blooms of pineapple sage (Salvia elegans) are in full flower, while in my zone 7 garden it is too early to even set out my pineapple sage.

Their backyard garden which is on a slope, is home to blooming plum, almond, California bay, olive trees, and a lemon tree laden with fruit. Planted amongst these trees are huge blooming rosemary bushes, many herbs, flowering bulbs, rose bushes, garlic, artichokes, and numerous perennials. Walking around the neighborhood, I was astounded at the number of sedums and cacti that grow exuberantly in that foggy climate.

I couldn’t wait to visit the Santa Cruz farmers’ market, which was crowded and colorful—with produce and people. Greens of every color were piled high, some of them with purple hues (kale) and brilliant rainbow stems (chard). Brassicas were on display from broccoli and cauliflower to baby Brussels sprouts and pointed cabbages. Tables full of artichokes, asparagus spring onions, leeks and radishes showed the harbingers of spring in full regalia. The array of citrus was incredible—every type of orange that I could think of, and more—from sweet tangelos and mandarins to juicy, blood-red fruits. Yellow spheres from large to small were carefully stacked in pyramids: grapefruits, pommelos (huge and sweet!) and lemons.

We left the market, after drinking shots of amazing homemade sauerkraut juice; our choices were dill pickle, smokey jalapeno, or leek and horseradish sauerkraut! Of course, I had to try the latter since horseradish is herb of the year for 2011 and it is delish! Our bounty of locally-grown vegetables and fruit inspired us to create many memorable meals. I will post a few favorite recipes in the next day or two. Meanwhile you can savor springtime in California with some of the following photos. For those of you in cooler parts of the country, know that spring is coming soon!

Fine Gardening Recommended Products

A.M. Leonard Deluxe Soil Knife & Leather Sheath Combo

Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

MULTITASKING DUAL EDGES: a deep serrated edge and a tapered slicing edge ideal for tough or delicate cuts. DURABLE 6-inch stainless steel blade withstands 300 lbs of pressure. TWINE CUTTING NOTCH, DEPTH GAUGE MARKINGS & spear point - no need to switch tools when using this garden knife. LEATHER SHEATH: heavy duty, protective, clip on sheath to keep your knife convenient and secure. LIFETIME WARRANTY.

Buy at Amazon

Ashman Garden Cultivator (1Pack)

Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

Solid Build—The Ashman Garden Cultivator/Tiller is strong in construction so that it can withstand heavy work in the garden. The blade and the shaft are coupled well for deep digging and uprooting the soil from the depths. It serves the purpose of cultivation very well. Create a blooming crop and watch it blossom and reap the benefits. Sharpened Fine piercing Blade—The blades are razor sharp and are made to pierce into any kind of soil and to serve digging, loosening soil, and weeding. The blades are rust-proof and have chip-resistant coating enhancing durability. Use it to control weeds, bury crop residue in the soil, and for preparing a proper seed bed. High-Quality Design—The thoughtful design incorporated to shape the blades in L shape helps dig deep into the soil and rip it from beneath for cultivation. This helps a lot when weeding. Dig well and plant well. The handle is made to fit in the hand well and can be held tightly to apply push and pull forces effectively. Practical Utility—The garden cultivator is made with “practical utility” as the core of its purpose. It serves all the necessary purposes when gardening. Helps mix soil, which will loosen it up, providing more nutrients for the crops.

Buy at Amazon

Berry & Bird Rabbiting Spade, Trenching Shovel

Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

Ideal Tool for All Gardeners Use: Our heavy duty trenching shovel is designed by a professional gardening tool designer. Lifetime Durability: This heavy duty drain spade is made of high-quality stainless steel, it is very strong and durable, even if it is used for high-strength work, it will not bend. Ergonomic Wood Handle: The handle of this planting spade is made of ash hardwood harvested from FSC-certified forests and has an ergonomically streamlined design, making it very suitable for everyone's hands. Multi-Use: This digging shovel is generally used for digging trenches, digging holes, transplanting, edging, moving compost, cutting thick turf and furrowing. The sharp blade allows you to cut, scoop, dig, lift and dice in hard soil.

Buy at Amazon