The Annual Green-to-Golden Transition of San Diego's wild grasslands typically starts during early April &mdash though this year, early rains in winter followed by abundant sunshine may accelerate the process. North-facing hillsides and canyon slopes retain the green color longer, …

The Moon, just past full phase, rises into the darkening eastern sky at around 7:25 p.m. on Saturday, March 19, some 25 minutes after the sun sets. About twelve hours later, you can watch the moon sink into the Pacific …

The Anza-Borrego Desert State Park flowers best this month, with peak blooms expected early in the month in low-lying, warm areas like Borrego Valley, the Borrego Badlands, Coyote Canyon, and along Highway S-2 in the south end of the park. …

Pacific Daylight Time, or "daylight saving time," starts on Sunday morning, March 13, at 2 a.m. No time is "saved" by advancing our clocks by one hour. This sneaky trick in civil time is designed to rouse us out of …

March Is the Proverbial Windy Month here in San Diego, as it is in many places. From midday to late afternoon, sun-warmed air expands and rises over the county's interior, drawing in an influx of cool air from the coast …

Ocean Water Temperatures, of late in the 50s Fahrenheit, are finally on the upswing this month as the daylight hours lengthen and the sun arcs higher overhead in the sky each day. It will take about five months of spring …

Manzanita Shrubs are starting to bloom this month in the foothill areas of the Cleveland National Forest. The various manzanitas, characterized by smooth, reddish bark and tough, leathery leaves, bear myriads of tiny, white to pinkish-white, urn-shaped blossoms. Large (decades-old) …

Tree Heights can be easily measured this week if the sun shines at midday. On or near Friday, February 18, at or very near 12 noon, the sun as seen from San Diego County stands at an altitude of 45 …

The Moon, just shy of full phase, rises dramatically into the late-afternoon eastern sky Thursday, February 17, at around 5:20 p.m. &mdash some 20 minutes before the time of sunset. The following morning, the moon is closer to true full …

The Valentine’s Day Moon this year is in waxing gibbous phase, its three-quarter-full shape dominating the southeastern sky at dusk. Consider a walk after dark with your lover in any safe and reasonably dark place. Moonlight is magic in such …

The Planet Jupiter remains prominent in the southwestern sky after dark in January through February; however, it will be ever lower in the sky into late February and March. In early April, Jupiter will be in conjunction with the sun, …

Already swollen with runoff and snowmelt from recent storms, San Diego County's waterfalls should be at their very best during the next month or two. Three of the most accessible are: Green Valley Falls at Cuyamaca Rancho State Park; the …

Acacias, estooned with myriads of fluffy yellow blossoms, are brightening streetsides, freeway embankments, and backyard gardens throughout the San Diego area this month. Although many acacias are native to subtropical regions, nearly all we see today in San Diego were …

Highest Monthly Rainfall totals in San Diego are most likely to occur in January and February (about 1.9 inches each on average) according to weather-service statistics. If low temperatures accompany the typical Pacific storms of this period, there's a chance …

The Fabled "Green Flash" at sunset or sunrise can sometimes be seen on crystal-clear days in January. At the instant the sun's upper rim is last visible at sunset, and also at the instant when it is first seen at …

Jupiter Joins Venus in the western sky at dusk on Sunday, January 9. The two lie about 10 degrees apart from one another — a noticeable yet not spectacular pairing. The Latest Sunrise of the year (on standard, not daylight …

Green and Gold are the colors of the coastal region's natural landscape in early 2011. A greater-than-average amount of rain late last year triggered the early growth of annual grasses and weeds, with greens replacing yellows and browns. At the …

Recent Chilly Days and Nights only confirm that San Diego's lowest temperatures (according to more than a century of weather records) tend to occur during the month of January. January's mean temperature at Lindbergh Field is about 55 degrees Fahrenheit. …

Extreme High and Low Tides will occur again in early January. On New Year's day, a peak high tide of +6.2 feet occurs at 6:21 a.m. Sunday, January 2, a high tide of +6.3 feet peaks at 7:04 a.m. Monday's …

Gray whale migration off San Diego County's coast peaks from now until February. The best view spots from land are high points close to the surf. Aside from the whale watching overlook at Cabrillo National Monument, try Sunset Cliffs, the …