April 27 - May 3, 2026: no precipitation. Warming days and nights. Soil in the yard and gardens are drying out and are beginning to need watering in areas with hot sunshine. Trees and plants that had first growth leaves frozen on April 17th (28°F low for the day) are beginning to produce a 2nd round of leaves. Flowers on the horse chestnut tree are just now opening, and the tree is humming with bees and bumblebees. Iris have large but unopened blooms. Chive flowers are opening. Hummingbirds continue to use the feeders, but I haven't seen them closely enought to know if they are Anna's staying late in the season or black chinned arriving early. Grasses in the footihills are tall and green at this point--a potential problem for wildland fires when grasses dry out. NWS 7 and 14-day forecasts show warming overnight and daytime temps. Annual plants have been put in the ground with the hope there will be no additional freezing morning temps in May.