The Santa Anas are becoming a thing

Now, SoCal is known for Santa Ana winds, but this is getting ridiculous. There was the really scary, very damaging storm in 2011. That storm was the beginning of a total re-vamp of what our garden would look like and coming to terms with the damage to the house. Then, as expected, there was a 10 year span of winds that were gusty, but certainly not bad, until two years ago, when we had the storm which felled trees and power poles on our street. Okay, wait another 10 years for the next disaster -- not too bad, right? Wrong. Last week we had winds up to 50+ mph and while we lucked out with minimal damage (though lots of debris to clean up), once again our garden and yard will be getting a bit of a makeover. Comparing us to the devastation of the tornadoes  that touched down the same day in the Midwest and south -- no contest. Tornadoes are by far more devastating. 

For a glimpse at what the wind hath wrought, behold:

Nellie and Rascal were not thrilled as they surveyed the damage. The large overturned pot, by the way, was snugged up against a wall and is so heavy a truck couldn't move it -- yet there it lies.

The patio, which I had just cleaned to pristine perfection the day before, was covered in leaves from the hedge. That hedge was our privacy screen as well as cutting down on traffic noise and pollution. Now it's like a torn curtain.

Then there were the pots which, though not particularly pretty, again resting against a wall, just got swept up and thrown around. Oddly and happily enough, none of them broke.

The hedge on the side of the house fared even worse than the backyard and it makes me wonder when, or if, it will make a comeback. If you look at the lower left corner, you'll see a pile of leaves which are covering what is a rock swale. The leaves were so deep, even with a blower it was hard to clear them.

My saddest find were the knocked over pots that sat on metal chairs. They were the anchors to the front corner. Alas, since this is the second time for their downfall, they will have to be placed somewhere else.

 

And last, but not least, I am seriously going to have to talk to the manager of the huge long needle pine trees across the street from us. Every little puff of wind sends debris to our side to clean up. After wind storms like this one, we can fill two huge waste bins just with the broken branches, pine cones, and needles. I'm not certain, but I think the manager is the tall tree in the center.

When I'm over my snit about the cleanup project, I may go over and lodge a complaint.