June Almanac It's California: Choose Your Climate
By Clinton S. Powell, Naturalist

May and June are marked with the nearly daily presence of fog at the coast which travels occasionally inland. Photo by Darrel Kinney

In this stunning county of San Diego, we have the three major climates known to this earth: the beaches, mountains and the deserts. We live in between two of these climates and frequently receive more of one than the other. 

At the beach, most people experience what local weathermen call June Gloom. School is over and it's time to flail bodies out into the sun for a suntan. Be prepared; this may not happen frequently. Low pressure on the Pacific Ocean sinks in with low, thick, almost drizzle conditions. The fragrance of the intoxicating ocean surrounds us with so much synesthesia, frequently it's a sensual overload. Be patient. Also, I'll clarify the word synesthesia at the end of this article.   

In the desert, the huge eye-popping high pressure knocks the mercury into solid three digits every day.   

Here we are in between. Life in June can be compared to a flowing tide. Cool one night, cool one day, then warm one night, then hot the next. Basically, San Diego County is regarded by weather forecasters as the equivalent to being inducted into the Marine Corps or another category listed with three words.   

I use the Weather Channel for my data, as this is what most folks refer to and either rise in delight or drop in despair according to what is seen and heard. Use whatever data you want; more weather data is available than gnats at a

June picnic. Unfortunately, the Weather Channel does not state the year of the highest and lowest temperature. But by casually glancing at the data, be prepared.   

The average temperature for June 1 is a high of 72 degrees, a low of 44 degrees. For June 30, the average is 81 degrees, a low of 52 degrees. This almost brings tears to the eyes of folks spending June in Julian or the gardener. The gardener should be prepared: 13 days historically have been below freezing. The record temperatures are June 1, 92 and 31 degrees. On June 30, the high was 98 degrees and the low, 38 degrees. Do not, I repeat stuff away your favorite sweater, long pants, maybe gloves, too.   

You perhaps will feel very smug knowing you have a decent supply of firewood; if you don't, well, you are not prepared for June. Take it or leave it; this is our climate.   

The gardener should keep a daily engagement calendar for his or her own specific home. An Audubon Society, Sierra Club or, if you can find one next year, is a Weather Engagement Calendar. If you believe the climate is Julian is extreme, the daily notes from around the United States will take the caffeine bite out of the strongest cappuccino. Differences vary drastically from one side of the road to another. Buy a good Taylor maximum/minimum thermometer, and write the temperature down every day. You may not be grilled by San Diego weathermen, but your neighbor may pull off the gloves and go bare-knuckle. Believe me; I've seen it.   

The birds that spent the autumn and winter months with us and brightened our darkest days are slowly leaving. They are somewhat easy to identify, as these are mature birds, fully grown despite spending the winter in Mexico's unspeakable environment. They leave on their own schedule. It's very easy to note the first arrival of a species; ah, the biggest challenge is noting the very, very, last white-crowned sparrow or osprey. These sightings can be entered into your Daily Engagement Calendar, so if a consultant from the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology calls, you will verify with your notes dates for specific birds. Cornell has stopped its ivory-billed woodpecker studies for the season. For more details see www.jls39@cornell.edu.   

Perhaps you've noticed that the cliff swallow, violet-green swallows, Lazuli buntings, orioles, wrens, black-headed grosbeaks, tanagers and hummingbirds are nesting and very soon young birds will appear at your home.   

Everyone has seen the sentinel ground squirrel sitting boldly on top of rocks and cutting loose with what I believe is referred to as a mating call. Vermin basically is their status. The western gray squirrels, however, are the king and queen of our mountains. Keep a daily note of where you see or hear them. Yes, this mammal has one of the most stunning calls in our mountains. Our western gray squirrels have succumbed to Pasturellia multicida, a common disease spread by saliva. Since 1995 when Bob Allen from Pine Hills called about the drastic decline of these delightful mammals, we are left with no true answer of: Why are they not here anymore?   

Fisherman; hit the lakes and ponds at first light and use your magic. Use Weather Underground at www.weatherunder ground.com. Data is for Ramona and times are UDT.    

I've not mentioned the mosquitoes, deer flies, horse flies, black flies, gnats...They are either where you are or not, but soon, they will arrive; that's as scientific as I can state.    

Synesthesia: "The pen is the tongue of the mind." Miguel Cervantes, Don Quixote.

Do enjoy the month. Be prepared. Celebrate with a small fire; or celebrate with Julian's finest warm weather treat, a vanilla malt at the Julian Drug Store!