Its been hot this winter in So Cal

[PbFut]

I’m about a mile inside the north San Diego County line, and this “winter” has been so warm that two of my low‑chill peach trees actually flowered on February 4th. Several other varieties are trying to push blooms too. I’m already watering the trees and the ground cover on a large graded slope as if it were early summer.
It’ll be interesting to see whether any fruit actually matures this year. The critters—who usually get far more of the harvest than I do—might be in for a disappointment. The avocado trees are loving the temperatures, but they’re gulping water. A rat even pulled off an avocado the other day and set it on top of a chippings pile to ripen.
The rats, squirrels, and chipmunks have their apartment complexes set up, and they compete with the deer in the chaparral around the grove. Meanwhile, the foxes, coyotes, bobcats, and even the occasional cougar have their kitchens arranged to keep the rodent population in check. It can be quite a show.
I’ve been here 10 years, and things usually stay in balance, but a year like this might stress the norm.