Water your garden folks.

Not much to say, except that you may need to get out there and give some water love to your plants.  This extended dry period is not all that unusual for winter, but often one forgets to tend their winter garden like they do their summer garden.  The ground is certainly not 'summer dry' yet, but things are not typical for early January.  Check you soil and plants, and water accordingly.  Because the sun is low and the temps are mild, you will not need to be out there too often.  Still, stop in and see how your chard is doing.

Know what this tomato relative is?  It is sweet and perennial, and gives a few winter bites when we have drought.

You may also want to take a moment and do a little weeding.  We get a lot of clover.  A bit is not bad at all, but too much will compete for both water and nutrients.  So we tend to thin them out a bit.  Another task you could accomplish this weekend is planting some new starts.  If you put some lettuces in the ground, they should be able to get established before the rain comes, and you will be making salad with in a month or two.  The great thing about winter planting is how little attention it really needs.  A bit of weed thinning every once in a while.  A bit of water when the rain stops for a few weeks.  A brief check in for damage during the heavy rain.   A protective barrier during the very coldest nights.  A some time to pick the snails and slugs about once a week.  Oh yeah, those guys love winter and they love lettuce.