Wild mustard season in January for Sonoma and Napa Valleys is upon us

Wild mustard flowers sprouting from mustard seeds, were probably the main reason I moved to the wine country from the San Francisco Bay Area.

In 1999, for Christmas; I came to Sonoma County to visit a friend that lived across from Mt. Hood and Sugarloaf Ridge State Park. At the park there was an observatory with several telescopes for viewings and educational classes up on the mountain. (The observatory was destroyed during the 2017 Tubbs Fire.)

After Christmas, I stayed in the area about a month- exploring, visiting wineries and restaurants, as well as the Sonoma Coast. Looking across the valley from my friend's family home, before looking up at Mt. Hood, you could see the bright yellow mustard flowers that bloomed across the fields and vineyards in mid to late January. Upon visiting the other vineyards in Sonoma and Napa Valleys, the countless open pastures, that were also filled and covered with bright yellow in this wintery cold month- I felt like this was the place I wa was meant to be. There was something very happy about that much color being present in the coldest month of the year, that gave me hope.

Mustard has been known to remain dormant for upwards of 30 years, but has been known to persist in soils for at least 100 years. Generally dormant seeds are brought back to life by specific weather patterns or the overturning of the soil by agricultural equipment. After the bloom dissipates, the vegetation is generally tilled back into the soil around grapevines to provide ongoing nutrients, and specifically much needed phosphorus for grape production and ripening. The same nutrients are also great for other farming like corn and pumpkins in the later part of the year.

These countless, seemingly infinite bright yellow flowers represent the start of Spring and remind me of the daily sunrise. I stayed in and around Sonoma County after 2003, and have been here 18 out of the last 21 years. This is definitely a great place to retire to or raise a family, but with the high cost of living; I would not recommend it to those starting out or seeking to build long term wealth from the ground up. It's a great place to visit, and one you should not miss for vacation.

Photos sourced from : https://www.pinterest.com/pin/460774605610363154/?lp=true

and Rose Samuels Studios in Santa Rosa, California
http://www.rosesamuels.com/gallery/sonoma-county-places-to-take-picture/