November Weather Report -- Sunny weather returns

Pascuita (Euphorbia leuococephala) which begins blooming at the end of November, and is a sign that Christmas will soon be here.

 The rains stopped on the first day of November. The next morning the sun emerged after an absence of almost a month. Local radio stations began receiving calls from listeners reporting a strange round, yellow object in the sky (how quickly we forget what the sun looks like!).

The rest of November was sunny or partly sunny, with measurable rainfall every two or three days -- just about perfect for the garden. Clear skies brought warmer days and cooler nights, with highs around 77 and lows around 61. Winds picked up from the east (the trade winds) and we experienced gentle breezes or light winds most of the time. Total rainfall came to 7.7 inches. Rainfall for the year now stands at 124 inches.

I spent much of the month getting the vegetable garden ready for planting.

This was the third November we have experienced in Costa Rica. Although considered part of the rainy season, I have found November to be an overall pleasant month -- rains are diminishing while sunshine is increasing; humidity is dropping while winds are increasing, and changing direction from the west to the east. This is healthier for the plants, and also reduces mold and mildew in the house, so is healthier for the gardener as well.

Happy gardening!