Record-setting rainfall in Kern County could be a good sign for plant nurseries in town.

With El Niño bringing storms to the valley much more often than in years past, nurseries are hoping that the wet weather will be enough to convince consumers that it's safe to start gardening again.

This past year, drought and California water restrictions made it tough.

"Most every nursery in California dropped 20 to 25 percent" after water restrictions were put into action, according to White Forest Nursery owner Jere White. The nurseries themselves aren't heavily restricted, but their customer base is. Thus, many sellers began using plants that don't require as much water, such as cacti and other deser-dwelling plant life.

White also said that he's noticed "optimism" in customers about what the rain means for gardening, and he thinks that we should have enough rain to get us through a hopefully lengthy gardening season.