Borrego Midnight

Borrego midnight! Mention that to any resident and he will know exactly what you mean. I will wager that midnight in Borrego differs greatly from midnight in most other places.

It's a mystery as to who first used the phrase, but it certainly caught on quickly - and, it sure suits us! It might even be why Borrego was chosen to be the only town in California to be certified as an International Dark Sky Community- probably not - but you never know!

You've probably guessed by now...Borrego midnight occurs at nine o'clock each evening. This little village absolutely closes down at nine! See for yourself! Travel down Palm Canyon Drive at 10 p.m. and you may see no other headlights, people or signs of any activity. Now, drive through residential areas and notice the few lighted windows. I would venture a guess that most Borregans rise with the sun!

But, what about New Year's Eve, you may ask...De Anza Country Club has certainly solved that problem! They party until midnight but with a caveat...they enjoy dinner and dancing, but celebrate the first New Year's toast when the ball drops in New York - 9 p.m. Borrego time! Some go home, others wait for the Central time zone celebration, followed by Mountain and finally, Pacific time.

Happy New Year, regardless of your time zone!

A Timeless Gift

Over eighty years ago, my grandmother planted some narcissus bulbs alongside a fish pond in her garden. The grandparent's new home had just been constructed and she had carefully planned her garden...bush roses behind the residence - tree roses on each side of a long entry walk - camellias by the porch, gardenias alongside the wall and narcissus bulbs scattered here and there, wherever water was available.

I dug up some of her bulbs many years ago and planted them in our gardens, first near the foothills, then at the beach and finally, at Borrego. Many different settings- the harshest, in a paper bag in a storage garage off Stirrup Road, where I am sure the temperature often exceeded 100 degrees!

Now, they are planted in our garden in many locations...under trees, where there is irrigation and in one principal bed that we can view through our windows. They bloom just in time for the winter holiday season. I always think of my Grandmother, who first planted them, of my Aunt, who later cared for them and of all the residences they represent. To say they are an example of perseverance would certainly be an understatement!

A few years ago, I dug up and separated the bulbs, put twenty-five in little paper bags and gifted them to my relatives , along with the story of "Grandmother's Bulbs". Now, they are planted in many other places as a reminder of our mutual heritage.

They are the perfect "timeless gift" - strong, easy to grow, poisonous to rodents, no pests and beautiful white flowers! After flowering, let the growth turn yellow-brown before removing or separating. Plant twice as deep as the size of the bulb, about six inches apart. They like full sun and need no summer water.

No Shadow, Lots of Water

We didn't get to see the shadow on our solstice stake, this year. In fact, we did not see the sun for four entire days - a rarity in Borrego Springs. It rained from Monday to Thursday...buckets and buckets of rain! According to my neighbor's weather monitor, a total of just under two and one half inches!

The pool overflowed and we opened the front gate to release run-off from inside the garden walls. However, the ground seemed to soak up excess moisture. We thought we would experience heavy run off and some flooding - strangely, we did not! Perhaps the earlier rain this year which resulted in a veil of small green growth over this region served to deter the rapid sheeting of water that we had experienced with the last storm.

We turned all irrigation off the day before the storm. ( We actually believed the TV weatherman!} I'll bet we won't have to turn it on again for several weeks. We will see!

The Caboose and the London Bus

The Desert Gardeners toured the Borrego "Fe" and the London double decked bus. Both vehicles now are focal points in desert gardens and are proudly displayed and used by the owners.

The new Borrego "engineer" told the story of the old Santa Fe caboose, including many problems they encountered with County permits and decisions regarding the best view. ( How hard to decide where to put a train in your yard! ) It is in place permanently and is locked onto it's tracks. We all know for sure that it won't move, because a sharp tremor occurred during the program...it didn't budge an inch! The additional baggage tender makes for a very large table. A perfect set-up for entertaining. The caboose is complete with electric, water and plumbing. A very nice extra room for guests or just a place to get away, close to home.

Right down the street is another yard art object...a bus that had probably traveled on the Queen Mary before traveling to it's final resting place in Borrego Springs. The owners plan to repaint the exterior of the bus . Red or Green? A vote was taken. The greens won! The seats have been removed and the interior is undergoing repair...will it run? Not without a new motor and the owners' say they are content with it as is...their goal is to preserve - not to restore. Both had fun in their authentic driver and ticket-taker uniforms. The driver even sported a safe driver pin on his cap!

I think big things lie ahead for this little street in Ocotillo Heights. Don't be surprised if new garden art pops up. I even heard a rumor that the name of the street might be changed. Do we get to vote on that, too?

You Will Never Believe It!

We were traveling east on the Salton Seaway several years ago and were shocked to see a TRAIN coming towards us, heading in the opposite direction and not on rails. Destination? Obviously, Borrego Springs ! As it drew closer, we could see it was not a train, but a caboose on a flat-bed truck. Whatever could the purpose be? That gave us something to talk about all the way to Trader Joe's, in La Quinta !

Last year, I met the owner of the caboose, who will relay the rest of the story at our Desert Gardener's meeting...and that's not all - on the same street resides a double decked bus from England. How did it get to Borrego and what is the rest of THAT story? The owner's will be there to tell us at the very same meeting.

After Friday, December 10th, you will be convinced that not only plants make for an interesting garden area!

The Cotton Patch

What Is That Stuff?
Don't be alarmed if you see white cottony patches on your santa rita cactus! ( Opuntia violacea var. santa rita ) We often find clumps of the wooly-cottony substance on our plants. We find it more often in humid warm weather, but, today noticed a healthy- looking cluster on one of our cactus, even in the cooler weather...yesterday low, 35 degrees, here.

The cactus is native of Texas, Arizona and Northern Mexico but grows very easily here, in Borrego. A mature plant is an outstanding addition to a desert garden. Our garden contains several specimens.

Before you worry too much about what causes the patches, let me assure you, they are very easy to control! Just hose them off with water from the strongest setting your nozzle has...and keep washing until they are gone. Sometimes , you will see a whitish puddle of water containing the "cotton". If you haven't removed all and notice others, wait a few weeks and repeat the process.

The Beetles!
The Cochineal beetle sticks her nose into the cactus pad to get nourishment. She secretes the white cottony substance to hide and to prevent drying out. She stays in one place but the male has wings and can fly to females for fertilization purposes...after which, he dies. The female is wingless, but her cotton patch will grow into colonies following fertilization and spread about the leaf and plant.
Lots of Uses...
This little beetle produces carminic acid, which can be extracted from her body and eggs to make carmine dye, now used as a food coloring (E120 on the food label) and in rouges, lipsticks, jams. preserves, sauces, meats, poultry and many other places, such as the stain for slides in microbiology.
Historic Beetles!
The Aztec and Maya people long used the dye for fabrics and valued its vivid red- purple color. When the Spanish entered the picture, they saw the value in the product and took it back to Europe and kept it as a State secret. Called the "royal" color, it was available to only the rich. They controlled the market and it wasn't until late 1700 that the rest of the world was let in on the secret!
See for Yourself!
I took a metal pick and scraped off a gob of cotton. With a lens, I looked into the sticky mess and noticed the body of the beetle. I squeezed it and saw the bright red drops of a blood-like substance. It got on my fingers, along with some glochids, and dyed my thumb purple - is it indelible? I'll let you know !

The Giant Radishes

The giant radishes have appeared! Each year, I plant more seeds than we need...this year, no exception - and I thought I was being so careful to plant no more than we could eat! My little row of radishes surrounding the lettuce has produced these huge things that we are trying to eat as fast as we can.

It's the same old pattern...a few years ago I gave some vegetables to a friend ( along with some big radishes ). A few days later she called to tell me how much she enjoyed the parsnips ! She had actually boiled them and told me they were delicious!

Re-Cap, Desert Gardeners November Meeting

Jerry Rowling showed the group several water meters and told us how to understand our water bill. He advised turning all household water off and looking at the water meter to detect an outside leak. If inside water is off and the meter is still registering, you have a leak. First, check all hose connections:

There are 7.48 gallons of water in 1 cubic foot. On your water bill, one unit of water equals 100 cubic feet, or 748 gallons of water. The water district charges $1.12 per unit. Now, consider: A faucet leak of one drop per second equals 7.5 gallons per day - 225 gallons per month, 2,700 gallons per year A stream of water from a hose left running at about 5 gallons per minute, would be 7,200 gallons per day - $10.78 or (heaven forbid) if you forgot it for a month, it would cost you an extra $323.42! I have been guilty of letting the hose drip onto plants for a period of time. It is so EASY to forget...NO MORE! I just, somehow, had never thought of it in those terms.

Check the same way for inside leaks. First, turn off any outside water. Be sure no inside appliances or faucets are running. Look at the meter. If it is still turning, you have an inside leak. Check your toilets first to see if they are running. If you can't detect any leak, a drop of food coloring in the tank will provide evidence. If you have no inside leaks, your meter should be still.

Tom Fredericks noted that, due to our granular and sandy soil, which absorbs water at the rate of two inches per hour, finding an outside leak is a difficult task. He also stated that deep watering here ( Borrego Springs ) does not have the same effect as in other locales. My take...if you like to water by hand ( I do )a little sprinkle now and then doesn't hurt...but, don't let the hose run because it can't turn itself off!

In conclusion, Jerry stated that pipes have a life expectancy of 15-20 years, as do valves, timers and other parts of your irrigation system. The best protection is paying attention to your entire watering system, meter included!

Try Lime Curd!

Yesterday, on a bench outside the Post Office, I noticed two large boxes. I knew what was in them without even looking! MEXICAN LIMES. The glut of the extra heavy harvest is upon us and people are giving away their bounty before Thanksgiving. This is a regular occurrence in Borrego, where all kinds of citrus appear as if by magic - free for the taking-here and there throughout the village.

We have too many limes, too, and are thinking up ways to make use of them. I have been making lime pies, freezing zest and juice, trying to preserve them in water ( which only works for about several weeks ) and, more recently, making lime curd. WE LOVE CURD! I have already given away jars of it and am going to make more today. It is pretty, has a refreshing sweet sour taste and is great on English muffins or bagels. We prefer it to jam. Recipe follows: ( Betty Crocker )

1 cup sugar, 1 cup lime juice, 1 tablespoon finely grated peel, 3 tablespoons butter, cut up, 3 eggs. In 1,1/2 quart saucepan, mix lime juice, sugar and grated peel with a whisk. Stir in slightly beaten eggs and butter. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until mixture coats the back of your spoon. Don't boil. Pour into a one pint container or two one cup containers. Will keep up to two months in the refrigerator.

A tip: I use the fine grate attachment on the food processor to grate peel. About four limes at a time can bounce around until peel gets thin. The limes may still be juiced, afterwards.

A New Photo !

The mornings are SO glorious this time of year...I decided to share. Old photos may still be seen by scrolling down!

Update, Raised Beds

We had our first salad from the winter garden last night! I pulled (thinned) several lettuce plants and nipped others, Radishes are mature enough to eat, now. Notice open places in the beds, already seeded with more lettuce and carrots. Chard is already to start cutting. I cut off outside leaves and use them. Chard will continue to produce into summer months. Tomatoes all are showing flowers. I kept red and white onion sets in the refrigerator over the summer and set them in a row fronting tomatoes. All are growing. Beets seeded in front of them two weeks ago are showing growth. Planted marigolds along outer edge. All up and showing growth. Had trouble with the spinach seeds. A few germinated but were quickly removed by some critter. Started a new batch in seed flats. Most have germinated. The plan: Set them out in circle bed on outer edge of peas. By the way...more trouble with the disappearing peas - I planted the second bunch about a week and one half ago. Covered with extra heavy shade cloth, weighted with rocks. About 1/4 germinated and , again, suspicious holes where the rest had been planted. These rats and mice must have deep pockets and I'll bet they are dancing around gleefully during the late night feasting! They are in for a surprise, though. Cayenne pepper will be sprinkled around my third attempt! I also read that cotton balls soaked in oil of peppermint is a rodent deterrent. If cayenne fails, BEWARE! Plan B has already been devised! Peas are our favorite vegetable and we do intend to keep trying!

Our raised beds were first seeded on September 29th. And it is still not too late to plant ! Note that the drip irrigation is in and my hand watering has ended. Currently running for 10 minutes daily ( early morning ) and seems to keep the beds moist. I think the organic potting soil and compost has enhanced the growth greatly.

The Mexican Lime

In the early days of long voyages, many sailors died due to the dreaded disease, scurvy. Had they known of Citrus, things would have been different!

We did not plant our trees to prevent scurvy but because we enjoy the tropical aroma of blossoms in the springtime, the winter fruit and juice they provide and the shiny green leaves they display. Of all our citrus, our favorite is the Mexican lime. We had planted a Bearss, touted as the best lime for Southern California but, at least in our area, found the Mexican lime to be superior. We removed the Bearrs and kept the Mexican lime.

The lime tree, Citrus aurantifolia, has awful thorns...not to worry! When ripe, the fruit turns pale yellow and drops from the tree. The small fruit is easy to squeeze because it has a thin skin. Bartenders use it almost exclusively. If you have traveled in Mexico, you have noticed it is served with everything and used in food preparation, from ceveche to beef , fish, soups and fruits. It is the wedge served with cerveza and the fruit used to make Key lime pie ( another alias for Mexican lime ) It is sold in all the mercados and small tiendas throughout Mexico. I have experimented and make a delicious Mexican lime pie. (Use your favorite lemon pie recipe, substitute lime juice for lemon but increase zest to two tablespoons, add 1 drop of green vegetable food color. ) I freeze the juice and zest for later use. Best of all, even when you think the harvest is over you can find a leftover hanging on the tree. We have had fruit on the tree in winter and summer!

Limes have been used for centuries as a prevention or cure for many maladies. They have been used as a digestive aid, to treat gout, to lose weight, to treat insect bites, as antibiotics and disinfectants, for vitamin C deficiency and many other remedies. The oil is used in cosmetics. The peel is fed to cattle.

The tree is sensitive to freezing and probably does best in the higher parts of Borrego basin. It is about the only Citrus that can be grown from seed and remain true to the parent plant. It can tolerate drought but responds favorably to a regular watering regimen.

We love our lime tree !

DESERT GARDERNERS MEETING Friday, , November 12, 10 AM - 11:30 AM
Jerry Rolwing, from the Water District will show you how to read your water meter and how to find water leaks. Learn how to monitor your water usage and never again be surprised by your water bill! Call water department for location of the meeting. ( at a private residence )

As always, the meeting will be outside. Bring your own chair and water. Hope to see you there!

Citrus

Everyone visiting Borrego has noticed the acres and acres of Citrus trees...we are known for our famous "Borrego Reds" ( grapefruit ). We took immediate notice and started planting citrus trees on our lot long before the house construction was completed. Take it from us - if you like to eat citrus fruit, you need plant only a few trees. They will supply all your needs. Though citrus thrives in our area, the trees do require adequate water and fertilization to offer bumper crops of fruit.

Of our original "mini grove" , ten trees are left, producing more than we want or need...in fact, though we love to give away fruit, it is often hard to find recipients! Little by little, our citrus trees are being replaced by native, less thirsty trees. We are narrowing them down according to our favorites. We love the Marsh seedless along with a red grapefruit variety. We like the Mission orange tree, which always produces lots of sweet tasting, tangelo-like fruit. We like the Meyer lemon ( dwarf ) and absolutely cannot do without the Mexican lime. We very easily could do without the rest of the trees. Those five trees could supply all our needs and then some!

If you do plant Citrus in your garden, shop around and taste the fruit before you plant. There is much information in books, magazines or on the net regarding the care of citrus. It is worthwhile to do your homework before you buy!

What Time Is It?

For many years, the end of Pacific Daylight Time has coincided with the Borrego Days Parade. Our house guests have always appreciated the extra hour of free time received prior to their departure.

This year, I went about resetting all the clocks Saturday night - even those on the handsets, to Pacific Standard Time. Fast forward to the evening T. V. programs Sunday evening. Nothing was on schedule! Had they forgotten about the time change? And, the morning paper was delivered extra early! The morning news program must have been changed, too! We looked at our cell phones- they were also off an hour...but, we KNEW they are always accurate. Could we have been wrong? I asked Wikipedia..."when does standard time begin?" , found out and decided to let the clocks stay as they were...we'd remember the difference...then, we had a one minute power outage...reset everything to Daylight Time. FYI...It's NEXT week!

The topper: My friend called early this morning and said, " You'll never guess what I did! " I replied, " I'll bet I can ! " And, we compared our funny experiences.

The Borrego Days Parade

As last week progressed, things changed along Palm Canyon Dr. RV's appeared along the side of the road...a little campsite popped up near Jilberto's...it seemed that parking lots were extra full. Excitement was in the air! The PARADE was coming! Borrego Days Annual Event always takes place near the end of October. We have never missed a parade in the twenty years we have lived here.

Everyone seems to worry about funding the parade, getting enough volunteers to do the hundreds of chores associated with the parade, getting participants for the parade, finding a theme for the parade ...everything it takes to carry it off. But, guess what? Somehow it always happen!

Many parades have been memorable. I remember Elvis parachuting in, one year. Another year, the parade was so short that it looped around the parade route twice! Especially dear to our hearts was the Daschund contingent. The one-wheeled bicyclist is a regular, the Park always marches. Sometimes, Road Runner Club has a float. The Police pass with sirens, parade cars always honk. The queen and her court pass by. The equestrians are always fun to watch... this year, the bad guys looked mean and the ladies elegant. The belly dancers jiggled, the bag pipes piped, pretty girls abounded and two old timers were the grand marshals. Following the fly-overs, the National Anthem was sung beautifully, clearly and meaningfully, unlike some recent renditions we've all heard in stadiums. Community spirit was evident, from the tots to the high school alumni. Usually the weather is too warm for comfort- sometimes we experience winds but, this year, the weather was just perfect.

The event is a symbol of this small village, Borrego Springs . A community where each resident counts. We are happy we live here!

Time to Prune!

We knew trouble lay ahead! Another rain storm along with heavy wind probably would have resulted in damage to trees and property. We had already lost a huge Palo verde limb on a tree abutting our house and wall. We were fortunate it fell gently and did no damage. Time to prune! We called Juan ( Juan's Tree Service ) and, luckily, he came out in the afternoon with his crew. They completed pruning and clean-up by early evening and left us with a great pile of mulch. Quick service like that might be called a miracle to some of us in Borrego used to observing Borrego Clock Time, ( BCT ), which differs greatly from PST or PDT.

If you look at your Palo verde trees and notice you can no longer see the sky through them or see dead branches which have broken off and lodged in the tree or if they appear to be extra "heavy looking", it is time to prune. If your mesquite trees are leaning and have a thick canopy or have grown shoots almost touching the ground, it is time to prune!

Native trees are a great asset to your garden and property values. A large tree, purchased at a nursery is costly. Mature native trees thrive in the desert with minimal care but they DO respond favorably to pruning now and then!

Unbelievable!

My weather informant down the street called me this morning. I knew that we had received a fair amount of rain from my rain gauge- a large test tube vial that USED TO have inch and centimeter markings on it ...long erased by the desert sun. My friend has a real weather station, which I consider accurate. She always calls after a rain storm and compares my guess to her readings. This time, I had guessed well over an inch. Her reading: 2 inches!!! Unheard of for October in Borrego. Immediate thoughts? How wonderful for all the native plants, but, what about Saharan mustard? Will we have even more this year? Taller plants? It does look as if we have escaped the "fire season"...mountains are already turning green. Ocotillos are already leafing out - one week after the rain. Citrus received a boost. No serious flooding. We were lucky because the rain came down in torrents. What about winter in Borrego? Stay tuned in!

What is it? "The Herb Sweeter than Sugar "

Tish, the owner of the Health and Herb Shop in the Center Mall Knew about it. The Bob Williams Nursery in Indio knew about it. People in Japan, China, India and South America know about it and have used it for many years,

I had never heard or it nor tasted it. What is it? It is Stevia rebaudiana, AKA candy leaf or sugar leaf - an herb with edible leaves sweeter than sugar! An attractive plant- full sun, well drained soil, white flowers, grows to ten or twelve inches tall. I planted one in my yard yesterday and expect to use it in salads, chopped or diced in vinaigrette and other uses...as I think of them or hear about them.

According to Tish and Wikipedia, the plant has a history - some of it political! It is native to semi-arid areas from North America to South America. Native peoples of South America have been aware of it's properties for centuries. Stevis extract, both in powdered and liquid forms contain thirty to Forty-five times the sweetness of glucose. It also offers myriad purported health benefits. The extract was first commercialized in Japan in 1971. It is only since 1995 that the F. D. A. has permitted it's use as a " dietary supplement ".

Tish has given samples of the powdered form of the sweetener to The Fudge Factory . You can try some there, with your coffee. But...what an opportunity for the Desert Gardeners ! Who thought we could even grow our own Sweet N Low or Asparatame?

Swimming Pool Fall Color

We have tried many pool-side plants during the past twenty years, but none have pleased us more than Lantana...a plant which requires very little care or water, is colorful, attracts birds and butterflies, seems disease resistant and just requires a little trimming now and then. It soon covers the ground enough to prevent weeds from emerging and the cover it creates keeps the soil from drying out. Spent flowers and leaves seem to drop under the growth so we find no litter in the pool. Mocking birds love to eat the seeds and have even planted a few new plants for us!

We first noticed the flowers in media plantings at La Quinta and decided to try them in our garden. We found them at the Torres Desert Nursery on Palm Canyon Drive. They had many of the yellow variety but just a few of the Magentas with yellow centers. We liked the two planted together and bought a few more as soon as they were available.

There are many varieties of Lantana camara, shrubs and ground covers. They come in a myriad of hues and let you choose almost any type of color combination - or, if you prefer, a solid color. Best of all, they do well in our arid climate!

Hot Days, Cool Days, Hot nights, Cool Nights...October's Here !

I always think of you this time of year as I add a blanket and then remove it...then
add again. Hope the world is treating you right.

Received this note from a friend, today. It couldn't have been expressed better! October is the month for surprises...hot days, cool days, warm nights, cool nights. We Borregans are used to it but the garden needs extra help...tender shoots breaking through the ground need moisture to keep from drying out. I apply a light sprinkle a few times a day, as needed, to help them through the hot days. Drip irrigation will be installed next month.

Update, elevated beds-seeded 9/29/10
Touchon and Danvers carrots,Bright lights Swiss chard, Golden globe beets, have germinated in south bed. Avon hybrid and Bloomsdale long standing spinach germinated but something ate the tender shoots. Will replant spinach seeds in a growing flat.

Mid-bed: Rocket arugula and Perfecto radishes are up and vigorously growing. Second leaves showing. Thumbelina carrots, no show, yet. Various scattered lettuce seeds germinated. Butter crunch, 4 seasons and green ice .

North bed: White bunching onions up. Broccoli Raab up. Leeks and chives not yet showing. Half bed saved for future lettuce and carrots.

Lower bed: Five seedling tomatoes...yellow pear, beefsteak, Roma, Celebrity and Solar fire. Companion plants, red onion sets , garlic chives, basil, sage. Saved outer spaces for future planting.

La Reina Baja cilantro planted here and there in other garden beds. Parsley planted amongst flowers. Started two seed flats of marigolds, which help almost every vegetable. Intend to plant them in all beds as soon as they leaf out.

Another Borrego Happening

The phone rang at 3:40 PM yesterday afternoon. I answered it and listened incredulously to the recorded female voice telling me, with regrets, that our electric power would be cut off for a period of four hours - from 4 PM to 8 PM . WOW- what great planning! I guess the S. D. G. E.
crew needed a few extra dollars for overtime. The recent monsoon electrical storms probably did damage - but, did the repair work absolutely have to be done during dinner hour?

We Borregans are used to our little electric surprises. We are usually notified by mail - well in advance of the outage - usually so far on advance that we forget about it and , when the power fails, just say, " Oh, yeah, NOW I remember! " and go about resetting all the programs, clocks and timers.

Yesterday, however, I had planned on a great dinner, which included a baked chicken dish. Oh, well, the barbeque filled in for the oven. We even prepared for the coming darkness. Candles and flashlights were gathered together and we got ready for an intimate candlelit dinner. The dinner turned out to be hilarious rather than romantic as we laughed at the situation. Dinner was over at 7PM and all the flashlights had dimmed. The candles had waned or burnt out and it was DARK! Flashlight batteries in the garage. Who ever thinks of replacing a battery until it dies? Not us! The dishes were stacked by candle power and the road from the table to the sink never seemed longer!

Husband returned from the garage, new batteries were put in the flashlights. I said, "I'm going to read. ", tucked a flashlight between my neck and shoulder and Kindled. Husband headed for the radio. Those batteries were dead, too.

Around 8 o'clock blinking lights everywhere said " Come and fix us. " We did.
Just another Borrego surprise. Thank you, San Diego Gas and Electric!

My Peas Turned into Beans

There are several possibilities - Beans were in the seed packet, the peas looked like beans, some one else planted beans as a joke, kangaroo rats exchanged beans for peas, I made a simple error and mistook the picture of beans on the packet for peas, the prior crop of beans dried, dropped and re -seeded...and on and on.

I thought they came up too fast! Within four days of the rain sturdy sprouts began to appear. BEANS! Notice the holes where I had planted peas. Looks like the mice and rats are at it again. Replanted peas, covered with sturdy shade material. Now a wait and see game!

Organic Gardening

I just heard that THE GARDEN next to the CENTER MALL has received a truck load of organic potting soils and fertilizers. You can purchase them there.

Last night, we watched a Net-Flix documentary, Food, Inc. After seeing it, we are even more convinced that healthful vegetables come only from organic gardens! http://www.moviefone.com/movie/food-inc/36560/main

P.S. Now is the time to plant your winter vegetable garden - lettuce, beets, carrots, chard, onions, and more. Refer to the July-December planting calendar in the back of the book, DESERT GARDENING FOR BEGINNERS, available at the Desert Nature Center.

A Stroke of Good Luck

The monsoon moved in last night. I awoke to flashes of light and the far away bombardment of distant thunder. I ignored it and slept until about 5 a.m. - more lightning and thunder - CLOSE! The monsoon had finally arrived. For us, a wondrous event - the treat of the scent of the desert just before rain-the knowledge we would probably lose power sometime during the day ( we did ), The gratis soft water car wash, the effortless cleaning of the solar panels which we always clean on the beginning of the quarter ( the monsoon obliged ), the filling of the rain barrels, but, best of all, I had just planted the first seeds of my winter vegetable garden yesterday! The peas, carrots, chard, spinach and beets received a lucky send -off!

I look out over the desert and realize the blessing of the monsoon - the relief of plants receiving the precious water needed to sustain and renew them after the long hot dry spell...and of animals who have suffered through the dry season and are now able to return to their secret places - pockets of sweet fresh water! I imagine, too, the exaltation the native people felt during this wondrous time of replenishment. Welcome, monsoon!

The Olive Tree

Originally from the Mediterranean area, olive trees began to be cultivated about 5,000 years ago. People from that era discovered many uses for olive oil. Olive trees ( Olea europaea ) probably first appeared in California sometime during the 1700's. The tree needs a long, hot growing season to fully ripen the fruit. Sounds like a great tree for Borrego, doesn't it? The tree is listed as drought resistant, needs a deep watering only once a month and, best of all, is extremely picturesque! They make handsome accent trees and often have multi branched trunks. Old trees develop gnarled trunks, which give individual trees a lot of character. Fruiting and non-fruiting varieties are available at local nurseries. We have purchased all our trees locally to assure they have been adapted to the Borrego region.

We have two fruiting trees but only one produces large green olives. The other is a nuisance, with a prolific crop of tiny worthless fruit - so, be careful to investigate before you buy! We prune heavily to assure large fruit and to keep the height at about twenty feet. We have had no pest or disease problems, to date.

Make Your Own!
Olives for processing should be picked green as soon as they attain the proper size. We have tried several methods of processing olives, only one of which was successful. We tried making black Greek olives and that was a disaster! It took twenty-one days under a heavy layer of salt and the result was bitter olives and a hole eaten through a heavy stainless steel pot!

For many years now, we have been successfully processing green olives . The first time, however, was mind wracking, since the process involves the use of LYE! WE had never used lye before but - like the average person, thought it should only be used for plumbing purposes and was a substance that could eat through things! We certainly doubted that lye could be used to make anything palatable! We bought Red Devil Lye from Ace Hardware and Kosher salt from the Center Market, and used the recipe provided by a farmer who had been making olives for many years. Our process takes seven days. We measure all amounts carefully and time the "soaks" as prescribed. We use a five gallon white plastic bucket and make about two and one half gallons of olives in a batch.We store the olives in the refrigerator in large glass jars ,loosely capped and covered with saline solution. If the olives taste too salty, we wash them off before serving or, even soak them in fresh water overnight.

I'm not giving away my recipe, for obvious reasons but there are many recipes to be found on the web. If you want to try curing olives, you can find out everything you need by referring to the University of California, Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Publication 8267- Olives, Safe Methods for Pickling.

A Great Gift!

We always make more olives than we can possibly consume and have found they make wonderful and appreciated Holiday or Hostess gifts.

AGENDA - 2010-2011

All meetings are on the second Friday of the month at 10 o'clock a.m. with the exception of the October meeting. Don't forget to bring your own chair!

October 21st. Joint meeting with the Art Guild. A Luncheon at the Arches at 11:30 a.m. Holiday gift ideas. Show and tell.

November 12th. How to save money on your water bill- a look at meters and leaks. Fredrickson garden.

December 10th. Cabooses and Buses: Gardens with a focus. The West and Rickard gardens.

January 14th. An Organic Vegetable Garden. The Wilderson vegetable patch.

February 11th. Road Runner Nursery and Tree Farm. Traditional meeting with Mike Spiekerman.

March 11th. The Garden on Palm Canyon Dr. Succulents for the Desert. Glenda Garmon and Gail Van Kamp.

Two Bulbs

Small Bulbs: I'm always surprised when cooler nights arrive and a mass of darling white flowers start appearing in the garden. Known as " rain flowers ", or Zephyranthes, these small bulbs burst into bloom and bright green grass-like foliage following summer rains and cooler weather. They maintain the bright foliage during fall, winter and spring. Each cluster will grow to about 1 foot wide and 1 foot high. They die back in summer and may be divided and replanted in fall ( or now ). They thrive in pots and add a tropical touch when planted along borders or amongst flowers. They are hardy to zero degrees and need water only during summer months. This is definitely a low care - low water use plant.

A starter pot of bulbs makes a wonderful holiday gift and when separated and replanted in the garden will grow rapidly.


Larger Bulbs - Paper Whites: Soon, tiny sprouts will push through the heavy layer of mulch in one of my garden beds. Just in time for the Holidays, they will be a mass of white flowers. Narcissus, another easy to grow bulb which seems to love the low desert! I refer to them as Mer's bulbs because the originals were first planted by my grandmother in her garden in 1932. Clones of these bulbs have been in all my gardens ever since I first dug up, separated and transplanted them from her beds. They thrived, multiplied, have been passed on to other family members and now are growing in many locales, from the beach to the low desert! They will continue to be an ongoing tribute and reminder of her.
Let the plants die back completely before removing yellowed foliage to ensure a good bloom the following year. Divide and separate as needed during that time.

Though I have successfully grown other bulbs and corms in the desert, only Zephyranthes and Narcissus seem to thrive here.

I Wish I Hadn't Read It!

Oh, Mygosh!
Rebecca Blood's book, The Weblog Handbook: Practical Advice on Creating and Maintaining Your Blog, advises DAILY POSTINGS! I had no idea this was the criteria for blogging - in fact, I sort of jumped in, thinking it a good way to maintain contact with members of the Desert Gardeners.

Well, Well, Well
As she says, the more you write, the more ideas seem to pop into your head and beg for a posting. BUT-

Let's be Realistic!
Just so you know what to expect: No daily postings, but about four or five per month - maybe more - who knows?

The Green Ogre

The Green Ogre
The Chamber wants it gone - bad for tourism. The Park wants it gone - it is destroying native plant habitat. I certainly want it gone - I think it is a wildfire waiting in the wings. The Park and the Anza Borrego Foundation have applied for a grant to eradicate it in crucial areas within the Park. The green ogre? Saharan mustard.

The Grant
Would provide salaries for forty workers between January and April and give priority to locals when hiring. It would cover the Henderson Canyon Road wildflower areas, Borrego Palm Canyon and acreage in Coyote Canyon- Each of these, an area of popular interest to the public.

Why it Scares Me: Old Western Movies
The prairie fire ...frightened the settlers , cowboys , bison and natives. It sure scared me, too! Could it happen in Borrego? It seems to me we certainly have the potential...thanks to the dry and brittle Sahara mustard covering acres and acres of land. Is our Fire Department prepared to handle such an emergency?

Borrego Home Gardeners
Each gardener can try to erase Saharan mustard from his property. We all need to make an effort to recognize, remove and dispose of the plant as it appears in our gardens.

A Strange Awakening

I will wager none of you has ever arisen as promptly as I following my strange wake-up call! It happened only a few nights after our return to Borrego following a two week vacation. The moon was full and brightly shining into the bedroom ...normally a sound sleeper, something must have bothered me. A noise? An odd sensation? Something strange, for sure. I woke up and immediately KNEW that something was on my arm. I flicked my arm away from the bed and actually SAW A MOUSE fly over the bed and land on the floor! I opened my mouth and shrieked, shrieked, shrieked, waking the household. The mouse ran under the closet door with the dog close behind. The time? 3:18 a.m. We looked and looked, in shoes, behind luggage, under the bed , around the room. No mouse. The dog was certain it was in the room but it had found a safe haven and is probably still in the house. Just another adventure in the desert.


LET ME IN, LET ME IN!
Can't blame the mouse for wanting to come in and take a look around. It had happened in the past, when children had left the door open all night. Another time, the screen came out of the drier vent and they again gained entry. Both times, more than one was present so, now, if we see one, we assume their brothers and sisters are also inside. Anyone who has had a mouse in the house knows how fast they are. They seem to only run along the sides of a room, along baseboards. Often you see them but deny your sighting. If you are watching TV, reading or are otherwise occupied, you just think you've seen a shadow or imagined seeing something. That's how fast they are.


LOLA ALWAYS KNOWS
However, THE DOG ALWAYS KNOWS! She jumps up , sniffing and wagging her tail and on the hunt. She has caught mice before, but the only way we have devised to get rid of them is the Have a Heart live traps. The animal enters, lives and can be put back in the yard, unharmed. Our trap has had a lot of use and when the small creature within looks at you with his tiny black shining eyes,you are so happy you did not resort to poison or sticky glue traps! Once, the trap captured more than we had barganed for-a female had given birth during the night to four little babies! The release is always a satisfying activity and makes us feel good.

LIVE TRAPS AND ULTRA SOUND EMITTERS
Mice, squirrels and other rodents can ruin a house. I am reminded of a snow-bird's house in DeAnza which hosted squirrels during their absence. Upholstered furniture was completely destroyed. Tiny rodents can enter through an opening the size of a nickle. Vents should be screened and checked frequently, as should cracks under doors. Garages also should be checked...look for scat to detect habitants. We have found the ultra sound emitters to work well in our garage.

We consider living close to desert wildlife a great privilege. The sights, surprises and close encounters make desert living irresistible!

Update

Morning of August 26th. It worked! Not one ant could be seen anywhere - and we were happy in the knowledge that no poison needed to be sprayed or placed around the house or grounds but was, instead, carried to the colony by the little pests, themselves. For us, ant traps are the lesser evil of insect control.

Rachel Carson's book, Silent Spring, influenced my views on pesticides many years ago. Though many new pesticides have been introduced since then and have been considered "safe", you only have to look at the record to see the myriad problems resulting from insecticides. Remember, DDT, once acclaimed as a miracle product was subsequently banned from use.

The more food you can grow in your own garden is a benefit to you and your family both financially , health wise and it also can offer you peace of mind ! For example: The other day, we drove through Coachella Valley and noticed acres and acres of citrus trees coated with a whitish dust - not from a dust storm but from some chemical. That sight made our little home vegetable garden and fruit trees seem like a wondrous gift. We are assured that anything we harvest from our garden will be healthful and safe to eat!

Small, Medium, Large

They come in all sizes - some are almost microscopic - others vary - extra small, small, medium, large and extra large - just like tee shirts. If they bite you, you experience a hot stinging sensation. They seem to appear when you least expect them and often go about their unwavering chores and duties when you are away on vacation. They are inside and outside here, in Borrego and often attack a desert gardener ferociously. They are extremely active during this time of year and we are trying to cope with them, at present. I've found them before, in my vegetable garden, entering the tiny crack in a melon or covering some gooey unknown. Sometimes, they run along the top of a hose or other times, swarm in the thousands when I have disturbed a nest with a trowel or shovel. I've always ignored them before and never used insecticides in the garden, thinking that they MUST do some good - perhaps loosening soil or harvesting weeds. The big black varieties, seen in the desert, I am sure do not harm much and actually cut down weeds. They leave many hills and underground tunnels. In spring, you will often see a " fairy ring " of green grass, marking their abode. Many old tunnels will collapse under foot, if you step on one, similar to rodent tunnels. By now, you have guessed I'm talking about ANTS!

We went away for a few weeks and returned to find hundreds of ants in the kitchen. During summer, if we leave for a period of time, we leave the swamp coolers on timers to keep the interior of the home moist and to keep the indoor plants healthy. I believe ants like this type of environment because several times, after a vacation, we have experienced the same problem...but never before, this acute. These ants are voracious feeders. They bite through sealed plastic to get to the food in the package. They have a taste for almost anything but seem to prefer dry dog food, crackers, honey, cheeses, meats, fish or oily products. Looked at under a lens, they appear to have a multicolored body - red and black. Their bite, in every way, is as fiery as the garden ants! To combat them, we bought two different types of ant traps available at the Center Market or Ace Hardware. The ants completely avoided the ant traps on stakes and, at first, skirted the little plastic igloo traps. I thought the traps might have been lacking in moisture so I added a few drops of water to each trap. Now, they are actively feasting. We have tried this technique before and it has always worked. If all goes as planned, within a few days the ants will disappear as if by magic. In the meanwhile, all potato chips, honey, crackers, cheese and snacks are in the freezer for safekeeping.

If all else fails, we will call Earl Pratt, the person who solves Borrego bug problems!

The Vegetable Garden, Big Plans

Staying mostly in the house, due to the heat, but venturing out early morning to pick squashes...only four plants giving us way too many squash! Still picking melons and watermelons starting to mature. I have been pouring over Burpee's catalog, planning next season's garden. Called them and asked if they had last year's seed order on file...they did, and I determined the succulent, juicy melon, a heavy producer, and the unknown in the photo is creme de la creme - the best melon we have ever tasted...and it seems to love Borrego! We weren't much impressed with our cantaloupe, though ( they were too firm, even when ripe ) so have put honey bun hybrid on the list for next season. Fordhook limas , golden heirloom beets, bull's blood beets, super sugar snap peas and am trying sugar snax hybrid carrots. The carrots are longer and thinner than the carrots I grew, this year. The soil in the planted beds is so loose and good, I expect they will do well. Haven't decided yet on chard, lettuce and spinach. Plan to plant herbs where the corn was planted.

Melons are hard to spot, even in the raised beds. The vines are thick and I have been piling vines on top of each other in the raised planters. That method is keeping the melons out of the hot sun but making them harder to find. Every time I pick up vines to look under them, I notice white flies but they haven't seemed to have harmed anything, yet. I am placing immature melons on top of flat rocks, to keep them off the moist soil.

Early Shade

Where else except Borrego Springs would you expect an answer to the question, “ You get early shade, don’t you?” In the desert, we LIVE by the sun- as did the earliest desert dwellers, both human and animal. On the west side of Borrego Springs is a massive, rugged , rocky mountain range, the San Ysidro, which rises abruptly to an elevation of 6, 132 feet and looms over the tiny town of Borrego Springs. If you are a peak climber, find San Ysidro Mountain by refering to the topo map, Borrego Canyon USGS quad. The mountains are granitic- strewn with gigantic boulders . Anyone who has entered Borrego Springs from Ranchita via S-22 can attest to the numerous huge rocks along the route. Many Borregoeans have given whimsical titles to favorite rocks...the monkey, smiley face, the wave, split rock, needle, tilting rock, the fish, the whale and sitting squirrel are just some of our pet names. People driving the eighteen mile stretch from Ranchita to Borrego for the first time often refer to it as a “white knuckle drive”, but the road is much improved from the first time we used it, when there were few pull-outs and just a low rock retaining wall on a few curves. First time visitors to our desert home have arrived with hair standing on end and vowing not to come that way again, but even they become used to the curvy road and soon enjoy the unmatched views offered by S-22! Most Borrego folks refer to it as merely “the hill”.

Perhaps my imagination is extra vivid, but , after a vacation away from home, when returning from the east, along the Salton Seaway, as we get closer and closer to our tiny little village, I swear the mountains have grown during our absence. As we pass the elementary school, Roadrunner, then the Circle, the mountains look larger, larger, LARGER! As we move closer and closer, I tell my husband, “ They have grown...I’m positive !”. Paul Remeika would agree...those mountains are growing! Do you think I can really discern the difference? I am sure I can!

These mountains provide what we call “early shade”. Along with micro climes within Borrego are what I call macro spaces. The early shade areas typify a macro space. Examples of other macro spaces would be blowing dust areas, sand dune areas...even Sahara mustard growing areas! Those of us living at the foot of the San Ysidros absolutely experience shade before the rest of the basin. Parts of Indian Head Ranch, De Anza Country Club, Palm Canyon Campground, The Estate area, and Tubb Canyon area all experience early shade as the sun drops behind the mountains. During the fierce August heat, we live by the shadow, often postponing a swim until the pool is shaded. One of our favorite summer pastimes is to watch the shadow move east, little by little, covering the valley in shade. We love to see Font’s Point still in the sun while we are in the shade! Gently, the shadow moves east until the entire area lies in shade. If you listen carefully, you can almost hear the sigh of relief as the desert welcomes the coming evening hours...a coyote howls in the distance, rabbits emerge from under the citrus trees, birds chirp as all of the summer desert dwellers give thanks to the early shade!

The Desert Gardeners, Club History

WOW ! Here we are, on a BLOG ! Our low desert garden club was started about seven years ago in the sleepy village of Borrego Springs, California (92004 ). People move here for many reasons - mostly to escape the frenzied activities on the other side of the mountains. Our tranquil small town, surrounded by the Anza Borrego Desert State Park, is inhabited by people who love the solitude, the inky star- studded night sky, golf courses which often require no starting times, and often by people who love to garden but don't have a clue as to gardening in this arid low desert area ( zone 13 ).

Several of us were discussing this over lunch one noon at Kendall's...laughing at our first attempts at gardening here. We kicked around the idea of forming a club to help new residents and others who wanted to learn about proven techniques that worked in the desert region. Each of the four of us had been active in some of the many volunteer groups found in Borrego and really didn't like the idea of any oranizational structure...so we just went ahead and formed a club without any dues, officers, minutes or any other formal structure! Each year, the four of us talk things over and, decide, with input from the other gardeners, and put together the agenda for the next season. We have one meeting, October thru March on the second Friday of the month at 10 a.m. People bring their own chairs, dress for the outside, bring their own water and are sure the meeting will end by 11:30 a.m. - just in time to get home for lunch! People are notified of the meetings by e-mail and the local paper. Our e-mail list now includes over 150 names!

We have had several field trips...to a worm farm, to the Living Desert, to the Dry Land Gardens, to other places of interest, but most of our meetings have been held at local private gardens, local nurseries and growing grounds, citrus groves, golf courses, the Nature Store, vegetable patches or any place else we can think of. Professionals have talked to us about irrigation, landscaping, pruning, native plants, mulching, fertilizing, water conservation, water requirement of plants, use of native plants and many other topics.

Last year, our first meeing was a joint luncheon, show-and-tell meeting with the Art Guild showing off how creative gardeners and artists are thinking up gifts for the holidays. It was a lot of fun and well attended. I guess it is now a tradition and a good one, too, because summer in the desert gives everyone time to be creative and plan great things! In fact, during summer, you can often look down the length of Palm Canyon Drive, ( our main street ) and not see another car! Like the desert animals and plants, summer is a time to hunker down, read, write, reflect on great things or enjoy doing exaclty what you want to do.


As you might guess, members of both sexes are equally interested in our club. If you live here or near-by and want to learn something about gardening in the desert, plan to attend one of our meetings - but DON'T FORGET YOUR CHAIR!

Triple Calamity

  Borrego Springs is a place of extremes - the past few weeks being a perfect example:  First was the earthquake, a 5.4 tremblor.  We experience many earthquakes in Borrego and usually don't get too excited.  Small quakes are a regular occurrence here and are most often not felt, but heard.  If we hear a small "boom" we know it identifies an earthquake.  Possibly, this phenomenon is due to our proximity to the San Ysidro Mountains and is some sort of echo effect.  We did feel the Mexicali 7.2 earthquake, however.  Our house rocked and rolled, water slurped out of the swimming pool and the tremblor lasted a while.  The Borrego quake was different- we knew we were close to the epicenter.  The "boom" we experienced was a deafening explosive noise as if dynamite had been set off right under the slab!  The noise was humongous but the shake immediate and quick. No water sloshed out of the pool...instead, upright waves formed.  A picture fell off the wall, small items toppled, the dog got excited...we checked propane tank and water pipes...everything was  O. K.

A few days later, during the early morning hours, I heard a soft cry which sounded like it came from our sizeable ( over 65 pound ) chocolate lab, who was eating breakfast in the walled garden.  We put her dish outside every morning , since she seems to like to dine al fresco!  I opened the sliding door and called her name, then watched in amazement as she chased three coyotes through the yard to the back wall, which they jumped with ease then disappeared in a cloud of dust.  A few others jumped over the east wall, hit the bronze watering valves below the irrigation station.  One valve broke off at the PVC fitting and water gushed from the broken pipe.  There is probably a very sore coyote somewhere in Borrego Springs.  Our dog had been nipped on a back leg, about a two inch abrasion, but was otherwise untouched.  I had seen coyotes within the walls only two other times during our twenty years in Borrego.  If you have a pet in the desert, it is important to protect him.  Coyotes can jump over or dig under barriers.  Our walls are about six feet high.  Coyote parents are teaching their young how to hunt during this season and perhaps my ripening melons lured them to our yard...who knows?

The third incident occurred the next day.  As usual, I checked the humidity on Weather Underground to see if we needed swamps or the air conditioner.  It was high, with a twenty per cent chance of rain.  By afternoon, lightening was flashing and thunder rumbling.  To the south, streaks of heavy rain could be seen, moving in our direction.  We hurried to put things under the porches and made sure our rain water tubs were under the rain spouts.  We needed not bother;  the rain fell so hard the roof drains looked like a fire hose spewing water in giant arcs.  Fifty-five MPH winds pushed the downpour sidewise and under the porches until everything was wet.  The monsoon had certainly arrived in all its' glory...the thing flash floods are made of!  It was over within an hour, leaving a splintered eight foot back garden gate.  Everything blew away and the gaping hole it left has let in a multitude of rabbits, who are feasting on Mexican primrose ground cover.  ( I hope they eat all of those pink flowered plants - once planted , almost impossible to get rid of...)  The vegetables are safe in the raised planters - the gate will have to be replaced - the dog will have to stay in the house and I hope we will finally get around to securing our heavy wooden chest to the wall.

This is just an example of what the summer season might offer to a low desert gardener !

An Enhanced Native Landscape

Still harvesting vegetables, melons, zuccini, yellow squash, last of limas.  Am pulling out tomatoes ( they won't produce fruit after night temperatures warm up...and they have! ) Two nights ago, we had our first over 80 degree night.  It's time to say good-by to the pole beans and tomatoes. The melons are getting bigger and bigger and ripening fast.  Found our first white flies, but not to worry, the harvest will be over before they can do their damage.  Thought summer would be a good time to talk about native landscape.

Outside our  garden walls are about two acres of enhanced native landscape. Enhanced, in this instance, meaning some areas with irrigation and others with non-irrigated native vegetation.  Building sites in Borrego vary greatly in make-up of soils and plants. In our area, around 800' elevation and very close to the foot of the San Ysidro mountain range, the soil is granitic, coarse and rocky- a part of Hellhole Canyon alluvial fan.  Native plants on our plot included cheese weed, burro bush, cholla, indigo, ocotillo, creosote, coyote gourd, desert lavender, beavertail cactus and chuparosa. None of these require any irrigation.  To these, we added other natives to the region, including barrel cacti, fish hook cacti, brittle bush, an ironwood tree, filifera palm trees, desert agave, yucca, teddybear cholla, prickly pear, santa rita, cow's tongue, (opuntias), blue palo verdes, baja palo verdes, mesquite trees, Sonoran palo verdes and a desert willow. .  Of these, only the trees require some irrigation.  The other plants, once established, require no irrigation.

Outside our area, to the east, the soil differs greatly.  There, you find sandy soil, brought to the area over time - deposits from from Coyote Creek...especially during flood stages.  This soil is richer in composition, as evidenced by the many citrus groves , nurseries and tree farms below Coyote Canyon.  Roadrunner Country Club, on Palm Canyon Drive, at about 600 ft. elevation has this sandy soil .  The residents grow beautiful vegetables in the community plot. Gardens in this lower elevation are more likely to experience freezing during cold snaps.  As you can see, there are microclimes within the greater Zone 13!
The Borrego sink is the lowest part of the Borrego basin at 455 ft.  Storm water run-off collects there.  A basin truly describes Borrego, surrounded by higher elevations,with the sink being the drain ! If you realize where you are situated within the various areas, you will be able to plant your garden accordingly. Over the years, I have seen many bouganvillas die of frost at the lower elevations, where the cold seems to collect.

The sink:  455 ft.
Air Ranch:  575 ft.
Montesoro: 700 ft.
Park Visitor Center:  around 800 feet

Sunset Garden Book defindes low desert, zone 13 as ranging from below sea level to 1,100 feet.  As you can see, from the above elevations, we are definitely in that category!

When our construction site was chosen, only one plant had to be moved, an ocotillo. Only the house site had to be bulldozed.  The driveway was laid out with native plants left intact as much as possible.  We removed deadwood from the curbside and replaced it with native agave and mesquite trees. We put in PVC underground water lines along the perimeters of the lot...across the front, along each side and across the back.  From these, laterals were put in as we added other low water use plants. 

If you notice native vegetation, you will see that it arranges itself  with lots of space between plants.  If you follow this pattern on your own land you will be following nature's clues resulting in a garden that belongs and thrives in an arrid environment !  Try to keep the native plants you find ...they are adapted to the area and offer shelter, food, and nesting sites to native wildlife...another reason to think carefully before removing any plant from your lot.

Worms, Worms, Worms

Nothing else matches worm castings as a natural fertilizer!  I have used them in our strawberry planter for the last two years.  Our stawerries were able to withstand last summer's intense heat, revive during the fall and start producing again this winter and spring!  I had been trying to raise the red worms and provide ourselves with castings and worm tea, but it is more difficult than you can imagine in this hot, dry region.  I had all the necessary items needed - the tiered ventilated  trays, bedding, and ideal shady spot.  I fed them every day with old tea bags, coffee grounds or organic fruit or vegetable scraps... they seemed to like them but trouble lay ahead.  As warm weather appeared and the more than sultry hot desert wind began to waft across the worm beds, they tried to escape their little black enclosure.  Each morning I would find worms crowded around the top of the trays, trying to exit.  Some mornings, I found them underneath, in the bottom tray, where the "worm tea" collects. Once, I found ferocious red ants inside the container, eating the worms! To deter the invading army, I placed the legs of the worm factory in coffee cans filled with water, which had to be refilled daily.  Soon, I was feeling so sorry for the worms ( which were multiplying at an astonishing rate ) and for myself spending so much time taking care of the tiny things,  that I decided to release them...which I did, into the raised planter where the strawberries grow.  I gave the worm trays to a gardener friend  from Encinitas and he loves the worms and castings he is getting for his garden... I am sure the worms love the more temperate climate, too. I know that some of the worms survived along with the strawberry plants, because I find them on the flagstone which surrounds the planter after a heavy rain. Well, enough about my Borrego desert red worms...however, the castings are WONDERFUL!  You can purchase them at The Nature Center and, now, at the end of the season. They are on special - two for the price of one!

P.S.  If any Borrego gardeners are having any sucess raising red worms, please tell us about it.