WELCOME ...A new resident ? Love the desert? Gardening a passion? Live in Borrego Springs? Thought you could not have a garden in the low desert desert? Ever wonder what desert living is like? READ ON !

Raised Vegetable Beds

Raised Vegetable Beds
Raised Vegetable Beds Resting Until Fall Planting Season

Palo Verde

Palo Verde
Desert Native, Blue Palo Verde

A River Runs Through It

A River Runs Through It
View Through A Wet Window

Monday, November 8, 2010

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 !

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A New Borrego Garden Path

A New Borrego Garden Path
New Path Under Construction, Indian Head Ranch

Pathway

Pathway
Easy to Maintain Garden Path

It's a Boojum...

It's a Boojum...
Not an Ocotillo

Boojum

Boojum
Captivating Top Knot

Colorful Vine

Colorful Vine
In a Hidden Niche

Bees and Flowers

Bees and Flowers
Mexican Lime- Bees at Work

Citrus Blossoms

Citrus Blossoms
Exotic Aroma

Ocotillo

Ocotillo
On a Cloudy Day

Four Raised Beds, October

Four Raised Beds, October
Vegetable Garden

Desert Gardening

Desert gardening...what a pastime. Natives anxious to attack with thorns, stickers or burrs - earth always thirsty - critters always a step ahead of you - dainty moths turn into hungry caterpillars - coyote eats up part of the irrigation system - birds sample one fruit at a time - gopher pops up unexpected . Yet the first carrot, pea or tender piece of lettuce, the first lime or lemon of the season, the first cactus bloom , the first bright green mesquite sprig, the first bud on a plant...all give such a feeling of delight and satisfaction. Not to be traded for anything else! (JGP)





Super Addiction

When I started the blog, I thought a few words now and then would suffice...WRONG!

A strange pattern is emerging. Seems that guilt has stepped up to bat. Now, if I don't post every few days I FEEL THAT I HAVEN'T HAD MY FIX! I wonder if other bloggers have noticed this same phenomenom.

Beavertail

Beavertail
Close-up

Borrego Dragon

Borrego Dragon
Huge New Sculpture

The Borrego Dragon Fable

IN THE EARLY DAYS, coyote walked many paths. One day, as he was pursuing his travels, he came to a very wide valley. Others warned him as he approached the valley, " You must not enter this place...NO ONE who has entered has ever returned. It is a bad place, guarded by a giant dragon, who kills all who try to pass through. To continue your journey safely, we strongly advise you to go the long way...around this evil place." Well, coyote listened, for he was very smart and often heeded good advice. However, coyote was also lazy and was often prone to use shortcuts. He figured the valley would save him a lot of time on this particular journey. He looked carefully and saw nothing much to alarm him. He decided to enter and pass through the valley. At first, he noticed nothing amiss. However, as he traveled deeper into that still, quiet place, he thought to himself, "This IS an unusual valley, for sure...I see no movement of any type and I am getting to feel a bit strange about this place." He did notice, however, some tall straight trees which had lost all their leaves and made the place look barren, indeed. OH,NO...he also noticed, under the trees, piles of old BONES... and the more he looked, the more bones he saw. He said, " I sure see a lot of bones, but I don't see any dragon...I'll bet he no longer lives here." And, with that, he heard a thunderous voice which echoed over the valley..." HAH, COYOTE! You should have listened to the advice...You are in my mouth, which IS the entrance to the valley!" Oh,oh, caught in a trap. But coyote is smart and moves quickly...as he heard Dragon's first words, he raced to one of the dead trees and, with a mighty yank, pulled it from the earth. He wedged the tree between the Dragon's jaws and as he did this, many animals of all kinds came running forth...pumas, bears, mountain sheep and more...even the smallest animals, gnats, flies, tics, bees and more...lizards, snakes, toads, salamanders and more...all ran from the Dragon's depths to freedom. Coyote watched as Dragon's jaws closed upon the sharp tree stake. He soon died and from that time to this, many of those same animals live here, in this place...and from time to time, many of the old bones and pieces of the dead trees are found here, in this very valley!

Senita Cactus

Senita Cactus
Plump and Happy

Outlaws

Outlaws
Riders View Borrego's Wilderness (photo by Jeff Divine )