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!