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?
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.
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!
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