New Year Resolutions

Have you done it, yet? Of course, I'm talking about the annual list of resolutions some people make each year around this time. Taking a clue from the past I have decided to delete the process from my life. Not that there are some things that could be improved or modified here and there...just a sure knowledge that a " to do " list doesn't work, at least for us!

But, again, we think...first of the year...time to put things in order, undergo change, better ourselves and improve our lives. While avoiding the new resolutions, I've come up with an idea which kicks off the New Year to a perfect start. It is a highly symbolic action but gives everyone in the family a feeling of starting anew.

I celebrate by putting fresh sheets on the beds! I may even sprinkle cologne on the pillows. Fresh sheets ( sometimes even air dried ) have become synonymous with welcoming in the new year and have handily substituted for those old unrealized resolutions!

New Year's Eve, Borrego Style

Finally, warm Borrego days have returned...though nights remain in the forty degree range, the clear sunny desert days are back again. New year's day is forecast to be in the eighties!

We used to barely manage to get up early enough to watch the Tournament of Roses parade and catch the first bowl game, due to New Year's eve festivities. It is different here, in Borrego, however. As every Borregan knows, midnight occurs at 9 PM. Any resident has ample time to dine out, celebrate New Year's Eve when the crystal ball drops in New York's Time Square , go to bed early and feel wonderful the next day!

AND... by the way, what in the world has happened to the important "BOWL GAME" ? In our home, at least, it seems as if bowl games have proliferated and multiplied until becoming commonplace fare on the T. V. I do hate to complain , but I miss the days when just a few games actually determined the winners!

Beach Combing and Desert Roaming

You know by now that we used to live at the beach. One of my favorite pastimes used to be beach combing. The tide book was consulted daily. Early morning low tides found me on the beach walking along the shore seeking gifts from the sea. I remember the thrill that comes from seeing or finding a new treasure...flotsam and jetsam...no way! All were of intense interest to me.

Here, in the desert, keen observational skills are also rewarded. There are many things to see...new tracks on windswept sand, a lizard scurrying from under a rock, a snake lying coiled along a pathway, a tiny hummingbird nest attached securely to a twig, the sound of raven wings above you, scat filled with darkling beetles, a mountain lion sighting, close up coyotes, a tiny new creosote or indigo plant pushing up through the sandy soil, a tarantula in your garden, a huge ant hill, cloud patterns, rainbows, the smell of the desert before rain and ever so much more! The same thrill is here, in the desert.

So, put away the cell phone with all it's apps for awhile and take a walk, using all your senses. Believe me, it will be worthwhile!

Don't Complain to Snow Birds

Many people spend the winter season in Borrego Springs. We call them "snow birds". Some own second homes here, others rent or lease homes, some come in their RV's and others just camp. They come here to get away from the wet, frosty places we Borregans only read about...Canada, Michigan, Colorado, Idaho, Wyoming, Montana, Oregon, Washington...you know, the COLD states!

Well, this season has seemed colder than usual, at least to us. We happened to mention that to a snow bird who has wintered here for many years. We were complaining of the past two week cloudy period. When we said we missed seeing the sun and said how dark it seemed to us when the sun didn't shine, he laughed at us and said, " You don't even know what dark days are like. We live in the north woods, hardly ever see the sun and almost never get to see the moon...and freezes last almost the entire winter!"

So...we guess the December clouds and scattered sprinkles were nothing to complain about, after all!

Progress Report

The sun came up! How many dreary cold days we have had...and NO One who lives in Borrego is used to that! It is great to be outside in the garden again.

There are a few things that need to be done, this month. To prevent beetles in native mesquites you can try an application of Bayer around the trunks. It is available at Home Depot. I have never applied chemicals to anything else in the garden but, after losing several mesquites, tried liquid applications of Bayer, which also feeds the trees and only needs to be applied annually.

It is also time to prune desert trees and shrubs. I have reduced watering times ( even in the vegetable garden, which seems to be retaining moisture during this cooler period )and have already seeded a second cool weather crop in the raised beds. The soil level declines as you harvest so added enriched soil is helpful before any new seeds or transplants are added. Toy Choi, radishes,carrots and lettuce have been re-seeded in empty spots left from the first harvest. (Yes, still following rotation practices.) Broccoli is almost ready for harvest and I have been freezing chard for future use. The spinach is slow to mature but shows growth. Pea vines are flowering, Onions are still small and tomatoes have remained green on the vines. I picked one the other day to see if it would ripen inside the house.

Citrus is ripe enough to eat, but will continue to sweeten as long as it remains on the trees. We always pick enough to distribute to family and friends for the holidays but think peak flavor is attained later in the season.

Gardening Gene ?

I think I know where my love of gardening comes from...I think it is in my genes! Every year, around this time, I think of my Grandmother. She was an avid gardener. I remember her lovingly tending her roses. She had many varieties in the rose garden and tree roses lined both sides of the entrance pathway. She spent many hours in that garden. In her garden were also paper whites, tucked behind the bird basin, near the camellia beds. She loved flowers and her house was always filled with them. Her daughter, my aunt,also chose gardening as a pastime.

From Grandmother's narcissus bulbs came the flowers which grow in my garden, today. They have been carried with us to each new home and have withstood ocean air and the hot, dry desert clime. They were first planted around 1930. To say they have withstood the test of time is an understatement! Each October, when I see the new growth pushing up through the soil, I am reminded of her. I, too, have given off- shoots of the bulbs to others. They make a beautiful, lasting gift.

I think a couple of other family members have also inherited the same gene. My niece in Northern California has a huge vegetable garden which supplies almost all of the family needs. And now, her daughter, recently graduated with a degree in botany, is following the family gardening tradition.

Wouldn't it be fun to know which ancient ancestor decided gardening and growing things was necessary to his or her well being?

Be an Extremist

I don't often tout books, but I have to tell you about this one! When I saw it, I KNEW I had to buy it...EXTREME GARDENING by Dave Owens is the best book on desert gardening I have seen. It contains all the basics for desert gardening plus extras which, in my opinion, make the book a necessity. I love that he includes companion planting practices for each plant in addition to interesting facts and ways to do things. Almost all your low desert gardening questions are answered in this small relatively inexpensive book. Concepts, desert soils, vegetables, fruit, nuts, flowers, herbs, bulbs and all talked about in easy to read style.

I love my Kindle and look up many gardening subjects on the computer...but, you can't beat a real book for reading, rereading , marking pages, underlining, high lighting, fly leafing and really getting to know the subject !

Each desert gardener deserves one!

Desert Gardeners Meeting

We all followed the gardener around her beautiful desert garden which was filled with surprises...outdoor kitchens, pool closed sign, bells,gold fish, old license plate,raised vegetable beds, outdoor shower and more. This garden reflects the creativity of the owner, who generously shared a whole wagon load of succulents with all!

Photos by Prince

Electronic Meltdown

Computers are like cars. Every now and then, a "lemon" pops up. I think I have one! Two weeks after I purchased this computer the hard drive had to be replaced. This particular electronic mechanism seems to have a mind of it's own. Eerie things happen with odd regularity: Photos become huge or diminish to miniscule dots on the screen. Fonts come and go as if by magic.

Help is always available, however!

I can't tell you how many forty-five minute conversations I've had with people from India who make some remote adjustments which seem to heal the poor sick thing. Also, there is always time to chat while rebooting. One very special lady now follows my blog and comments from time to time! I've also made some contacts with Canadians, who are always friendly and have great expertise in solving computer problems.

One week ago, however, I turned on the computer...BLANK SCREEN. A very nice man from Florida told me the "mother board" needed to be replaced. He even arranged for the computer doctor's house call. The doctor performed the operation this very morning and the patient seems fine...at least for now!

Isn't this new electronic age marvelous?

BRRRRRR !

BRRRRR! I've been covering the tomatoes with old sheets every night. If the weather forecast says , " Frost Advisory " I pay attention. Last year's frost damaged the tomatoes and I simply cut off the damaged parts. They never recovered, however, and the yield was much less than the prior year.

If you can see your tomatoes have suffered frost damage I would suggest removing them and replanting new plants as soon as you believe the danger of frost has passed.

May be it's my imagination, but I think we are experiencing funny extremes in weather and I think the birds are reacting to it in unusual ways. Has anyone else noticed odd bird or animal behavior?

Christmas Circle

New York has Central Park, San Diego has Balboa Park, the Greeks had their agora, the Romans their forum, the plaza central is common in most Mexican towns...almost all communities have a hub or meeting place - a place to get together or just relax. Borrego Springs is no exception. Our own park, named Christmas Circle ( a lot of speculation, though, as to where that name came from ) is located smack, dab in the middle of where the developers thought the town should be. It hasn't worked out that way, yet, but there is always future development to be considered.

Christmas Circle: In Addition...

To us, Christmas Circle is one of the dearest places on earth! In summer, to some, it must truly seem a Shangri-la. The tree shaded lush green grass invites the weary traveler to get out, stretch or lie down and rest. It is the place we come before forming caravans to venture out into the Park, go bird watching or hiking, celebrate birthdays and holidays, have fiestas, dances, ceremonies, a place to meet. On Fridays, it is the place we go to market and to catch up on all the news. It is a place to have a picnic, a place to have an art or craft exhibit , a place for children to play on real grass.

It is a small, well used park. I know you must be tired of hearing this, but, we are so LUCKY to have such a beautiful green spot in this special little desert town!

HOME GROWN TOMATOES

This morning, I was thinking about Jim Curry's comment at last night's concert that everyone knows that tomatoes are not really a vegetable, but a fruit. ( prior to his John Denver rendition of Home Grown Tomatoes ) My advice to you is, don't ask the Internet about the difference between a fruit and a vegetable. I did and... OH, MY GOSH !

Bananas could be called herbs. Squash, pea pods, cucumbers and bell peppers could be called fruit and rhubarb a vegetable. Corn is a grain and other edibles have their own categories.

I grow tomatoes, squash, snap peas, bell peppers and cucumbers. I think I will continue to call them vegetables!

BORREGO SPRINGS CRITIC

We used to have a music critic in Borrego Springs. Her name was Betty Patterson. The Sun used to carry her articles. It added a little cultural class to the paper as she discussed a musician's techniques, choice of musical offerings and instrumentation. As I recall, her articles were seldom critical...rather offering verbal bouquets to the performers.

Wouldn't it be great to have a person interested in the arts...a theater goer who likes to write so we could have our own Roger Ebert or Charles Rosen?

Betsy's Zinnias

When Betsy sent this photo she had taken of her gorgeous Thanksgiving bouquet of Zinnias, I was absolutely awed. She surprised me with her Borrego Hollyhocks, which I thought would never grow here. I always thought of Zinnias as summer flowers. Another surprise! I have grown many zinnias during the summer months but never thought of planting them later. They are strong, attractive flowers which are perfect for cutting.

It is great fun to be inventive and try to grow varieties you especially like...it makes you feel SO GOOD when you get results like those seen in the photo!

NO HOME DELIVERY, HERE !

There are a few places I try to avoid in Borrego. One of them is the Post Office at 3 o'clock an weekdays. The parking lot has to be the most dangerous place in town! The reason? Mail is in your Post Office box by 2:30 P M. on weekdays. Shortly after that time, everyone converges at that location...and, you always see someone you know! I don't how many have tripped over the concrete space markers...enough to form a club, I think! A few years ago, the markers were painted a vivid yellow. That helped, but Borregans are a chatty group and when spying a friend at the Post Office are likely to become distracted. Perhaps a new sign should be posted at the entrance:
EXERCISE EXTREME CAUTION - BORREGO TALKERS AHEAD!

Cholla: Part of an Authentic Desert Garden

I spent a good part of the morning in the garden outside the walls picking up cholla balls with the grabbers. I filled four pails before I stopped...AND, this was only in the vicinity of two cactus plants! You might ask why anyone would opt to have Teddy Bear cholla ( Opuntia bigelovii ) in their garden. Of all the cholla, Teddy Bears have the nastiest spines and really deserve the bad reputation. They seem to jump at you!
The few we have remain in our garden simply because they are so gorgeous and are liked by the cactus wrens, who often build impervious nests within their dangerous spines.
I do like to groom them, however. This time of year, when I spot "cactus balls " on the ground, I know it is time to tame those wild things. Using the grabbers, I first hit the plant branches. The spiny balls not firmly attached will fly off the plant. I also hit the main stem and older branches will fly away. After that, it's easy to collect and throw away the rest.
Because of this practice, the plants don't multiply and no longer do you need fear being attacked by the jumping chollas!

A Fast Grower

I am ecstatic! I think I have discovered the perfect plant for the small vegetable garden. The name? Toy Boc Choi. It is a hybrid dwarf variety of Boc Choi. I found the seeds at Burpees.com.

Believe it or not...it matures in only 30 days, is just the right size for a raised bed and is such a beautiful, healthy looking green leafed plant that you just know it must be good for you! I had always thought that Bok Choi could only be used in stir fry or soups. BUT, I investigated on-line and found many other recipes. We had a toy choi salad the other night and it was sweet and unbelievably tasty. I made the Asian vinaigrette ahead of time ...sugar, cider vinegar, soy sauce, and oil. One plant is enough for a single serving.( I picked two ) After picking, I washed, dried and lightly chopped, then refrigerated the greens and crunchy white stems. I pulled up four radishes, sliced them , and added them to the bowl of greens. Then, over low flame, I sauteed in butter one package of dry Ra men, broken into small pieces, 1/4 C. slivered almonds and 2 Tbs. pine nuts, stirring until browned then set aside. This makes enough for six servings and is added to the salad just before tossing. I froze the rest to use in other salads.

Borrego Springs Labyrinth

John Richen,world renowned artist/sculptor, presented a very special talk to a rapt audience at the Desert Gardeners meeting of November 11th. He sculpts not only with his hands but with a tractor and rake as evidenced by the transcendental place he helped create in Borrego Springs. Tucked inconspicuously behind St. Barnabus Church in a natural niche of it's own, the labyrinth offers a beautiful place of contemplation and introspection...a place to center yourself in nature's own setting. Eventually trails will connect to the planned community park. He stated it is for all to use, as is the big palapa nearby. That, too, was artistically constructed of local materials and was intended for community use, private events or simply a place to rest or get in the shade!

The entire concept was exceptional and Borrego Springs is fortunate to have a civic minded local artist who contributes his talents so freely . The Desert Gardeners will remember this meeting for a long time!

Borrego Street Names

I imagine the people who decided on Borrego's street names must have had a lot of fun! According to Diana Lindsay's book, Anza- Borrego A to Z, the development of the town began in 1947 when the Borrego Springs Land and Development Company began subdividing lots and constructing roads.

If you look at most of the street names, they have a decided western theme...many of them can be visualized as cattle brands. Among them are Broken Arrow, Five Diamonds, Bar O, Double O, Flying U, Swinging V, Lazy S, Slash M, Circle J, T Anchor, Tilting T, Lazy Ladder and others. For good luck, I suppose, a few Saints were thrown in...St. Thomas and St. Croix.

Others...Riata, Frying Pan, Bending Elbow,Saddle, Wranglers, Big Horn, Deep Well, Pecos, Sewanee, Inca, Hopi Path, Zuni Trail,Yaqui...even some plants...Oleander, Pampas, Carob, Indigo,Verbena, Smoke Tree. We even have a Church Lane! ( Yes, four of them are on it. )

You get the idea...you can have a good time in Borrego just walking or riding around reading the street signs!

A Few More Words About Zones !

Have you ever been confused when looking at a packet of seeds? I know I have! I always thought of Borrego Springs as Zone 13. BUT.. zone 13 was not listed on my new package of seeds. All seeds are not alike. Some of them come from other parts of the Country using the U.S.D.A. plant hardiness zone definitions. Borrego belongs in Zone 10, which refers to the lowest probable temperature we should experience during winter. ( 30 to 40 degrees ) In addition to that, the U.S. Arboretum has published a map, taking into consideration other factors...day length, radiation, temperature, frost,heat, rainfall and soil. ph. They realized that North America is now seeing wider fluctuations in temperature and rainfall than were experienced when the USDA map was created.

The American Horticultural Society, in 2003, published a different map...a Plant Heat Zone map which is based on the average number of days per year above 86 degrees F. According to that map, Borrego and vicinity could be hovering between zones 10, 11 with a spot or two in the 12 category. AND...if that's not enough...the Instituto de Ecologia, A.C. has yet another map of days per year over 86 degrees F. Many plants from Baja do well in our region. It interesting to see the similarities between Borrego and Baja!

These maps are only guides, but it does pay and is fun to familiarize yourself them!

Low Desert Zone

What is the definition of LOW DESERT? And, why do we need to know the definition, anyway? Sunset's Western Garden Book has identified it as Zone 13. The area takes in Phoenix,hugs and follows the Colorado River north almost to Lake Mead, includes Imperial Valley, Death Valley, dips south below the Border and, most importantly, includes Borrego Springs. Elevations range from below sea level to around 1,100'. Summer temperatures hover above 100 degrees. Monsoon or summer rain is common. Winters are mild with very few nights of freezing temperatures - and very rarely, severe freezes that require plant protection. This large area is classified as subtropical desert. But, all gardeners know that even within this zone are many micro-zones...in fact, within Borrego Springs are micro climes, depending on the elevation.
What plants do best in the region? Answer: The Natives, of course. They have developed over many centuries and thrive without any additional irrigation. Any person new to the desert should familiarize himself with native plants before creating his own garden. They should play THE major part in any desert garden.
Along with natives are plants from other arid regions that compliment the natives and can make your garden more interesting.

Artists/Gardeners/Glass Mosaic...a Full House!

First meeting of the season at De Anza Country Club: Scrumptious lunch...Chicken enchiladas, mixed greens salad and delectable chocolate dessert. Lots and lots of raffle prizes with a garden theme. The power point presentation was delivered with flair by mosaic glass artist Coco Leraas. Everyone loved her lighthearted presentation. She is a new member of the Borrego Springs Art Guild. Borrego welcomes her! She also donated some of her works to the raffle.

OH, BORREGO !

I don't know exactly when it happened...it must have come gradually, but I have, in fact, started to personify this little town, this village where we live.

Our small settlement in this beautiful but harsh environment seems to have a life of her own. The first early inhabitants of this area left signs that tell us this place was not always desert. Their bones and fossils offer new clues every now and then. The early people left their mark, too. Their ollas and metates, their trails, pictographs and intaglios remind us. History passed through this place...DeAnza, the Butterfield Stage, the Mormon Battalion and others. Finally, the Park wrapped it's warm supportive arms around this little town in the desert.

Borrego, inside this protective Park circle, continues to persevere. She has undergone change...some of it extraordinary - some of it heartbreaking. She has seen exuberant times. She has seen desperate times. She will continue to change as the years pass. She counts herself extremely lucky. Throughout her life, she has always attracted generous benefactors, a cadre of dedicated volunteers and residents who love her !

All of us make Borrego what she is today and what she will become tomorrow. Thank you, dear old friend!

Planning a Borrego Vegetable Garden

Four weeks ago, Saturday afternoon was spent planning the cool season garden.

I looked at photos of last year's raised vegetable beds, just to be sure to avoid planting the same vegetable in the particular bed where it had grown last year. ( That is my rendition of crop rotation. ) I took out my pad, ruler and pencil and drew a rough sketch of my new vegetable garden...the object being to include old favorites, some new varieties plus use a variety of planting methods. I tagged various parts of each bed with the type seed I intend to plant there. Some spots were reserved for directly sown seeds...others for transplants. Some areas used row planting, some, French intensive methods and others, square foot planting concepts. This year, I am planting taller vegetables in a row along the northmost side of the raised beds. This should allow all vegetables to obtain their fair share of sunshine!

Next step was to go through seeds I had on hand and prepare the order list for those I needed to buy. The most time consuming part was checking likes and dislikes ( companion planting ) of each vegetable I intended to include in the garden. Then another final look at the planting chart I had created to make sure each plant was going to be happy!

The elevated beds were still covered with plastic, but to get an earlier start, I filled two seed flats with Miracle-Gro Seed Starting Potting Mix. I will plant seeds of various varieties of lettuce,broccoli, chard,boc choi, spinach, tomatoes, plus a few others and will wait until it is a bit cooler to uncover the beds for direct seeding ( beets, carrots, peas )

After the beds are uncovered and seeded, I have had more luck with hand sprinkling them until they show growth has been established. Seeds are just like little babies that need a lot of watching! Only then will the drip irrigation be turned back on.

UPDATE: Mice dug up each and every seed in my seed flats.( Sometimes gardeners get irked! ) Raised beds now uncovered and seeded. One six pac broccoli planted. Peas sprouted under shade cloth in six days. Radishes, same. Lettuce, chives, carrots showing. Beets, chard and spinach planted but not yet sprouting.
Basil, sage, dill and three tomatoes planted.

TIP: When planting seeds, be sure to label them! ( You just think you can remember! )

A Devastating Loss

Yesterday, we returned home from a short get away at the coast where we attended a family birthday party. The answer phone was blinking and the message informed me of a terrible event but did not elaborate further. This morning an early phone call from a friend in Glendora told us of the news which she had read in the morning's Los Angeles Times. Judy Meier had been killed.

Life is fleeting , as we all know, but when someone so vital to the community is suddenly taken away, we are all at a loss for words. The Editor of the Desert Sun will be sorely missed.

On an August 19, 2011 post I joked about the SUN and told Judy about the post, which she read. Her reply is below:

Hello:
J. P., is this you?
Thanks for putting the Sun in your blog. It was fun (and a little strange)
to read about ourselves; we¹re accustomed to doing the writing!
Judy Meier
General Manager/Editor
Borrego Sun
7760-767-5338
judymeier@borregosun.com

Mexican Pavers

Many homes in Borrego include Mexican pavers in their home and landscape design. We have super Saltillo pavers inside the home as well as outside on porches. They have worn well for over twenty years and we like them just as well as when they were first installed. Pavers are usually handmade in Mexico, of clay. After being formed they are put outside in the sun to dry. Each paver varies to a certain degree. Some of ours have impressions of coyote footprints. One of our pavers displays someone's rubber tennis shoe heel print! There are, however, some things you should know about them before including them in your home design:
All pavers need a certain amount of maintenance to keep them looking good. After installation, a sealer is applied. This sealer prevents stains from entering the porous surface of the tile. This sealer may be solvent based or water based. Unfortunately for us, ours were first sealed with a solvent based sealer which caused them to darken. After several years I decided to restore the pavers to their original lighter, vibrant varied colors. The only thing I could find to remove the sealer was acetone. When I look back upon that project, I still cringe! It was probably the hardest work I have ever done and it took me bags of rags, wore out my knees and took weeks to finish...hand work - one tile at a time. This is the most important part of the message...I found D'mundo Tile Co. in Palm Desert. They educated me from that point on. They have all the supplies and will tell you everything you will ever need to know about maintaining your pavers!
Once a year for many years I gave the pavers an additional top coating...a very easy job! BUT...three or four years ago, decided to let someone else do the work...and guess what I just found out yesterday from the contractor doing the resealing? Another worker had used a solvent based sealer on our pavers a few years ago and that is why they were turning too dark for our tastes. And...strenuous work and volatile chemicals are needed to remove the solvent based sealers. The contractor stripped the kitchen and other areas of heavy use but will probably have to return to finish the rest of the flooring within a few years!

I hope this post will help some of you!

Borrego Capers of a Different Sort

It's funny how something just jumps out at you from a page and demands attention!

I read the book SALT: A World History by Mark Kurlansky as part of my resolution to try different types of reading during the summer. The process was refreshing, The Salt book was my choice in the History/ Science realm.
Near to the conclusion of the book the author informs that..." French consider their best capers, which come from Provence, to be the smallest, and they pickle them in vinegar." He goes on to say that nasturtium buds were often used as a substitute and provides the following recipe:

Nasturtium Indicum. Gather the buds before they open to flower: lay them in the shade three or four hours, and putting them into an earthen glazed vessel, pour good vinegar on them , and cover it with a board. Thus letting it stand for eight of ten days then being taken out, and gently press'd cast them into fresh vinegar, and let them so remain as long as before. Repeat this third time, and barrel them up with vinegar and a little salt. - John Evelyn, Aetaria: A Discourse of Sallets, 1699

Each year, I plant nasturtiums amongst vegetables in the garden and use the flowers in salads. A Google search told me that the type I plant, Tropaeloum majus is the same identical plant! We are daffy over capers and I even tried to buy seed once. Now can hardly wait to try making them myself!

Seed, Sorrow and Success

Those glossy pictures in the seed catalogs are so enticing! I am one of those guilty to succumbing to their siren call. Summer is the time to decide which seeds to order for the cool weather garden and many vegetable gardeners like to try new varieties, especially if they have been disappointed with types they have planted before. If you want to have a good yield, however, it is best if you stick to the varieties that you have found do best in your own garden.

For instance: Many trials have convinced me that Chandler strawberries give the best results as far as strawberries go. I always plant some Detroit red beets along with Golden beets, because I know that the Detroit variety grows like a weed, here. I avoid regular chard because it grows to a giant size and, for the limited space in a raised planter, takes up too much room. The smaller, colorful chards are ideal and the leaves are SO tender. I have tried many types of lettuce but my favorite is Burpee's Buttercrunch . Perfecto is our favorite radish and even grows faster than Bok Choy, another easy plant to grow here. We like the Touchon carrot. I always include a curly leaf spinach along with other loose leaf lettuce varieties. no problems noted. Have had trouble growing the following: French Breakfast radish, celery ( very bitter ), Brussell sprouts ( aphids) cabbage (aphids) cauliflower ( aphids). Last year's broccoli was great and refused to flower, even after I wanted it to...it just kept putting out sweet delicious buds! ( But I have had aphids in the past on broccoli, also.) I was enchanted with endive but found out that six plants are too many! Two should supply your needs. Just nip off leaves for salads as you need them. We did not like the mushy consistency of yellow pear tomatoes. Winter tomatoes work well, planted in the same place yearly, but watch out for frosts...they need protection!

I have tried the French intensive system , the Square Foot system and the row system in our raised planters and have come up with a cross between all of them, which seems to work best for us: Lettuce, carrots, spinach... French Intensive. Beets, Bok Choy, Radishes,onions... rows, spaced close enough together to allow for development of the vegetable. The Square foot system works best for larger vegetable plants...Summer and winter squashes, melons, tomatoes.
We have a growing tower for beans and peas. Pole beans were not successful ( small yield ) but we always have loads of sweet crunchy pods and peas. Planted directly in planter, in a circle around the pole. ( Burpee Sugar snap and Super Snappy ) Bush beans provided a good supply but took up too much room in the raised planters. Will try in lower planter, next season. Red onions grew easily along with garlic, which were planted along with beets and tomatoes. No gophers appeared in that bed . ( gophers ate the beets, last year )
Onions may have been a deterrent.

I plant individual pockets of parsley, cilantro, basil and other herbs in flower beds. The artichoke and eggplants have their own drips in other locations in the yard. Both of them are handsome plants as stand-alone specimens. When the artichoke died back, my husband thought it was a goner and pulled it out. That plant gave us artichokes for three years! It will have to be replaced.

Borrego vegetable gardeners! Let's hear from you. Maybe we can come up with a list of vegetables that are perfect for our area. We would be especially interested to hear where you purchased the seed or transplant,( or- did you save the seed from original plant ) along with the variety. Send your comments!

Miracle of the Night Music

Everyone I have talked to during the past week has felt the same way as I regarding the last vestige of summer...ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! All last week, night temperatures have been too warm ...in the ninety to one hundred degree category at bedtime. Most Borregans will agree that when nights are cooler, daytime temperatures don't don't make much difference at all ( unless you have to work outside ).

Last night, however, was different. We decided we hated the soft slurp - slurp sound of the swamp cooler and turned off the switch, opened all doors and windows and prepared to sweat it out. What met us was a most outstanding silence...and, as we listened, a soft sound from afar. Had we turned off the radio? Was the television still on? Was someone talking? As we listened, we recognized the sound ...far off coyotes en concerti... the wavering lead tremolo rising to the skies to be then joined by harmonious music of the chorus.
This coyote music differs from the frantic yap- yapping of the chase or the conversational greetings and positional quests we often hear. This was a timeless statement of being and belonging in this place and in this time!

It is an old superstition that when coyotes "sing" it means rain is soon to follow. Last night, the coyotes did certainly sing! Instead of rain, though, we'll just settle for cooler nights!

Borrego Tomatoes

Did you ever wonder why your tomato plant became so big and unruly? Last year, my Heirloom variety, Brandywine, wanted to take over the entire bed ! I resorted to pruning it after it had overgrown the wire cage and, as a result, the yield was less than favorable. The fruit, however, was so tasty and the blossoms so gorgeous ( for a tomato, that is...) that I am trying again this season. There are some things I would like to pass along regarding tomatoes:

There are two types... determinate and indeterminate. Determinate are the bush varieties...translation - small enough for a compact garden. All the tomatoes ripen within a month, more or less. If you plant this type in Borrego early enough, you will probably have a yield before any frost or inclement weather. Try not to prune this type tomato. These plants will grow to three or four feet.

On the other hand, indeterminate varieties may grow to seven of eight feet and usually need strong support. My Brandywine quickly overgrew it's support and unfortunately suffered from the frost. I waited to see if any viable growth was left and pruned off the rest. If I had it to do over again I would have removed the plant and started a new one.

I plan to include a new seedless variety this season...billed as " THE WORLD'S FIRST SEEDLESS TOMATO...SWEET! " It is also indeterminate. We shall see what happens!

( I am also hedging my bet by including one determinate variety. )

More Thoughts on the Fireball

Gosh! I can't seem to get that thing out of my mind!

It was such an vivid startling sight it caused me to muse over what the ancients must have thought when viewing the same phenomenon. That it would have been taken as an omen - no doubt. Did it portend great disasters or miracles to come? Probably - both.

In these times, we are lucky, I guess. More research via Google , newspaper accounts and NASA reports sure gave me something else to think about. One graphic, especially, showing the proliferation of worldwide satellites ( all due to fall back to earth sooner or later ) made me incredulous.

NASA reported the fireball we witnessed was probably a basketball sized asteroid. They also reported on September 23 ( give or take a day ), a "huge defunct" satellite will fall to earth and should break apart on entering earth's atmosphere. SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN reassures us that there is only a 1 in 3,200 chance of being hit by any debris, however. How do you like those odds?

FIREBALL IN DARK DESERT SKY

We had a most unusual day ( and evening ) yesterday, September 14, 2011.

The day started early for us. It was another "go to Palm Springs day" which always start early, includes many lists, orders of stops and general outline for the trip. Our list for the day included three doctor visits, bank, Trader Joe, Albertsons, Goodies Cafe and Home Depot, if time allowed.

Well, it didn't quite work out the way it was planned. We left the last medical appointment at 6:30 pm. ( and I'll bet you didn't think doctors work overtime! ) The office help all left before we did! It was nearly dark.
What a lucky thing for us!

As we drove south on Highway 86, we saw a once in a lifetime sight...A FIREBALL!!! The sky was black. We were near Salton Sea City when I saw a brilliant luminous bluish green object streaking across the sky in a west to southeast trajectory and it was BIG! I yelled to the driver... " Quick, look above us! " He saw it, too, and as we watched , sparks were trailing behind it. It either passed from our view or disappeared near the Salton Sea. I immediately reported the sighting to the Imperial Sheriffs Dept., who seemed to accept the account with little enthusiasm.

The rest of the ride home was filled with speculations. We entertained myriad hypotheses: a plane on fire? a meteor? Rosebowl type fireworks? UFO? Tommy Tickles shooting off homemade rocket? It was then I remembered the date...Sept. 14th. Mexican Independence Day! Huge celebration! Nope - wrong date.

Google informed me this morning what it was... a true FIREBALL! And we were so lucky to have seen it! Everyday brings something new to fill you with awe and wonder. Yesterday was an exceptional extra-terrestrial day for us!

A Grower's Good Advice

Well, I decided to take my own advice during this recent hot spell...take an interest in my indoor plants. I have always liked indoor foliage for many reasons: Plants seem to soften the indoor scene and are actually good for you, in that they emit oxygen and remove air toxins from the room . Plants can also create a focal point or theme for a room . Healthy plants give a room a vitality that cannot be achieved in any other way. They also satisfy a gardener's yearning for nurturing during inclement weather!
Over the years, I have had many indoor plants. I would say the most resilient of any was a Sheffleria I bought as a small plant and placed in the corner of the living room when we lived at the beach. The plant grew and grew, until it was almost ceiling high, thrived when we were absent for months at a time, stayed in place after we sold the house and was still there long after the new owners lived there! That plant was perfect for that particular place!
That's the secret. Some plants have an affinity for a certain place. It's hard to find an indoor plant that really does well in Borrego but, I think that I have found several that do exceptionally well here. Three that I love are Rhaphis excelsa ( lady palm ), Sansevieria ( mother-in-law tongue) and Zamiocula zamiifolia (zz plant).

Presently, I am trying a new liquid fertilizer that I was informed (on good authority ) is used to grow marijuana with great success. I don't know much about marijuana horticulture, but I certainly think it has given my indoor plants a big boost! Botanicare Pure Blend Pro Gro for hydro gardens, soil and coco,is an organic 3-2-4 mix. I only use 1 tsp./gal. of water, so it lasts a long time!

The palm takes more water ( once/week ) than the other plants, which I allow to dry out between waterings. Your finger is your best tester. When the soil pulls away easily and you don't feel moisture, it is dry enough to water. Remember, more plants die by over-watering than are killed by under watering!

The Sleeping Deck

An easy and enjoyable addition to a desert home is a "sleeping deck". We planned the deck before we built the house, but it is a relatively inexpensive addition that can be constructed on most desert homes.

Stairs lead to our deck, which is located over a bedroom. If your home has a flat garage or porch roof that would be another ideal location. The concept is to create a sleeping place higher off the ground, outside, where the cooler summer night temperature creates a more comfortable environment.

But, we have found many other reasons to have a sleeping deck. It gives us more space for overnight guests and family members when they come to visit. Sleeping outside, under the stars in this dark desert gives grandchildren and guests alike many wonderful memories. Flat on your back, looking up into the milky haze of millions of stars is an awesome experience, whether you are six or sixty! We are so used to Orion's path that we can acurately estimate the time from the Hunter's position in the sky!. And...it is cooler on the roof, a lot cooler! All you need is a blow up mattress, a sleeping bag and pillow. No need for any furniture.

We've had some funny experiences on our deck! One grandchild was afraid to sleep there...he thought the "black hole" might swallow him! More than once, we have heard animals of some sort moving around the roof. Regular response to that is, " Why don't you go see what it is?" ( Not me, of course. )The stairs give such easy access, no excuses allowed! One time, my protector tip toed up the steps, quietly, hoping to see what was making the noise. Meanwhile, I opened the door, the dog got out and immediately thundered up the stairs...heart attack in the making and whatever was on the roof forgotten! The funniest event, was when two good friends settled in for the night, marveling at the starry heavens above. Around 3 am, it started to rain, they ran downstairs with their sleeping bags and said they couldn't see anything. In their mad rush, they had put on each other's glasses!

If you are leery of sleeping outside on the ground and want a cooler night's sleep, this seems like the ideal solution!

A Gentle Monsoon

We thought it was not going to rain... A few large drops plopped down during Labor Day. The humidity stayed high enough to turn off the swamp cooler and rely on air conditioning . High temperature at bedtime caused us to continue using it at night time...until, surprise! We were awakened by the sound of rain on the roof. Not the pounding, heavy downpour of the September monsoon last year. Just a gentle steady downpour. ( .11 ", according to guru's report )

The relief every desert dweller feels when the first monsoon moisture arrives is profound. How we love to throw open the doors and windows and let in the heavy sweet fragrance of desert rain! All the plants had started to show the effect of the recent high temperatures. This rain offers them a much needed respite.

In Borrego, the monsoons take different shape. Some are like misty curtains of moisture moving slowly over the valley. Others are breath catching displays of thunder, lightning and rushing water. But ask any Borregan...we all like the monsoon, no matter what it looks like!

The Cool Loop

Well, we did it...found a cooler place for awhile! When we unzipped the sleeping bags yesterday morning, it was thirty-seven degrees and my Borrego weather guru who lives down the street e-mailed me an "all clear"- safe to return notice! She said it was still hot but the humidity had fallen to 8 percent. Great news!

The high Sierra Range is the destination of many Borregans during the extreme temperatures of summer. This year, we decided to visit the June Lake loop - specifically, the Gull Lake area. Elevation, over seven thousand six hundred feet. Four lakes are to be found along the loop road; June, Gull, Silver and Grant. Campgrounds are in many locations along the route and near-by cabins or other rentals abound in the area. The local population is less than Borrego Springs but there are many similarities. The small town flavor and friendly residents welcome all visitors to the area.

The location is perfect for a quiet get-away yet near enough to Mammoth to find any necessity you may require- including a hospital! Bodie, Yosemite and Mono Lake Visitor Center are just a short drive away. Fine dining can be found at the Carson Peak Inn, near Silver Lake or Carlee type ambience at the Tiger Bar. For hikers who detest up hill hiking, there is a gondola which will carry you to the top of June mountain ( restaurant at top ). Lots of down hill trails from there! There is fishing, swimming, kayaking, hiking or other acivities to entertain you. All in all, a great place to enjoy a cool and comfortable time away from Borrego's hottest month.

Back in Borrego, we noted that we had experienced an extreme temperature change during the day...eighty three degrees, to be exact! Ah, Borrego, home sweet home!
The morning paper will be brought in by Lola and Borrego desert living will be resumed. It is always good to get away for a short time but it is always even better to come home again!

Ennui

I knew it would happen sooner or later. Ennui has come to visit. Too hot to garden ...too hot to do anything but try to stay cool and the forecast tells us this is just the beginning! Languor is not such a bad thing, I guess, especially if you live in Borrego. But, at this time of year, the siren call of higher elevations or misty beaches is certainly beguiling! It just might be time to slip away for a few days.

We had a small taste of a cooler elevation last Saturday when we drove to Palomar Mountain. We took the back road and meandered around. There is an outstanding overview where you can see for miles and miles. Lake Henshaw looks so much larger from that vantage point! It was a cool and comfortable trip,and not too far away from Borrego Springs.

Since we decided to take time off from gardening, we thought it was also time to let the garden rest. It put forth so much effort last season we decided to pay it back with a well deserved sleep. We first enriched the soil by spreading one bag of manure on each raised bed, digging it in, flooding it and covering the entire bed with plastic. Borrego heat takes care of the rest...solarization helps kill any unwanted pests and even gives a boost to organic nutrients already present in the soil. When uncovered, in late September or early October, the soil will again be ready to go back to work for us! Depending on the weather, seeds will be started in flats about three weeks prior to the time the beds will be uncovered.

Meanwhile, we look forward to the cooler nights that are sure to come!

Not a Walk in the City or Suburbs!

An early morning walk around the block is a habit of many Borregans. Our walks differ from a walk in the city or the suburbs. Our blocks differ from them, too! According to the pedometer, our block is one mile in length! There are no sidewalks, no streetlights and we rarely even see a car on the road! During the season, you will meet regular walkers, some accompanied by their four legged household members. Dogs always find something different to sniff or investigate every day. They love their daily regimen.
Most dogs have stepped on cholla. Lola is no exception. When she first encountered a cholla cluster, she didn't know how to handle the situation. She tried to remove the cactus with her mouth and immediately found out that was the wrong idea. Now, she has learned to stop, lift her paw and wait. If you carry a comb with you on a desert walk, you will find out how easy it is to remove cholla by just putting the comb under the sticker and flicking it away.
These morning outings offer unimaginable vistas. I often carry my camera with me and have loved some of the photos I have taken in the early morning. You often see unexpected things as the sun comes up...one morning we saw a young mountain lion who seemed unable to figure a way out of a fenced pasture. The first time we saw a burrowing owl was on one of our easement walks. ( Yes, we still have telephone poles ) He stood in front of us, bouncing up and down with those huge eyes. I remember, too, the first time our dog encountered a discarded snake skin. She jumped a foot off the ground, it was so foreign to her. Lola had her first meeting with a tarantula, also on an early walk. She reacted the same way. A coyote joined us on a walk one day. He walked parallel with us and stopped when we stopped. Our dog paid no attention to him and seemed glad to have the additional company.
One early warm summer morning offered an experience of a different kind. Realize, that no one was around during this hot spell...the neighborhood was almost empty. As we walked that morning, we heard the sound of a door opening. A neighbor walked out to pick up her paper...stark naked! Another neighbor does early morning gardening...after spying us coming up the road, we often see her making her way back to the house with her hoe or rake, clad only in her nightgown or underwear!
We are safe, though. I don't think either of them blogs!

The Borrego Yeti

Sometimes , you can solve a mystery. Sometimes the mystery eludes you and is never solved. And, like many Borrego residents, we look for desert clues to explain things. You know what type animal has been frequenting the garden by myriad clues...scat, prints, feathers, sounds or actual sightings. We are always looking and listening and have come up with answers to most Borrego mysteries. But, there are exceptions:

A real poser when we first moved here was not solved for months. We kept hearing things at odd times...soft eerie flute-like melodies with out any real structure...just soft musical notes coming to us on the wind, so to speak. We were even uncertain of the direction from which they came. " Do you hear something?" ...was the often asked question. We made up stories to explain it; the ancient shaman calling to us, the lost musician, the echo from afar, the sound of the wind... We solved the riddle several months from the time we first heard the music. We were passing by the old Hoberg Hotel, which was vacant, and heard it again - louder! GHOSTS! As we walked by, we spotted a reclusive flute player amongst the palms. We later found out he was the caretaker. Mystery solved!

One unsolved mystery remains: We never found out who ( or WHAT ) made the barefoot tracks we found for several consecutive weeks around our neighborhood. Others had also noticed them. The footprints were huge - around size twelve or larger, we guessed. It had to be a night walker. Streets and sand are too hot during the day. And, he must have had tough feet because there are stickers, pebbles and cacti everywhere! We heard rumors of others seeing bare foot prints around their yards, even around their houses. We never met a barefoot person on any of our walks.

We know about the Ranchita Yeti. Do you think there might be a Borrego Yeti, too?

The Borrego Sun

Regardless of all else that goes on in the world, every Borregan looks forward to picking up his mail late Wednesday or early Thursday, every other week. Why? Because that is the day the Borrego Sun is delivered to each subscriber's Post Office box!

The "Sun" has been the major source of news in Borrego since 1949. It is truly a "down-home" newspaper and is full of all kinds of news...who had a baby, what's for sale, important meeting dates, an opinion page, letters to the editor, an editorial,a crossword ( new ), ads and lots of other things of community interest. Judy Meir has taken over Joe Stone's old column and is doing a great job. This time of year, the paper is understandably thinner than during the season, but, as always, chock full of information that is fascinating and refreshingly upbeat when compared to the big papers.

The photos on the first page are often of Borrego kids who have made a name for themselves...Youth Theater actors, graduates, or current events like flooding, beautiful fields of flowers, sunsets, clouds, farmer's markets, fiestas, parades, plein aire painters and the like.

In the most recent paper, I found out the General Plan Update had finally been approved by the County. I went to the on-line site and read the entire thing. I think it bodes well for the future of Borrego Springs and am thankful for all the time and effort of the many volunteers who worked so hard and for so many years on the plan.

There is even a CRIMEWATCH section I definitely enjoy reading. Of course, not much is usually in it. This time of year, especially...in August. Someone damaged a gate to gain entrance to a swimming pool, used the pool and left "beer cans scattered about". Rangers rescued two men stranded in the mud caves. The item that alerted me to what is really going on was the group of naked meteor watchers who were issued warnings. They were amongst a group of 70 "mostly clothed" viewers watching the Perseid Meteor shower from Font's Point. Also, some welding tools were stolen from a shed. That's it!

Ode to Mi Tenapa

Long ago, we learned that Borrego Springs adheres to Baja time: An early restaurant , a tiny place on the south east side of the Circle, which was called, "Mi Tenapa", had the best home cooked Mexican food you have ever tasted. The thing about the place, though, was you never knew when it was open. The owner of the Fudge Shop also remembers the place fondly and told me he always looked for cars in the parking lot before he stopped to eat there. We also had a signal we looked for...his two dogs. Even if there were no cars around, if the dogs were outside, you could then be sure he or his wife were inside cooking. Usually, his wife would get there early. She was the cook. He was the server and would arrive later. Ray served each table himself. One beer at a time! He slowly and carefully set the tables...spoons, then forks, then knives...making many shuffling trips back and forth and often stopping to talk. We saw an out-of-town customer ask him to hurry up. His reply..." I haven't hurried in sixty years and I'm not about to start now!" We have so many memories of that unique place...it only had a few tables but it had a larger "waiting room" with four old car seats, firmly attached to the floor with heavy chains. NO ONE who knew the place would wait in the waiting room, which was stifling in summer. The entertainment at Tenapa was watching tourists run outside to wait after a few minutes in that waiting room! One time, our family was having dinner and we did have live entertainment. Friends of his dropped in, part of a mariachi band who entertained us in that small space...a harp and two guitars . You just never know what will happen during a Borrego summer!

You often didn't get what you ordered, because Ray was "out of it" but whatever you did get was always delicious! When the food ran out, the doors closed. He worked until he was well into his eighties and, though the name of the place has changed more than once, it will always remain Ray's Mi Tenapa to us.

The Moon Also Rises ( and Sets )

It's well known, isn't it, that Borrego Springs is famous as a " Dark Sky Area" ? That designation was bestowed upon us some time ago. And...I certainly agree that most nights here are inky black and open the starry heavens for all to view. However, some nights are glaring exceptions.

When the full moon rises in the east and starts its' nightly journey west it bathes Borrego in moonlight, often so bright that you can actually go outside and see the colors of things...umbrellas, furniture, trees, flowers...almost as well as you can see them in daylight! During these periods, the Park, ABDNHA and other organizations even offer " guided moonlight hikes " in various parts of the desert. We've never been on one, but have often walked to neighbor's houses or home from dinner at a near-by restaurant under the light of the moon.

But always a blessing it is not. I can't tell you how many times I have been awakened by something startling. The moon wakes me up when it shines directly on my face during the night. It is as if I have been placed in front of a strong spotlight...and it keeps me guessing as to when it will move on.

We had similar experiences like that at the beach, where we used to live but those were caused by the Police Helicopters who loved to shine their spotlight on the beach, sweeping it in giant arcs along the shore late at night...and those events were always accompanied by the beating of rotor blades and sometimes, even the loudspeaker telling anyone on the beach to get off. I can't count how many times we jumped out of bed and rushed onto the second floor deck to see what was wrong...once even silently observing a young beach fugitive hiding under the first story deck!

So, in retrospect, the silent luminous light of the full moon should be welcomed...accompanied by only the soft hoot of an owl or the distant howl of the coyote looking up at the bright light as he has done here through untold centuries!

August Gardening in the Low Desert

This is one of the most uncomfortable months in the low desert. Night- time temperatures hover in the eighties or above and daytime temperatures mostly over 100 degrees with humidity...not exactly the best conditions for gardening...but, there are some chores you can and should do before the month elapses.

We pruned all the palms in the garden, pruned and laced the olive trees and pulled out the remainder of the vegetable garden. One sack of manure will be spread and dug into each raised bed, followed by a deep watering and then covered with plastic. Irrigation has been shut down. This method allows the beds to rest and revitalize before the fall planting season.

If you still need to garden, why not stay inside and give additional care to your houseplants? They, too, crave attention! I have already planned the fall vegetable garden and have sketched out plans that include rotation of plants: Each year, I plant chard, lettuce, carrots and other vegetables in a different location. I have compiled my seed list and plan to get an early start by planting seeds in flats before transferring to raised beds. The only plants that don't seem to care are tomatoes, strawberries and peas, which are always grown in the same beds.

One other chore you need to do is check on your irrigation system often - and , for the natives and cacti that are not irrigated, just look at them and they'll tell you when they need a drink! Ocotillos are still magnificent, even when they lack leaves, but non native cacti sometimes need assistance. If they start to look withered and thin, they will quickly respond to a heavy spray of water...a simulated "flash flood" applied directly to the plant. Their roots are shallow but widespread and they will slurp up any water available to them. The spines direct the water and allow it to spread. Some even water creosote every now and then, but I enjoy the seasonal change they undergo. Lack of water never killed a creosote plant!

El Descanso

Our palapa is located outside the walls in the midst of our own wilderness garden. It is truly a resting place in deep shade during summer, a bird watching station, a conversation or reading place and a place to commune with nature in your very own way.

Everyone should have one...at least, if you live in Borrego! If you look at pictures before you read, you'll know I'm talking about a PALAPA! A palapa fits into desert living like a foot fits into a shoe...it just seems to belong here. We have one and, like everything else, it aged and needed a rehab. A few fronds had blown away over the years and it desperately yelled, " FIX ME".

Easier said than done! When Mr. Creative first built the palapa, he was a bit more agile than he is today...if you had seen him at work, you would also say more foolhardy! The main pole and frame created no problem and was conceived and carried out fairly easily. ( but with a great deal of thought ) It was the second stage that presented problems. Putting on the palm fronds. To prevent injury, the sharp spines have to be cut off. A machete is the tool of choice. And it takes a lot of hacking away and a lot of fronds to make a palapa! There are many ways to attach the fronds to the frame, starting at the outside edges and working towards the top center. We started with the traditional method of looping portions of the leaf underneath a support and tying it securely. Too hard. He came up with the idea of looping bailing wire over the leaf and twisting it under the support. Time consuming, but we only lost a few fronds over a fifteen year period !

Everything went along fine until near the top, where he could no longer reach. My heart almost stopped when he told me his plans to move the RV close to the palapa, span the distance with a ladder and crawl over it to the center of the palapa. Over my objections, this he did. The fronds were attached without mishap.

We were wiser, this year, and hired helpers, who were more dexterous.

The Dog Days of Summer

How many times have you walked up to a store door, tried the handle and found it locked ? More than a few times, I'll bet, if you are in Borrego Springs in August!
You know what I'm talking about. August in Borrego is different from any other place! Shop owners have a delicate balancing act to perform...Will the air conditioning costs exceed revenues - will the store have customers or has everyone gone on vacation to cooler places? Each store has come up with his very own solution: Some have what they call " summer hours", some stay open, some close for the week end, some are open only on the weekends and others close for a month or even for the entire summer!

This can be rather confusing for the Borrego Springs resident who stays here all year! For example: The Fudge shop usually is closed during summer but I passed it and noticed the umbrellas were up. I stopped to talk to the owner and he told me he had only opened because Calico's had closed for a few weeks, but after the owners of Calicos return, they would go back to the original summer routine. He said the best way to gauge is this..." If the umbrellas are open, we are,too. If they are down, we are closed." Well, in the time it took to go to the hardware store and drive past the shop on the way home, I noticed the umbrellas had been lowered!

The shops that close for the summer are easy to spot...they have sheets covering the windows. The others? I guess it's just up to us to read the signs in the windows!
( Scroll down to see more photos )

Summer in Borrego Springs

How do you know it's summer in Borrego Springs?

YOU KNOW IT'S SUMMER WHEN...

warm water comes out of the cold water faucet.

you turn on the hose and almost get scalded.

you try to swim but the water's too hot.

you can't open the gate because the handle's too hot.

there are parking spaces in front of the Post Office.

your electric bill goes up.

your water bill goes up.

car upholstery burns your legs and you can't hold on to the steering wheel.

your only visitors are U.P.S. or Fed Ex.

you go to the P.O, the Center Market, the Library or the Medical Center just to get cool.

you can't walk on your patio with bare feet.

the dog balks at bringing in the morning paper.

you sleep on top of the sheets instead of under them and start thinking that nudists have the right idea.

golf TV takes the place of your start times.


birds hop around with wide open bills and rabbits don't bother to run away from you.

you read more books in one month than you had read all season.

You go to the market and the bread shelf is almost bare.

the hardware store closes early but you forget what time.

( and I'll bet you can add a few more )

Wrap-Up

Only one structure damaged in a 14,100 acres. How lucky. Better ask the wildlife how many homes they lost...how many nesting areas, how many food sources, how many hard fought territories, shelter and ranges they lost. That many died , there is no doubt. That more will die...probably.
Nature has always been this way. Fires have always played a part. But, if arson is involved, the crime is doubly detestable. Not only have firefighters been injured, vast sums of money have been spent. That seems good enough reason to me to use every resource to determine who is at fault! As the fire wanes, so does interest in the story. It is our hope that the investigation into the crime continues at full speed.

My Brenda Starr moment is over - the blog will go on as before - talking about mundane things. What it's like to live in the desert - oddities and great things about Borrego Springs...when to plant peas, carrots and chard...how hot the summer...the monsoon...and you know what.

WHEW ! I'm glad that's over!

It Feels HOT !

This morning humidity was at 69% and already around 90 degrees F. Almost everyone who lives in Borrego understands that calls for air conditioner use rather than swamp coolers. When you think of the fire fighters working in this high temperature/high humidity environment you have to wonder how they do it! For instance, we were out early trimming Lantana. We lasted about forty-five minutes before we decided to return to our comfortable air conditioned house! Thanks to every firefighter who is out there.

The cause of the fire has been tagged arson. The cost, so far, is $ 12.9 million. I wonder if the perpetrator (s) will ever be found and be held financially responsible for the fire.

This afternoon: Humidity had dropped to about 22 percent but temperature increased to around 108 F. ( feels like 110 degrees ) Sky, clear with a few white clouds over mountains, wind light. Total area burned, about 21 sq. miles.

Fire Prevention

Last night we saw more than a glow in the sky,,,we saw fire along a near-by ridge. The humidity is high, today ( 75% ) and the winds still light and from the south east...all in favor of gaining control of the blaze. The weather report says there is a slight chance of rain, today.

However, if you live in Borrego Springs you have probably done some thinking about the conditions in your own backyard regarding fire safety. We looked at ours and found a few things we could do something about...how about you?

Around noon taday, drove to Indianhead Ranch. There are hot spots on the south side of Henderson Canyon, well monitored by crews stationed along the entrance road of Indianhead. We noticed an ATV on one of the pick-ups.

Signs in the Sky

We woke up this morning and knew something was amiss. The sky to the east looked eerie and there was a misty cloud to the west. One step outside affirmed our suspicions...a wildfire in the mountains. The fire seems to be on or near the Los Coyotes Reservation. As I write this, the smell of smoke is obvious.

We have had near-by wildfires before, some of them resulting in the local school being used as an evacuation area. We hope this fire will be contained soon as we think of all the animals nearby who must be frantically trying to escape the flames.

The Grabbers

Last night we were sitting on the patio with friends when Lola started going berserk! She ran from us to the corner of the back wall, looked at us, ran back and forth...her excitement obvious. We assumed another coyote was sniffing outside the wall and kept our conversation going. But Lola was not to be ignored. She insisted we investigate. We turned on the flood light as one of our city friends suggested and she followed Lola to see. " It's a SNAKE ! ", she shrieked. That DID get our attention!

Lola was standing over a writhing mass of black netting, Texas Ranger branches and pebbles. Mr. Take Charge took a quick look and told me to run in the house and grab the grabbers ( aptly named tool ). I found two and also grabbed a big flashlight. Yes, something was definitely wrong. The snake was moving but not going anywhere! Identification was important. No rattler noise. No triangular head. A gorgeous pink cast led me to say, " I think it's a rosy boa ! " ( Charina trivigata roseofusca ) Not dangerous. We looked more closely while our friends kept Lola away.

We determined the snake was helplessly entangled in a mass of bird netting which had covered the strawberry bed. The netting had blown into the ranger bush and was also entangled with that. A bad snake situation. I returned to the house for small scissors. The braver of the two of us held the snake just under the head ( after a little nip on the hand ) while I started cutting away the netting, which had tightened around the snake's body. It took about fifteen minutes before we had freed it, put it outside the gate and watched as it moved swiftly away.

Bird netting, along with plastic fish line, six pac covers, bottles and other items can be a deathtrap to animals. I remember another instance that we had to cut away netting from the apple tree to free a cotton tail: A young cottontail and a squirrel shared the same burrow. They seemed to play together, chasing one another round and round the yard. One day, we heard a dreadful squealing. The squirrel was making so much noise, we had to investigate. The rabbit was ensnared by the mesh and was dangling from a lower branch of the tree. We had to cut him free, also.

There is a moral to this story - and, by now, you know what it is. The snake was so beautiful and strong...we marveled at how the tail kept wrapping around the shaft of the grabbers...the way of the boa, I guess. We estimated the length at around three feet and actually had to "unwind" his tail after he was free of the netting. Another eventful Borrego memory!

A Wild Place

A desert garden, if modified, can also be seen as a "wild place", where desert animals can find all the items they need to survive and flourish in an arid environment. Their needs are few...water, food, shelter and refuge from predators.
In direct contrast to the garden inside our walls, is the outer garden, which has been designed to provide for wildlife needs, offers us a chance to view desert wildlife and know that our garden fulfills their needs. Sometime ago, we applied for and received Wildlife Sanctuary Certification status through the Humane Society of the United States. We had to make some small changes to fulfill the criteria but our acreage fit easily into their scheme.
Luckily, we had removed few desert plants from the construction area when we built our home. Native plants are a primary requirement and we had plenty of those...we only bulldozed the building site and the driveway was planned to avoid some mature Ocotillos. We had to transplant one to another location and we removed scrubby looking plants from the roadside. We had put low chicken wire along the perimeter of the lot to protect new oleanders we had planted. Boy, that made no sense at all! We removed all that so animals could have free access. Also pulled the oleanders...but, know this: Oleanders NEVER die or " just fade away...." A little rain and up they come again! Now, in place of our orderly "property line" is a jumble of native plants and cacti, allowed to grow unfettered. We added several shallow water basins under irrigation drips already in place. The drips keep the basins full at all times. We already had rocks and boulders in the yard and never use pesticides. All requirements met!
Now, you can look outside our inner garden wall and observe many animal paths leading into our yard. As time has passed, the large clusters of ratany, chuparosa and cheese bush have formed dense thickets and offer perfect refuge for many animals. We also have many creosotes, indigos, brittlebush, mesquites, native palms and cacti ( yes, even different types of cholla, which is somewhat annoying, this time of year due to cast off sticker balls ) Cholla is a major factor in keeping cactus wrens near-by and we just LOVE those birds! They hunt and feed voraciously on all the insects we can do without!
We never put food out for any animals - including birds. We know their needs can be met by food they find right in our garden. We love to catch glimpses of desert wildlife...especially here, in our own yard!

Borrego's Magic Dragon

Something has arisen from the desert soil...a magical, whimsical creature executed by artist Ricardo Breceda and sponsored by Dennis Avery. I predict this creature will draw visitors from near and far. Every parent will want his child to see this new giant piece of art. It certainly brought forth the child in me when I first viewed the completed sculpture!

I was truly at a loss of words. I had been watching the large pieces of metal scattered about for months, seen the crane, waited and waited, but I had no idea of what the final sculpture would really look like. We drove up Borrego Springs Road the other day and there it was ...on both sides of the road. I experienced a feeling that could only be described as pure happiness and glee to see Borrego's Magic Dragon. Bits and pieces of old fables, Medieval tales, science fiction ( Dune ), Chinese festivals, old movies...all the lore of many years flooded through my memory as we viewed it.

That it is a creature of the desert is certain...it has the music of desert snake attached to its tail. The dragon has chosen his place and he will be here far longer than any of us. He will bring joy to many and, probably, good luck to Borrego Springs. In fact...HE may be the cause of Borrego's first traffic signal!

I used to tell a story...it went like this: 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!

Storm Update

My weather station friend called this morning to tell me the rain total for yesterday's rain. Just around .35 inch. She said they felt terrible about missing the storm. They had been in La Quinta for shopping and appointments. They drove home, late afternoon, through the washes on S-22 and said there had been no heavy run-off.

That is often the way of these summer storms...very localized. AND - we were the lucky locals, this time!

RAIN !

WHEE! It happened! Around 2 pm this afternoon, I saw the first lightning flash, followed by a distant roll of thunder...but then, the wind started and I knew, for sure, that we were going to get some rain. Everyone at this house gets excited when the summer deluge finally arrives...seeing the first half dollar sized drops splat on the pavers and pool, more lightning, thunder increasing in volume until the loud crashes seem right above the house, phones beeping and growing dark ( just a small power interruption, this time) , the noise of rain on the roof, rain gutters spouting, sirens in the distance...somewhere may be flooding. We love Borrego during these times!

Our son and a friend from Fairbanks Ranch called, worried that we were experiencing a flash flood. They saw the warning on T.V. but , by then, the event was over. I imagine the badlands experienced some washouts and Palm Canyon Dr, probably looked like a stream. I saw the Cal-Trans truck go by, checking the roads, but the duration ( about one hour ) of the downpour probably prevented damage.

We aren't the only ones who love the summer rains. The desert trees, bushes, plants and animals take immediate advantage of even a few drops of moisture...think of how they must feel now!

Smog or Monsoon ?

We were exposed to our first Borrego monsoon many years ago. We often stayed at Peg Leg, in our RV and prior to that, we had attended field trips to Anza Borrego Desert State Park offered by Cal Poly, Pomona. We had always loved the trips and the seclusion offered by the Park. We decided Borrego would be and ideal place to retire, later on...

Well, that time came faster than we thought. We bought a lot, contacted a local architect and started creating the house of our dreams in this little hideout, far from the noise and congestion of our coastal home. Out of necessity, we had to drive to Borrego many times during the summer and consult with the architect.

We would leave the beach at 4 am to avoid traffic and head out the Riverside Freeway to get to her office in time for our appointment. We both vividly remember the first time we saw desert monsoon weather. As we left Ranchita, on Montezuma grade, the entire desert below was covered with, to our novice desert eyes, a gray haze which we thought must be smog. GOSH! We were devestated and wondered if we had made a huge mistake.

Our architect soon explained what it was and threw in a few stories, too. We started looking forward to the desert monsoons and can tell some great tales...about the time, sitting on the porch watching an approaching squall, accompanied by thunder and lightning. Soon, we were in a thundering downpour and saw lightning strike the neighbor's palm tree, splitting the top, then travel into the house, where it destroyed the refrigerator and washer! Another year...we saw lightning hit a camper in another yard. We always examine the mountains with our binoculars after storms, looking for wisps of smoke, some of which we have reported. Everyone here can tell you of the many electrical outages we have had during this time of year. A little summer excitement is good for everyone! ( Update: 7/6, This morning air so heavy you could slice it...Weather Underground says humidity only around 50 percent. When I called a neighbor who has a weather station, she said it is around 70 percent. Guess who I believe? No rain, yet but still hoping! ) Central air conditioning necessary, even during the night.

Borrego is a great place to live, but be sure to bring your surge protectors and home weather stations with you!

June Gloom in July

We used to live at the beach, so we know what June gloom means. This morning, in Borrego, we awoke, looked out the window and there it was...a month early...another example of this crazy weather pattern!
When you can't see the Santa Rosa mountains from our house it is either due to a dust storm , heavy rain or monsoon moisture. June gloom at the beach differs from Borrego...it is COOL. Here, it is HOT!
Air so heavy you can feel it, taste it, smell it. And, the humidity is only hovering around sixty percent...an outside temperature of 88 degrees will feel like 94 degrees. As the day progresses, the temperature will rise and the comfort level will decline. This, we know from experience. Borrego usually basks in clear bright sunlight and experiences very low humidity. This, we also know: Swamp coolers are worthless during monsoon periods. You definitely need to turn on the air conditioning, regardless of the cost!
When the first monsoon appears, we feel great expectations...probably shared by all inhabitants of desert regions throughout the centuries. We hope for the thunder, lightning and drenching rains that will renew and revitalize the desert, filling tinajas and providing for all the desert creatures and plants. As for us, when we open our next bill from San Diego Gas and Electric, we won't be too surprised!

A Special Spring, Two Desert Wildflowers

On April 26, I wandered outside to take pictures of two wildflowers I had been watching closely. Prickly Gilia and Ratany...both fairly inconspicuous plants you would hardly notice during most years. This year, however, was different...we had seen a comparable bloom only one time before...in 1991! Conditions probably were alike...adequate rainfall following a few dry years. It is difficult, if not impossible, to to guess all the factors involved, but to us, it was a sight that reminded us of our early days here, in Borrego.

Prickly gilia ( Gilia pungens tenuiloba ) is in the Phlox family - a tiny flower, but, this year, the vacant lot east of us was covered with it, resulting in a hazy lavender veil floating above the soil. The entire scene looked etheral as the mass of bloom seeemed to float about a foot over the rough desert base and move in waves like a field of wheat in the breeze.

The other desert bloom that was extra spectacular this year was ratany. ( Krameriaceae family ) This is a shrubby but dense plant which is a partial root parasite of nearby plants, although, it seems to allow nearby plants to continue growth with no visible damage. This year, the shrub was completely covered with the small magenta flowers seen only during spring. The rest of the year, the plant just appears like a leafless cluster if spiny stems. This spring, perhaps due to the masses of flowers on each plant, I discovered something new about it! Each time I approached the vicinity of the plant, I experienced such an exotic, elusive fragrance, I could hardly believe it! As I would distance myself, the scent would grow faint. As I again approached, the lovely scent would waft through the air. I have never heard of ratany perfume, but if you could bottle it, you would make a fortune!

These two desert specimens are certainly something you should search for...just remember, they don't choose every year to put on their show!

Spring Cleaning in Summer

Vegetable garden update: Decided to pull the Chandler strawberries. The hot days have dried out the fruit and it would take too much water to keep the plants alive during the summer. When you weigh the cost of the water against the cost of new plants next fall, it seems to make more sense. Will water and cover the bed with plastic to sterilize the soil and let it rest.

Squash, melons and beans are very prolific. It's hard to keep up with them, Picked three melons and five summer squash yesterday. Will harvest more today. The afternoon winds are hard on all the plants in the garden. They must be watched carefully during this time of year. We thought our palms looked a bit desiccated and when we checked the irrigation valve we discovered the wire had been nipped off at the base. Rabbits and rodents are extremely active now and are out seeking food. A wire just might look like a tasty twig to them!

You may have noticed, I have not posted much, lately. That is because we are in the midst of our first summer project...painting the entire interior of the house! I can barely keep ahead of the painter and have found out that spring cleaning is sometimes mandatory, even if it starts in summer!

The Silent News Network

Not all the news appears in the Borrego Sun! Borrego Springs must have one of the most efficient silent news networks in California. Many phone conversations often begin with..." Have you seen? - Have you heard about? - Did you know ?" The Park , Abdnha, the Foundation and other organizations all send frequent e-mail and every night you can hear coyote spreading his news from one end of the basin to the other!

But the bulletin boards of Borrego are unique. I have used them all, since I volunteered to be an ABDNHA poster distributor for a few years. The most difficult board I encountered is located at the Center Market. During the season, it's almost impossible to find a space on it. The market requires a date on all materials and, I suppose they toss them if they are too old, but I have spent a lot of time rearranging items on THAT bulletin board! Sometimes, your notice would mysteriously disappear and have to be replaced. I can honestly say that I have never permanently removed anyone's notice before its "time".

Another bulletin board is located on the side of the old grocery store at the Circle. I don't think many people stop to read it because no one parks there. The store has been closed for years. The smallest bulletin board is at Ace Hardware. It is the hardest one to reach and the hardest to find enough space. The Post Office is a close second. Of course, there is a bulletin board in the Library...for meetings and other community interests. ( No" FOR SALE" items on it! ) The marquee in front of the Center is a bulletin board of sorts...just VERY important events are listed there and someone else has to post them.

The windows of Kendall's and Tumbleweed also make good places to post items. ( Permission required )The Palms at Indian Head, Borrego Valley Inn, Palm Canyon Resort, Club Circle, The Springs and Roadrunner Club all have places to display events of interest, as does the Post Office fence, the inside bulletin board and even the glass entrance, which, unfortunately, usually informs us of the loss of a dog, cat or a person. No good news on THAT door! And that notice is read by each of us, usually daily. Oh, I must include the Chamber of Commerce...You just walk in, hand the notice to a Volunteer and ask THEM to find a place for it!

So the secret is out! Now, you know how we stay so well informed!

The Hooded Visitor

Everyone rises early in Borrego...some of us before sunrise. ( The best time of day. ) Lately, I have been looking out the window at the Tecoma, now in full bloom. It seems, I'm not the only one loving the bright orange-yellow blooms. Orioles have been visiting it like clockwork...5 AM, to be exact!

Each summer we see the birds and often I have tried to capture them on film. They never stay in one spot for very long and seem to move around in jerks and quick jumps from branch to branch. I think they like the palms in our garden ( they often make nests in palm fronds ) but, now, I am wondering about why they seem attracted to this particular plant. Could it be the color? Or, perhaps, the nectar from the flowers? Hooded orioles feed on insects they find on leaves and from flower nectar. I guess this plant offers both!

They also seem to love ocotillo flowers, as do many other species. But, the Hooded oriole is such an eye catcher...a flamboyant vivid flash that almost takes your breath away. We just love to have him as a visitor. In the past. I have cut oranges in quarters and strung them from a wire in a tree. They are attracted to those juicy slices, too.

The photo in the blog was taken through two panes of glass...both dirty, but this time, at least, I got a picture of that "wont sit still a second" bird! And speaking of dirty windowpanes, Borrego recently lost a beautiful person who captured all our hearts...a sweet soul and a good friend to many of us. She operated the village window washing service and, oh, how we miss her!

Help! Red Ants in the Bed

Today is the first day it felt like summer. Will it continue - or will the recent pattern prevail ? Picked my first zucchinis today and found thousands of red ants in one raised bed eating bush beans. Another new phenomenon... I didn't think ants liked beans! I picked all the beans and will pull out the plants tomorrow. Put covered ant traps in that bed and hope the ants will feed on them. Also in the same bed are melons, zucchini and the last of the leeks. We have been grilling the leeks and they are so sweet...just cut in half, brush with oil and sprinkle with salt. Grill over high heat , cut side down, with lid closed , seven or eight minutes. Brush with balsamic vinegar, put halves together and wrap in foil. put back on grill and move away from direct heat for ten or twelve minutes. ( recipe from Foodnetwork.com recipe cards ) The recipe suggests using bacon drippings in place of oil. I'll bet that tastes good, too! I left about two inches of green leaves on the leeks. Note: Cleaning leeks is more difficult than you might think...I have no idea how the sand and dirt works its way between the leaves...I found pulling leaves apart under running water is the easiest way to remove the grit. When cooked, the leeks have caramelized and are delicious!

If the heat continues, I intend to harvest the last of the tomatoes and bring them inside to ripen. Green tomatoes ripen nicely in just a few days. The birds have gone wild this year and have been pecking a single hole in every red tomato they see, so I have been picking them before they ripen. The crop has been adequate but I feel I should have removed the plants after the freeze. ( Remember, I just pruned off damaged stems? ) The plants have struggled because of the damage and are not as happy as they were last year. The red onions have been harvested, chopped and frozen in 1 cup and 2 cup amounts.( I figure one cup equals a medium sized onion.) The onions absolutley kept gophers away from the lower raised bed, this year. After the tomatoes are pulled, nothing will be left in that bed. It will be watered, covered with plastic and given a much needed summer vacation!

As always, in a garden, the plants are the teachers, the gardener, the student! (JGP)

A Spiny Specimen

Every desert garden should contain a few specimen plants that invoke some fascinating story. Herschel Larrik's garden is an example of a garden which contains many stories, sadly untold, because Herschel has long since left his beloved garden. Luckily, the people who bought his home are avid gardeners, with the same love for his carefully collected Baja native plants. He started collecting when it was not illegal to do so and he related to me many stories about his trips and how carefully the plants were brought back in his old pick-up truck and camper! The new owners will host next March Gardener's Club meeting. What a treat!

We have favorite specimens in our garden, too. Our huge Madagascar palm (Pachypodium lamerei) was found at Home Depot...a six inch high plant I found in the cacti section. It cost less than two dollars. We thought it was a cactus because of the spines and planted it in a small pot which it rapidly outgrew. It was transplanted many times into ever bigger pots. Finally it grew to be roof high...a large trunk , with top heavy single tuft of foliage. A windstorm toppled it and broke off the entire top, leaving a bare stump. Next season, the stump developed arms and became the gorgeous specimen in the photo.

It became so heavy that help was required to transplant it to it's present location. It has proven to withstand light freezes ( drops leaves ), hot summers and requires just moderate water. While dormant, hardly any water. It has been a safe nesting area for cactus wrens and for hummingbirds. This plant grows rapidly and always elicits oohs and ahhs from visitors. Ours has not bloomed, yet, but older plants will display clusters of white tropical looking flowers! WOW! In the time since I wrote this post, our plant BLOOMED !!! ( Did it guess I was writing about it? )

A word of warning: These spines are treacherous. Do not plant near walkways.

Water Rates

OH ! OH ! We received a notice of public hearing from the Borrego Water District regarding water and sewer rate increases. The date of the hearing...June 22, 2011. Too bad...the snow birds have flown, summer vacations are underway and Borregans have almost settled in for another tranquil summer. Once again, we must face water issues!

Three new Water Board Directors were elected after a bitter battle. Meetings were held and petitions distributed. It seems that the reserve funds of the District need to be replenished. Both fixed charges and rate charges are slated to increase. Fixed charge for a 3/4 inch meter, now, $19.58/ mo. will increase to $25.45 /mo. Fixed charge for a 1" meter-now, $28.62/ mo.will increase to $37.21 in 2012. Tier 1 winter units ( 45 units ) are now $1.02.(in ID-1). They will increase to $1.46 in 2012. Tier 1 summer units ( 55 ) are now $1.02. In 2012, they will be $1.46/ unit. Remember, a unit is 748 gallons. The proposed fees include the power fee and the groundwater management fee. We live in ID-4, currently paying $1.12/ unit. ( tier1 ) Our increased rate will be $1.46/ unit...a difference of $ .34. Take some old bills and you can estimate what your payments will be. Do the same for tier 2 and realize that it pays to be water thrifty!

Water problems are nothing new. Battles have been fought and people killed over that valuable commodity. Here, in the Borrego Springs, we depend on an aquifer for our water. As residents of this unique community, we all need to take part in making sure wise decisions are made.

And, all of us need to do our part to make sure Borrego continues to flourish. Desert landscape can be captivating or just dust, rocks and gravel. We are desert gardeners! The challenges are many, but the rewards are great...We plan our landscape with water as the focus...smart irrigation, plants inured to the region, use of natives, mulching, composting and more. Our vegetables and fruit taste all the sweeter due to the care we have given them. They will still thrive and desert gardens shall still be beautiful even as we strive to conserve even more!

Sky Omens

Watching moving cloud patterns on the San Ysidro or Santa Rosa ranges has to be one of my favorite Borrego pastimes! One of the attributes, common to Neanderthals, and to us today most likely is the tendency to search the sky for omens. Intuitively, we think... time to hunker down - time to wander out and enjoy life - time to move to higher ground- time to move on...all are observations that must go back to prehistory. There are plenty of clues in the sky and, what better place to see the far reaches of overhead vistas than Borrego Springs!

As teenagers, do you remember days so perfect that you could look skyward and dream a thousand daydreams? A blue sky, a comfortable temperature and a gentle breeze are just clues that lead us to believe nothing terrible will befall us. On the other hand, dark skies, cold temperature and the sound of thunder gives us pause to consider our actions during any given day.

A farmer from Nebraska once told me, " Biscuit clouds mean it's going to hail! " We saw them during a Lake Powell vacation, hastily put up the canvas on our boat and watched it HAIL! That farmer made a believer of us. When we see bright blue skies and scattered fluffy white clouds, we predict the weather will be fine. When we see high "herring bone" patterns in the sky, we look for a change of weather.

Lately, we have had our share of "flying saucer clouds", and by now, every Borregan knows what THAT means...WIND. So, put down shade umbrellas, move patio chairs to shelter, lock gates and prepare to wait it out...at least until more favorable signs appear overhead!

UFO = Could be a lenticular cloud
Biscuits in the sky = mammatiform clouds ( look for them under a thunderhead )
Thunderhead = cumulonimbus cloud...it may have an anvil.
High squiggles (herringbone pattern) = cirrocumulus clouds.
Cotton puffs in the sky= fair weather = cumulus clouds

The Performer

If you live in Borrego and sleep with windows open, you are sure to be familiar with an unusual melody. This is truly music of the night. Crickets hum, coyotes sing, owls hoot...but NOTHING can match the persistence of the mockingbird! He sings all night...one encore after another.

The mockingbird is able to sing the songs of other birds...repeating them three or four times- until he gets them right, I guess. It's fun to identify the other bird medleys so ably copied by him. Our night singer is probably a bachelor ( females sing, too, but more softly and, usually, not at night ). I've heard him singing in more voices than you can count! It is said that he keeps learning new songs all his life and can sing over 300 tunes! I have even heard a " bell " sound coming from that versatile throat! A mockingbird will copy mechanical noises, insect noises, frogs and a friend from San Clemente told me they even copy car alarms! ( Oh, how I hope he doesn't start barking ! )

They are fierce defenders of territory, so you probably don't need to worry about having too many mockingbirds in your garden. Our resident bird creates such a noisy fracas when other birds come into his "space" that I have had to go outside to see what was wrong! They do have an eye for my strawberries and try to get under the netting. The birds are disliked by some...a neighbor even named her resident mockingbird, 'Killer" ...he attacked other birds and nests in her garden.
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Some people might be bothered by this night music. We just wake up, listen for awhile, identify a few tunes and are then lulled back to sleep by nature's flying troubador.