Lola has been telling us that something is going on in the back yard. She staions herself at the French doors, looks out and barks, frantically. At first we didn't realize why she sped straight to the olive tree. Now we know why!
Every day, since the olives have ripened, two ravens come to pay a visit. One lights atop the wall and sends a racous CAWWWW to the other, who quickly appears.
In the meantime, the first raven has picked up a black olive from the ground and has repositioned atop the wall. At first, we thought they were eating the olives, but, after watching them for several days, realized they were passing the olive back and forth , from one beak to the other. I'm not sure they actually consume very many olives (but a few purple splotches on the wall indicate they do) however, I have watched them fly to palm trees and tuck olives into the cavity formed by pruned fronds. Even Borrego ravens have larders full of things to eat should a food shortage occur - and I know of many Borregans who follow the same practice!
Ravens love to play games. I recall watching a group of ravens on a very windy day at Lake Mohave, flying above a bluff. We watched with our field glasses as one after another would drop a stick from talons or beaks and another bird would swoop in to retrieve it-often turning upside down to catch it! They played this game for almost an hour.
Ever find a golf ball somewhere unexpected...perhaps a few miles from the nearest links? We find them here and there, often near telephone poles where ravens feed while perched on the high cross bars. Eggs are a favorite food of ravens. I've seen them pick up an egg in their beak and carry it away. We figure the birds mistake the golf balls for eggs and are probably dissapointed when they can't crack them!
We feel so lucky to live in a place where we can observe the animal life of the desert - and we feel even more fortunate to have the time and surroundings to do so!
The time has come, the lizard said, to talk of many things...of carrots, beets and rainbow chard...of peas and beans and raptor wings...why the sand is burning hot and why Borrego sings!
WELCOME ...A new resident ? Love the desert? Gardening a passion? Live in Borrego Springs? Thought you could not have a garden in the low desert desert? Ever wonder what desert living is like? READ ON !
Raised Vegetable Beds
Palo Verde
A River Runs Through It
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A New Borrego Garden Path
Pathway
It's a Boojum...
Boojum
Colorful Vine
Bees and Flowers
Citrus Blossoms
Ocotillo
Four Raised Beds, October
Desert Gardening
Desert gardening...what a pastime. Natives anxious to attack with thorns, stickers or burrs - earth always thirsty - critters always a step ahead of you - dainty moths turn into hungry caterpillars - coyote eats up part of the irrigation system - birds sample one fruit at a time - gopher pops up unexpected . Yet the first carrot, pea or tender piece of lettuce, the first lime or lemon of the season, the first cactus bloom , the first bright green mesquite sprig, the first bud on a plant...all give such a feeling of delight and satisfaction. Not to be traded for anything else! (JGP)
Super Addiction
When I started the blog, I thought a few words now and then would suffice...WRONG!
A strange pattern is emerging. Seems that guilt has stepped up to bat. Now, if I don't post every few days I FEEL THAT I HAVEN'T HAD MY FIX! I wonder if other bloggers have noticed this same phenomenom.
A strange pattern is emerging. Seems that guilt has stepped up to bat. Now, if I don't post every few days I FEEL THAT I HAVEN'T HAD MY FIX! I wonder if other bloggers have noticed this same phenomenom.
Beavertail
Borrego Dragon
The Borrego Dragon Fable
IN THE EARLY DAYS, coyote walked many paths. One day, as he was pursuing his travels, he came to a very wide valley. Others warned him as he approached the valley, " You must not enter this place...NO ONE who has entered has ever returned. It is a bad place, guarded by a giant dragon, who kills all who try to pass through. To continue your journey safely, we strongly advise you to go the long way...around this evil place." Well, coyote listened, for he was very smart and often heeded good advice. However, coyote was also lazy and was often prone to use shortcuts. He figured the valley would save him a lot of time on this particular journey. He looked carefully and saw nothing much to alarm him. He decided to enter and pass through the valley. At first, he noticed nothing amiss. However, as he traveled deeper into that still, quiet place, he thought to himself, "This IS an unusual valley, for sure...I see no movement of any type and I am getting to feel a bit strange about this place." He did notice, however, some tall straight trees which had lost all their leaves and made the place look barren, indeed. OH,NO...he also noticed, under the trees, piles of old BONES... and the more he looked, the more bones he saw. He said, " I sure see a lot of bones, but I don't see any dragon...I'll bet he no longer lives here." And, with that, he heard a thunderous voice which echoed over the valley..." HAH, COYOTE! You should have listened to the advice...You are in my mouth, which IS the entrance to the valley!" Oh,oh, caught in a trap. But coyote is smart and moves quickly...as he heard Dragon's first words, he raced to one of the dead trees and, with a mighty yank, pulled it from the earth. He wedged the tree between the Dragon's jaws and as he did this, many animals of all kinds came running forth...pumas, bears, mountain sheep and more...even the smallest animals, gnats, flies, tics, bees and more...lizards, snakes, toads, salamanders and more...all ran from the Dragon's depths to freedom. Coyote watched as Dragon's jaws closed upon the sharp tree stake. He soon died and from that time to this, many of those same animals live here, in this place...and from time to time, many of the old bones and pieces of the dead trees are found here, in this very valley!
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