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

Raised Vegetable Beds

Raised Vegetable Beds
Raised Vegetable Beds Resting Until Fall Planting Season

Palo Verde

Palo Verde
Desert Native, Blue Palo Verde

A River Runs Through It

A River Runs Through It
View Through A Wet Window

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Surfers and Sailors

I just can't believe how many older surfers and sailors have retired in Borrego Springs! Is there something similar to be found here that entices them to this relatively remote small town? True, sailing and surfing are both solitary activities...both involve communing with nature and are subject to nature's whims. Jeff Divine says no two waves are ever the same. No sailing trip is, either. The ocean is a mighty force.

Do they find something similar here, in the desert? Something seems to draw them here. Perhaps the capriciouness of the weather, the wilderness of the Park wich surrounds us, the infinite vistas, the ability to explore or hike and find a new type of self reliance. For whatever reason, they DO seem to like Borrego!

What is even odder, is that many of them have become avid gardeners! Again, gardening is also a solitary activity, reliant on nature,and subject to her whims. The other evening, we had dinner with Jeff Divine and his wife, Julie. Jeff is a well known photographer/ author who has worked for years for Surfer publications. He presented us with his new surf book, SURF 80'S. It's a great book. Now, I know what to order for my surfer relatives for Christmas!

Jeff and Julie have a residence here, in Borrego. He told me, " I'm getting to love gardening." He went on to tell me about his mother and grandmother, who were famous in gardening circles in La Jolla. Now, Jeff has the bug. Gardening MUST be in the genes!

To see ESPN interview, go to: http://espn.go.com/action/blog?post=6404159&sport=surfing&sort=oldest

1 comment:

jeff divine said...

I was thinking about what you said about surfers-sailors being attracted to Boreggo. Part of the attraction is that the ocean is kind of like a desert in the sense that when you are out in the sea it is pure wilderness and wild. It can look calm but there is constant motion and subltle things going on with , sealife, weather, textures and lighting. When I visit boreggo all of that is the same. Being surrounded by the National park with minimal development makes the beauty and the similar experience of being in an ocean really stand out. Man walking the deseert is similar to man paddling in the ocean.
Jeff Divine

A New Borrego Garden Path

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

Pathway

Pathway
Easy to Maintain Garden Path

It's a Boojum...

It's a Boojum...
Not an Ocotillo

Boojum

Boojum
Captivating Top Knot

Colorful Vine

Colorful Vine
In a Hidden Niche

Bees and Flowers

Bees and Flowers
Mexican Lime- Bees at Work

Citrus Blossoms

Citrus Blossoms
Exotic Aroma

Ocotillo

Ocotillo
On a Cloudy Day

Four Raised Beds, October

Four Raised Beds, October
Vegetable Garden

Desert Gardening

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





Super Addiction

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

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

Beavertail

Beavertail
Close-up

Borrego Dragon

Borrego Dragon
Huge New Sculpture

The Borrego Dragon Fable

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

Senita Cactus

Senita Cactus
Plump and Happy

Outlaws

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