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.