Breaking Garden News
Guess what's happening in Borrego? You guessed it ...the heat has arrived! I've already started the "summer blahs" as far as the vegetable garden goes...time to put the tools away and let the garden rest and renew itself while I resort to a few cool laps in an 80 degree pool! ( Expected temperature, today...104 degrees! )
The second crop of peas was far from perfect...perhaps I asked too much of the soil, even though peas create their own nitrogen. The net kept the birds away as they matured...Burbee's super snap resulted in larger pods and peas, which seemed tougher than the earlier variety. Not worth planting. We pulled all tomatoes and have many frozen bags ready for use during the summer. Radishes, lettuce, chard and spinach bolted and have been removed. Currently pulling beets, drizzling them with oil and roasting prior to chilling and preparing for salads. Still pulling carrots and keeping them covered trying to thwart the carrot loving dog. Soon , I will remove all and freeze the surplus. Chandler strawberries still producing. Lots of them in freezer. We intend to cover the berries with shade cloth and keep them alive during the summer. Summer squash is in full bloom and production. Acorn squash is maturing. Anna apples have been thinned and are almost ready to harvest.
In all, our fruit trees and vegetable garden have blessed us, this season. We have a good supply stashed away for the summer. We will soon lay bags of fertilizer over all, water, cover with plastic and let the earth renew itself.
Desert Gardening
Desert gardening...what a pastime. Natives anxious to attack with thorns, stickers or burrs - earth always thirsty - critters always a step ahead of you - dainty moths turn into hungry caterpillars - coyote eats up part of the irrigation system - birds sample one fruit at a time - gopher pops up unexpected . Yet the first carrot, pea or tender piece of lettuce, the first lime or lemon of the season, the first cactus bloom , the first bright green mesquite sprig, the first bud on a plant...all give such a feeling of delight and satisfaction. Not to be traded for anything else! (JGP)
Super Addiction
When I started the blog, I thought a few words now and then would suffice...WRONG!
A strange pattern is emerging. Seems that guilt has stepped up to bat. Now, if I don't post every few days I FEEL THAT I HAVEN'T HAD MY FIX! I wonder if other bloggers have noticed this same phenomenom.
The Borrego Dragon Fable
IN THE EARLY DAYS, coyote walked many paths. One day, as he was pursuing his travels, he came to a very wide valley. Others warned him as he approached the valley, " You must not enter this place...NO ONE who has entered has ever returned. It is a bad place, guarded by a giant dragon, who kills all who try to pass through. To continue your journey safely, we strongly advise you to go the long way...around this evil place." Well, coyote listened, for he was very smart and often heeded good advice. However, coyote was also lazy and was often prone to use shortcuts. He figured the valley would save him a lot of time on this particular journey. He looked carefully and saw nothing much to alarm him. He decided to enter and pass through the valley. At first, he noticed nothing amiss. However, as he traveled deeper into that still, quiet place, he thought to himself, "This IS an unusual valley, for sure...I see no movement of any type and I am getting to feel a bit strange about this place." He did notice, however, some tall straight trees which had lost all their leaves and made the place look barren, indeed. OH,NO...he also noticed, under the trees, piles of old BONES... and the more he looked, the more bones he saw. He said, " I sure see a lot of bones, but I don't see any dragon...I'll bet he no longer lives here." And, with that, he heard a thunderous voice which echoed over the valley..." HAH, COYOTE! You should have listened to the advice...You are in my mouth, which IS the entrance to the valley!" Oh,oh, caught in a trap. But coyote is smart and moves quickly...as he heard Dragon's first words, he raced to one of the dead trees and, with a mighty yank, pulled it from the earth. He wedged the tree between the Dragon's jaws and as he did this, many animals of all kinds came running forth...pumas, bears, mountain sheep and more...even the smallest animals, gnats, flies, tics, bees and more...lizards, snakes, toads, salamanders and more...all ran from the Dragon's depths to freedom. Coyote watched as Dragon's jaws closed upon the sharp tree stake. He soon died and from that time to this, many of those same animals live here, in this place...and from time to time, many of the old bones and pieces of the dead trees are found here, in this very valley!
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