Indigo, unlike the bright green leaved creosote bush, is a soft hued, pastel gray-green wispy leaved bush which can be used to create a backdrop for almost any other plant you would like to use as an accent. My favorite spot in our garden is a secluded area, set off by a snaky line of mature indigos, about five feet tall, twisted light colored wooden branches intertwined with each other and interspersed with natural boulders. These wonderful shrubs form a windbreak and stage for a collection of mature specimen cacti. Following adequate rain, these plants are a mass of lavender/purple tiny flowers...often so profuse as to hide the structure of the plant, itself! They have a resemblance to a smoke tree and some mistake them for one...tell the difference by taking a snip of wood and leaf and crushing it... there is no mistaking the acrid sharp smell of Dalea. ( WHEN IN DOUBT, USE YOUR NOSE! ) I have noticed that quail seem to prefer this plant over others for cover and they do eat the tiny pea-like flowers.
Unfortunately, not all areas of Borrego contain this native plant, which seems to occur with most frequency near alluvial fans and mountain slopes. They may, however be purchased at a nursery. If you do buy the plants, transplant in fall or spring, water heavily at first and mulch to retain moisture. Rabbits will nibble at this plant when young, so protect them with wire cages until they are well established. Maintenance includes light pruning and cutting off dead wood. The wood is beautiful and may be used for a variety of art projects or arrangements.
These shrubs could be used as a wild looking perimeter hedge or spaced widely as "fill-ins". They will reproduce following a wet year, but I have never been able to transplant the seedlings. Butterflies , birds and other wildlife are attracted to Dalea pulchra, or native indigo...another drought resistant, low water use plant.
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
Friday, July 20, 2012
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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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