High Desert Archives – Page 24 of 44

DIY: Gopher Trapping

By JM PerezDecember 3, 20131 min read1.7K views

We are rejoicing today as the trap we set in place finally caught the Pocket Gopher, which has been digging holes on a daily basis around my Photinia Fraseri (Red Robin) shrubs. Last week, I covered a hole it dug at the base of one of the huge barrels in the front yard and it kept returning to the same hole. Yesterday, we finally had enough and my husband decided to set a Macabee Gopher Trap in the freshly dug hole.

Materials/Tools Needed:

Macabee Gopher Trap
Shovel, Garden Trowel
Wire chain (to secure the trap in place)
Stake (to hold, support and secure the wire chain in place)
Gloves or your bare hands
Fabric, cardboard, leaves, mulch or anything light to cover the hole.

Step by Step:

Using a shovel, open the tunnel wide enough to set the trap
Use a stake to secure the wire chain (attached to the trap) to prevent the injured Gopher from running away with the trap. Otherwise you will have to dig further to pull out the dead rodent and recover your trap.
Cover the hole with plastic, fabric, cardboard, plywood, leaves, mulch or stones (to help create the illusion that the hole has been closed from the outside).

This is the fifth Pocket Gopher we have caught since we moved here.

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By JM Perez

Weather Nature High Desert

Nature in My Backyard

By JM PerezNovember 29, 20132 min read539 views

This morning in the backyard I spotted a Mealworm, which is the larvae form of the Mealworm Beetle.
According to Wikipedia, Mealworms are useful for their high protein content. They are typically used as a pet food for captive reptiles, fish, and birds. They are also provided to wild birds in bird feeders, particularly during the nesting season and they are also used as fishing bait. The Mealworm beetle breeds prolifically.

I saw this Metallic Green Sweat Bee (Agapostemon Melliventris) at the base of my Bird of Paradise Bush.
According to Discoverlife.org, The male of this species has a bright metallic green head and thorax, and a yellow metasoma with narrow black bands. The female has a bright metallic green head and a honey-colored metasoma banded with short, dense, white hair.

I also found a Pinacate Beetle, also known as the Stink Beetle, for its defensive tactic of standing on its head and squirting a noxious spray. I am seeing a lot more Beetles within my property compared to the previous years and I can’t help to wonder if there is an outbreak. They are everywhere and always pop out from nowhere.

It has rained so much lately and today wasn’t any different to the exception that a beautiful rainbow came out, brightened the gloomy weather and added cheer to our day.

I started raking leaves last week and today I decided to have some fun with the leaves before the wind picked up. I made a Heart-shaped symbol made with a pile of fallen leaves.

*Heart-shaped symbol made with a pile of fallen leaves.*

It’s a gorgeous day to enjoy Nature.

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By JM Perez

Shabby Chic Home Decor High Desert

Shabby Candle Holders

By JM PerezNovember 25, 20131 min read747 views

Last Wednesday I visited the Shabby Sisters Boutique, a Shabby Chic Shop here in the High Desert which I recently heard about. We’ve visited most Shabby Chic, Vintage/Antique, Primitive shops around here and it turned out that the Shabby Sisters have only been around for the past six months (which probably explains why I didn’t know about their existence until last week). It’s a lovely place, owned by three lovely women who enjoy singing.

The shop itself is small in size, but features gorgeous items you will love to pieces. Shabby Sisters Boutique carries Refinished/repainted, up-cycled and re-purposed furniture as well as hand crafted items.

While searching for my candle holders and some candles, I found this lovely Bird Candle above which I either bought from Pier 1 Imports or Cost Plus World Market a few years ago.

Shabby Sisters Boutique

14258 Hesperia Rd, Victorville, CA 92395
Phone: 1 (760) 955-6241

Our of Operations

Monday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Wednesday – Friday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Saturday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Closed Tuesdays and Sundays

A few local shops in the High Desert will be celebrating Customer Appreciation Day on Friday November 29th and Saturday 30th. There will be Coffee, raffle ticket for free gifts and sales up to 50% off.

Antique Station, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM (19176 National Trails Hwy, Oro Grande, CA 92368).
Creative Treasures and Boutique, 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM (20601 Outer Hwy 18 South, Apple Valley, CA 92307).
Linda Marie’s Enchanted Treasures (19222 National Trails Hwy, Oro Grande, CA 92368).
Shabby sisters Boutique, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM (14258 Hesperia Rd, Victorville, CA 92395).

Victorville, CA 92395

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By JM Perez

Weather Flowers Shrubs & Trees High Desert

Rainy Days

By JM PerezNovember 22, 20131 min read469 views

Rainy days are back in the High Desert. Yesterday we woke up to a very cold morning and by the time we stepped out, there were thick cloud formation moving over the mountains and blocking the view. We had periods of rain developing early in the afternoon. Today is cold, the sky is white and it’s drizzling.

Thick Clouds formation over the mountains. — *Thick clouds formation over the mountains.*

Roses glistening and dripping with raindrops, what a lovely sight.

Raindrops On Roses, — *Raindrops On Roses.*

Some of the leaves on the Raywood Ash in my front yard have now turned a deep purple/red color and started falling. It’s always the first tree to change colors and the last to shed its leaves. The leaves on the Mulberry are almost all yellow. Soon enough we will be raking leaves.

We will have to keep busy indoors since this cold and soggy weather will continue through Saturday.

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By JM Perez

Insects Flowers Shrubs & Trees Gardening High Desert

Joy Of Gardening

By JM PerezNovember 16, 20131 min read654 views

Despite the hectic weather, it felt good stepping out today and watching the wind send leaves flying everywhere in the backyard as I slowly made my way towards the front porch. It was time to bring my Boston Fern indoors. I walked around the backyard and spent a couple of minutes with my Roses. These are some of the moments I cherish the most. Growing and caring for Roses is hard work as it demands a lot of determination, time, patience and love. In the end it pays a thousandfold and I have had a wonderful year with my Roses.

On my way to collect the trash can from the street earlier in the week, I couldn’t resist stopping by my Rose Garden where a couple of rose bushes where blooming. As I began taking pictures of the beautiful blooms, I spotted a large Green Valley Grasshopper (from its rather large size, I believe it’s a female). I can’t tell if the insect was just hanging out, perhaps resting from a long flight or just getting ready to feed on my plants.