High Desert Archives – Page 3 of 44

Garden Improvement Garden Decor Flowers Shrubs & Trees Gardening High Desert

Little Pleasures

By JM PerezAugust 1, 20222 min read646 views

It’s a new month and a new leaf has been turned …

It’s hot, it’s scorching hot! It’s a huge relief to know that we have had less brush fires since the start of Summer, and I hope it stays this way. What we really need now is a good rainfall. It rained last night; it rained for less than five minutes, but it rained hard. The downside of Summer showers is the intense heat the next day; but still, a good rainfall is always welcomed.

We visited a few places these past months. We let the kids loose at Knott’s Berry Farm, we enjoyed a peaceful walk at the California Botanic Gardens, we went to a couple of Lakes, and we are planning to have some fun at the Disney California Adventure Park this Fall, when the weather cools down.

I didn’t know how much Gophers love the Gopher plants, until I lost a few in the backyard; I lost everything from the side next to the fence, I lost one plant in the front yard and started seeing holes around the other plants in the front yard. The fix was simple at that point: I got rid of the remainder of the Gopher plants. They came looking once and haven’t disturbed my garden since. What I have learned fighting rodents for the past fifteen years is that they end up winning when they set their eyes and incisors on something.

Most of the succulents are blooming …

I also got rid of all the Salvia Greggii around the Horsetail Reed growing in barrels and my husband spray painted all four barrels white. I got rid of all the Creeping Myrtle planted in the ground, and left the potted one untouched. I think having less plants in the front yard will make it a little easier to maintain the garden.

Happy New Month and Happy Gardening!

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By JM Perez

Flowers Shrubs & Trees Gardening High Desert

Staying Hydrated In The Garden

By JM PerezJune 20, 20222 min read776 views

It’s hard to believe that today is officially the last day of Spring 2022 and that tomorrow will be the start of a new season. Temperatures have been soaring for the past couple of weeks, giving the impression that we are in mid-summer. Either way, I am grateful for the ending season and looking forward to the upcoming one as well as what Mother Nature has in store for us.

Rather than gardening, I am just making sure that all the plants and living things have enough water to keep them going. More plants have graced us with their beautiful and vibrant flowers, like the Allium Drumstick below.

I love the delicate lavender-purple flowers of Russian Sage and its fragrant foliage.

*Russian Sage (Salvia Yangii) in bloom.*

‘Madame Galen’ Trumpet Vines are rapidly spreading, climbing, and attaching themselves on whatever their stems touch. Hummingbirds love the trumpet-shaped flowers.

Clusters of small creamy white flowers appeared at the end of the stems of my Heavenly Bamboo. As gorgeous and drought tolerant as this ornamental shrub is, all parts of the plant are toxic.

*Nandina Domestica (Heavenly Bamboo) in bloom.*

We were pleasantly surprise to see tiny buds of Corsican Stonecrop, and a beautiful star shaped flower.

Days like these I am very grateful that, except for the potted plants in the front porch and those in the patio, every other plant is fitted with drip irrigation (once in a while I have to check the drip emitters and make sure that they aren’t clogged or damaged). I hand water the potted plants twice daily: very early in the morning and early in the evening, and water the shrubs deeply once a week. Doing so keeps the plants hydrated and I avoid being outdoors during the hottest part of the day.

Happy gardening, stay cool and hydrated!

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By JM Perez

Flowers Shrubs & Trees Gardening High Desert

Surprise Seedling: Nicotiana Glauca

By JM PerezJune 8, 20222 min read906 views

A couple of months a ago, we purchased a few Lavender trees from Lowe’s. Every now and then I will find a freebie in the pot while transplanting the plant, and this time wasn’t different. I found a tiny seedling with large bluish-green leaves at the base of the Lavender plant and decided to let it be and see what it grows into (I am not fond of plants with large leaves, unless it’s a Magnolia plant). Today I found out that the plant is the seedling of Nicotiana Glauca. Though non-native to California, it is classified as invasive here.

Nicotiana Glauca, also known as Mustard tree, tobacco bush, tobacco plant, tobacco tree, tree tobacco, or wild tobacco is an evergreen shrub or small tree native to South America. The plant can grow up to twenty (20) feet and is short-lived. It is used as an insecticide and smoked as a stimulant by smoking the plant or chewing it. This plant contains the toxic alkaloid nicotine, and can cause blood pressure, cancer, peptic ulcers, tremors, joint pain, anxiety, depression, drowsiness, dizziness, vomiting, diarrhea, trouble sleeping, headaches, respiratory failure, etc … and death.

According to Tropical.theferns.info (Useful Tropical Plants Database), Nicotiana Glauca has a variety of medicinal uses such as:
– Applying a poultice of the leaves to cuts, bruises, swellings and other wounds.
– Applying a poultice of the leaves to remove the pus from scrofulous sores or boils.
– Using an infusion of the leaves as a steam bath in the treatment of rheumatism.
– Applying warmed leaves to the head relieves headaches, on the throat to relieve pain and put in shoes for painful feet.

Though ornamental, the plant is said to pose a threat to biodiversity by competing with native species for resources and displacing native plants. The plant is propagated by seeds and flowers emerge around one year after germination . It is said that in its native range, Nicotiana Glauca is pollinated exclusively by hummingbirds. All parts of the plant are poisonous.

Given the information I obtained about this plant, I know I should get rid of it. However, given the fact that I have never seen a Tobacco tree (and out of curiosity), I will keep it for a year, just until the first flowers emerge. I will relocate the seeding this weekend to the end of my property and watch it grow from a distance, until it’s time to bid it farewell.

Happy and safe gardening!

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By JM Perez

Ground Squirrel DIY: Projects Flowers Shrubs & Trees Gardening High Desert

June In The Garden

By JM PerezJune 3, 20222 min read805 views

Though we are still in the midst of Spring, temperatures are beginning to soar.

Animals, birds, and critters alike are very active. A few weeks ago, we’ve noticed an increase of pigeons in the neighborhood. We are not sure if they suddenly got here, if someone perhaps is breeding them and/or intentionally feeding them; but I sincerely hope they do not become a nuisance.
We cleaned and refilled all the Hummingbird feeders and we set up the Seashell water fountain in a semi-shaded area in the backyard to provide fresh drinking water for wildlife.

*Fish Fountain with Scallop Shell Bowl.*

The gardens are lush and the plants are thriving; so there isn’t much to do in the garden, and the soaring temperature makes it a little hard to spend time outdoors as much as I would love to.

Most of the plants are covered in flowers such as the Wisteria Vine, Creeping Myrtle, “Madame Galen” Trumpet Vine, Gaura Lindheimeri, Daylilies, Calibrachoa, African Iri, Dwarf Cup Flower, Dwarf Myrtle, Mimosa Trees, Green Feathery Senna, Silvery Cassia, Snapdragon, Yellow Bird Of Paradise Bush, Salvia Greggii, Hameln Dwarf Fountain Grass, Tulbaghia Silver Lace, Breath of Heaven, etc.

*Desert Willow (Chilopsis Linearis) Flowers.*

We added two more rose bushes to our collection: Perfume Delight Hybrid Tea Rose and Love At First Sight Hybrid Tea Rose.

Gophers and Ground Squirrels have been very active, digging, gnawing, and causing damages on plants. We’ve set traps and I’ve been patrolling the entire property daily, and so far we’ve caught one Gopher and one Squirrel. At the far back of the property I’ve notice signs of Gopher activities around the Gopher plants, and we will be setting more traps in a day or two.

*Trapped Squirrel. Didn’t dig enough and got stuck …*

We finally replaced one of the wired doorbells.
Something cool about this doorbell is the fact that the button illuminates for evening visibility. If you removed the push button, it sits beautifully over the door’s peephole.

Happy gardening!

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By JM Perez

Snakeflies Insects Flowers Shrubs & Trees Gardening High Desert

Spring in The Garden

By JM PerezApril 2, 20223 min read744 views

As the weather warms up, plants and critters come alive.
April is such a beautiful month. The weather is just right to spend time outside, tending to my garden. The roses are in full bloom on the arches by the side gate, the patio and the gazebo.

The Red Tip Photinia recently put out beautiful, tiny white clusters of flowers. These flowers however, have an unpleasant smell.

Madame Galen Trumpet Vine is leafing out. Early last Spring, I almost got rid of the plant thinking it had died, since its branches were still bare while other plants had leaves and flowers.

*Madame Galen Trumpet Vine leafing out.*

My Lilac bloomed for the first time. I planted a few two years ago from seedlings and they are thriving.

The rose trees are starting to bloom again …

The Creeping Myrtle are fast growing and spreading …
In the front yard I used them as ground cover and in the backyard I used them as climbers.

The Silvery Cassia shrubs are covered in masses of bright yellow flowers.

About ten years ago, we planted Japanese Boxwood in two different locations in the backyard. We haven’t lost a single one to date; however, those planted in partially shaded areas have tripled in a size and look greener, while those planted in sunny areas are much smaller and are brighter. A few weeks ago, I realized that the plants are self-seeding under favorable conditions. I found three or four young seedlings next to the mother plant. I will relocate them once they reach a certain height and it’s safe to do so.

For the last couple of weeks, I have been seeing a strange new insect flying around and didn’t pay much attention. Though I didn’t take a good look at the insect, I remember that I couldn’t get the image off my mind. I knew it wasn’t a mosquito, since it had a long neck and strange looking head. Last week, I saw one resting on the wall and immediately took a picture of it. This insect turns out to be a Snakefly.

According to Wikipedia, Snakeflies are a group of predatory insects, consisting of roughly 260 species. These predatory insects are found in temperate regions worldwide but are absent from the tropics and the southern hemisphere. It is said that their long neck aid in keeping their head above the body. Snakeflies are beneficial insects and appear in Spring and feed on the larvae and pupae of insects as well as other small insects. Their life cycle includes egg, larvae, pupae, and adult. The female has a large and strong ovipositor for laying eggs. The larvae live beneath trees and plants roots, under loose tree bark and hunt for other small insects or their larvae. It may take them a couple of years to complete their development.

Gophers and ground Squirrels are very active. After loosing a few Gopher plants, my husband set up traps around the area and caught a gopher. The squirrels on the other hand are becoming very sneaky. They dig holes on our property boundary to get to the neighbor’s chicken coop; we have set up a few traps and are keeping our fingers crossed.

Happy gardening!

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By JM Perez