Nature Archives – Page 5 of 12 – Strength Of The Small

Nature Flowers Shrubs & Trees Gardening High Desert

Welcoming Spring!

By JM PerezMarch 21, 20182 min read714 views

I have been busy all morning tending to my climbing roses (Sweetheart Rose). I pruned and began training the rose canes to the double garden arches leading into my backyard. I will be purchasing another climbing rose and training it up the opposite side of the double arch.

The Ice King Double Daffodils are the first bulbs to bloom this year.

New Growth on Navajo Globe Willow and Photinia Fraseri ‘Red Robin.’

Azalea is blooming profusely in this Home Depot Lead Gray Resin Antibes Urn.

Siloam David Kirchhoff Daylily are finally emerging.

*Siloam David Kirchhoff Daylily shoots.*

I purchased a couple of allen + roth Fiberglass Urns and filled them with Asparagus Fern.

On Monday we bought two Purpleleaf Plum trees and some shrubs from Mark & Nellie’s Nursery & Landscape and had them delivered within a couple of hours. We planted them in the front yard and moved the Pygmy Date Palm trees to the backyard. I can’t wait for everything to start blooming.

We finally got rid of all the Desert Willows trees around our property except for the one at the end of the backyard, which I am training to grow as single trunk trees. My main concern with the plants are ants. They are fond of Desert Willow trees.

Hungry squirrels have caused a lot of damage in the garden lately. It is always disheartening to watch them devour fresh new growth and gnawing on pretty much anything they dig their teeth into. As new growth emerges from the Gaura Lindheimeri, those rodents have it completely devoured the same day.

It’s a peaceful day, the weather is beautiful.

Happy Spring Gardening!

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By JM Perez

Weather Nature High Desert

Good Start for a New Year

By JM PerezJanuary 10, 20181 min read687 views

Happy New Year 2018, dear readers! I hope your holidays went well and you received everything on your wish list.

The previous year ended well for our family. We are healthy, happy and for the first time I have lived in the High Desert, the weather has been just wonderful. November is usually the start of the rainy season in the High Desert and last year however, ended with no rain in sight (which means no messy yards/gardens and no weeds in sight either).

We were treated to the sight of a beautiful double rainbow stretched across the sky before the rain began on Monday morning. It rained and it rained and it rained. Lightly all day Monday and heavily on Tuesday. It was quite dismal, to say the least, but the plants and soil needed it.

Today was a beautiful, chilly day and the sun came out bright. The skies were clear and blue with a stunning view of the mountains from my backyard. They were covered in snow with thick clouds floating at the bottom.

Winter always has the most beautiful sunsets.

Wishing you a good start for the new year.
To new beginnings!

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By JM Perez

Birds Nature Flowers Shrubs & Trees Gardening High Desert

Peaceful Morning

By JM PerezAugust 16, 20171 min read670 views

Today was an absolutely beautiful day here in the High Desert. I got the kids ready and drop them off to school and head right back home to tend to my garden and spend a great time in the backyard. The weather was great, the air was fresh, nature was peaceful and plants were covered with beautiful blooms.

Our newest addition to the garden is the Pygmy Date Palm. Last year I got rid of all the rose bushes from the right section of my front yard (view here, picture captioned “Front Yard, Right“) and planted the the Pygmy Date Palm six months ago.

I came across a young bird this morning. It seems like the little bird came out of its nest for the first time and fell down to the ground. I spotted its mother on a nearby tree, so I left the baby alone.

The squirrels are keeping me quite busy this summer, particularly the little ones. Early in the Summer the Pomegranate tree was covered in fruits and just a few days later, those little critters stripped almost all the fruit from the tree. I read somewhere that squirrels do not like the scent of spicy foods, garlic, peppermint and mothballs. I will try some of these to deter them and will be looking into other ideas since they have no problems climbing fences.

Happy Wednesday.

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By JM Perez

Winter Weather Nature High Desert

Beautiful Winter Season

By JM PerezFebruary 3, 20171 min read576 views

Much to everyone’s surprise it still hasn’t snowed in the High Desert and my kids, who were looking forward to making snow angels were a little disappointed. Our mornings are chilly and the nights are long and cold. It has rained a lot lately, causing flooding, mudslides and other property damages.

*Thick clouds floating at the bottom of elevated snowy mountain peaks.*

Even though we didn’t get any snow (and most likely will not be getting any this Winter season), for the first time in many years, our mountains covered by thick snow look prettier than ever.

We have beautiful sunrises and sunsets.

Stay warm while enjoying nature.

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By JM Perez

Reptiles Spiders Birds Nature High Desert

Rescued Hummingbird

By JM PerezJune 25, 20161 min read718 views

This afternoon we rescued a hummingbird from the garage. The tiny bird went in while we were all busy in the backyard and some how couldn’t get out even though the doors were wide open. For almost fifteen minutes, it kept flying high hitting the ceiling and becoming distressed. It seems that these tiny birds would not fly low unless something gets their attention. My husband used an insect catching net to carefully rescue the bird. We made sure the hummingbird was safe before releasing it.