Weather Archives – Page 4 of 10 – Strength Of The Small

Nature in My Backyard

By JM PerezNovember 29, 20132 min read559 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.

Pages:

By JM Perez

Weather Flowers Shrubs & Trees High Desert

Rainy Days

By JM PerezNovember 22, 20131 min read491 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.

Pages:

By JM Perez

Insects Weather Nature Flowers Shrubs & Trees Gardening High Desert

The Wind has Settled Down

By JM PerezOctober 30, 20132 min read604 views

What a change and what a lovely day! The winds have finally settled down, the dirt has hardened a little from the little rain we had on Monday and the thick grey clouds melted away. There was no damages to the plants and structures; but a backyard covered with so many tumbleweeds. I didn’t mind as I was happy to see a beautiful blue sky, the mountains covered in snow and some of my late blooming perennials.

I was so delighted to see my Mums all in bloom. They are easy to grow, low maintenance and late bloomers. I am growing mine in containers along with other Fall perennials. They have remained green for a very, very long time and just recently burst open with bright colors ranging from red to yellow. More information here.

I love Dianthus and mine seem to surprise me every day with a new color. I love the varieties.

As I was walking around my Rose Garden, I saw a huge dried up stem which snapped as soon as I pulled on it to expose a tiny cream-colored larvae. According to the website fs.usda.gov (USDA Forest Service – US Department of Agriculture), adult flat headed wood borers are small to relatively large beetles with small antennae and a characteristic oval body shape and they are called metallic wood borers because they are iridescent or metallic looking underneath and sometimes on top. Larvae are white, legless grubs similar to bark beetle larvae, but the body shape is elongated, and the head area is different than bark beetle larvae. They attack stressed, dying, or dead trees and can also attack freshly cut timber before it is dried.
For more information, click here to download the PDF file.

Can you see the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug below? I wouldn’t have noticed it if it wasn’t for my husband. What a clever attempt to camouflage and blend into its surroundings.

Happy Gardening and discoveries in your Yards.

Pages:

By JM Perez

Weather Flowers Shrubs & Trees Gardening High Desert

Fall Colors in The Garden

By JM PerezSeptember 6, 20132 min read667 views

Fall, despite being the reason for the sneezing, is my best gardening season. For me, Fall is a season of new beginnings and hope renewed. For a gardener who wasn’t satisfied with a project, seeing the leaves on plants dying off and leaves on trees start to fall off is a relief. A self motivation to do better the next season.

When you’ve lived in an area for a while, you are able to ‘guess’ what time of year it is, what season, what is/might happen the following days. Because of our unpredictable weather, I often rely on familiar signs given by Nature for my gardening needs. The plants are healthy and thriving. I am focusing my attention to my Fall Shrubs and flowering Plants for their vibrant colors.

According to the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) Zone Map, the High Desert including a few cities in the Mohave Desert area are in Sunset Zone 10. Given the fact that the High Desert consists of many cities such as Victorville, Hesperia, Adelanto, Apple Valley, Phelan, Lucerne Valley, Oak Hills, Oro Grande, Piñon Hills and others; each with its own weather forecast; It is safe to say that the hardiness zones in the High Desert are: 8B, 9A, 10 and 11 depending on the location (click here to learn more). Click here to find your Plant Hardiness Zone.

Below is a list of wonderful flowering plants for Fall which grow well in the High Desert:

Russian Sage
Cyclamen*
Daylily
Dahlia
Nana Nandina
Rosemary
Canna
Lavender
Lantana
Geranium
Heavenly Bamboo

Mexican Sage
Sedum
Agapanthus
Yarrow
Toad Lily
Anise Hyssop (herb)
Red Spider Lily (bulbs)
Autumn Crocus (bulbs)
Goldenrod
Agave
Sweet Autumn Clematis

Keep in mind that most of these plants need some protection from the wind and always check for toxicity. That being said, we are finally riding our backyard of Nerium Oleanders as we have so much planned for the months ahead and this is one of the steps to get the yard ready. They will be gone by the end of the year. Anyone interested in the plant should contact me for additional information. I am located in the High Desert of California.

Fall is nearing and my kids are so excited about decorating the front yard. We are planning on picking up a couple of Hay bales, some large decorative Pumpkins which paired together with Matilda, our Good Witch Porch Greeter, will look entertaining. Now we have to find an area where the wind won’t mess up our displays.

Happy Gardening!

Pages:

By JM Perez

Insects Weather Flowers Shrubs & Trees Gardening High Desert

I Love Me Some Gladiolus

By JM PerezAugust 26, 20131 min read685 views

From the moment I woke up to get my Son ready for school, I knew the day would be different. The weather is amazing, the air is fresh and the atmosphere is peaceful. Cloudy like, but with clear skies. Some Rain would be nice, though I am quite content and grateful for the moment.

After dropping off my Son to school, I spent a moment in the backyard, enjoying Nature. The gladioli are flowering abundantly and beautifully. I was pleasantly surprised to discover a Brick Red Gladiolus blooming alongside the others (stunning, isn’t it?). I will be collecting seeds from Allium Drumstick, Snapdragon and Gladiolus later in the day.

Gladiolus are a lovely addition to any garden with their rich, attractive, and cheerful colors. I will be adding Gladiolus ‘Charming Beauty’ and ‘Elvira’ to my collection.

Gladiolus Brick Red & Orange Salmon. — *Gladiolus Brick Red & Orange Salmon Flowers.*

While watering my Gladiolus in the front yard yesterday morning, a little green insect jumped out of the watering area. At first I thought it was a camel cricket or young nymph (grasshopper) until I saw it’s brown stinger. It moved and jumped so fast that I was unable to capture a clear picture. Perhaps a young Katydid?