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Joan Ambu

Beautiful Mimosa Trees

JM Perez By JM Perez1 min read730 views

This is the second year my Mimosa Trees have bloomed. Last year was just a test, since I only saw one pink flower the whole summer. I have heard from people that Mimosa is a fast growing plant; mine however, don’t seem to be growing fast. I planted them from seed four years ago and I haven’t had issues with them or heard a single complain about them. And no, the seeds do not germinate everywhere as some might think (at least not here in the High Desert).

I have a huge backyard and I purposely planted multiple seeds in the same hole (in different areas). They are thriving, growing at the same pace and hopefully will provide much needed shade from the sun as they get bigger.

Mimosa Trees.

The puffy soft pink flowers smell wonderful and hummingbirds, butterflies, birds and bees all love mimosa trees. Their leaves are very sensitive and fold at the touch and for the night (it reminds me of the Tamarind plant, Guaiacum Coulteri, Acacia, Averrhoa Bilimbi and Popcorn Cassia, just to name a few). I have heard that the seedpods as well as the seeds within are poisonous at all times, causing seizures and even death.

Pink Mimosa Flowers.

Crab Spiders are indeed fascinating creatures. I found one devouring a bee.

Goldenrod Crab Spider Devouring a Bee.

It’s a lovely day today and we are having a great time in the garden.

Happy gardening!

Hummingbird Nest

JM Perez By JM Perez2 min read1.2K views

I have always been fascinated by hummingbirds and their sizes. I had wished to see a nest, an egg, baby hummingbird and wondered how their nests are constructed. Well, my wish came true early this morning when I almost destroyed the nest thinking it was an abandoned beehive.

Early this year I hung a shabby chic wall candle holders by the car port in the backyard to brighten and liven up those cool soiree nights. Little did I know that it would become an ideal location for a hummingbird to build its nest.

Hummingbird Nest with two eggs.

Their cute little nests are built out of small leaves and twigs, spider silk to bind their nests together as well as lichen.

Hummingbird Nest.

The mother hummingbird patiently watched and waited for me from a distance as I peeked into her nest. A few seconds later, she returned to her nest to incubate her eggs.

Hummingbird Nest.

A couple of months ago, my husband and I watched horrified, helplessly as a hawk trapped a bird sitting on her nest and devoured the mother along with her eggs. The bird’s carcass was then thrown to the ground. This hawk watched the mother bird for days and attacked when it was least expected. Despite the fact that the mother bird built her nest high on a pine branch, well hidden and surrounded by thick and dense branches, she didn’t get a chance.

Can you spot the nest on the picture below?
I hope this hummingbird nest is protected from the elements and from predators. I will be keeping an eye on it too.

Hummingbird Nest.

We are looking forward to see the baby hummingbirds in a few days.

Great Vintage Finds

JM Perez By JM Perez2 min read1.2K views

Hello everyone, I hope you’re having a great start to your week. I have been very busy these days and very blessed too. Today I would like to show you a few gorgeous vintage pieces I recently added to my collection.

  • A Josef Originals Bride musical figurine. She slowly spins around while playing “Bridal March.”
Josef Originals Musical Figurine, Bride.
  • A 1960’s Flapper Dress/Drop Waist Gatsby Dress with matching cream Lace Blouse by Miss Ashlee of California. As I was scanning through a row of clothes crammed together, I could sense a promising outfit.The dress was still wrapped in plastic and appeared to had never been worn. As I lifted the lace blouse, my heart leaped with joy at the sight of the drop waist Gatsby Dress underneath, as I was dazzled by its beauty.
    Since the dress was missing the maker tag, I went on the Federal Trade and Commission website and punched in the RN number on the care label to get information on the designer, which turned out to be Miss Ashlee.
  • A 1957 Vintage Pyrex Butterprint Mixing Bowl Set in excellent condition.
1957 Pyrex Butterprint Mixing Bowl Set.
  • A 1971 Betty Crocker Recipe Card Library.
The Betty Crocker Recipe Card Library, 1971.

Complete card set with over 20 extra recipes in the box.

The Betty Crocker Recipe Card Library, 1971.
  • A vintage handmade pottery hanging planter with bird design.
Vintage Pottery Hanging Planter.
  • A Navajo hand crafted, etched and painted “End Of The Trail” vase with lid.
Navajo “End Of The Trail” Vase.
  • A 1958 set of 7 Pilsner Glasses by Libbey Glass Company in marine life pattern (Champagne Glasses).
Pilsner Glasses by Libbey Glass Company.
  • A gorgeous and beautifully made vintage Porcelain Baby Doll.
Vintage Porcelain Baby Doll.
  • A 1993 reproduction of Raggedy Ann by Joy Escolar. Her head and hands are porcelain; the body, arms and legs are cloth. Her clothes were handmade.
Raggedy Ann.
  • A 1970’s Unicorn Peruvian Alpaca Fur Rug. Handmade 100% Alpaca from Peru (making it incredibly soft and hypo-allergenic) and can be used as a blanket, a wall-hanging, a throw or a rug.
1970’s Unicorn Peruvian Alpaca Fur Rug.
  • A set of Fitz & Floyd Florentine Fruit Canisters.
    Soup Tureen with Lid and Ladle
    Large Canister and Lid
    Medium Canister and Lid
    Small Canister and Lid
Fitz & Floyd Florentine Fruit Canisters.
  • A 1988 Pelouse Postal Scale.
Vintage Pelouse Postal Scale, 1988.

Beautiful finds, and so much more!

Welcoming Spring!

JM Perez By JM Perez2 min read727 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.

Ice King Double Daffodil.

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

New Growth.

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

Azalea Blooms.

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.

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.

Purpleleaf Plum Tree.

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.

Snowy Mountains.

Happy Spring Gardening!

Cloudy Weather

JM Perez By JM Perez1 min read701 views

It has been raining a lot lately, mostly at night. It’s cold, the winds are insane and the weather is gloomy. Did I mention that it snowed quite a bit yesterday? Our weather is so unpredictable, making it hard to get used to.

Some fascinating creatures seem to emerge from hiding after a good rainfall.

(Female) Phidippus Johnsoni.

Those gray clouds are moving slowly, but surely.

Cloudy Weather.

The gray clouds are getting thicker by the hour and the beautiful snowy mountains are now completely covered. Remember our Statue Reconstruction back in 2013? We finally completed it on New Years and placed her in the center of the backyard arch. She is absolutely gorgeous an graces the space.

Cloudy Weather.

Loving my Woodland Babies.

Woodland Babies.

I am looking forward to warmer days ahead.