It’s been very cold lately in the High Desert and we are spending time enjoying the company of one another.
A couple of weeks ago, we woke up to a freezing morning fog.
Morning Fog (view from the backyard).
A few days later I noticed the formation of thick clouds over the mountains, which rapidly turned into snow. It’s a breathtaking sight from my backyard.
Thick Clouds/Snowy Mountains.
I have enjoyed watching Hummingbirds feed from my kitchen window.
Hummingbird Feeding.
Finally, Snow began falling tonight. It’s been a year or two since the last Snowfall. This one comes as our end of year present from Mother Nature.
Since I moved to the High Desert of California, I have been amazed by what I have crowned “celebrating forward.” You know, celebrating seasons months in advance (or all year round) especially when the event is not here yet.
This year is no different as I saw Christmas lights and decorations up while driving around today. I loved it. It lifts us up with anticipation and awakens in us the spirit of gratitude and love. We are grateful and excited to celebrate Christmas with Family and Friends. Here at my house we are holding off on putting up the Christmas tree and decorations until the second week of December.
This afternoon my husband found a surprise in the mail box. The package, full of Christmas supplies, was from one of our wonderful neighbors. It had everything from colorful gift wraps, a Dream Catcher ornament, calendars, Christmas cards (with over a hundred different designs of unique cards) and a stocking.
The simple, yet beautiful Native American Indian Christmas Holiday Stocking is made of felt with a Southwestern feel.
Southwestern Christmas Stocking.
Assorted gift wrapping papers and Dream Catcher with Holly ornament.
Christmas Gift Wraps and Dream Catcher Ornament.
I am grateful for the little things which have great effect on the mind.
It’s that time of year with much of the city looking gloomy and temperatures beginning to plunge to freezing at night . Warmer days are far gone and the cold weather is settling in slowly, but surely.
During days like these, I find solace in my garden.
Gloomy Weather.
I haven’t done much around my gardens lately since Fall is one of the best seasons for my plants to flourish and thrive. Once in a while I take long walks through the garden where I go to unclog my mind.
For Mother’s day this year, I received a bouquet of Chrysanthemums from a good friend. I transferred the plant in a container and this is the second time it has blessed me with large mounds of gorgeous and impressive flowers; forever reminding me of my friend’s gentleness and kindness.
Chrysanthemums.
My wonderful friend also gave me a tiny Agave Ovatifolia Frosty Blue plant, which I planted in ground and has now tripled in size. As you can see, a pup is emerging next to the mother plant. Very soon this delicate plant will need protection for winter safety, even though it is said to be cold hardy. I love the formation of its leaves.
Agave Ovatifolia ‘Frosty Blue’.
Seven months later, my young and tender Grevillea Noellii is pulling through.
Young Grevillea Noellii.
The Asparagus Aethiopicus is doing much better in a Pot. Growing it in a container will prevent the roots from spreading in different directions.
Asparagus Aethiopicus.
I planted a Common Jasmine (Jasminum Officinale) early this year and trained it to grow on a home made trellis. This morning I found a couple vines swaying away from the trellis and starting to twine on the plastic hanger of my Pachyphytum Bracteosum (Moonstones) hanging planter.
Common Jasmine Vines (Pachyphytum Bracteosum in planter).
From my garden to yours, happy Fall Gardening (and don’t let the gloomy weather get to you).
For their first month of school, the second graders project is taking the students to the Ocean or Desert. They were asked to create a scene using a Poster, a Diorama or creating a PowerPoint presentation about their subject.
My Son choose to make a diorama showcasing a few Desert Animals in their habitat.
Desert Animal Diorama.
Materials/Tools Needed
School Glue
Hand drawn scenes
Scissors
Synthetic Desert Plants
Stones
Craft Moss
Sand
Box (we used a Swiffer Sweeper Wet Refills Box)
Desert Toy Animals (or cutouts from drawings or Magazine)
Markers
Glue Gun and Glue Sticks
Step by Steps:
Decide on the scenery you want for your background, draw directly on your box or on a paper and then glue onto the box.
Figure out the placement of the Animals and Plants.
Generously apply school glue at the base of your box. Randomly place your stones and then sprinkle some sand and let it dry.
Apply some glue around the stones for the Moss.
Let it all air dry for a day and enjoy.
Desert Animal Diorama.
Our Scenery consists of a Desert Scorpion, Road Runner, Horned Lizard, Coyote, Rattle Snake and a Ground Squirrel which are all Desert animals and which are local to our surroundings. We got to learn what these animals eat, their favorite habitat preferences and the way they affect their ecosystem by their existence.
Our second grader had so much fun researching each animal and picking the facts he believed to be important for others to know about each animal. We hope you and your little ones will have as much fun as we did building this project.
These past few weeks in the High Desert have been quite hectic and like so many residents, I have been praying for more rain. In just a couple of days, Fall will be here.
I was pleasantly surprised in the garden when I found gorgeous delicate clusters of yellow flowers on one of my numerous Mexican Bird of Paradise evergreen shrubs. The plant is drought tolerant to a certain degree and can re-sprout after colder temperatures. I planted them last Summer from seed, in full sun, and they have been thriving ever since attracting hummingbirds, bees and butterflies.
Mexican Bird of Paradise flower buds.Mexican Bird of Paradise flowers.
As I was deadheading my spent Roses, I spotted an Argiope Trifasciata (orb weaving spider) hanging head down in the center of its web above a miniature Rose bush. You can clearly see its web linear decoration, zig-zag band of silk structure also known as stabilimentum.
I wondered if it could be the same I captured last month by my garage door and released in the backyard.
By JM Perez
