Native Wildflowers

Wild, Perennial Four O'Clock

Wild Four O'Clock with Beeweed in Center

The native wildflowers touch my heart and easily seem to bring such beauty to our lives. One of our favorites is the Desert Four O'Clock (Mirabilis multiflora).

 

This is a native perennial that spreads seeds across our land. There is a single, large tap root that holds its place until spring and summer monsoon rains. Since we live on the side of a mesa, we are amazed at their strength, with lush green leaves and gorgeous 4-5 ft wide mounds of fuchsia, trumpet style flowers. As the plants dry out, the tumble off the root, allowing the seeds to distribute themselves down the hill. 

 

 

Drought and Elk

Drought season is upon us, bringing late starting monsoons and plenty of extreme heat. We traveled to Alpine, AZ this morning to check out some landscaping materials. Along the way, we saw several herds of elk, close to town, and even closer to much needed, precious water. Most were cows with calves, just like the ones that come in to water along our creek.

 

Alpine, AZ  city pastures

Across highway from Luna Lake

Wetlands of Luna Lake

Arizona Morels

For years, I listened with envy to my cousin in Indiana talk about harvesting hundreds of morels each season. He and his family would sell them at the local car shows and races. I just wanted to see one. 

In Arizona, this year's early rain storms in May, combined with previous wildfires and managed burns have helped trigger some of the best morel foraging in history. 

(NOTE: I still haven't found one, and these are from foragers in our state, but now I am hopeful.)

 

Hummingbird Fun Facts

16th Annual High Country Hummingbird Festival

July 27, 2023

It should be a beautiful day with a high of 83 degrees and chance of showers. Come prepared.

• There are over 300 species of hummingbirds and most are found in South America.

• More than 15 species of hummingbirds breed in the United States.

• Hummingbirds chirp, and do not sing.

• A hummingbird's heart beats over 1200 times per minute. At rest, a hummingbird will take over 250 breaths per minute.

•  Hummingbirds can barely walk.
• A penny weighs 2.5 grams, a hummingbird weighs 2-20 grams.
• Female hummingbirds are usually larger than males.
• Hummingbirds do not mate for life.
• Female hummingbirds do all the nest building and raising of the young.
• The average life span is 5 years.
• Wing beats per second = Over 70
• Hummingbirds are the only bird that can fly both forward and backwards.
• Average flight speed = 25-30 mph.
• It takes 20 hours for a Ruby-throated hummingbird to fly across the Gulf of Mexico.
• The Rufous hummingbird migrates from Canada to Mexico.
• A hummingbird will visit 1,000 flowers per day, needing to eat 7 or more times per hour.
• When sleeping, hummingbirds go into torpor - a state of hibernation. Hummingbirds in torpor have a heart rate of 50 or fewer beats per minute.
• A hummingbird's instinct to migrate is stronger than a food source - your hummingbird feeder will not stop a hummingbird from migrating.
• Hummingbird Nectar Recipe. Mix 1 part refined, white sugar to 4 parts of boiling water. Let the nectar cool before using. Extra nectar can be stored in a refrigerator for up to 7 days. DO NOT other types of sweetener such as: organic sugar, artificial sweeteners, honey, molasses, agave syrup, or alternatives to plain white sugar works best. Most of these contain other ingredients (like cornstarch). These can build up in the tiny bodies of hummingbird and become harmful.
• Feeders should be cleaned and refilled with fresh nectar every 3-4 days.

Tastier Jams and Jellies

Are you tired of jams, jellies, and preserves that are too sweet and have no fruit flavor? 

Here is my technique for creating delicious fruit preserves in just minutes.

Apricot jam with extra fruit

 

To begin, select a good brand of fruit jam in your favorite flavor. I especially enjoy apricot or peach, but the sugar flavor is always too strong, while the fruit flavor is, “blah”. I also look for preserves that have no high fructose corn syrup. Below is my recipe for creating tastier jams and jellies. These are so flavorful; you can even use them for gifting.

 

 

 

INGREDIENTS:

 1-3 jars of your favorite preserves.

2-4 pieces of fresh, fully ripened fruit. If out of season, canned fruit works well. Wash fresh fruit and remove seeds (if needed). Peel if you wish and chop fruit into tiny pieces. If using canned fruit, be sure to use a well-packaged, flavorful brand. 

 DIRECTIONS:

Put preserves in pan and heat slowly at low temperature. This will turn the preserves into a thick liquid. When warm, gently stir in chopped fruit. Increase temperature slightly and continue cooking for about 10 minutes, or until all the fruit is blended and warm. Do not boil. Remember, your preserves already contain pectin or other thickener.

Pour into jars, cool, and refrigerate. (After you open any jar of preserves, please store in refrigerator). Your new, extra fruity preserves may be slightly thinner, but not much. The best part is that your jams and jellies will be healthier and taste more like real fruit, not sweetened candy.

NOTE: If you wish, try canning the preserves in your own jars and use for gift giving. (Follow safety directions for preserving jams and jellies).

Fiddlehead Foraging

We foraged near Alpine today, searching for fiddleheads. We found enough for stir fry and even put some in the freezer. This is one of nature's superfoods. Tasty and tender sprouts of ferns. We were careful to only pick 1-2 from each fern base. 

Beautiful day in the mountains and we also saw about 100 elk in the Nutrioso herd.

 

 

 

 

 

 

New Garden

Its May 1, 2023. May Day. Perfect time to start our new garden (and a new adventure at 7400' elevation). 🍅😏 Quite the challenge for any gardener. 

Since our move to the White Mountains of Arizona, we've done a lot of planning during the winter and, built a new home. It was a long, wet, cold, winter, but now spring is here. 😊Time to work outside.

We recognize that our location on the side of a mesa isn't ideal, and can have design challenges.

We found one level spot for garage and barn, another for our house. Surely there must be some way to put in our gardens.

I have been on garden tours sponsored by Arizona Master Gardeners in Yavapai, Gila, Maricopa, and Navajo County. I've marveled at the beautiful gardens of Arizona in all locations and conditions. We are determined to make our land work for us.

We were able to purchase some wooden boxes from our local lumber yard.  These were actually large boxes that metal was shipped in.  Each one measures over 10' long and is 2' wide. Great for raised garden beds. 😉

 Paul brought in some rocky dirt from one area and we can use it to level an area for the boxes. Its composition will also allow for drainage from the raised beds. We will put old plywood in the bottom, along with branches and logs for short-rooted plants. Then we will   create a good soil mixture. 

First planted will be some sprouted red potatoes and maybe some asparagus, followed by cool season and summer flowers and vegetables

We will need to install our elk proof fences that we used on New Mexico.

Boxed Garden

 

2023 Brings New Ideas for a Quickie Garden

 

When I saw the piled boxes, I inquired at the local lumber store. Yes, I could purchase them for $15 each. Each had been used as a shipping container for metal roofing and each came with a lid. They were constructed like pallets with screw-nails.

After getting 4 delivered, along with some extra unwanted lids, we washed them, the Paul sprayed them (outside only) with wood stain. He also cut a sheet of plywood to fit in the bottom of each, drilling them with holes for drainage.

 

I purchased some black, 6 mil "farm" plastic sheeting and we covered the insides of each box, stapling in place.

 

Next came soil, peat moss, planting compost. I think next year I will put some dead branches and/or logs in the bottom before the soil. The small root varieties of vegetables (lettuce, spinach, radish, etc) do not require as much depth.

 

 

Mules Make a Run For It

It started out as a normal Monday morning, but quickly changed. Paul and our dog, Maya, had already finished their morning walk. It was about 8:30, quite cold and Paul went outside to feed mules and clean the garage. AccuWeather was predicting a warm, beautiful day so maybe we could do a little shed hunting. I had finished my indoor chores and was preparing to eat breakfast.

I walked past our front window and glanced at the beautiful view of Escudilla Mountain freshly dusted in snow. I was jolted from my calmness as I saw our two mules, Scooter and Little Bug, running full blast from the barn toward the front fence line. I knew they would stop at the gate and then tear things up around the house and property. Maybe they would run into the creek. Bug was leading the charge and as I glanced down the hill, I noticed that the 12-foot gate was wide open! Of course it was. FedEx was expected and Paul had opened it on his morning walk.

“Yikes!”

I went out to the front porch and hollered for Paul. Nothing. I looked toward the barn and did not see him. However, I did see something else. The two gates were open on the mule pens. I knew I had to get in the car and drive. As I ran to the garage, I saw Paul with halter and lead ropes on his shoulder, jogging down our long driveway in pursuit of the two animals. They not been out of the barn for weeks. The mules and the man were all heading toward US Hwy 191, The Coronado Trail.

Paul saw me and screamed, “Get the car!” (Wish I had thought of that). I hurried and picked him up as the mules stood in the center of the paved highway, taking in the long views of wilderness and mountains. I knew what they were looking for – the US Forest Service has a small herd of mules and horses across the highway on pasture. Usually they would be close to the roadway, but today they were on a ridge, standing under some trees.

Traffic was light and cars slowed. Early morning commuters in northeastern Arizona were used to elk and deer on the roadways. Longears? Not so much. A kind neighbor in a red car stopped and put her blinkers on for others to see. When the mules saw my car headed their way, they made a run for it and traveled north at full speed. They were having a grand time and the paved highway was an open invitation to keep exploring. So they did. They raced each other as fast as they could. When they had gone about ½ mile, they made a right turn on a graded dirt road, jumping a cattle guard as if it were not there. This was a frightening moment for us, as it would be for any equine owner. We shook our heads and sighed in relief at their feat.

We caught up and passed them. Paul got out and walked toward his puffing mount, calling his name and putting out his hand to comfort him. Normally, Scooter would walk over and get a pat, then allow Paul to halter him. At this moment, he wanted nothing to do with ending the fun. Besides, Bug had reeled around and was heading back toward the highway. 

Dust flew in our faces as the two animals sped away, jumping the cattle guard again, galloping across the paved highway, and then jumping another cattle guard. They happily headed toward new territory – some place they had never been. The flooded wetlands leading into Nelson Reservoir.

We followed helplessly, hoping they would soon tire of their risky game. The footing in the wetlands was soggy, and they stopped to look around (and get their second wind). 

Paul jumped out again, and I turned back toward the cattle guard. I tried to maneuver my car across the metal barrier so they could not go back on the highway. It didn’t work, because my car was too short. I did not want them to try to squeeze around my car, so I backed up and as I did, watched them coming toward me.

 Scooter knew there was a nearby USFS gate that crossed national forest land and backed up to our barn, so he headed in that direction. Paul also walked toward the gate. Bug did not. When Scooter saw the closed gate, he looked to Bug and they once again started jogging toward the highway. Paul was afoot and weary of the unpredictable animals. His legs slowed and I could tell he was out of breath.

With Little Bug leading, they once again came to the cattle guard. Scooter leaped slightly and sailed easily over the obstacle. Bug had a new approach as he tiptoed carefully over the center, flat, metal strip with his size 00 feet. Then he raced to catch Scooter. Now they were back on the pavement and this time, a truck almost hit them. They quickly swerved sideways and headed south. It had been 40 minutes and it seemed they were running slower. They have to tire soon.

I picked up my puffing husband and we followed our animals in the direction of home. Traffic was a little heavier now and I drove in one lane as the neighbor in the red car commandeered the other lane. I passed the animals that ran alongside on the shoulder, went about three blocks ahead and Paul jumped out quickly, leaving his door open.

Scooter had stopped now and was huffing. His head was no longer skyward. He turned to look at Paul as his eyes softened. His coat was wet and long curls covered his body. He did not move as Paul talked to him in a soft voice, and let the rope slip around his neck. Once haltered, traffic passed slowly.

We both knew it would be impossible to catch Bug. He came to us from someone who had bought him at auction. We knew nothing about his past, except that he had the strongest prey-flight response of any horse we had ever owned. He trusted us, but just not at the moment. He was almost fifteen years younger than Scooter, so he still had lots of juice left.

Paul led his buddy mule as they walked on the wide highway shoulder toward home. Bug running behind, then along the side, then in front. 

I continued to monitor oncoming traffic with an open passenger door and blinking lights. After all the cars had passed I stopped, got out to close my car door and thank the neighbor for helping. I apologized for the trouble, but she was kind and said, “No worries.”

Once we were off the highway, Paul and Scooter went up the long hill toward the barn. Bug decided he would rather not. He bounced away on the neighbor’s gravel road, and then came to the swiftly running Nutrioso Creek. Easy peasy. He whirred and galloped downstream where he crossed an old, wooden bridge, continuing south. (He had never been across this bridge).

The only time Bug stopped was to glimpse at Paul, Scooter, and my car going in the opposite direction, safe behind our locked gate. When Bug got to the neighbor’s well house, he ran around to the other side and decided to explore the 20-acre property at a trot. There was no fence between our properties. 

Scooter was in his pen, and I was done - headed back to the house. Paul took his remaining lead rope and halter to try to find the elusive, wild mule.

In the end, there would be no more excitement. When Paul found Bug, the animal faced him and took two steps forward. He wore his halter and lead rope as if it was his idea, following Paul for the walk to the barn.

 As I parked in the garage, I looked toward the mesa and felt the warm sun. I was so happy we were all safe. There were five, bighorn sheep rams lined up on top, watching what must have been a really, really, good show.

 

 

 

My First Computer

Garden Lettuce Tip

 

I will definitely try this with fresh, organic Romaine lettuce from our summer garden. Thank you Carleigh Bodrug.

Keeping Fresh Lettuce