A few more palo verdes at the Living Desert Reserve

One last series on the palo verde trees which are now blooming throughout our desert.  I took all of these pics at the Living Desert Reserve in Palm Desert this morning.  Our daughter wanted to go for another death march  two hour walk this morning, so off we went.  Really, now I can hardly stand up!  My feet are KILLING me, I'm sunburned (who gets sunburned at 8:30 a.m.???) and I can't stand up straight!  :-(  I'm also WAY too tired to drive up the mountain to check on the horses.  They'll have to wait until I'm refreshed tomorrow morning!!!  Yes, that's hubby (leaving me in his dust AGAIN!)  Apparently the reserve is working on its lion enclosure, so that's why the lion statue is already up, guarding it!  It was a pleasant morning there and since we beat the crowds (as members, we can get into the park at 7:00 a.m.), it was a LOT quieter than yesterday.

Palo verde trees~for Al and our fellow Canadian bloggers

You know, I didn't really realize that our Canadian friends and bloggers don't get to see as much of the desert spring as we locals do.  We figure that they are pretty much gone by tax day, April 15th.  Spring in the desert, while brief, is a beautiful season.  Between the yuccas blooming, and the palo verdes, and the brittlebrush, penstamen, and other wildflowers (not so much the desert verbena or lupine this year), there is color to be seen in the desert.  Especially now, with the blossoming of the palo verdes.  Palo verde in Spanish means "green stick" and basically, during the other seasons, these shade trees pretty much do look like...green sticks.  They have small leaves (I believe they are a member of the pea family, if I remember my botany correctly...)  Right now they are FULL of blossoms (and bees), as well as a little bird that likes to make its nest in them.  It's a small bird that chirps loudly if you get too close to the nest!~

And, in May, you will miss the saguaro cactus blooms, which only open up at night, then close during the daytime.  There is a large stretch of them (they were brought in from Arizona) up at the Bighorn development, along Highway 74 in Palm Desert.  It's difficult to get photos of them because I have to park and walk quite a way down to them, since the city DOES NOT ALLOW parking (of course) next to them!  I have stopped my car in the past, hopped out, and snapped a couple of quick photos, so I may have to do that this coming May!~:-)

So, here are my current pics of the palo verdes in bloom, in case you haven't seen them in your area.  ~~Enjoy~~

I'll try to get more pictures tomorrow, but I can't promise any as I HAVE to get up to the horse ranch and make sure they have pellets for next week...PLUS, our daughter STILL hasn't delivered yet and we want to be close to her.

Palo verde blossoms~Today's Flowers~033113

Hubby and I went to the Living Desert Reserve today, along with our very pregnant daughter and son-in-law.  I renewed our annual membership and they also bought one.  Our daughter figured it would be worth it because she can take her daughter there in the stroller, walk around, and get some exercise.  HA~we were there for two hours this morning and I came home and took a two-hour nap!  Poor old grandma!  Anyway, the palo verdes are blooming all over our desert and I took this photo while we were at the Living Desert.  Be careful~they are also full of bees!  Today's Flowers for Sunday, March 31, 2013.   To visit Today's Flowers, please go to:   http://flowersfromtoday.blogspot.com/

Desert wildflower update

There aren't many wildflowers this year down here in the desert...sigh...just not enough rainfall.  And, the Sahara mustard has crowded out many of them.  I now see it EVERYWHERE!  These were a few of the wildflowers I found out on Ramon Road by the Washington Street exit near Interstate 10.  They were few and far between.  I drove by a couple of spots of them and had to turn around~that's how difficult they were to spot!

I'm hoping that hubby and I get to go to Joshua Tree national park this weekend, but, with our granddaughter due to pop any day now, we'll see...There were a LOT of joshua trees blooming when I went there with my 3rd grade class a week ago...

Sand and nearly buried fence~Friday's Fences~032913

I drove out Washington Street, near the fire station Tuesday since I had a couple hours to waste before returning to the animal control place to look for my gray cat.  He didn't show up for breakfast and he has NEVER missed a meal!  He wasn't there and he did show up for dinner that evening and breakfast and lunch today!  So, I basically just drove around the valley taking photos of the very few wildflowers that are blooming now.  This road always has drifts of sand and I enjoy stopping there and taking photos, especially AFTER a windy day.  Don't want to do it on a windy day, as the sand drifts across the road!  Friday's Fences for March 29, 2013...still no granddaughter...waiting....   To visit Friday's Fences, please go to:   http://lifeaccordingtojanandjer.blogspot.com/

***CAT UPDATE***
Yes, GUESS WHO showed up for dinner?  And, breakfast the next morning?  Yup.  FATSO!  :-)  I had a talk with him about his behavior!  He gave me 10,000 new gray hairs!

Red tailed hawk~Wild Bird Wednesday~032713

As I was driving back home to the desert yesterday morning after my horses' lessons, I noticed a couple of shadows fly over my car.  I was able to pull over and I saw that two ravens and a red-tailed hawk were overhead.  At first I lost them in the sun, but then I spotted them.  The ravens eventually broke away and the hawk continued on his search for a midday snack.  Wild Bird Wednesday for March 27, 2013.  To visit Wild Bird Wednesday, please go to:   http://paying-ready-attention-gallery.blogspot.com/

Deep Canyon update

I drove up Highway 74 yesterday to be with my trainer for the horses' weekly lesson.  I did notice a few more lupines and wildflowers, but not like previous years.  It's still pretty dismal (sorry Timeless!).  However, there are now quite a few yuccas blooming.  There's a nice big one in the parking lot at the Sawmill Trail and several along the road.  Unfortunately I didn't have time to stop and take photos of them (I might go back and do that this morning), but I also want to go to the certified market in Palm Desert at 9:00 a.m.  If I head out early, I'll have good light, so I might do that and then go to the market.  I can't go during the school year, but since I'm home this week, I can make it.   :-)  I LOVE their organic produce and products there.  One guy from Idyllwild makes DELICIOUS almond butter and I'm going to buy 2 containers of it.  His is much fresher than what's sold in stores.  No granddaughter yet.  If she isn't here by Sunday, our daughter's doctor will induce labor Monday.  She's already estimated to be between 8 and 10 pounds and it just isn't healthy to allow Jennifer (our daughter) to continue on and on and on!  So, I will still have a few days for more adventures on spring break!  Here are a few shots of the yuccas I've seen.  There were a few at the Pinyon Flats campground too.

Tuesday

Gosh, is it Tuesday already?  WHERE did the weekend go?  Let's see...Saturday I was VERY sore from the 1 mile Barker Dam loop Friday at Joshua Tree national park, so I stayed home and did absolutely NOTHING.  Sunday I ran errands and we went to our daughter's for dinner and a movie...Monday was tax appointment day and I took a few photos at the Palm Springs air museum, which was right around the corner from my CPA's office.  Today is horse lesson day, so I'll take my camera with me up to the horse ranch.  Can't wait to see my trainer!  She comes every Tuesday (weather permitting) and she's done a LOT of work with "the herd".  You'll see some pics tomorrow...I still want to get out to Yucca Valley and Joshua Tree again, on my own, but it depends on our daughter and our still-not-here-yet granddaughter!  I can always stay home and weed whack!  :-)

Field trip to Joshua Tree national park

So yesterday me, my third graders, another class of 3rd graders, and a 5th grade class loaded up into two school buses and went to Joshua Tree national park.  I was kind of dreading this trip.  We were scheduled to do the 1 mile Barker Dam loop and I didn't wish to take both my backpack AND my Canon camera.  I'd thought about taking my Nikon D-40, but I instead just stuffed my little Coolpix into my pocket.  I really didn't want a backpack AND a camera around my neck AND 24 3rd graders to have to keep track of!  Turns out, we had a really good park ranger, Christian, who made sure EVERYBODY stayed together!  NOBODY was going to get lost on his watch, no, no, no!!!

So we arrived at the park and started the 1 mile Barker Dam loop.  I'd heard the pond there was completely dry and yup, it was.  Not a drop of water anywhere!  I asked Christian why and he said it was the lack of rainfall this winter.  So sad.  Normally that is a beautiful fairly good sized pond behind the dam.

And, speaking of the dam, since it was dry, vandals (think IDIOTS) climbed down and carved their names into the cement of the dam.  First names AND last names, so they are being tracked down and investigated. Apparently there is a pretty stiff fine for that senseless mayhem.

Along the trail back to the bus (and LUNCH), one boy spotted a snake (non-poisonous).  As near as I can figure out, it was a baby gopher snake.  He was so excited to find one!  We also saw ravens (who patiently sat and waited for us to eat our lunches), scrub jays, a few little chipmunks (who were also waiting for our lunch leftovers)  (...there were NONE, as Christian made the kids clean up every scrap of food...).  Then, back to school 5 minutes late!  I'd say 2/3 of the kiddos fell asleep on the bus, but a couple of boys were "seat hopping" in the back and I had to stand up and ask one father to please get his son to SIT DOWN!  I mean, what kind of parent allows THAT????????

Anyway, here are some pics from yesterday.  And, a good time was had by all.  Actually, the kids were VERY well behaved on the trail and during lunch and I even got a compliment from Christian!   :-)

Oh, and here's an image (not my photo) of a desert gopher snake.  They sure do look like rattlesnakes, except the tail!

Fobes Ranch Road fence~Friday's Fences~032213

I can't wait for this meadow to fill up with wildflowers!  It's still too early, but in a month or so, it should be completely yellow, like last year.  This is on Fobes Ranch Road, Garner Valley, CA.  And, I LOVE this gate, don't you?  Friday's Fences for March 22, 2013.   To visit Friday's Fences, please go to:   http://lifeaccordingtojanandjer.blogspot.com/

Almond blossoms at the ranch~Nature Notes~032113

Well, the almond trees are all in full bloom right now up at the horse ranch.  There are bees all over them, so I tread carefully and quietly among the branches.  Don't wish to get stung!  Aren't they beautiful colors?  They only bloom for a short while, so I have to get photos of them while I can...this coming weekend will probably be their last and it may already be too late to get more pics.  I'll see them again on Saturday.  Nature Notes for March 21, 2013.  To visit Nature Notes, please go to:   http://ramblingwoods.com/

Meadowlark~Wild Bird Wednesday~032013

I've been trying to get a photo of a meadowlark for about three years now, but every time I stop, the little bugger flies off!  However, last weekend up in Garner Valley, out of Fobes Road, this little guy didn't mind having his photo taken.   In fact, he allowed me to stop my car right across from his perch on the barbed wire.  Isn't he a cute little thing?  Wild Bird Wednesday for March 20, 2013.   To visit Wild Bird Wednesday, please go to:    http://paying-ready-attention-gallery.blogspot.com/

Springtime in the mountains~Our World Tuesday~031913

I took these photos on Sunday, when I drove from the desert up into our local Santa Rosa mountains to go check on the horses.  They are all well.  I stopped to look at some of the signs of spring up in the mountains. It's so different there from the desert!  Right now the desert is ablaze with blooming acacias, Tacoma stans, penstamons, and other flowers (much to hubby's annoyance!).  It's more subtle up in the mountains because things are blooming later and slower up there.  I'm hoping to see some wildflowers in the next few weeks.  I love this big, old cottonwood, which is on the Cahuilla Indian reservation.  I often see hawks sitting up in it, surveying the world below.  Our World Tuesday for March 19, 2013.  To visit OWT, please go to:   http://ourworldtuesdaymeme.blogspot.com/

Spring on Highway 74

This year's spring is quite disappointing this year up on the Santa Rosa mountains.  There are only a couple of patches of lupines along Highway 74 and they are very small and pale.  There are only 3 (yes...3!) yuccas blooming and last year there were so many I couldn't count them all!  I did find these agaves, but many, many others are dry and dead.  There just hasn't been enough rainfall for a spectacular spring season.  And, we had a week of record-breaking heat last week, so I'm sure that also did in the wildflowers....sigh...I'll keep looking and updating, but this spring pretty much looks like a bust.  I know that TIMELESS ENVIRONMENTS (http://timeless-environments.blogspot.com/2013/02/what-californias-san-joaquin-valley.html) will be here in April, so he can also give you a report.

Almond blossoms~Today's Flowers~031713

The ranch owners have 4 almond trees.  Last year's crop was blown off during a wind storm.  This year, one of the other trees with white blossoms died.  It has NO blossoms at all on it.  However, this one was full of blossoms and bees last weekend.  The two pink blossomed trees should be blooming by next weekend, when my spring break starts.  I could also be a grandma by then, too (actually...any day now...).  I'll take more photos of these blossoms today when I drive up to check on the horses and to let them out for a romp (one at a time) in the arena.  Today's Flowers for March 17, 2013.   To visit Today's Flowers, please go to: http://flowersfromtoday.blogspot.com/