No snow (yet)

A major winter storm is heading toward our mountains and Deep Canyon this weekend.  The weather forecasters are saying that snow will be down to 2,500 feet.  Oh, boy!  That means snow on the mountains of Deep Canyon.  This is the old thoroughbred ranch up at about 4,500 feet.  It's now used to board horses (they aren't breeding thoroughbreds there anymore) and I like to stop and take photos of its fences.  I imagine that by Sunday night, this area will be covered with snow!  I only have 1/2 day of school on Friday and I'm going to have to drive up to the mountain feed store, buy pellets for the horses, and put the pellets away before the storm moves in. 

Meadowlark~World Bird Wednesday~031312

HA~I FINALLY got a photo of a meadowlark last weekend.  There were several out in the meadow by the Ponderosa pines, but they wouldn't stay still long enough for me to focus and get a photo of one.  However, in another spot, I did see several of them  flying near this fence and I actually took this photo through my car windshield.  These little buggers are so hard to get!  World Bird Wednesday for March 13, 2012. To visit WBW, please follow this link:   http://www.pineriverreview.blogspot.com/  I'm going to try to post a bird photo each week for this meme, but I'll have to keep my fingers crossed that I actually can get a photo of something interesting!

Desert zone~Our World Tuesday~031312

About 25-30 miles from the magical Ponderosa pine forest and meadow is the base of the Santa Rosa mountains, which is at the south end of Palm Desert.  This habitat is very different.  First, it is only at 1,000 to 1,500 feet.  Second, it is a desert environment.  There are lots of ocotillo and creosote bushes.  There are a few wildflowers blooming right now.  This area gets the summer monsoon storms and water pours down the canyons.  It also gets snow in the winter, but not much this year.  From this environment, I move through the mid-elevation pinyon zone, then up higher to the wonderful Ponderosa pine forests of Garner Valley.  So, here are some photos of the desert zone, which goes from about 1,000 feet up to about 1,500 feet. Our World Tuesday for March 13, 2012  To visit other worlds, please go to:   http://ourworldtuesdaymeme.blogspot.com/

Ponderosa forest and meadow

Way up past the end of Deep Canyon is Garner Valley.  This whole valley used to be the Garner Cattle Company.  The company is still there, but much of the valley has been subdivided into 5 acre parcels for expensive homes and ranches.  Other parts of it are BLM land, which is good because the open spaces, like this, will be preserved.  There is a forest road which turns off at one point, and then splits into about 7 different side roads.  I sometimes like to drive out here and just shut my car down and LISTEN.  Listen to the wind moving through the trees, listen to the screech of hawks, or the cry of a red-tailed hawk.  One time, I ran into a herd of longhorns!  I quietly drove right through them. It is a magical place and I understand there are some Cahuilla Indian sites up there.  I believe it.  This place is special.  Unfortunately, the gun club was out practicing, so I avoided them.  One fellow checked me out and I waved my camera at him and he waved back, but I wanted a quiet area, so I took a couple of side roads I had never taken before.  Fortunately I had hubby's car, our Nissa XTerra.  I drive a Honda CRV, which has all wheel drive, but it was in the shop getting an oil change.  I found out I need 4 new tires and a tuneup.  That will have to wait until summer.  I love driving the XTerra because it actually has a higher clearance than my CRV and this is one area that I need that, although I've taken the Honda there many times.  Notice that the mountains have NO SNOW.  It has been a dry winter.  There have been some snowstorms, but nothing deep and I'm afraid we are in for a LONG, HOT, DRY summer.  I was able to see mountain bluebirds and meadowlarks this morning, as well as a couple of Kestrels.  I can't wait to return next weekend and maybe I'll take the XTerra again!

Wooden fence~Friday Fences~030812

There are various ranches up toward Coyote Canyon, which intersects Deep Canyon, way up past the western end of Anza Borrego.  I love to drive out toward Coyote Canyon every now and then.  It's very relaxing.  I love the wide, open spaces.  I could drive up here for hours, but I usually only have a little bit of time before I turn around to head back down the mountain road and to my home in the desert.  I try to explore a little bit of it whenever I can.  Friday Fences for March 8, 2012.  To see other fences, please go to:   http://lifeaccordingtojanandjer.blogspot.com/

Ravens~Ballet in the sky~Nature Notes~030812

As I was heading down the mountain last weekend, I glanced over to see 6 ravens catching the thermals of Deep Canyon.  I pulled over and got out of my car to take this series of photos.  I watched their aerial ballet, intrigued by their graceful movements.  Ahhh.....to soar above the canyon like that!  I've noticed more ravens lately...must be spring!  Nature Notes for March 8, 2012.  To visit Nature Notes, please go to:   http://ramblingwoods.com/

Desert blooms

You know, I'm always posting here about Deep Canyon, but the desert floor right now is awash in blooming trees and shrubs.  I took these photos a couple of weeks ago, during one of my morning walks.  Our neighbor's grapefruit free is blooming and the minute I open our front door, I can smell its delightful aroma.  Our sweet acacias are also blooming and I'll get some photos of them this weekend.  They are also very fragrant.  I noticed that the ravens were back in this area last weekend.  There were three of them doing an aerial ballet and I just stood and watched them.  Spring in the desert is indeed beautiful, even if we don't have a lot of wildflowers.