Today I spent some time on our property inspecting the landscaping and getting rid of the invisible electric shock barrier and rabbit wire mesh (which we used to train Vinnie to stay in the backyard). He got an “A”, by the way.
All of the plants seem to be healthy and the drip irrigation system seems to be doing its job. Temperatures are ranging from the high 60’s to high 80’s lately. It’s “growing time”.
Lots of wind lately. That’s something which was a surprise to us when we relocated to Mesquite. Recall the old Western song, “Tumblin’ Tumbleweeds”? There’s a reason that those tumbleweeds are rolling through the desert: it’s friggin’ windy all of the time! There’s a light breeze just about every day and winds of 15 to 30 mph are common on several days of each week. On occasion, the wind blows harder than that. A couple of years ago, we experienced winds of over 50 mph for a couple of hours. It was nasty: lots of trees in the area had broken limbs and some were uprooted. About a month ago there was a dust storm for a day; those really suck.
One unfortunate aspect of the wind is the effect it has on our beautiful Palo Verde trees. These green-trunked specimens with lacy foliage bloom in mid-April each year. The flowers are yellow and the effect is quite beautiful. The only problem is that the blooms are quickly blown off the tree as soon as the winds reach 20 mph or so. So, we only get to enjoy the beauty for a few weeks each year.
Virtually all of the cactus varieties put out beautiful blooming flowers each Spring, but those flowers only last a few days to maybe a week, at most. Just enough time for the bees to get to them so they can do their jobs.
The breezes kick up dust and pollen, causing many people to suffer from allergies. Poor Vinnie, our rescued Boston Terrier: he has allergies, and his eyes are always red and swollen despite his daily dose of antihistamine, tetracycline ointment, and eye drops. Poor guy.
He does enjoy our backyard, though. Lots of things to smell, to pee on, and to dodge while chasing his sisters Baby and Bonnie from one spot to another.
We have a lot of “pointy” plants on our property that the three dogs must negotiate. They are pretty successful, although occasionally we will hear a yelp or have to pick fine cactus spines from their coats. A couple of weeks ago, Baby got something lodged under the skin of a hind leg and we had to have it surgically removed. It was probably a cactus spike, we were told. Another several hundred bucks donated to Virgin Valley Veterinary.
How many pointy plants, you ask? Well, most desert flora has spines, points, stickers, sharp edges, etc. to keep the thirsty and hungry animals, reptiles, and birds from eating them. The only things that don’t deter starving varmints in our yard are the lantana and the ice plant, the latter being the food of choice for jackrabbits who live in the rock wall adjoining our property.
Here’s some of the sharp, pointy stuff that we are keeping alive with our drip irrigation system:
It’s amazing that our three dogs and ourselves are not in the “emergency room” once a week for impalements!
I guess we’re experienced desert folk after several years.
Come visit us in Mesquite, Nevada!
