画树

I must admit that I don’t spend much time outside in my garden in August as I quickly become a sweaty mess and the heat sucks out all my energy. 所以,我把时间花在其他事情上. 这个月才过了一周,我就开始画树了, had a chance encounter with a roadrunner and welcomed a new princess.

而我通常在花园里尽情发挥我的创造力和设计, 在我丈夫的一次团队建设活动中,我有机会将它运用到画布上.

画树

The event was held at an art studio that hosts group art painting sessions and as I approached the blank canvas, 油漆刷和油漆, 我感到既兴奋又忧虑. I’ve never painted on canvas before and the last time I’ve put brush to an easel was in kindergarten.

画树

老师站在全班同学的前面, betway旗舰版下载要复制一幅特别的画, 这里有一个完成的艺术品的例子, and the instructor guided us step by step as she began painting her blank canvas.

彩绘树、路行者和新公主

这很有趣,我就是活生生的例子,你不必成为一个艺术家也能享受这种体验. 然而, 作为一个认证的树木学家, 当我在树上作画的时候,我确实感到了一点压力,但是, 提醒自己这是更印象派的艺术.

画树,走鹃

几天后, I was visiting my niece at our local hospital when I spotted a roadrunner walking toward the front door. 在我住的郊区,betway旗舰版下载不经常看到它们,所以我站在那里,看着它们在做什么.

画树,走鹃

我最近在沙漠植物园教了一门鸟类园艺课程, 所以我对这种鸟有很多了解, which is a member of the Cuckoo family and I started reciting them to my husband who was watching the roadrunner with me.

画树,走鹃

对于betway旗舰版下载这些看着卡通片《betway苹果下载》长大的人来说, 郊狼似乎从来没有抓住过走鹃. 然而, 在现实中, 土狼的最高速度可以达到30英里每小时,而路跑者只能跑到15英里每小时.

在整个西南地区都能发现这种路跑动物,而且正向路易斯安那州蔓延 所以现在你有两个有趣的事实与你的朋友分享.

画树,走鹃

这是另一张roadrunner的照片,几年前我在一家临终关怀机构前看到的, 正好在同一家医院对面. 你会注意到它头部一侧的红色和蓝色, 哪些在交配季节是可见的.

I’ve watched these large birds run and catch lizards and snakes in the 沙漠, 能近距离看到它们总是一种享受.

画树

Hospital visits aren’t typically fun outings, but the exception is when you are visiting new parents. My nephew and his wife just welcomed a precious little girl into the world, 我现在是姑母了. betway旗舰版下载家有八个男孩, 但在过去的25年里只有一个女孩, 所以betway旗舰版下载很高兴又有了一个“公主”来疼爱和宠爱. 带上粉色!

再过几个星期, 我的注意力将再次集中在花园上, 但是现在, 我喜欢室内的凉爽. 

你呢? 你有没有去美术工作室上过绘画课,或者近距离看到过走鹃?

Twinkies,公主,草皮,Seedpods,根腐烂,小狗,淋浴 & 感恩节

伊索,沙漠龟

betway旗舰版下载的沙漠龟, 伊索, has been a fun addition to our life ever since we adopted him three years ago. He typically becomes quite active beginning in June, after a very long winter’s nap. 因此,当betway旗舰版下载冒险到花园里去的时候,它那好奇的天性就会出来看betway旗舰版下载. 当我抚摸伊索的头时,孩子们喜欢抚摸它的壳.

伊索,沙漠龟

伊索一年只睡了六个多月, 所以betway旗舰版下载珍惜他活跃的夏天. 几周前, 他到后院院子来看我, 我注意到它的壳是多么脏——可能是因为它整个冬天都在洞里冬眠. 所以我决定让他洗个澡.

沙漠乌龟伊索在洗澡

I wasn’t sure if he would like it or not – my dogs don’t and try to get away whenever they see me holding the hose, 但伊索似乎很喜欢洗澡.

伊索,沙漠龟

他一动不动地站着,直到戏结束,然后转向我,好像在说:“就这样吧。”?

伊索,沙漠龟

A couple of minutes later, he was stretched out, relaxing after his refreshing bath.

I must admit that I never realized 如何 entertaining having a 沙漠龟 as a pet could be and 伊索 continues to surprise us with his curious nature and antics.

沙漠乌龟伊索发现了菜园

Javelina从阿罗约中走出来

Javelina从阿罗约中走出来

Yesterday, I had a rather unexpected encounter with a 一种野猪) while taking pictures of a landscape. I think he was as surprised as I was to see him and he retreated back to his arroyo after a couple of minutes. That meeting inspired me to write this post and 如何 they affect the 沙漠 garden – primarily what types of 植物s they like to eat.  

Javelina穿过arroyos (wash)

Javelina穿过arroyos (wash)

To state that I was surprised to come so close to a 一种野猪) is an understatement. 我在沙漠花园工作了二十多年, I seldom see these pig-like mammals as they usually sleep through the day underneath 豆科灌木 or other 沙漠 trees.

长得像野猪

Often referred to as ‘wild pigs’ due to their resemblance to a boar, 他们不是猪, 但却是一只野猪, 哪一种是有蹄子的中型哺乳动物. 在美国西南部随处可见标枪, 但它们的活动范围也延伸到了中美洲和南美洲. 在城市环境中,你会发现他们在更归化的地区.

沙漠花园中的标枪

They frequently travel in herds, although I only saw these two adults on this day. 虽然从远处看它们会很有趣(不要靠得太近,因为它们可能很危险), 处理它们对花园造成的破坏并不有趣.

Javelina喜欢吃betway旗舰版下载在沙漠中种植的漂亮的东西,比如开花的一年生植物, 他们不会就此止步. The spines on your prized cactus won’t deter a hungry 一种野猪) – they go right in and munch on the base of a prized columnar cactus as well as the pads of prickly pear cactus.

在调查他们对花园造成的破坏时, 更糟糕的是, 标枪手经常不吃挖出来的东西吗.

沙漠花园中的标枪

我和一种野猪)的关系很长, which began by working to keep them away from the thirty-six tee boxes that I had to 植物 with flowering annuals seasonally. 不足为奇的是, they were drawn to these colorful islands and would dislodge the 植物s by rooting them up with their snouts before eating them.

My crew and I had some mixed success with spraying squirrel repellent every few days on the 矮牵牛, 但这需要大量的工作,并不是万无一失的.

沙漠花园中的标枪

Javelina将瞄准流行的盆栽一年生植物,如三色堇, 矮牵牛, 金鱼草, 对他们来说就像糖果一样. 虽然天竺葵不是他们最喜欢的盆栽花,但如果他们饿了,也会吃掉它们.

If you want pretty containers filled with flowers and live in a neighborhood 哪里有标枪, 你需要把花盆放在一个封闭的区域或院子里,让它们够不着. 

一种

一种

薰衣草

薰衣草

T在这里 are some flowering 植物s that they usually stay away from and these include 一种 and 薰衣草, 哪些可以用在集装箱里.

 柑橘类水果

根据一年中的不同时间,标枪手的饮食会发生变化. 在冬天,他们会从树上抓柑橘类水果.

豆科灌木

在夏天,牧豆树的种子是它们最喜欢的食物之一.

A Cereus peruvianus cactus that has some bites taken out of its base by 一种野猪)

A Cereus peruvianus cactus that has some bites taken out of its base by 一种野猪).

A fairly common sight is a columnar cactus with some bites taken out of its base, 哪里有标枪. In most cases, the damage is largely cosmetic and the cactus will be fine. 然而,为了防止进一步的破坏,你可以用金属网笼子包围仙人掌的底部.

一种野猪)

While t在这里 is no guarantee that 一种野猪) won’t eat the 植物s in your 沙漠 garden from time to time, 有些植物对它们来说不太好吃. 这里一个有用的 link 对于抗标枪植物, 但是我必须告诉你,如果一个标枪手饿了, it will eat the 植物s on this list – I know this from personal experience. 

The only foolproof way to keep them away from eating your 植物s is to keep them out with a fence or wall.

你住的地方有标枪吗? 你注意到它们吃什么植物? 任何他们似乎不理睬的植物?

沙漠龟

在betway旗舰版下载家的后院住了两年,你就会想到这一点, ,伊索, betway旗舰版下载的沙漠龟, 会发现一切吗. 然而,事实并非如此. His curious nature led him over to w在这里 I was working to pull out 植物s in the vegetable garden and to his joy and my dismay, 他爬了上去.

Getting out was a little trickier, as you can see in the video below.

 

 

看来betway旗舰版下载得把花园的边沿抬高点以防他吃绿叶蔬菜.

沙漠乌龟伊索洗澡

密歇根州Petoskey灯塔

密歇根州Petoskey灯塔

While spring break is a time w在这里 masses of people escape the cold for warmer climates (like 亚利桑那州), betway旗舰版下载决定做完全相反的事情.  We flew out of warm, sunny Phoenix and headed to cold and snowy Michigan.

密歇根州Petoskey灯塔

在你开始质疑我的理智之前, I have an excellent reason for bundling up and bracing myself for the cold, 有风的天气. 我女儿和她的家人现在把密歇根当作他们的家, 从那以后, betway旗舰版下载一年至少要出去两次, 而春假恰好是做这件事的最佳时机.

Petoskey,密歇根州

我一直期待着参观他们的托斯基镇, 位于小特拉弗斯湾岸边的密歇根.  它是一个受欢迎的夏季目的地,我在这里待了几个星期 去年 helping my daughter move into her new house and add new 植物s to her garden.

Petoskey,密歇根州

It is always fun pulling out my warm weather gear, which seldom gets used at home.  我几年前编织了这双无指手套,很少有机会戴它们.

Petoskey,密歇根州

作为一名南加州本地人和亚利桑那州居民, I must admit that I have relatively little experience with cold weather so, it has been fun exploring the landscape and seeing the effects of winter.  去年6月,当betway旗舰版下载用脚趟水的时候,看到海湾在时间上冻结了是令人兴奋的.

在betway旗舰版下载这周的开始, 气温在20多度左右,伴着凛冽的寒风, betway旗舰版下载很兴奋地看到一场意想不到的降雪.

I realize that many of you who have lived in areas with cold winters may be rolling your eyes at this point, 但对于那些一直生活在冬天温和的地方的人来说, 天气一直是新鲜事物.

密歇根州Petoskey灯塔

然而, 今天早上当我走到外面时,这种新奇感很快就消失了, 当时是寒冷的16度, and I learned 为什么 people start their cars a few minutes before they get in to let them heat up inside.  但, 我勇敢地从房子走到汽车前几步, and we were off to my granddaughter Lily’s preschool class w在这里 I was to give a presentation on the 沙漠 and 亚利桑那州.

阿兹植物女士

I brought photographs of the animals, cactuses, and flowers of the 沙漠.  孩子们是很棒的观众,他们似乎对下面的照片印象特别深刻:

  • 仙人掌的高度,人们站在它的底部 
  • 一只鸟从仙人掌的洞里探出头来
  • 仙人掌的花
  • 伊索——betway旗舰版下载的沙漠龟

I was struck by 如何 different the 沙漠 is from the Michigan landscape and felt honored to expand their horizons.

Petoskey

在从幼儿园回来的路上, betway旗舰版下载的任务是把教室里的宠物带来, ‘Snowball’ the guinea pig home w在这里 he will stay with Lily for spring break.  做这样的小任务会让betway旗舰版下载回忆起孩子小时候的快乐时光.

betway旗舰版下载很快就要回家了,春天对我来说是一个忙碌的季节.  我收到了新植物的邮件(直接来自种植者),让我在亚利桑那州的花园里测试, 我将展示两家来自蒙罗维亚的新工厂, 再过几周, 我又要去旅行了,这次是去萨凡纳, 乔治亚,有一个有趣的项目,我很高兴很快和你们分享.

你春假要做什么?

最近生活真是太忙了.  如此之多,以至于它影响了我,使我不再像往常那样经常写博客.  所以,我想花一点时间让你们知道我在过去的一个月里都做了些什么.

Work has seen me driving me from one corner of the Phoenix metro area to the other, meeting with clients and helping them to create beautiful outdoor spaces.  In fact, I broke my record for the most landscape consultations in a single month.  既然假期到了,工作也慢了一些.

一种美丽的多汁植物,三角叶大戟

一种美丽的多汁植物,三角叶大戟

One thing that I enjoy about visiting new clients is that I get to see impressive specimen 植物s like this Euphorbia trigona that flanked the entry of the Phoenix home.

美丽多汁

美丽多汁

This is a truly 美丽多汁 that lends a tropical look to the landscape.  It is very frost tender and must be protected when temperatures dip into the 30’s.  我觉得为这样一株植物付出的努力是值得的.

土狼

土狼

在我的工作中,经常会遇到野生动物.  然而,在中午看到土狼是相当罕见的.  当我结束一次咨询开车回家时,我看到这只漂亮的郊狼穿过街道.  我停下车,它停在路边,我用手机拍了几张照片.

土狼

这些年来我看到过很多土狼, most often their appearance reflects the hardship of living in the 沙漠.  然而,这只土狼是我见过的最健康的.

狼和

I think that it enjoyed the attention that I was giving it as it stood still for several seconds before walking off into the 沙漠.

视频拍摄

圣诞节是一年中我最喜欢的季节.   我喜欢买完美的礼物, 装修房子, 烘焙我最喜欢的甜点, 在车里跟着圣诞音乐唱歌, 为圣诞节的理由而欢乐.

视频拍摄

本周早些时候,betway旗舰版下载为教会即将到来的平安夜服务拍摄了一段视频.  betway旗舰版下载被邀请和她的表姐苏菲一起分享betway旗舰版下载的女儿露丝被收养的故事.  2006年我姐姐和她的家人收养苏菲时,他们是孤儿院最好的朋友.  一年后,我和丈夫去了中国,收养了露丝.  所以,他们不仅是最好的朋友,还是表兄弟.

视频拍摄

betway旗舰版下载在我姐姐家录了这段视频,花了三个多小时.  这个片段大概只有3 - 4分钟的长度, 但我迫不及待地想看到他们的故事被分享,并希望它能激励其他人.  到时我一定会和大家分享的.

我希望你们都度过了一个美好的感恩节,享受这个节日.

10种耐寒多肉植物,为冬季景观增添美丽

The newest member of our animal family is unique in that he isn’t furry and just happens to carry his house on his back.

来见见索诺兰沙漠龟“伊索”

索诺兰沙漠龟

我想向大家介绍《betway苹果下载》.

伊索是一种索诺兰沙漠龟,它们在美国西南部的沙漠安家 .

你可能想知道为什么有人想收养一只沙漠乌龟,这个过程是如何进行的.

至于 为什么, as a child, my best friend’s family had a tortoise who lived in their backyard.  他的名字叫“洛佩兹”.  我总是喜欢看着它咀嚼草地,慢慢地穿过后院.

来见见索诺兰沙漠龟“伊索”

索诺兰沙漠龟

In my career as a horticulturist who has spent a lot of time in the 沙漠, 我接触过这些特殊的动物,包括 帮助一个 穿过繁忙的马路.

Due to loss of habitat in the 沙漠 as well captive tortoises breeding, 有很多人在找房子.

我丈夫和我一直都想养一只乌龟, 但betway旗舰版下载的狗在后院自由奔跑, 这不是可行的.

betway旗舰版下载最近在betway旗舰版下载相当大的侧院子里养了一只狗, 所以betway旗舰版下载的狗再也不能进入后院了.  这样,betway旗舰版下载获得沙漠龟的梦想就可以实现了.

So 如何 你有沙漠龟吗?

首先,如果你住在亚利桑那州、加利福尼亚州、内华达州或新墨西哥州,你会参观本州的比赛 & 鱼类部门的网站,在那里你可以了解沙漠龟,然后填写申请.

创建乌龟庇护所的指导方针可以在网站上找到, 在你申请之前,哪些是必须完成的.

应用程序本身相当简单.  You need to take photographs of your backyard space and tortoise shelter, 哪些是你在申请时提交的.

一旦你被批准,你将被邀请去拿你的新乌龟.  

沙漠龟收养机构

我的丈夫, daughter and I headed out to the nearest 沙漠龟收养机构, 对betway旗舰版下载来说是在亚利桑那的比赛 & 渔业部在凤凰城无忧无虑高速公路旁的设施.

*T在这里 are several other adoption facilities throughout other areas in 亚利桑那州 and other Southwestern states. 

沙漠龟收养机构

betway旗舰版下载在一个收养日到达那里,他们正试图收养50只沙漠龟.

We s如何ed them our application, gave a donation and went inside the gates.  

成年龟

那里有好几只成年乌龟, sitting in boxes just waiting for someone to pick them and take them home.

但是,betway旗舰版下载经过它们,这样betway旗舰版下载就可以看到小乌龟了.  

几位年轻的乌龟

T在这里 were 几位年轻的乌龟 walking around in a plastic swimming pool

来见见索诺兰沙漠龟“伊索”

照片中的小龟大约3岁.

来见见索诺兰沙漠龟“伊索”

这只一岁大的小乌龟只有饼干那么大.

betway旗舰版下载不是来买小乌龟的, 因为betway旗舰版下载给乌龟的新家不是封闭的,betway旗舰版下载担心它们会迷路.

不过,看到它们并更好地了解这些爬行动物的生长速度是很有趣的.

 成年龟里面.

We walked back to the row of boxes to examine the 成年龟里面.

来见见索诺兰沙漠龟“伊索”

有一些年轻的女性, which we decided against since they can carry sperm for up to 4 years and we didn’t want the chance of having baby tortoises.

来见见索诺兰沙漠龟“伊索”

还有一只有三条腿的乌龟.  它的三条腿能很好地行走,betway旗舰版下载问它是雄的还是雌的.

来见见索诺兰沙漠龟“伊索”

那时,betway旗舰版下载上了一节关于如何区分男性和女性的课.

来见见索诺兰沙漠龟“伊索”

The underside of males are slightly concave while females had a flat underside. 这只乌龟是雄性的.

虽然betway旗舰版下载很喜欢这个, betway旗舰版下载担心他们可能会在betway旗舰版下载草坪周围的混凝土路面上遇到麻烦, 满是百慕大草, 沙漠龟最喜欢的食物是什么.

来见见索诺兰沙漠龟“伊索”

As we moved down the row of tortoises, we finally found one that was perfect.

雄性乌龟

This 雄性乌龟 was a good size and was very active…for a tortoise 😉

沙漠龟
沙漠龟

betway旗舰版下载把betway旗舰版下载的乌龟放在车里.

I don’t know who was more excited, my husband or my daughter, Gracie.

当你收养一只沙漠龟时,你并不是“拥有”它们.  You are caretakers and aren’t allowed to take them outside of the state w在这里 you adopted them from.

龟能活到100岁,所以人们经常把它们传给家人的朋友.  当然,你可以把它们带回收养它们的地方.

伊索是他的新家

betway旗舰版下载一到家,就带伊索去看他的新家.

We created it out of an old 植物 container that we cut in half and buried with several inches of soil, 是什么帮助它抵御严寒和酷热呢.

伊索是他的新家

伊索对他的新家很好奇.

伊索是他的新家

为了向伊索寓言《betway旗舰版下载》致敬,betway旗舰版下载决定给他起名叫“伊索寓言”.”

伊索是他的新家

在他的庇护所里找了一分钟, 伊索出发去探索它的新栖息地,然后betway旗舰版下载站在那里,看着它慢慢地走来走去.

伊索是他的新家

他走过时啃了几片红色天堂鸟的叶子.

在betway旗舰版下载的草坪上漫步

Grass is a favorite food of tortoises and he was happy to 在betway旗舰版下载的草坪上漫步.

**The unevenness of our lawn is a rather recent development since our 13-year old son is learning 如何 to mow.  As you can see, he has a bit more practicing to do before he gets it right.

索诺兰沙漠龟

索诺兰沙漠龟

对着betway旗舰版下载的墙探索, 伊索很快就找到了我的锦葵, 他们喜欢的植物列表上有哪些.  Our 沙漠 willow will also provide him with some of his favorite flowers too.

betway旗舰版下载收养他三天了, he had spent a lot of time exploring the entire backyard including the patio and the areas underneath our shrubs and vines.

早上和下午晚些时候, betway旗舰版下载看见他在betway旗舰版下载的草坪上吃草, 在去他最喜欢的地方之前,在院子里散步……

索诺兰沙漠龟

Underneath our 紫色的 lilac vines, w在这里 he likes to spend the night.

betway旗舰版下载在户外散步,寻找他,看看他在哪里,玩得很开心.

10月, 伊索将冬眠到春天, 但与此同时, betway旗舰版下载将有幸成为这些沙漠动物之一的主人.

**For more information on 沙漠龟 care and 如何 to adopt them, click 在这里.**

你见过沙漠龟吗?或者你知道谁有沙漠龟吗?

一只蜂鸟磁铁

你喜欢蜂鸟吗?

如果是这样,你可能需要确保你有一些秋天鼠尾草 (鼠尾草greggii) 在你的花园里种植——它是蜂鸟的磁铁.

一只蜂鸟磁铁

而红色是这种小灌木最常见的颜色, 它也有其他颜色,包括粉红色, 紫色的, 珊瑚和白色.

一只蜂鸟磁铁

它在低矮的沙漠花园中有很长的花期, 从秋天开始,一直持续到晚春. When growing in the flat 沙漠, 植物 it in a filtered shade for best results.  在三月初将其修剪成原来的一半大小.