It’s been a sunny start so far…
Well now, June is fast upon us here in Death Valley country, and the last Desert Gold blooms behind the house are closing up shop. It is dry as always, but thankfully not yet into the triple digits, though it seems we’re always flirting with a sustained Summer heat. The real kind of blistering, skin-searing, Vitamin D producing, unfiltered sunshine characteristic of the desert at least half of the year.
The Roadrunners are out in full force. I see 2-3 every day. One in particular just loved pulling a curious prank on Rue. It jaunted ever so curiously up to the office window - I mean right up to the window, on the inside of which Riley stood at rapt attention. The fleet-footed bird’s every move garnered a gleam in Rue’s eyes as she simultaneously lost the ability to contain herself. Then, to my utmost surprise, the Roadrunner leapt into the glass with an abrupt thud, marking the crescendo of a gleeful taunt that promptly ended with Riley sprinting outside and failing to arrest the offending wild fowl. At least lil Bear is assimilating nicely at work otherwise and at home rather seamlessly.
On the garden front, everything is steadily greening up with the continued introduction of care and, well, water. Good thing we live in a literal oasis here. I have to admit the sight of sprinklers on during the day still gets a slight twitch out of me.
And some of what is greening is also flowering! The Lilac Chaste tree is especially viable, just this week producing a substantial offering of blooms. I’ve also planted a Honey Mesquite, Prickly Pear, and Texas Sage, with dire hopes that either of the three makes it through the Summer (the sage looks like its struggling even now). The Nopal is further being munched on by the resident herbivores that seem to have made my home a routine refueling stop in ever greater numbers, a development that is always appreciated, and that I will endeavor not to take for granted in this newfound haven for wild interactivity.
I finally said goodbye to our pest control assistant in-chief, Chuck the spiny lizard. He rediscovered the capacity to leave via an open front door, and I realized that this time I shouldn’t attempt to corral him. The effective, temporary service he provided was duly respected, and I will not forget the valiant contributions any time soon. Chuck is always welcome in and around this desert household. Riley was getting a little too close to eating the poor guy anyway….
The other evening, as I was providing nourishment to the tree, a Gopher snake made the South side of the yard its personal thoroughfare as it made its way under the porch of the next house. I’ll have to admit that I did not at all see the critter before its seemingly three or so foot long frame bypassed my right foot by a matter of inches at most. The sneaky serpent went about its business as usual, utterly undisturbed by my immediate presence. The wild side is fascinating, my friends abound!
Thanks for tuning in this time to my journalistic entries of life in the Eastern Mojave Desert. Things at work are starting to ramp up, but I’ll try not to forget to write again soon.