Diane's Baja Desert Garden Blog

Grasshopper

2008-11-28T09:17:00.001-07:00

We've had an abundance of these guys this season--don't seem to be causing significant damage--I like them.

Virginia Creeper

2008-11-28T09:11:00.003-07:00

I like the round pads which attach the stem to the wall--they are STRONG too--pulled the paint right off when I removed them once. This wall doesn't have paint--the color comes from spraying iron sulfate on the fresh stucco (which also had red iron oxide pigments in it). The idea is that it never needs painting--very good idea with all of this sun--we'll see how it holds up.

Bougainvillea

2008-11-28T09:10:00.000-07:00

Common, but gorgeous.

'Tis the Season for Aloe Buds

2008-11-28T09:08:00.001-07:00

It makes me amazingly happy to find Aloe flower buds in the axils of the leaves. I prowl around the garden every few days looking for them!

Caesalpinnea pulcherrima

2008-11-28T09:05:00.001-07:00

I love these! I have both red and yellow varieties. They need to be whacked back each year so they don't look scraggly. I think they'll bloom all year if they get enough water.

It's Good to be Home

2008-10-19T10:32:00.000-06:00

I LOVE Walls

2008-10-19T10:29:00.002-06:00

Kalanchoe Buds Coming

2008-10-19T10:28:00.002-06:00

I LOVE Walls

2008-10-19T10:26:00.001-06:00

Gaillardia

2008-10-19T10:21:00.003-06:00

I just returned after 9 months and was happy to find Gaillardia had naturalized in the garden.

Stay Tuned!

2008-09-24T09:29:00.000-06:00

I'll be posting more garden photos in October, 2008 so come back for a look!

New Garden - Contrast

2007-12-19T10:32:00.000-07:00

The new garden is looking great! We planted most of it in July right before we left for Central America. It grew well during the summer and survived this summer's hurricane with no problems.

Native Garden

2007-12-19T10:29:00.000-07:00

I reserved this area for native plants, or at least those from Mexico. The blue flowers are a local species of morning glory, and they are truly glorious!

Vacation Rental - Website

2007-12-19T10:14:00.000-07:00

We've been working frantically to finish every detail to prepare our new house for our first guests who arrive Christmas Day. A friend recently said that being in the house is like living inside one of my paintings--that's how I feel too. Check out our new website: El Encanto de Cabo Pulmo to see what we've been up to. We're driving back to Costa Rica after Christmas for 9-12 months in Central America. Our capable friends, Karl and Kim will manage the house in our absence.

I'm Back!

2007-10-06T14:33:00.001-06:00

Just arrived back in Cabo Pulmo after a two month road trip to Costa Rica. We've moved out of the old house and into our new one, next door. It has a new garden! I hope to have a bit of time to wander around it and photograph to post here. The new house will be a vacation rental starting around Thanksgiving. For more info, take a look at:

http://vrbo.com/150158

New House Project

2007-03-10T08:16:00.000-07:00

One of the reasons I haven't posted to this blog very often is that we are consumed with building a new house (and garden!) next door. I started a blog to let friends and family see what we're up to. Here's the link: http://newcabopulmohouse.blogspot.com/

I plan to start a new garden blog about the new garden, since this blog is so large that it takes a long time to load and the formatting has gotten weird and Google doesn't respond to my inquiries on how to fix it. I'll post the new link here. I suspect I'll be able to start planting in a couple of weeks. Stay tuned....

Friends for Juan Angel

2007-02-09T07:53:00.001-07:00

We went to Guadalajara to shop for the new house we're building. We were thrilled to find more junk mariachi sculpture. Juan Angel is our original mariachi fiddler. I'll post more photos of the other friends later. We got a little carried away....

Kalanchoe

2007-02-05T16:08:00.000-07:00

Blooms in December and January. The spent flowers look interesting too.

Winter Garden

2007-02-05T16:07:00.001-07:00

It doesn't get much better than this!

White Crowned Sparrow

2007-02-05T15:41:00.001-07:00

They migrate down here for the winter.

More Drama!

2007-02-05T15:34:00.000-07:00

After watching the hawk, we saw bird feathers on the ground, then noticed this quail hiding in the corner under the window. I took the photo and we went in. About 10 minutes later we heard a ruckus when the hawk swooped in and snatched the quail. The hawk must have dropped the quail when it first hit the window.

Another View

2007-02-05T15:32:00.001-07:00

More Desert Drama

2007-02-05T15:27:00.001-07:00

We first became aware of this hawk (maybe Cooper's juvenile?) when we heard a big thwonk on the north window. When we went out to investigate, we found this hawk in a nearby tree. We thought it must have been the hawk hitting the window since the thwonk was louder then when doves hit it. It seemed rattled hung around in the tree recovering.

Another Fave Book

2007-02-05T15:24:00.001-07:00

You might think that since it is written by a Brit that it wouldn't be relevant to desert gardeners--Wrong! Full of inspirational photos and good design ideas.

True Bug on Jumete

2007-02-05T15:22:00.002-07:00

Beautiful bugs.

Tarantula Hawk on Jumete Flowers

2007-02-05T15:19:00.001-07:00

???

2007-02-05T15:15:00.003-07:00

Found this guy in the kitchen on a tile.

Aloe Flowerbuds

2007-02-05T15:13:00.001-07:00

Goldfinch/Housefinch Party

2007-02-05T15:11:00.001-07:00

Barrel Cactus

2007-02-05T15:05:00.001-07:00

These Ferocactus latispinus bloom every January.

Milkweed

2007-02-05T15:03:00.001-07:00

Asclepias curasavica. Butterflies like the nectar of this perennial.

Northern Mockingbird

2007-02-05T15:00:00.001-07:00

Prickly Pear Seedlings

2007-02-05T14:50:00.001-07:00

A tuna (prickly pear fruit) must have dropped near the base of this plant and the seeds germinated.

Aloe thraskii

2007-02-05T14:48:00.001-07:00

I'm crazy about this beauty from South Africa. It is supposed to grow into a tree!

Transitional Iguana

2007-02-05T14:43:00.001-07:00

This Spineytail Iguana still has a bit of juvenile green and is exploring our woodpile, looking for hiding places.

New Aloe

2007-02-05T14:40:00.001-07:00

I don't know the name of this one, but I sure like the flowers. It is producing some seed. I think I'll collect it and try and grow some more. The tip is deformed a bit because a caterpillar was munching on it when the buds were young. Luckily I caught it in the act and saved most of the buds.

Aloe vera

2007-02-05T14:37:00.001-07:00

This is a form of Aloe vera and it's a reliable bloomer every December. Great for cut flowers as well as for burns, etc. A workhorse type of plant here. It will survive here without any extra water. Gotta love that!

Starfish Flowers

2007-02-05T14:26:00.001-07:00

Also known as Stapelia--these flowers attract flies to pollinate them with their distinctive odor and colors resembling carrion.

Adventures with Snake

2007-01-07T09:17:00.000-07:00

I'll try and find out what kind it is.

Adventures with Snake

2007-01-07T09:16:00.000-07:00

Adventures with Snake

2007-01-07T09:14:00.000-07:00

I spent a long time with this snake as it slithered through the trees one Fall day.

True Bug on Encelia

2007-01-07T09:13:00.000-07:00

Butterfly on Pectis

2007-01-07T09:12:00.001-07:00

Pectis

2007-01-07T09:06:00.000-07:00

I love this little yellow daisy annual (Pectis sp.). I lost it when Mexican gardeners helped me--it was a weed to them and was removed. I had to transplant a few seedlings back in the garden and let them go to seed, to get it established again. It seems to sprout especially well along the brick border which stays wetter after rain or watering. I like the irregular edge it gives to the paths. Now I train gardeners (when I'm lucky to find someone) to pull only the grasses.

Spiny-tail Iguana Camouflage

2007-01-07T09:02:00.000-07:00

The green color of the babies (which hatch in wet summer) helps to hide them as they mature. In December their color begins to gray, as the leaves fall from the trees and shrubs due to drought.

Iguana Acrobat

2007-01-07T09:01:00.000-07:00

This was in the Fall when the babies were still green.

Cactus Beetle

2007-01-07T08:57:00.000-07:00

Cactus Beetle is my name for these voracious devils. They love to feast on Opuntias and other cacti, leaving permanent scars on the cacti. They are active in the morning and evening and I go on patrol with my barbeque tongs--grasping and squashing them.

Winter Garden

2007-01-07T08:56:00.000-07:00

Hurricane Damage

2007-01-07T08:52:00.000-07:00

The hurricane blew off the tall limbs of this cardon cactus, as well as topping most of our larger trees.

Mamillaria dichotoma Closeup

2007-01-07T08:51:00.000-07:00

Dividing Mamillaria

2007-01-07T08:48:00.002-07:00

This is Mamillaria dichotoma and this clump started as one head. It always divides into two heads, hence the name dichotoma. Notice that these heads are starting to divide again and have two centers of growth.

Butterfly in Fall

2007-01-07T08:48:00.001-07:00

Aloe thraskii

2007-01-07T08:46:00.000-07:00

A. thraskii is a tree aloe originally from South Africa near the coast. It seems to like it here.

Summer Blooming Mamillaria Cactus

2007-01-07T08:44:00.000-07:00

Cochemia poselgri

2007-01-07T08:43:00.000-07:00

This cactus blooms within 3-5 days after the first rain of the summer!

December Garden

2007-01-07T08:42:00.000-07:00

Another Caterpillar

2007-01-07T08:41:00.000-07:00

Caterpillar

2007-01-07T08:40:00.002-07:00

Lizard on Ancient Cardon Cactus

2007-01-07T08:40:00.001-07:00

Juan Angel in the Morning

2007-01-07T08:39:00.001-07:00

Red spotted Toad

2007-01-07T08:36:00.000-07:00

After the rain these little toads hopped around. Every night for awhile, one of them hopped up onto our patio, cruising for insects near the light.

Mexican Fritillary and Queen Butterfly

2007-01-07T08:35:00.000-07:00

In Fall, butterflies swarmed everywhere after the rain. Here they feast on Coralvine nectar.

Aloe vera

2007-01-07T08:30:00.000-07:00

Aloe vera never fails to put on a show in late November and December.

Mexican Fritillary and Queen Butterfly

2007-01-07T08:26:00.000-07:00

In the Fall there were swarms of butterflies everywhere.

Hurricane John Damage

2007-01-06T17:09:00.000-07:00

I'm Back!

2007-01-06T17:06:00.000-07:00

I haven't posted anything for a long time because I went to California for a few months in the summer and have been busy. I luckily missed Hurricane John, though by husband, Rob experienced it firsthand. I have been in the garden with my camera and will post as much as I can. We also sold our house, but are still living in it while building a new house on the adjacent lot. I get to design a new garden there soon!

Drama in the Desert

2006-07-20T17:54:00.000-06:00

This morning I heard agitated bird sounds and I discovered almost every kind of bird, all congregated in one tree, squawking their hearts out. Then, I saw a snake (Coachwhip) descend from the tree with a small bird which I'm guessing was a fledgling. It slithered into the bushes with the bird. After awhile the birds calmed down.

Later, in the afternoon, I heard squawking again on the other side of the house and I saw a number of different bird species harassing the snake. The Gray Thrasher was actually jabbing the snake repeatedly with its sharp beak as the snake slithered into the bushes. Wow. It all happened too fast to get a photo.

Prickly Pear

2006-07-20T17:52:00.000-06:00

All of the Opuntias are growing now. Each one of these cute little polka dots consists of a zillion little spines.

Hooded Oriole Nestling

2006-07-20T17:50:00.000-06:00

Looks like it will be ready to fly in the next few days. The net is to keep the palapa roof from blowing apart in a hurricane.

First Day Out of the Nest for Hooded Oriole

2006-07-20T17:48:00.000-06:00

Hooded Oriole Nestling

2006-07-20T17:46:00.000-06:00

Quail Babies

2006-07-20T17:44:00.000-06:00

Quail Family

2006-07-20T17:42:00.000-06:00

I think these guys just hatched a few days ago. We see them everyday.

Zamia Strobili

2006-07-20T17:39:00.000-06:00

Zamias are primitive plants with cone-like reproductive structures called strobuli. They are surprisingly hard and inflexible to the touch. This is the "first time" for this plant.

Moth?

2006-07-20T17:38:00.000-06:00

These are active in the daytime.

Rain!!!

2006-07-20T17:36:00.000-06:00

Well, it was enough to get excited about, but not enough to have much effect. I'm guessing that we got around 1/4". Better than nothing.

Flycatcher

2006-07-20T17:34:00.000-06:00

Carpenter Bee at Palo Brazil Flower

2006-07-20T17:32:00.000-06:00

Hooded Oriole Nestlings

2006-07-13T18:17:00.000-06:00

I had to peek. This nest is on the palapa (palm thatched) roof of the garage so I climbed the ladder. There are two nestlings and you can see the beak of one in the center of the photo. I wanted a shot of both of their little heads bobbing up with open beaks, but I didn't want to disturb them too much, so this will have to do.

Aloe Hybrid

2006-07-13T18:15:00.000-06:00

There aren't many flowers this time of year so this is a treat.

Hooded Oriole Dad Feeding Babies

2006-07-13T18:08:00.000-06:00

We can always tell when the eggs hatch since the Oriole parents start making non-stop flights to the nests with insects to feed the hatchlings. This nest is under a Coconut Palm leaf and must be like a roller coaster when the wind blows. We hear the babies cheep cheep cheeping for more food all day long. When their noise stops, we'll know that they flew off. One time the fledglings stayed in our garden for 2 days after fledging. We could find them by their begging sounds.

Snake Attacks Cute Little Bunny in Afternoon

2006-07-09T16:49:00.000-06:00

We heard alarm cries from the bunny and discovered that a Coachwhip snake had pinned the bunny tight to the ground. We watched for about 15 minutes and the bunny was alive, but struggling. I checked back in 30 minutes and both were gone. We haven't seen either one of them since. We'd seen the snake drinking from the birdbath the day before. Drama in the desert!

Cute Little Bunny Hops Away in Morning

2006-07-09T16:48:00.000-06:00

Cute Little Bunny

2006-07-09T16:46:00.000-06:00

I accidentally watered this little bunny in the morning.

Western Whiptail

2006-07-09T16:44:00.000-06:00

They can really dig.

Whiptail

2006-07-09T16:11:00.000-06:00

Queen Caterpillars

2006-07-09T16:03:00.000-06:00

Flower of the Day

2006-07-01T17:48:00.000-06:00

Ferocactus

2006-07-01T17:46:00.000-06:00

Coral Vine

2006-07-01T17:43:00.000-06:00

Native vine blooming with warmer weather.

Queen Caterpillar

2006-06-21T17:47:00.000-06:00

Munching on Jumete, Asclepias subulata.

Quail Exploring

2006-06-21T17:42:00.000-06:00

It is nesting season for California Quail and all seem to be paired and looking for nest sites. I've never seen one come up to the house like this one. Recently, I saw my first Quail family of the season, crossing the road with a column of tiny fluffballs struggling to keep up with the parents.

Caesalpinia pulcherrima

2006-06-21T17:39:00.000-06:00

Bloom with warmer weather.

Guaicum

2006-06-21T17:38:00.000-06:00

Guaicum

2006-06-21T17:33:00.000-06:00

I don't know the common name, but it's a small tree, always blooming in late May or June. They have gnarly, old trunks, and I've never seen any seedlings.

Gulf Fritillary Caterpillar on Passionfruit

2006-06-20T18:38:00.000-06:00

Passionfruit Tendrils

2006-06-20T18:35:00.000-06:00

Starfish Flower

2006-06-20T18:28:00.000-06:00

AKA Stapelia. These amazing flowers stink to high heaven and use the stench to attract flies which pollinate them. They bloom with warm weather. I used to have lots of plants, but decided that it was a bit gross to have all of those flies buzzing about, and decided to thin my collection. The flowers are about 6" across.

Echinopis Oriole

2006-06-18T18:07:00.000-06:00

Echinopsis Oriole

2006-06-18T18:05:00.000-06:00