JM Perez

492 posts

Poet, Writer and Published Author. Insatiably passionate about gardening, Health and Wellness. I enjoy collecting Vintage and Antique choice pieces.

Scripture Strength of The Small Life Lessons People

Observing & Learning

By JM PerezSeptember 20, 20132 min read722 views

Do you know someone or have you ever had a conversation with someone who believes their way is the only way and who is reluctant to embrace new ideas? Often times, when we witness a wrong being done, our first instinct is to correct it. Mend the pieces and make it whole again. Though we should and must all face consequences for our actions; I find it a little harsh to tell people that they should lie in their bed the same way they made it. I also realize that as hurtful as it might be, it’s necessary.

As I was conversing with an old classmate recently, he asked me as a friend, to tell him what I dislike about him because he can’t have lasting relationships. Well, for one I let him know that in a relationship, no one is 1oo% at fault or innocent. We have to be honest from the start. We need to understand that we are all different and learn to compromise. Never underestimate, belittle anyone or anything. Never guess or assume things. Never speak on behalf of someone unless you can prove beyond a reasonable doubt that your statement is true.

You probably know someone or have heard of someone whose drive in life seems to have faded to nothing and they cannot move on either because they don’t know how or they are not ready for the answer. Such individuals have not moved on past a certain point in their Life probably because they have not learned from the experience and thus, cannot absorb and/or retain new information.

After counseling, helping, assisting and going over the same process time and time again with little to no success; we must ask ourselves what is it we are doing? What are our expectations and what are we hoping to accomplish? Perhaps we need some peace of mind knowing that we tried? That we were there? That we did everything we could have done? That we gave everything we could have given? There comes a time too, when we need to let go of others hand and allow them to find themselves in the World because:

“Nothing ever goes away until it has taught us what we need to know.” ― Pema Chödrön, When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times (Shambhala Classics).

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By JM Perez

Insects Gardening High Desert

Rose Budworm

By JM PerezSeptember 18, 20131 min read4.3K views

For over a month now, I have noticed random holes in some of my Rose bush buds. I blamed the ants and other tiny insects. This afternoon I found a pinkish worm burrowing and eating its way into a bud (using the petals as food source). Due to their size and the color of the buds, the larvae can be hard to notice too.

Rose Budworm. — *Pre-pupatory Larva of a Glistening Caerulean burrowed in a Rose bud.*

When next you’re working around your Garden and you see a bunch of holes on your Rose buds (or any other bud), simply hand pick the worm and dispose of it.

I found an interesting blog post which talks more about the life history of this Glistening Caerulean. Click here.

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By JM Perez

Primitive Spiders Nature Gardening High Desert

Our Productive Day

By JM PerezSeptember 14, 20132 min read903 views

Tending to the garden and backyard today was productive and fun. We achieved so much and will be moving forward with our design. I dug out one of my young Yucca Pendula from the backyard and moved it to the front yard. I dug out most of my Gladiola from the front garden and move them to the back, relocated my Star Jasmine and I was pleasantly surprise to find out that one of my mini Rose bush is blooming for the first time in at least 4 years! It has been growing in the front yard all this time until last month, when I moved it to the backyard. It has surprised me with beautiful white rose flowers. I guess it just needed a breath of fresh air.

I spotted a few interesting insects, one of which the Seaside Grasshopper below.

Tan Brown Grasshopper. — *Seaside Grasshopper.*

Four years ago, we harvested a couple of Mint Plants from a family friend. We brought them home and they took off as soon as we planted them. We knew little about growing this plant and we were so overwhelmed when they invaded pretty much everything around them. We thought we had removed all of it until last month when they began growing from the roots. I dug up one new shoot and planted it next to a mini rose bush. It has grown so much that I asked my husband to build a planter just for it. Growing up, my Mom used Mint in the kitchen all the time and I loved the smell. So, growing it not only remind me of the good times, but it also gives me an opportunity to introduce it to my children. Click here to learn about Mint benefits and here to find recipes.

I found a Tan Brown Widow Spider on one of the birdhouses we built. It seemed to have appropriated the birdhouse. According to the Center for Invasive Species Research, University of California Riverside, the Brown Widow Spider, Latrodectus Geometricus, became established in Southern California in early 2000 and has become well entrenched as part of the local spider fauna in urban Los Angeles and San Diego. The brown widow spider is continuing its expansion in Southern California and could possibly move northward into Central California. Click here to read the complete article and click here to learn to identify this spider.

Happy Gardening and enjoy your weekend.

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By JM Perez

Flowers Shrubs & Trees Gardening High Desert

Scarab Beetles & Plants

By JM PerezSeptember 12, 20132 min read942 views

I spent part of my morning hard pruning more roses, cutting off the low hanging branches of Desert Willow trees growing along my fence and relocating some bricks for a future project. Everything was going well until I took a closer look at the last of my Crimson Glory Tea Tree. I knew I had lost it and I knew the cause: Curl Grubs, around fifteen to twenty of them! I pulled out the dried up shrub and made sure I removed every single larvae I could find from the hole and to my surprise, I found an adult. I read that as the Scarab Beetle emerges from the ground, it lays more eggs in the soil. It sounds to me that there is little to no hope to the plant since it’s a never ending cycle until the plant itself is destroyed and the main source of food is gone.

Crimson Glory Tea Tree is a plant I really like. I lost the first two after four years and decided to give it another try. Now I know that the plant is also a favorite of Scarab Beetles; therefore, I will not purchase another plant. At least not until I find a way to protect it from Beetles and other insects. It’s just unfortunate.

On a much happier note, my Pendula Yucca has been propagating like crazy from rhizomes. Just last month, I noticed three more sprouts and they are growing fast. I seems that for every plant I loose around the garden, I gain two from my Pendula Yucca. Like the saying goes, you lose some and you win some.

We finally dug out the last Oleanders along one side of the backyard fence (Whoo-hoo!). It would be awesome to get rid of the ones on the other side by the end of the year; though it can wait.

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By JM Perez

Birthday Blessings Love Family Gratitude

Thoughts On My Birthday

By JM PerezSeptember 9, 20132 min read698 views

“As each day comes to us refreshed and anew, so does my gratitude renew itself daily. The breaking of the sun over the horizon is my grateful heart dawning upon a blessed world.” – Terri Guillemets

I’ve learned so much about myself through the years and I’m perfectly content with my Life.

I am in awe with my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ for His gift of Life and unfathomable love. I am thankful for my loving Husband who has not left my side and made it a priority to write me a heartfelt note for the past 14 years, on my special day. I am so lucky to have my Children; they’ve made me a better person, taught me things about myself that I never knew about. I am blessed to have incredible Parents who have always stood by me, believed in me and taught me about not giving up. I’m grateful for my amazing brothers who constantly look out for me. Though the grief never goes away and ebbs with the seasons and the years; I’m grateful for knowing my incredible Sister whose love was honest and true. I know she’s with me, always.

My absolute best moment of last week was when I asked my daughter what she would get for me and she said: Strawberry Shortcake Blueberry Muffin Doll and some cupcake toys. And she added, we could play together. She made me smile all week-long and I found it sneaky that she planned on giving me the same items on her wish list. It is so wonderful of her to want to share her favorites things with me.

Thank you all for hanging tough with me another Year.

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By JM Perez