High Desert Archives – Page 17 of 44

Do-It-Yourself Maintenance Spiders Gardening High Desert

Quiet Afternoon

By JM PerezSeptember 18, 20141 min read626 views

These past few weeks in the High Desert have been quite hectic and like so many residents, I have been praying for more rain. In just a couple of days, Fall will be here.

I was pleasantly surprised in the garden when I found gorgeous delicate clusters of yellow flowers on one of my numerous Mexican Bird of Paradise evergreen shrubs. The plant is drought tolerant to a certain degree and can re-sprout after colder temperatures. I planted them last Summer from seed, in full sun, and they have been thriving ever since attracting hummingbirds, bees and butterflies.

As I was deadheading my spent Roses, I spotted an Argiope Trifasciata (orb weaving spider) hanging head down in the center of its web above a miniature Rose bush. You can clearly see its web linear decoration, zig-zag band of silk structure also known as stabilimentum.

I wondered if it could be the same I captured last month by my garage door and released in the backyard.

*Argiope Trifasciata, a Banded Garden Orbweaver.*

Wishing you all a wonderful day.

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By JM Perez

Spiders Gardening High Desert

Garden Orb Spider

By JM PerezAugust 22, 20141 min read683 views

The Summer vacation has come and gone. The kids are once again back to school and I’m finding it hard to believe that September will soon be here.

Mother Nature has been so wonderful lately that I didn’t get to do much in the garden.
After Wednesday’s light rain however, I had some clean up to do around the house. I spotted a young Argiope Trifasciata (also known as orb weaving spider) hanging head down on my garage door. Argiope Trifasciata is a species of spider found around the world where the habitat is favorable.

The spider is known to make a highly symmetrical orb web and is found in late summer and early fall as temperatures start dropping. Though considered harmless, the Banded Garden Orbweaver might bite if it feels threatened.

Wishing you a great day. Take time to enjoy your weekend!

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By JM Perez

Reviews Entrepreneurs Gift Ideas Food and Drink High Desert

Stephanie’s Sweet Creations

By JM PerezJuly 26, 20141 min read1.8K views

I awoke joyful with infinite gratitude in my heart for all the blessings in my life; both seen and unseen, as I celebrated the seven birthday of my first born, the peaceful force who keeps me grounded.

All Summer long he has been into Minecraft, a game about breaking and placing blocks as well as WorldCraft, an alternative to Minecraft. For his seventh birthday we surprised him with a delicious Minecraft Cake, home delivered by the talented Stephanie herself. He loved everything about it and we love that it made his day.

Minecraft Cake by Stephanie's Sweet Creations. — *Minecraft Cake by Stephanie’s Sweet Creations.*

Stephanie is the owner at Stephanie’s Sweet Creations. She specializes in creative and delicious Cupcakes, Cake Pops as well as Cakes like the ones below. Checkout her Facebook page for more creations.

Stephanie’s Sweet Creations

Phone: 1 (760) 954-5065
Email: stephssweets4u@gmail.com
Website: Stephanie’s Sweet Creations
Find, Like and Follow on Facebook.

If you reside in the High Desert of California or surrounding area, I highly recommend her services. She’s very talented and as she cheerfully says it herself, “I would love to make your celebration even more special with my unique confections!”

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By JM Perez

Rabbit Gardening High Desert

Cottontail Rabbit Hunt

By JM PerezJuly 24, 20141 min read622 views

As Summer heat hit its peak, critters and other living things alike come out in search for food and shelter. Sometimes they are lucky and sometimes they find an unfortunate fate.

For almost a month now, some of my plants in the front yard have been decimated by a Cottontail Rabbit, which made itself at home every evening to feast. Most of my Gaura Lindheimeri young plants are either halfway gone or a total loss. Those cute little animals are a menace as they can be very destructive to unfenced gardens.

As you can see on the above picture, the young Cottontail Rabbit remained hidden underneath the Gaura Lindheimeri plant and didn’t budge when my husband got his Pellet Gun ready and opened the door. The first shot missed the Rabbit which still didn’t move. The second shot got it in the ear and that was the end.

I will move on to revive the rest of the damaged plants and secure my front yard fencing.

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By JM Perez

Reptiles Gopher Spiders High Desert

One Interesting Afternoon

By JM PerezJuly 18, 20142 min read692 views

I have kept busy finishing a few backyard projects and tending to my Gardens.

We finally caught one of the many Pocket Gophers which have been digging holes and leaving mounds of dirt all over my front yard. What a relief! I found a couple of holes at the far end of my backyard and we will be setting another trap.

I found an adult female Black Widow Spider by my front porch and squashed it with my shoe.

According to Wikipedia, female spiders are often 20 times the mass of the males of the same species and produce much more venom than the other sex. Only females are of medical concern, as the shorter, weaker jaws of the males cannot penetrate mammalian skin. The neurotoxin of these spiders is, by volume, considered among the most toxic produced in nature, and by volume is more toxic than most snake venom. It is 15 times more virulent than that of the prairie rattlesnake.

We spent an interesting afternoon at the Mojave Narrows Regional Park. It was our first time there and the kids enjoyed the peaceful sight as we walked around.

While walking around the fishing lake, we saw a fisherman directing a snake away from him. As I freaked out, he told us it was a Gopher Snake and explained that the reptile only goes after rodents, but will bite humans if threatened. I didn’t care about the non venomous bite lecture, I was out of there. He cautioned us to be watchful around the park as the reptiles are out and about around burrows and on trees in search of prey.