High Desert

Weather Nature High Desert

Red Sun on a Dark Sky

EPEngineer By EPEngineer1 min read512 views

While working on my garage, out of the corner of my eye I caught sight of a plume of smoke over the mountains. It was not big in size but dark on its intensity. As the hours passed the smoke plume got thicker and wider and darker. It was quite a sight to behold since its not every day that something like this happens. The picture here was taken in the evening and it’s quite a sight.

Due to the intensity, I wondered about the origin of the fire. It seemed to me that the fire was towards Irwindale, CA/Pasadena, CA mountains. The radio made no mention of the fire nor the location as the hours passed on this day. Having witnessed some fires up close I can surely say that it looked like a very fast moving fire. And so, The cycle of life continues with the rebirth of the hills.

Flammagenitus clouds.

By night time, my wife decided to check the Yellow Moon out and capture it on film. Isn’t it so close and yet so far? Isn’t it lovely?

Yellow Moon.

What a beautiful sight and night.

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Parenting Children Education Family People High Desert

My Son’s First Day of School

JM Perez By JM Perez1 min read541 views

Today is the official First Day of School for some schools here in the High Desert and my first born is heading off to Kindergarten. While my mind was racing and I was worrying about everything; my son on the other hand, was so relaxed and excited to start his first day of kindergarten. We all got ready this morning, drove him to school and spent the first 30 minutes in the classroom getting the feel on how things are done. My son was assigned to a wonderful teacher.

McQueen Backpack.
Lightning McQueen Backpack..

My Son, die-hard fan of lightning McQueen, requested a McQueen Backpack for school. I got him the best backpack out there and he loved it so much, especially as he could store a few things he could easily access in the wheels. He was so excited to take it to school this morning. I put the following in his backpack:

  • Hand Sanitizer
  • Kleenex Pocket Pack Tissues
  • Cold and Cough Drops
  • A Bottle of Water
  • “We Love You” Message
  • Notepad and Pencil
  • Healthy and Nutritious Snacks
  • Our Address & Phone Number
  • Sunglasses (100% UV)

I thought him well and I know he will do well. I am looking forward to picking him up and hearing all about his first day of school, his first day in kindergarten. I miss him so much already.

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JM Perez By JM Perez
Weather Nature High Desert

Summer Showers: Much Needed Rain

EPEngineer By EPEngineer1 min read500 views

So I woke up today to a cloudy day. The sun hiding behind the dark puffy pillows waiting for their tears to fall upon the earth. As the day continued I heard the thunder very high upon the sky and knew what was to follow.

After informing my wife and children of the rain that was coming we readied ourselves with camera and sandals to go outdoors. And then the rain hit. It came in the form of big fat drops and hail that suddenly came down the size of skiddles.

Umbrella In The Rain.
Umbrella In The Rain (Source: Desk7.net).

It continues for around 10 minutes and finally the hail stops falling and only the rain remains. suddenly the smell of wet earth fills our home, the cent of nature bringing out a peace and serenity that seems to be within humanity since the beginning.

We see as the rain has washed over the garden and has brought life back into the hills and landscape alike. The land has become anew. Is nature not amazing?

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DIY: Projects Flowers Shrubs & Trees Gardening High Desert

Delightful Garden Planters

JM Perez By JM Perez2 min read1.4K views

For me, there’s nothing more fun than spending time outdoors with my family. Gardening on a beautiful day as well as building garden furniture pieces which are made from recycled wood scraps. These are some perfect activities for us and my kids learn tremendously.

Growing up, I was fascinated by wheelbarrows. We enjoyed transporting toys from one location to the other and I have fond memories of my siblings and I playing in them. Wheelbarrows make attractive planters and they are always a delight to the eyes. In building ours, we used dismantled pieces of wood and slabs we kept from the demolition of an old Stall as well as one of our smaller storage shed a couple of years ago. When it comes to creating, we are not interested in perfection; rather, we embrace the flaws in the wood and make them stand out. The character of aged wood is what gives it its charm.

Wheelbarrow Garden Planter.

We chose to use a real wheel for easy relocation to various parts of the yard. We started by fitting the wheel and legs, then we cut all the pieces needed, nailed/screwed them together, spray-painted the finished product, drilled a few holes on the tray base to allow for drainage then we began filling it with compost, dirt and potting soil. We placed small stones on the tray base to stop the mix from leaking out and we placed a few more on top of the mix (in lieu of) to help retain moisture. Plants in the wheelbarrow are Anigozanthos.

Ceramic Rain Boots Garden Planter.

Plants in the Ceramic Rain Boots are Texas Sage.

Raised Drawer Garden Planter.

Plants in the Raised Drawer Planter are Red Autumn Sage.

With endless possibilities on how you can decorate your yard and garden, a little creativity can turn an unappealing yard into an enchanted retreat.

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JM Perez By JM Perez
Flowers Shrubs & Trees Gardening High Desert

High Desert Drought Resistant Plants

JM Perez By JM Perez2 min read764 views

When my husband and I were looking to buy a house, we both agreed on a small backyard (less maintenance). However, we instantly fell in love with a smaller house our realtor showed us. Five years later, living in the High Desert of CA, we have never loved having a huge backyard more and enjoy a quieter lifestyle.

Of course, we have a lot of Weeds growing and we also have to deal with Gophers and Ground Squirrels, which can be quite overwhelming. Thankfully with patience, available tools, techniques and a willing mind – we turned it into a fun, relaxing, beautiful and inviting space.I have a few criteria before I purchase plants. They have to be evergreen or semi-evergreen; adaptable landscape plants  and definitely have to withstand heat/dryness and cold-hardiness. Last but not least, appealing to the eyes.

Daylilies: Mid-season bloomer.

1. Pretty Woman Daylily – Soft pink flower.
2. Stella D’Oro Daylily.
3. Siloam David Kirchhoff Daylily – Purple, lavender flower.


Sword Lilies: Produces beautiful tall spikes with large flowers.

1. Gladiolus ‘Super Star’                             2. Gladiolus ‘Yellow’
3. Gladiolus ‘Fiorentina’                              4. Gladiolus ‘Peter Pears’


Rosebushes with beautiful blooms, colors and sweet scent.


Succulent & Cactus: 1. Hen and Chicks  2.  Pink Crown Cactus

Herbaceous Perennial & Shrub:

1. Red Autumn Sage – Drought resistant with long period of bloom.
2. Common Broom – Erect shrub with bright yellow flowers in spring and summer.
3. Lindheimer’s Beeblossom – Perennial with white flowers, light pink/pink.


Ornamental Grasses: Add charm to landscapes.

1. Purple Fountain Grass – Reddish leaves and colorful flowers.
2. Elijah Blue Fescue Grass – Remains blue throughout the year.

Asparagus Plumosus
Asparagus Fern Beautiful vine with wiry climbing stems (contain sharp thorns).
Pendula Yucca
Yucca Recurvifolia Beautiful evergreen specimen (clusters of white flowers).
Lily of the Nile
Agapanthus ‘Storm Cloud’Produces purple trumpet-shape flowers in summer.
Crimson Glory Tea
Leptospermum Scoparium Evergreen shrub with deep-red flowers on needlelike foliage.
Lilium ‘Birgi’
Longiflorum-Asiatic Lily Produces beautiful deep pink flowers in Summer.
Asparagus Fern
Asparagus densiflorus Needlelike foliage with tiny thorns (can develop small red poisonous berries).
Noel’s Grevillea
Grevillea ‘Noellii’ Evergreen Shrub with long blooming pink & white flowers
Pink Agapanthus
Tulbaghia Violacea ‘Silver Lace’Grass-like foliage with strong garlic odor & lavender flowers.
Rosemary
Rosmarinus Officinalis Wonderful herb that makes a beautiful ornamental plant.
Daffodil
Narcissus Hardy and easy perennials to grow with attractive flowers.
Bird of Paradise Bush
Caesalpinia Gilliesii Evergreen shrub with large  yellow birdlike flowers.
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JM Perez By JM Perez