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Joan Ambu

Long Walk Through The Garden

JM Perez By JM Perez2 min read718 views

It’s that time of year with much of the city looking gloomy and temperatures beginning to plunge to freezing at night . Warmer days are far gone and the cold weather is settling in slowly, but surely.
During days like these, I find solace in my garden.

Gloomy Weather.
Gloomy Weather.

I haven’t done much around my gardens lately since Fall is one of the best seasons for my plants to flourish and thrive. Once in a while I take long walks through the garden where I go to unclog my mind.

For Mother’s day this year, I received a bouquet of Chrysanthemums from a good friend. I transferred the plant in a container and this is the second time it has blessed me with large mounds of gorgeous and impressive flowers; forever reminding me of my friend’s gentleness and kindness.

Chrysanthemums.
Chrysanthemums.

My wonderful friend also gave me a tiny Agave Ovatifolia Frosty Blue plant, which I planted in ground and has now tripled in size. As you can see, a pup is emerging next to the mother plant. Very soon this delicate plant will need protection for winter safety, even though it is said to be cold hardy. I love the formation of its leaves.

Agave Ovatifolia 'Frosty Blue'.
Agave Ovatifolia ‘Frosty Blue’.

Seven months later, my young and tender Grevillea Noellii is pulling through.

Young Grevillea Noellii.
Young Grevillea Noellii.

The Asparagus Aethiopicus is doing much better in a Pot. Growing it in a container will prevent the roots from spreading in different directions.

Asparagus Aethiopicus.
Asparagus Aethiopicus.

I planted a Common Jasmine (Jasminum Officinale) early this year and trained it to grow on a home made trellis. This morning I found a couple vines swaying away from the trellis and starting to twine on the plastic hanger of my Pachyphytum Bracteosum (Moonstones) hanging planter.

Star Jasmine Vines.
Common Jasmine Vines (Pachyphytum Bracteosum in planter).

From my garden to yours, happy Fall Gardening (and don’t let the gloomy weather get to you).

DIY: Desert Diorama

JM Perez By JM Perez2 min read5.7K views

For their first month of school, the second graders project is taking the students to the Ocean or Desert. They were asked to create a scene using a Poster, a Diorama or creating a PowerPoint presentation about their subject.

My Son choose to make a diorama showcasing a few Desert Animals in their habitat.

Desert Animal Diorama.
Desert Animal Diorama.

Materials/Tools Needed

  • School Glue
  • Hand drawn scenes
  • Scissors
  • Synthetic Desert Plants
  • Stones
  • Craft Moss
  • Sand
  • Box (we used a Swiffer Sweeper Wet Refills Box)
  • Desert Toy Animals (or cutouts from drawings or Magazine)
  • Markers
  • Glue Gun and Glue Sticks

Step by Steps:

  • Decide on the scenery you want for your background, draw directly on your box or on a paper and then glue onto the box.
  • Figure out the placement of the Animals and Plants.
  • Generously apply school glue at the base of your box. Randomly place your stones and then sprinkle some sand and let it dry.
  • Apply some glue around the stones for the Moss.
  • Let it all air dry for a day and enjoy.
Desert Animal Diorama.
Desert Animal Diorama.

Our Scenery consists of a Desert Scorpion, Road Runner, Horned Lizard, Coyote, Rattle Snake and a Ground Squirrel which are all Desert animals and which are local to our surroundings. We got to learn what these animals eat, their favorite habitat preferences and the way they affect their ecosystem by their existence.

Our second grader had so much fun researching each animal and picking the facts he believed to be important for others to know about each animal. We hope you and your little ones will have as much fun as we did building this project.

Have fun and enjoy!

Quiet Afternoon

JM Perez By JM Perez1 min read627 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.

Mexican Bird of Paradise flower buds.
Mexican Bird of Paradise flower buds.
Mexican Bird of Paradise flowers.
Mexican Bird of Paradise flowers.

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.
Argiope Trifasciata, a Banded Garden Orbweaver.

Wishing you all a wonderful day.

Garden Orb Spider

JM Perez By JM Perez1 min read685 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.

Argiope Trifasciata, a Banded Garden Orbweaver.
Argiope Trifasciata, a Banded Garden Orbweaver.
Argiope Trifasciata, a Banded Garden Orbweaver.
Argiope Trifasciata, a Banded Garden Orbweaver.

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!

Great Ash Sphinx Moth

JM Perez By JM Perez1 min read3.3K views

As I was collecting leaves from my Raywood Ash tree a couple of weeks ago to feed the Hummingbird Moth Caterpillar we were raising in a kit, I spotted something slightly different on a leave.

Its life cycle is similar to the one of the Hummingbird Moth.

Hummingbird Hawk-Moth Life Cycle.
Image Source: AnimalBook.org.

On a closer inspection I realized it was a caterpillar similar to the tomato caterpillar. I later found that it was a Great Ash Sphinx Moth Caterpillar (Sphinx Chersis).

Great Ash Sphinx Moth Caterpillar (Sphinx Chersis).
Great Ash Sphinx Moth Caterpillar (Sphinx Chersis).

Notice what will be the future proboscis at the top of the chrysalis.

Great Ash Sphinx Moth Caterpillar (Transition).
Great Ash Sphinx Moth Caterpillar (Transition).

The first Great Ash Sphinx Moth emerged from its chrysalis approximately three and a half weeks later. Click here to learn more about this Moth.

Great Ash Sphinx Moth.
Great Ash Sphinx Moth.

Another thrilling experience for my kids.