Relocation to Arizona enhanced our appreciation of simple pleasures. Instead of holiday candles flickering in every window of a two story colonial home, we’ve come to embrace lesser pleasures. We drape strings of white lights onto dual urns of twisted myrtle in our courtyard and enjoy a similar strand on the tall dried agave spike on our back patio. Holidays happen wherever you find yourself to be!!!
Growing cultivated plants can be hard here in the desert; in fact we’ve used the term “Gardening on the Moon” to describe our ongoing efforts here in the Valley of the Sun. Most growth that arises naturally from the sand is subtle shades of green that frequently turn to grey and brown as the season progresses. Anything cultivated requires a delicate balance of watering, and protection from wildlife and the inconsistencies of a harsh climate.
But occasionally small miracles happen! Years ago we planted an amaranth (Amaranthus) from seed that was short-lived because they proved perfect fodder for ravaging javelinas (think “wild pig”, although they are in the peccary family). Every spring, a “volunteer” from the original would surface; mostly to be met with the same fate as its predecessors. But this year’s candidate has been a “stayer”!! It has grown nearly four feet high and its thick red stalk has resisted the javelinas’ gnawing (teeth marks are evident!). It provides a bright splash of deep red color on our back deck and is a wonderful reminder of the perseverance of nature!
This may not seem worrisome to many viewers, but when one lives in mostly sunny, northern Phoenix, this is very threatening. December is our “rainy season” and we do get quite a bit of whatever moisture accrues to the desert at this time of the year. We generally average between 10 – 12 inches per year. Today we received .07 of an inch, but it all adds up.
