Growing Shade! Chilean Thornless Mesquite Tree

We had a large open space on our de Anza lot facing the golf course - the perfect place for a shade tree.  After researching, we decided to purchase a six-foot thornless Chilean Mesquite from Torres Desert Nursery.  The nursery owner, Lupe (husband of Patty), delivered the tree and helped us plant it correctly and set up the necessary irrigation.  We could have purchased a larger tree, but it's going to be fun watching this little one grow. 




 


Uniquely Borrego Springs:  We stopped by the nursery and purchased the tree on a Friday.  Lupe arrived with the tree on Saturday morning at 7:00 a.m.  By 9:00 a.m., tree was in, perfectly set and staked, and so was a new sprinkler line to the tree.  WOW!  Very different than how things work in a big city.

The thornless hybrid mesquite is nearly the perfect tree for the desert. Exceptionally well-adapted to our area, these trees love full sun (not a problem in Borrego) and are fast growing.  They are easy to recognize by their rich, dark brown trunks and beautiful green canopies.   The thornless hybrid mesquites were introduced in the late 1950's, most sold as "Chilean mesquite," "thornless mesquite" or Prosopis Chilensis. 

At maturity our tree may be 30 feet tall, which we considered before planting.  Sadly, we saw a mature mesquite near the tennis facility at La Casa Del Zorro being cut down when we visited the hotel recently.  The healthy tree had spread too close to the tennis courts and was a little too messy BUT ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS!  

Selective pruning during the first two or three years (up to 20% of the canopy) will strengthen the tree's root system and help shape the little bugger. 

Summer:  An abundance of lacy, fern-like compound leaves that provide welcome filtered shade under the tree.

Winter:  Tree becomes semi-deciduous but should still retain a good portion of its leaves (unless there is an unusually cold spell).


Spring:  Old leaves are shed and replaced by new leaves. In late spring, yellow-green inconspicuous flowers form, which later turn into curled tan seedpods.

Thornless Chilean Mesquite Planted July, 2013

July Ramblings





Mexican Bird of Paradise is a heat lover!




It has been a little toasty in Borrego Springs lately.  The neighborhood is very quiet with the exception of a ton of wildlife activity - thirsty birds at our "water feature", an occasional coyote roaming the golf course, jackrabbits, squirrels and some pretty interesting orange furry ants.  The orioles like us!  It has been great having the migrating birds visit this summer.


We gave up on the vegetable garden when tomatoes started cooking on the vines.  Removed the last of the tomatoes, onions and annual herbs, incorporated a couple of bags of steer manure in each raised bed, soaked the soil and covered it with black plastic held down with bricks.  By mid-September, it will be time to start planting again.  Our first year as vegetable gardeners is behind us and can't wait to put what we have learned to use!  Herbs, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, garlic, shallots, arugula, chard, peas, carrots and beets will all be planted again. 



FROM LA CASA DEL ZORRO FACEBOOK PAGE

 My husband and I spent our anniversary at La Casa Del Zorro.  Room was lovely with a comfortable bed and a beautiful, large bathroom.  I believe we were in one of four rooms rented the night we stayed, so it was very quiet.

We have had dinner in the Fox Den three times now.  Not too excited about the bar food, but the nightly entree specials and our breakfast after spending the night have all included the finest ingredients perfectly prepared.  Steak and rack of lamb - spectacular.  The fruit cup at breakfast was a thing of beauty and included perfect, icy-cold berries, melons and pineapple.  I would have breakfast there again just for the fruit cup.

The hotel posts specials on its facebook page, including a recent room special:

As the Perseids Fall so do our Rates! Room Rates from $99* During Peak Perseid Activity.

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  Expires Thursday, August 15, 2013.