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.

• 
  

  Expires Thursday, August 15, 2013.

Borrego Springs Hits the Trifecta!

THERE'S A NEW RESORT IN TOWN!

La casa del Zorro starts renting rooms tomorrow, June 15th, during its "soft opening".  Guests receive a buffet breakfast and the resort fee will be waived until the official opening in September, 2013.  The Fox Den at La Casa Del Zorro  will be open for business serving drinks, snacks and a 1/2 lb bar burger, from 4 - 9 pm this Saturday, June 15.

My husband and I booked a room during the 4th of July week to see what all the fuss is about so I'll make sure to take pictures and share them on this blog.  Our pool view room was about $210/night.

The resort has been posting news and pictures on its facebook page:www.facebook.com/LaCasaDelZorro.  You can also visit the resort webpage at www.lacasadelzorro.com. 

THE BORREGAN

 

THERE IS A NEW NEWSPAPER IN TOWN!   Web address:   www.sea2mountainmedia.com/The_Borregan.html

Daily news is also posted via the Daily Borregan @ http://www.sea2mountainmedia.com/The_Daily_Borregan.html

THERE IS A NEW GROCERY STORE IN TOWN!  The Desert Pantry.  Focusing on food, the market will be open 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday and Sunday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.  300 cartons of yogurt were sold opening day! 

Information is on its facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/DesertPantry?ref=ts&fref=ts

The Wonder of Borrego Springs

We survived April's low desert windstorms.  My raised vegetable garden is going to seed (but not before producing some amazingly large beets... think softball size).  Bright, beautiful orioles made their visit and are planning their departure now.  The community is filled with excitement surrounding the June soft opening of La Casa Del Zorro.  Cactus are blooming.  The new Borrego Art Institute is an official success and there are other positive signs of growth within the community. 

The official low desert "season" has almost ended, but I haven't been able to rip my husband and two dogs away from Borrego Springs.  

With age, Yogi has become more flexible, kind of.



As neighbors leave to spend their summers in cooler locations, Borrego becomes more magical.  Hotter.  Quieter.  Slower and sleepier.  Off-season hours are adopted by many of the local business owners.  Some close altogether. 

Those remaining in Borrego Springs put on their rally caps and hunker down for the opposite of Chicago's cold winters.  This is hot weather at its finest!

Every day, the very happy Mr. W calls to fill me in on everything that's going on in Borrego.  Some days it's a very short conversation.  Recent reports:

• During their morning walk on de Anza Golf Course, Mr. W quietly watched a male and female roadrunner mating.  The male had a little lizard hanging out of its mouth the entire time.  After they finished, the male offered the lizard to his partner as a gift and she accepted.  A link to four Greater Roadrunner calls.

• There's a gas station in Borrego Springs where the attendant fills your car like in the good 'ol days.  That's why it's called a "service station", we were told.  While there earlier this week, another driver pulled in concerned about her tires.  Before anyone could begin checking it out, one of her tires exploded violently.  What?

• The dining room at de Anza was in the home stretch this week, and it finally closed Friday night.  So Mr. W and two buddies had dinner at the club Wednesday... chicken Marsala that was missing the usual Marsala and tasted a lot like teriyaki.  Oh Borrego!

• There's a rumor floating around town that the Borrego Springs Resort is being purchased by a San Diego investment group that plans to transform it into a Chinese Golf Academy.  Just here say.  Hey Doc, Borrego may end up with that Chinese restaurant you've been missing for the past 20 years!

Oh, and several good sized Koi magically appeared in the de Anza Golf Course lake. 

How about an "Orange Julius"? It's Orange Season in Borrego Springs!

 The icy cold, creamy orange drink we know as "Orange Julius" grew out of an orange juice stand that opened in Los Angeles, CA in 1926.  Julius Freed was the owner/ operator. 

The drink was so popular, people began lining up at the store shouting "Give me an Orange, Julius!"  Eventually the new drink was simply called the "Orange Julius". 

During the 1950s and 1960s, Orange Julius was sold at state and county fairs and freestanding Orange Julius stands (which also sold medicinal "tonics" and bible tracts).  And in 1964, Orange Julius was named the official drink of the New York World's Fair.

LOGO FROM THE 1970'S AND 1980'S

I remember loving these frothy cold drinks as a kid, but they were expensive so my mom and I experimented by blending orange juice, powdered milk, powdered sugar and ice. 



SELEY FARMS, BORREGO SPRINGS, CA

 Well, the oranges are ripe for the picking in Borrego Springs and are available by the bag from a couple of roadside fruit stands around town.   Grab some oranges and lets make our own Orange Julius!

Homemade Orange Julius

(two servings)

INGREDIENTS:

1-1/4 cups fresh squeezed orange juice

1/2 cup cold low fat milk

1/2 cup cold water

1/4 cup sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1-1/4 cup ice cubes

DIRECTIONS:

Combine all the ingredients except the ice cubes in a blender and blend until smooth and frothy. Then add the ice cubes and blend to your desired consistency.  The authentic drink always included a few irregular nubs of ice. 

For a Strawberry/Orange drink, throw in a few fresh or frozen strawberries.

Want more "froth"?  Add an egg white or a little powdered egg white.

 

When are you going to visit Borrego Springs?