I was sitting and talking with my friend Bill the other day discussing local and world news when he changed the subject. “Let me tell you about this vegan bread I bought over here at the Farmers Market,” he said. “I bought a loaf to try it out. At home I took out a slice…
Mo the Sidewinder Catcher
Talking to Maureen Newman the other day she told me she had a snake story. “I went out to my aviary to freshen the water for the birds when I noticed a big sidewinder curled up next to the water dish,” Mo said. “It was a female. I knew it was a female because she…
Lee: General Handyman
Lee is a venerable handyman with thirty years’ experience in the trade. He makes a speciality out of repairing old trailers and houses in Borrego Springs. You might assume repairing houses is a relatively mundane occupation and that, apart from the risk of falling off a ladder, the job is otherwise without hazard. Yet Lee’s…
Close Encounters
“So my boyfriend came home and said, ‘there’s a random kite thing floating around floating near Carmelita’s and it had lights all around it. I didn’t see a string as if someone lost it, and I didn’t see anyone.’ But THEN he tells me the best part. He’s like, ‘I drove past it and I…
The Mother Nopal
It is amazing that all of the nopal plants at Art Park Gardens are “pups” of the “mother” cactus. The mother nopal thrives alone in one corner of the gardens at the end of one of its eight raised beds. Nopal is a common Spanish name for Opuntia cacti (commonly known in English as prickly…
Charlie’s Gold Crown
My friend Charlie recently traveled to Los Algodones, Mexico, for some dental work. Los Algodones is popularly referred to as “Molar City” due to hundreds of dentists that cater to Americans seeking affordable dental care outside of the United States. Charlie needed to have a molar pulled, cavities filled, and two root canals. The molar…
Craig Johnson, Jobbing Artist
Craig Johnson does not go out much. When he does it is to make art from found items. Step into the ArtPark, go through the tall gate, across the garden yard, past the big dinosaur, through the orchard, and into his garden plot – where you will find pieces of Craig’s art. Here, Craig has…
Jayne, Guard Dog of the Garden
Jayne may appear self-possessed, yet she is circumspect. She keeps a keen eye upon the life of the garden and no detail escapes her attention. In spite of her sufficiency, domestic harmony is essential to her peace of mind. Like those lonely watchmen who once patrolled the village at night, Jayne monitors the premises and…
Moringa Tree at ArtPark Gardens
At the ArtPark Gardens behind Borrego Art Institute, in a corner of the gardens, they are growing Moringa. As the director explained to me, they found they had a suntrap, so they piled up the leaf mould from the surrounding trees into a special bed and presto – a spectacular Moringa Tree grew. I passed…
The Life of Mr. Willie
Every night, Mr. Willie sleeps at my feet just like those dogs you see curled up at the feet of effigies on medieval tombs. There is a pillow placed across the corner of the bed and this is his rightful place. Sometimes, when I roll over in the night, my feet meet the solid lump…