Getting My Green On!

So when it's hot, and boy does it get hot here in Tucson during the month of June, it's time to take a trip.  In fact, June and September are my most UNfavorite months to live here in the desert.  Unfortuneatly, I'm working in September to take a trip anywhere but I'm indoors with the A/C during the hot part of the day. 

So we escaped to green green green Wisconsin!!  In several days, I'll be taking you there for some fun visits to a couple gardens, parks and of course some historical insights from my childhood etc.  I'll be capturing a lot of desert monsoon action in the mean time that will hopefully be featured at the end of the month of July.  Today we take you to the gardens outside the House on the Rock. It's the only part of our visit that didn't scare me.  You'll see why next week.  This Japanese Zen garden is absolutely breathtaking.  On our first day there, we just sat absorbing the wonderful weather, sounds and views of this garden.  Swallows were flying around the ponds as were lots of other critters.

12 Spotted Skimmer(Libellual pulchella)

Dragonflies this year have been for me some of the most interesting insects to capture on camera.  Here is yet another variety of dragonfly with blue and black wings.  That's the fun about going to another place....new things to capture on film!!  I think I always have been a photographer at heart because my camera has gone with me everywhere....even before the I purchased the professional one.  But I will note.  This camera has allowed me to carefully observe behaviors in people or animals that I normally wouldn't have seen with my own eyes.....and I think that's where the camera has really made a difference in my own life.  Detail is everything. Birding has made me a better observer. 

And while in the garden, we couldn't help but notice this mature tadpole near the lily pads.

The mosquitos weren't bad and our hikes were wonderful.  Sometimes I forget about all the plants one can grow in the midwest.  I'm not jealous about this, but I did think about something as I was there.   There is so much forest and leaf coverage that it makes spotting wildlife difficult.   Then I think about my own desert home.  I have gotten really good at spotting desert wildlife all around me, but is it because I have been gone away from my birthstate so long that I've lost my ability to see things there?  I think I did okay, but I could have done better.  My ears were excellent at picking up noise but my eyes are terrible at times.  So I had my nephews and nieces to help me out.  But they had to be VERY VERY quiet....and they did excellent playing detective with me.

If you are new to the desert, it's not uncommon to desire a green space.  Most of us get our "green on" in June.  We head to San Diego, the tropics, or back home to visit loved ones.  It's all part of being a transplant to the desert.  The important part is that we all keep those green plants back home and not try them here in our water starved deserts.  So to fix this need, you have to travel and get your green on! Well that's my coping strategy for the nasty heat. I hope you enjoy this series of posts coming up.  There are more chuparosa challenges and property updates from El Presidio.  More tomorrow.....

All Good Things.....

From Starship Troopers at the Phoenix Comicon 2012 with Casper Van Dien and Dina Meyer

Ever run into movie stars and not realize right away that they were standing next to you the entire time?  That happened several times during our stay in Phoenix.  Sometimes the actors are shorter than you imagined, older than you imagined, or not as attractive as you imagined......but there is something that you pick up on that separates them from the rest of the crowd.  My brother caught both these stars in the elevator alone and felt as if something wasn't right with the force:)

Dina Meyer

As a photographer, I try to capture interesting and different looks.  Some actors (un)surprisingly don't show much emotion and it makes the shoot difficult. 

Casper Van Dien from Starship Troopers

Ed Asner is seen below talking about his life experiences as an actor.  Love this guy!  Very funny and says it like it is.

Ed Asner

Some actors don't always turn out to be like their TV characters.  This actress plays Deanna Troi on Star Trek the Next Generation.  She's a bit sassy and demanding.  Some audience members were put off by her.  When we met her in person, Marina was a bit bossy, but I don't mind:)  I come from a family of strong women. 

Marina Sirtis 2012

And then there is Jamie Bamber.......from Battlestar Galactica.  I encountered him early in the morning getting ready for a workout. My brother and I were heading for breakfast and the elevator door opened up and there was this shorter guy.  We said, "Hey." and when I noticed who it was I laughed and said, "Hello." properly.  Well, Mr. Bamber is afterall half English/half American. He played Apollo from the new Battlestar Galactica series.

Jamie Bamber

And of course, several of the actors were witty and a lot of fun.  For example, Wil Wheaton and Brent Spiner had the crowd going several times during their panel.

Brent Spiner and Wil Wheaton

Movie stars are people like everyone else.  They live their lives similiar to our own....some with money; some without.....and the struggles may be different.....but no matter how you look at it....it's still kinda fun to see them in person and chat.

Jamie Bamber is from one of my ultimate favorite TV shows.  I don't watch much TV but BSG is about technology and our advancement in robotics.  The robots(or cylons) become intelligent and kill most of the human race.  The humans flee their planet in search of a new home and it's some of the best storytelling you'll ever see on TV.  You can watch Battlestar Galactica on Netflix TV.

Micheal Dorn

And look at this guy!  Michael Dorn(or Worf) playing around with his camera.  He's so skinny and unlike his Worf character in real life!  At the end of it all, it was sad because we had such a great time.  But that's my life with this blog.  I look forward to the shoots and interviews and ultimately know that it will all end.  So this is the final post on the Phoenix comicon. I hope you enjoyed my take on this major event for Phoenix.  I've got so much more in store for you all.  Stay tuned for more.... 

Bats, Owls and Comics!

Have you ever wondered why Super Heroes are so cool?  Well, I started thinking about how nature and super beings are fused together in fascinating ways.  Some of my favorite heroes include Storm, Spiderman, and Batman.....all related to nature in some way.  Many of you may not know this but in the comics, people today are introduced to many of these elements everyday.  My focus today is on Batman.  My brother brought his costume to Phoenix Comicon and made lots of people smile.  But it got me thinking.....

Batman...the World's Greatest Detective.  No super powers, but lots of great gadgets in a cool costume made to resemble a bat.  Stealth, darkness, and shadows are all things that make Batman stand out in the Super Hero universe.  But did you know?  Currently in the DC Comics universe Batman, Robin and gang are facing some of the biggest villains in Gotham City.  Most of us think that the Joker is the worst of the worst, but there are bigger batties out there.  In a major event, DC comics has introduced the Court of Owls....a mafia group set out to destroy Batman and crew once and for all.  The thugs are creatively known as the Talons.  How clever!  Two night creatures fighting one another.  Two night creatures fighting for control of Gotham!  And guess what?  In nature, one of the bat's enemies is the......owl!!

But for now, Batman has decided to stop for a drink.  No owls here!!  From left to right, we see King Tuzigoot, Phoenix's really WHITE knight, and of course Batman.  In the comics, this is a major event. And very soon(in July) we will have the 3rd and final movie to the Batman trilogy...the Dark Knight Rises.  Hoo will win? The Court of the Owls?  Or the Bat?  Stay tuned for more.....

Space, The Landscape Frontier!

 Say what you like about Phoenix.....hot, the devil lives there, it's hot, water guzzlers, it's really hot.....Jan Brewer.  Hey, it's all true!  But I have to admit one thing about downtown Phoenix.....it's pretty cool.  Let me be more specific....the area around the Convention center is eye candy.  Let's look and see what's going on in this area that makes this part of Phoenix glow!:)

During our convention center fun, I was also looking forward to snapping off some shots from several of the garden spaces around this block area.  The above picture was taken from the 15th floor of the Hyatt.  As we look across the way, we see an area full of date palms. One of the complaints about Phoenix is that it is a city of concrete. And because there is so much concrete, the sidewalks and roads absorb all that 100+ heat and augment the temps by even more.  At night, instead of cooling down like Tucson does, the heat stays!!  Plus many of the people are transplants from green belts in the states.  They bring their water guzzling ways and plant many non native species which increases our states use of the water.  And yes...it does bother me:)  So let's look at what works here.  I don't think you have to sacrifice anything to achieve that "look".

We have to think about what will survive and create an oasis to appeal to the senses.  Look at these planters.  There are a variety of palms including the Canary Palm and the Mediterranean Fan Palm. I will be adding this to our landscape in the next month because as you may or may not know.....it's time to put your palm trees into the ground!!!  How cool is that!  Okay maybe I'm a bit too excited about all of this, but I seriously love landscaping in the desert.

And there's more.  But here is a LOVE about Phoenix.  Check out this shot.  Cactus in the front and skyscraper in the background.  Now that's hot!

 

Sometimes the need for art is overlooked in the landscaping design.  While I'm not so crazy about this sculpture, I would have to say that it makes a statement.  From the wrong angle, this fisherman appears to be peeing in the water.  However, I do like the roadrunner on the rock.  That's pretty cool. 

Lets's look at some of the plants here that are true survivors of our intense summers and at times, cold winter nights.  The most cold sensitive of this bunch is probably the Canary Palm(center, pic below). From left to right(below), you see the Mediterranean Fan Palm, Red Yucca(huge hummingbird favorite with its red/pink flowers.....and a popular plant in Tucson), Agave, Canary Palm(in the middle), and the very sexy Mexican Bird of Paradise.  More on that plant in a sec.

For now, let's combine the element of design....art, plants, water, and an area to relax.  Space is everything.  And I think this is perfection. 

The downtown area of Phoenix uses its space very well.  Any little opening is utilized according to the shade from building etc to create a greener feel for visitors or Arizonans like myself.....and I do appreciate good landscaping.

Now many of you LOVE this plant. It's one of the top searches for Las Aventuras.  And I can understand why....it's fern like and has the most brilliant orange blooms. It's also bushy in appearance and makes a bold statement in landscape.  And this delicate looking plant is one of the TOUGHEST in the desert.  Very little water is required, but I do give it a little extra to grow quicker.  In Phoenix this plant doesn't die back unless their winter is severe.  In Tucson, the Mexican Bird of Paradise is cut back to the ground.  In spring, it will send out its first shoots from the ground.  And remember, the more sun it gets; the more blooms you'll have.  I highly recommend this plant for beginners who want something that will survive.  Xeric to the max and will make people drool all over your yard.  And that's good because any extra moisture during this dry month of June is good for the plants:)

Let's move on.  Space.  It's the topic.  You'd think that I'd be better at it.  But the simple truth is, I'm not.  I love birds and wildlife in my garden.  Therefore I create a lot of area for the birds to hide etc.  Bird landscaping is a bit different in design from a clean landscape design.  Both are cool, but I like waking up to birds in the morning.  I have some work I've been doing around El Presidio coming up in several weeks.....I can't wait to show you.  There's so much going on here that it's difficult not to throw all of it at you all at once.  But that might be too much:)  Let's just say it's an exciting time here.

Some cacti and succulents do better in Phoenix than in Tucson.  An example of this is found behind this jazz player.   While you may see things like the San Pedro etc, you won't find many succulents.  The simple fact is that Tucson gets too cold and you'll end up losing these plants creating a huge mess.  Our historic freeze last year proved fatal for many of these beloved plants.  Remember that if you are working with Euphorbs(especially the African kind), you'll need to take care with the milky sap that will sometimes ooze from a broken piece.  You'll get a nasty burn/rash on your skin.  Always wear gloves when handling these plants.   In fact, I love when a cacti or succulent grows like this.  I have such a cluster in my own side garden and I wrapped that sucker up from last years historic freeze.  Today it stands tall and beautiful like it has for over a decade.  It's in the headlining pic for Las Aventuras. 

Rainbow Bush/Portulacaria afra 'Variegata'

I mentioned succulents.  Gorgeous plants that add a lot of appeal to any garden or art design.  However they thrive in moderate climates like San Diego along the coast. But several do extremely well here in Arizona....mostly in Phoenix.  This(above pic) is the hardiest of the succulents that I experimented on here in Tucson.  It endured our cold nights and LOVES our heat.....with a little bit of water.  It's usually placed along a drip line with a little shade, but not too much.

 When space is tight, there is always a solution.  Date palms, Lantana, Red Yucca, Agaves.....you name it.  If clumped together in the right combo they can make your home or business pop! The nice part about many of our xeric plants is that they clump or are very structural in nature. 

 This pic above was taken at night.  A warm summer breeze with the skyscraper in the background.  Nice!

And voila!  There you have it.  Desert design, IMHO, at its best!  People seem to love it as does the local wildlife.  More tomorrow.....

Starships Were Meant To Fly

Yes this is the real deal:)  From left to right.  King Tuzigoot, the Shat, and myself.

Dreams happen because of starships, battlestars or just plain ol' space shuttles.  Currently, I have some great music on, an opened bottle of wine(red of course) and have poured some of this fantastic liquid into my tiny green wine glass. Oh yeah....it going to be one of those posts:) This post was written on a pad of paper and it's one of a personal nature.  Sometimes it's good to know a little background behind the writer and his blog. So I thought I'd go a little more into the history about why Star Trek saved my life as a teenager growing up in a small town.

Shatner was wonderful. Mortality has really affected him.  He talks about it to a silent crowd of 5000+ people. However, after a truly deep moment, he gets the crowd laughing again with pranks to cast and crew on the original Star Trek set.

Last year I wrote Legends about how Star Trek began for me.  My Freshman year I escaped into the fantasy of the Next Generation and got hooked seriously into the universe of Star Trek.  Growing up is not easy to do and I had a difficult childhood in my early teens.  The 80's and early 90's were the strange years defining myself without having proper role models(beyond my parents, grandparents etc).  I feel like you need people outside your familiar circle to grow as a person. So I led a secretive life behind my parent's backs.  It wasn't bad but it was a safe place for me to escape.  The Big Ideas of Star Trek exposed me to the bigger world.  I'd come home from school dreaming of exploring the Amazon one day or climbing the highest pyramid in Guatemala.....or looking for the buried kings of Egypt. I read Ranger Rick and Arizona Highways(seriously folks!!! When I say I love Tucson, I mean it!). That's part of who I was. As much as I treasure Wisconsin now, I didn't always feel that way and from a very early age, I knew I wouldn't live there.  I didn't want to be trapped in a small town with a house, white picket fence, kids, a wife or dog working in a business office trapped in a cubicle.  Now I live in a small community, concrete walled area, no kids(but 5 cats!), spouse, and classroom that seems like a cubicle at times:) Thankfully I never went that route;) The more things change; the more they stay the same.

Brent Spiner played the character "Data"

I would tape all of my Star Trek shows on VHS and watch them over and over again in a small room away from everyone in my family.  I'd isolate myself and get lost in the space logic of the Next Generation.  Data was my hero because he wasn't human and he tried so hard to understand what it was like to be one.  He was very much as different as I was. These episodes every week had a message and it was universal for all.  Each episode spoke to different people in different ways.  But it was a safe place for me to be....protected and secure, I knew that their words were the right ones.  Embrace all ideas.  Embrace all cultures.  Learn as much as you can from them.  Make a difference in this world before you leave it.  Love whomever you want but be true to who you are. It was okay to standout. And always boldly go where no one had gone before:)

I look like a huge giant farmer in this pic.  He's English/American. Jamie Bamber(Apollo) is seriously tiny! It's like comparing the American Robin to the English Robin:)

For over 20 years, there was always a Star Trek show on TV.  And in 2005, the last episode aired ending this chapter of my life.  I don't watch much TV anymore.  Why should I?  There's so much to see in person with Mother Nature!  But if it's one thing I believe.....it's that all people should be treated equally.   I seem cruel and heartless at times with my students but it's what my mother and I both call "tough love".  I will NOT tolerate teenagers or adults using language like retarded, gay, or the many other not so nice words.  I make this well known the first day I enter the "Captain's Chair" in my classroom:) Hey, a podium works:) There's no place for any of that anymore. And I'm not a saint, but I always try and listen for better understanding.  The Star Trek philosophy is one that resonates with millions around the world.  

 I don't know many people who have such great facial expressions.  People always tell me that my face expresses a whole lot:)  It's nice to see someone else who does the same:)

Seeing these actors make me smile.  I could say thank you, but I already think the actors know why we visit with them......because they made a difference in our lives.  Shatner put it best. "You're not here to just see me.  You're here because of Star Trek. Something bigger."  Some have called it the "Cult of Trek".  I don't worship the actors, but they are an extended part of my imaginary family who protected me during a fragile time of my life.

I wish my Grandfather were here to meet William Shatner.  He would have loved to shake hands with him. This one is for you Grandpa.

Their stories changed my life so profoundly that at one point in my early 20's during my first exploration of life and travel alone, I was able to snap into my real persona.  It was one of the singular most powerful moments in my life.  Mexico is to blame:)  How did it happen?  A bottle of tequila, some dancing, good friends and an exchange family:) Mexico really opened me up to the world!  I guess you could say it was my first away mission:) At 18, I found Mexico. At 19 I returned to my hometown community college to wrap up the old me.  This was the darkest time of my life.  I can't believe the things I thought about....so glad that at 20, I took control of my life and told people where to stick it.  The result?  A full and happy wonderful life. And I hope I can make that difference for others in my own work  Yes, it was an amazing day. 

These people rock! I also had a good laugh:) The Next Generation cast sans Patrick Stewart. Spiner is hilarious.

Star Trek inspires many of us to go beyond the realm of the known and take new steps everyday in each of our lives.  Make each day count.  "Be the change you wish to see in the world."  Fantastic words from the great Ghandi. And of course, "Boldly go where no one has gone before." 

This is a great song.  The original song is fantastic but not appropriate to put on the site.  I try to keep it PG rated:)  And on a side note, some posts go through lots of editing and rewrites.  This was one of them:)

The Night Before

This is the hotel that we stayed. Look at all the things going on...sci fi theme, people, the color purple, desert southwest motiff...where does one begin to capture images?

Before any major photography shoot, I become very excited.  These are the shoots that require a lot more time and effort, perhaps extra cash, etc.  And this has happened to me now many many times.  I've done the research, I've thought about the shots that I'd like to get, and no matter how hard I try to sleep.....I can't!

The Star Wars Jawa sleeps somewhere inside the convention center

As I go into these events, my mind goes into overdrive!  I dread evenings as everything comes to a close.  Time is everything.  Light is everything.  So much to learn.  So much to do.  But it all flies by in the blink of an eye.   Many of you may think that I just take pictures non stop, but I've gotten pretty good about organizing my time without the camera as well.  There are windows for everything and I just plan my time around those windows accordingly.

One of many nerds plays an instrument known as the ocarina from the video game Zelda!.  Only 25 dollars!

But no matter how hard I try, I can never sleep before a major event.   Sometimes a post will come to me in my sleep.  Now, I don't plan them.....they just link up randomly in my mind.  I jot down notes in my little green pad for later on and then come up with the writing and pictures organically as I sit down and go over my journal of the days events.

Why can't I sleep?  It's the thrill, the rush...the adrenaline of what may happen the next day.  I never know what it will bring and I guess that's why it's so exciting. Do any of you ever get like this the day before a trip,etc?  And if so, what do you do to get your sleep!?

The Northern Planter Restoration

It's true what they say about getting blog attention.  Cats are popular on the google machine.  Well, I'll have to snap some more pics down the road....especially now that they all have their summer haircuts:)  I have some really fun stuff coming up starting tomorrow that goes on until the end of July.  So while you're catching up on our adventures, I'll be working out in the garden and giving you updates as projects are completed.  Here is the first one. Last year we emptied out the planters along the 922 building.  It was a lot of work and honestly, I think it killed any gardening feelings I may have had for the place.  I am slowly making movement forward but it will take time.  However, I did work on the Northern Planters.  Here is the view before.....

We chose Nandina or Heavenly Bamboo as the plant selection here because....
1.  It makes a nice hedge. 
2. There will be very little watering once the plants are established.
3.  We want to keep the front lush and attractive but not inviting for Meth addicts to enter onto our property.  I hate Meth and those who abuse it.  It's personal with me as they have stolen a lot of garden gear over the years from El Presidio.  Today it is all locked up. I have traps set up around the property to deter them. One evening, I was out in the garden at 11 PM during the summer working on plants.  A Meth addict stole a Mercedes Benz and parked the car in my spot.  I had the gate open and watched him try to find a way to flee the courtyard. Once he came into the gated area, I took my shovel with me and closed the gate behind him. I asked him how he was doing and used my phony teacher talk to keep him in place until the police arrived.  He didn't know I had called them while the car was getting parked in our lot.  I held him "captive" with conversation about our beautiful property and units for sale until the police came. The Mercedes was indeed stolen and then returned to the owner and the addict was arrested. Dangerous?  Yes.  But I really hate drugs, and I especially hate them when they cross into our beautiful sanctuary and endanger our residents.  It also sent a message to the nearby drug community.  We're watching. Nandina was chosen as an attractive xeric friendly plant, but not so attractive as to call others to our place.

This Nandina will grow slowly and eventually create a mass green screen.  Compare size to the larger and mature Nandina further down.  I want all of these to clump together.  I've done this with oleander.  You take 3 smaller plants and plant them together.  The oleander fused itself together giving me one plant with pink and white flowers.  The Nandina grows in clumps and I am suspecting that the same will happen here. These plants actually look closer than they really are.   I went for an angle to give the picture a little impact.

Planters are not ideal next to a house so we had to make sure that they were placed below the foundation so that water would not enter any of the units.  They're doing great and actually growing out a bit.  I'll be taking you on more tours coming up.  But I am happy to say that the property is healthy and growing.  As it does, we'll be adding more and more.  We are still working on the fountain issue as funding is tight right now.  However, I'll have more updates at El Presidio as it all happens. More tomorrow.....

Big Screen TV for Cats

Okay okay.  I can't help it.  Some mornings as I sit and write my posts before my day begins, I see this adorable display of whiskers and ears.  We live with 5 rescued cats.  Each unique and into nature as much as I am:)

You see outside the dining room window we have several hundred visits from birds all day long.  They are mostly House Finches and Mourning Doves, but they certainly attract the attention of our feline friends:)

In fact, it's quite the popular spot around the house.  3 birds for 3 cats?  Sometimes all the cats will be hanging out together which is quite popular.  So it got me thinking.  A lot of us have pets and a lot of us are busy people with jobs, etc, etc.  I'm not always home, but I do enjoy providing some entertainment for our cats while we're out.  In fact, when we moved into our home awhile back, big windows were essential for not only us, but for our cats as well.   The "TV" for our cats would begin.

First, I established the garden that wasn't there.  Nada. Zip. Zilch.  Once the oasis was established, I attracted the birds with feeders etc.  Today it's a wildlife zone for many birds and provides countless hours of catnaps and excitement for the cats.  Like any entertainment center, you have to have some great furniture around the window.  Half our dining room table is covered with a blanket where they can lay down and watch the show.  They wait for us in the morning to wake up and open the window.  There are also kitty beds near the table for all 5 of the cats.

Not only do I laugh at the bird antics outside but I also smile at how the cats will actively watch them fly near the window.

And you never know who is going to drop by and visit.  That's the best part!!!

And when you can't watch anymore, you hang out with a buddy and take a catnap.

Have you created a "TV" for your pets?  If so, where? Just another way to bring nature...indoors:)   More tomorrow....