Pouring crushed river rock along the west side of the house
I rented a rototiller, and set out to un-compact the flattened, neglected, weed-infested soil. Afterwards, it was nice to see red dirt that was "fluffy" compared to its formerly concrete-like state.
As if having to finish spreading all this rock was not a big enough job, I decided I would create a path from the driveway, downhill to the flattest part of the yard. That meant weeding, raking and smoothing the path area, laying landscape cloth, and hauling - bucket by bucket - the larger river rocks to create a path edge. All of this while dodging the mere thought of snakes and tarantulas...After that, countless wheelbarrows full of crushed rock to be dumped and spread onto the path. Except for some fine tuning, the path is now done. Yay!
Beginning of the path
Longest part of the path
Curving toward the end
End of the path - with Devil's Claw
growing in the rocks on the right
I had been searching for a native plant called Devil's Claw. I have known of it for some time, as Native Americans use it in basketry. Was lucky enough to get a few seeds a while back, which I planted and carefully tended on the north side of the yard. Nothing ever sprouted, and I forgot about them. When I was working on the last part of the path, a plant was growing that was unfamiliar to me, so I laid the path around it and let it grow. Then I discovered the flower underneath the large, fuzzy leaves - Devil's Claw! I have since found 3 more plants scattered in the yard, and 2 by the gate. I don't know if the seeds I planted got redistributed by bird or beast or magic, or if these were waiting to sprout after I disturbed the soil. In any event, I am happy to find them and look forward to seeing them produce fruit and after that, the pod and "claw" that give the plant it's name.
Devil's Claw - Proboscidea parviflora
Devil's Claw flower
I plan to place a bench, bird feeders and bird bath at the end of the path, along with flowers to encourage hummers and butterflies. There are some nice wildflowers growing in the yard, along with far too many noxious weeds. Puncture vine (the name says it all!), purple nightshade, filaree, bindweed - will someday, hopefully, be choked out by native flowers such as globemallow, Mexican hat, twinberry, gaura - and many more. I have sown some seeds for both flowers and native grass (Side Oats Gramma - Bouteloua curtipendula), and am nothing if not determined.
Each sprinkle of rain brings new weeds, but with any luck, new flowers as well. I have been saving seeds collected and purchased, both at home and locally, and it could be fun to see what pops up. It could be discouraging, too, as I've already killed a number of plants purchased here. Gardening in the high desert is not for sissies!
Seed sorting on the front deck -
my KCCN friends will know this is not quite
the production of Mixing Day at Aurora West,
but I have a bigger stash than I'd thought!
Here's to some good rains for the remainder of Monsoon season (and for the parched Midwest), spectacular sunrises and sunsets, and maybe a hike or two when I decide to drag myself away from Casa Neglecta.
