The Most Popular House Plant
Dracena sanderiana or Lucky Bamboo is one of the most popular house plants in the world because of its fortuitous symbolism. It is used as a luck symbol in Asia due to its rapid growth and easy propagation. The tall columnar growth habit of D. sanderiana is often mistaken for bamboo but is, in fact, more closely related to garden asparagus. Dracena species are classified in the Asparagaceae family due to having fleshy stems, rather than hollow, like bamboo. Bamboo is one of the fastest-growing plants and is classified in the family of grasses along with wheat, rice, and other grains.
Dracena plants can tolerate low, diffused light, making it a viable option as a house or office plant. Fast-growing bamboo needs space and requires direct sunshine, therefore it struggles as an indoor plant in most homes and offices. The similar appearance of D. sanderiana to bamboo has established the plant as an equivalent symbol of fortune, hence the popular name, "Lucky Bamboo."
Feng Shui
Nearly 6,000 years ago in ancient China, a method of constructing buildings for the optimization of the elements, such as the prevailing winds or rays of the sun became known as Feng Shui. The term literally means "wind" (Feng) and "water" (Shui). Much like the current sustainable design movement, home or office construction should consider the elements, like the movement of the sun, to better heat the building in the winter, as well as, include properly placed tall trees to provide shade from the strong rays of the sun in the summer. After thousands of years, Feng Shui is a long-considered, well-crafted framework that offers guidance in the consideration of energy flow of the elements, Earth, Wind, Water, Fire, Metal and the cardinal directions for the ideal arrangement to ensure the best outcomes for health, wealth, and happiness.
How to Increase Your Luck
When properly planted and placed, the Lucky Bamboo plant can better your family's health and/or increase your fortune. Here's how:
1. The lucky bamboo should be in metal, glass, or in a gold, silver, white, blue or black color container that is at least 2 inches tall.
2. Plant the stalk(s) in rocks, pebbles or clay balls. Fill the pot with filtered or distilled water. Keep watered and change at least once a month.
3. The number of stalks has significance:
4. Now, tie a gold ribbon to the stalk(s) to symbolize wealth and place your Lucky Bamboo plant in diffused light in the east of any room. This is the Health and Wealth Luck area of your home.
5. At your place of business, place a plant in the southeast corner of the office or on your desk for Prosperity Luck. The luck of the southeast indicates activities that generate income.
6. Make sure the plant is healthy. Trim off any yellowing leaves. Do not let the container dry out. Green growth is important.
7. As the plant grows, your health, wealth and happiness will also increase.
There is no better time to utilize the symbolism of a Lucky Bamboo plant than in the year of the Wood Dragon, 2024. Dragon years are associated with good fortune. In Feng Shui, the wood element is associated with plants. Thus, Lucky Bamboo are particularly auspicious in 2024.
I planted this 5 stalk Lucky Bamboo for the east window of our living room to increase luck in all areas of my family's life. Best of all, this showy display adds a unique design element to the decor.
We wish everyone a happy, healthy, and abundant harvest in the new year!
Much love 💚 and many blessings 🙏 from The Botanical Journey.
]]>Forest farming has emerged as a model of agroforestry that harmonizes with nature rather than exploits it. By adhering to a set of principles, forest farming offers a sustainable alternative for cultivating non-timber forest products. Let's dive into the five important principles that guide successful forest farming practices.
Mimicking Natural Ecosystems: The essence of forest farming lies in understanding and replicating natural ecosystems. By closely observing the dynamics of diverse plant and animal species in forests, forest farmers can create conditions that foster the growth of valuable crops. This principle ensures that the cultivated environment mirrors the untouched forests.
Biodiversity Conservation: Biodiversity is the lifeblood of any thriving ecosystem. In forest farming, cultivating a diverse range of plant species contributes to the preservation of local biodiversity. This principle not only sustains the health of the forest but also provides habitat for various wildlife, fostering a beneficial relationship between cultivation and conservation.
Sustainable Harvesting Practices: Responsible harvesting is essential in forest farming. This principle emphasizes a balance between reaping the benefits of forest products and ensuring the continuous health and regeneration of the ecosystem. Forest farmers must carefully manage the timing and intensity of their harvests, aligning them with the natural growth and reproduction cycles of the cultivated plants.
Polyculture and Companion Planting: Forest farmers embrace the concept of polyculture, where multiple plant species coexist in the same area. Companion planting involves strategically growing plants that complement each other in a succession of layers within the forest canopy. These practices promote resilience, reduce the risk of pests and diseases, and contribute to a more sustainable and diverse harvest.
Minimal Impact on Ecosystems: Forest farming prioritizes minimal disruption to natural ecosystems. This principle discourages destructive practices such as clear-cutting or monocropping and emphasizes the importance of working with, rather than against, the existing natural conditions. By minimizing human impact, forest farmers ensure the long-term viability of both their crops and the surrounding ecosystem. Additionally, working with the forest ecosystem reduces the labor for the farmer.
As we navigate an era where environmental stewardship is imperative, forest farming stands out as a beacon of sustainable agricultural practices. Forest farmers not only secure their livelihoods but contribute significantly to the well-being of our planet. The journey towards a sustainable future begins with better agricultural practices that work with nature.
Next we will explore the fundamentals of forest garden design
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What is Forest Gardening?
Forest gardening, often referred to as "food forests" or "edible landscapes," is a holistic approach to gardening that mirrors the structure and functions of a natural forest, like permaculture but working within the natural structure rather than mimicking nature. It's a vision that extends beyond the confines of conventional gardening, embracing the idea that plants can work together in an established forest or woods. This practice involves cultivating a variety of plants, from fruit and nut trees to herbs, vines, and perennial vegetables, all coexisting within a managed forest ecosystem.
Key Principles
At the heart of forest gardening lies a commitment to biodiversity of plants and wildlife. Unlike traditional agriculture, where a single crop dominates, forest gardening encourages the cultivation of a diverse array of plant species. These species, carefully chosen for their symbiotic relationships and complementary roles, form a harmonious and resilient forest tapestry.
Forest gardens go beyond mere sustainability; they strive to facilitate the intricate balance found in natural ecosystems. In a forest, succession is the key principle to success by incorporating layers like tall canopy trees, understory trees, shrubs, herbaceous plants, ground covers, and climbing vines. Forest gardens mirror the vertical structure of a forest. This not only maximizes the use of available space but also creates microclimates, encourages beneficial insects, creates food for wildlife and fosters a self-sustaining ecosystem.
Benefits of Forest Gardening
Embarking on the journey of forest gardening is an investment in a sustainable future. Beyond providing a bounty of fresh, organic produce, forest gardens contribute to soil health, water conservation, and overall ecosystem resilience. They stand as a testament to the potential for humans to coexist with the natural world, reaping the rewards of a mindful and regenerative approach to cultivation.
As we delve deeper into the lush world of forest gardening, we'll explore the principles, design strategies, and the transformative potential this approach holds for individuals and communities alike. Join us on this verdant journey as we uncover the secrets of cultivating abundance in harmony with nature.
In August, we moved to the heart of the Piney Woods in East Texas. In the photo above, we are planting our understory trees as an orchard of plums, peaches, nectarines, cherries and apples. It will take a few years until harvest but we are also utilizing the bare ground to plant winter and spring vegetables this year and next. By leaving native shrubs and dewberry vines to grow wild in the orchard, we now have a covey of quail.
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]]>The weather has finally cooled and the leaves are changing color. Best of all, the joy of the Christmas season is upon us. In the Northern hemisphere, the Arctic air travels south bringing ice and snow. The nights are long and the days short. In Texas, many celebrate the reprieve from Summer's heat. In colder climes, the snow covers the landscape muting color and sound for months. A silence fills the land. In ancient times, evergreen trees were honored during the winter solstice. Long before Christ, boughs of fir and pine adorned the homes of our ancestors. The green branches were a symbol of the Sun and the return of spring.
Winter Wreath
How did the Christmas Tree tradition begin? The first decorated tree to honor Christmas is from Germany. Martin Luther of the Protestant Reformation in the 16th century is credited with lighting a tree with candles. According to legend, he was walking home one evening and noticed the twinkling stars through the trees. Excited to show his family the beautiful scene, he cut down a fir tree and took it home. Once inside he carefully placed small candles among the branches as a symbol of the beautiful Christmas sky.
The first Christmas tree is believed to represent the beauty of the night sky.
Another legend of the time combines 2 popular customs throughout Europe; The Paradise Tree often decorated with apples symbolizing the Tree of Knowledge in the Garden of Eden and a pyramid frame built from wood. The pyramid shape, similar to a stable, represented the holy family and the birth of Jesus. The frame was decorated and a candle placed on top to symbolize Christ bringing Light to the world. (Italians today still decorate a wooden triangular structure referred to as a "presepio" or "ceppo" for Christmas.) Over time, the 2 customs of the Paradise Tree and the decorated stable merged, possibly due to Martin Luther's lighted tree. Whatever the exact origins of the first decorated Christmas Tree, it is believed to have started in Germany. Even the popular Christmas carol, 'O Tannenbaum', is the German term for 'fir tree'.
Twinkling Christmas Trees
The first German settlers arriving in America brought their Christmas customs. German communities reportedly had Christmas trees as early as 1747, but many Americans of the time did not accept the tradition and the trees were seen as pagan symbols. Some states outlawed the custom and people were fined for hanging decorations. In the 19th century, a wave of German and Irish immigrants undermined the Puritan sentiment. The decorated Christmas Tree became fashionable in 1846 when the popular British Royals, Queen Victoria, Prince Albert (German) and their children, were sketched in a London News Illustration around a decorated Christmas tree.
"Victoria and Albert Christmas Tree" by Illustrated London News
By the 1890s, ornaments were arriving from Germany and the Christmas tradition was on the rise. In the early 20th century, Americans decorated with homemade ornaments and candles. Christmas trees gained so much popularity that commercial vendors were cutting down trees at alarming rates from natural forests. In 1901, President and conservationist Theodore Roosevelt refused to have a Christmas tree in the White House to protest deforestation. As a result, Christmas tree farming began. Today, over 95% of all Christmas trees are grown on farms. It takes nearly 10 years to harvest a tree 6-8 feet tall. Most Christmas trees are cut months before they reach the vendor.
Christmas trees bundled for shipping.
Noble Fir, the perfect Christmas tree waiting for a home.
The most popular trees are Scotch or Virginia pine and Douglas, Noble or Fraser fir. There are approximately 15,000 tree farms growing over 300 million trees on 350,000 acres. Although there are many concerns about cutting trees down for the holidays, Christmas tree cultivation provides habitat for wildlife, oxygen for the atmosphere and reduces pollen and pollution in the air. A much cleaner choice than the manufactured lead and plastic fake trees.
If you wish to offset the carbon footprint of this year's tree, consider donating to OneTreePlanted.org One dollar plants one tree and you can choose where in the world you want to contribute to reforestation. Click here to donate.
This Christmas we hope everyone celebrates the joy of the season with family and loved ones. Merry Christmas Y'all.
]]>Today, much of our food has been stripped of nutrients that are now replaced with synthetic flavors. Learn how to make your own natural flavoring extracts. All you will need is alcohol, the raw ingredients, and a little patience.
Natural flavoring extracts make a great gift for cooks, bakers, and craft cocktail makers. Fruit, nuts, herbs, spices, and edible flowers can be used for flavoring extracts. I have made some unique flavors from the abundance growing in my garden including rose, lavender, fennel, pomegranate, and grapefruit. This post will focus on the most common flavors found in our kitchens and recipe books, orange, lemon, vanilla, and cinnamon.
First, use only quality organic ingredients. The alcohol will draw out the flavor and any chemicals that may have been used on the plants. Not only is this bad for you, but it will also change the taste. Next, use at least 80 proof alcohol for extraction. I prefer rum for sweeter flavors like orange and vanilla and vodka for sharper flavors like lemon and cinnamon. Finally, utilize glass jars with tight-fitting lids that will not leak when shaken.
Lemon and orange flavorings are made from the rind, not the fruit inside. Use a zester or finely slice the peel. The zest from 1 medium-sized lemon or orange is enough for 10 ounces or less of alcohol. 2 vanilla beans sliced lengthwise and 5 cinnamon sticks are sufficient for the same amount of alcohol. Place ingredients in a jar and cover with alcohol, label, and date. Shake the jar daily and keep out of direct sunlight. Sample the extracts in 2 to 3 weeks for flavor. Leave longer for a more intense taste. Once the desired taste is achieved, pour into smaller 2-ounce glass bottles and give to your favorite people.
Alcohol is a preservative. Natural Flavoring Extracts will last for many years.
One great way to enjoy the variety of flavors is to make a fresh batch of whipped cream from either heavy whipping cream or coconut cream (vegan). Once whipped, divide into smaller portions, separate into several bowls and add a teaspoon of extract. This will allow you to taste the flavor profile of each. Enjoy!
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Did you know that the Oak trees of North America produce more nuts than any other tree region worldwide, cultivated or wild?
The fruit of an Oak tree is an acorn. A single giant Oak tree can produce nearly ten thousand acorns in a reproductive season. However, Oak trees do not bear fruit every year and some acorns require up to 18 months to mature. When a forest nut-bearing tree, like an Oak, Pecan, or Walnut, produces a high yield or bumper crop, the year is botanically referred to as a 'mast' year.
This 'Big Tree' is a coastal live oak, Quercus virginiana, and has lived more than a thousand years along the Texas Gulf Coast. Many of the surrounding oak trees are its offspring. How many mast years has this mighty tree experienced?
What is a Mast Year?
Mast is a term used to describe the fruit of forest trees and shrubs. The fruit can be hard nuts, like acorns or beechnuts, or soft, like blueberries or wild grapes, and are an important food source for wildlife. A mast year is when a particular woodland species produces more fruit than normal. Like many trees, Oaks have irregular cycles of high and low yields. Oak masting happens every 2- 5 years.
Why Do Oaks Mast?
Scientists are uncertain as to the exact reason why oaks and other plants mast but there is a range of theories from climate temperatures and rainfall amounts to harsh summers affecting acorn production or the availability of spring winds during pollination. The specific causes remain a mystery, but one undeniable evolutionary benefit of masting is... ensured future offspring.
Acorns are the easiest way to identify an Oak tree. There are over 600 species of Oak trees with more than 200 species endemic to North America. This elliptical oak shaped leaf indicates a Mexican White Oak tree and can be found growing as far south as Guatemala.
In mast years, acorns fall by the thousands increasing food availability for squirrels, mice, birds, and other forest frugivores. During mast events, dependent wildlife populations increase. The following year, the trees will bear little to no fruit due to the abundance of energy required to produce the previous year's bountiful harvest. In subsequent low to no yield years, wildlife populations decrease as food becomes scarce. Then in a mast year, the overflowing harvest will more than feed the forest critters and ensure some seeds left to grow into future oak trees.
Oaks in Peril
Imagine driving down a country road, sun shining, rolling meadows of green grass only to be delightfully interrupted by a large Oak tree standing gloriously alone. Romantic, yet a cause for concern. Many new Oak trees in the United States are planted on private properties. The forests are rapidly changing. Oaks are at risk due to logging, diseases, insect invaders, drought conditions, wildfires, and urban sprawl. When considering a new oak tree for your landscape, ask experts in your area which native oak tree species are dwindling in population and plant those species rather than the local garden center's popular oak trees. Together we can increase the diversity of the species simply by planting a rare native oak in our own gardens. And that's garden activism in action.
For more insight into the importance of Oak Trees, these recommended books are insightful and informative. Each book supports independent book stores in partnership with Bookshop.org A purchase helps support the journey at no additional cost to you. ]]>Indoor plants are popular right now. Glorious photos of green vegetation brightening a sunny living room or hanging in the doorways of a greenhouse are populating social media posts and inspiring our interior design choices. You needn't be an avid gardener or have a green thumb to enjoy a room full of indoor plants. Not only are plants stunning in the home decor, but they offer a range of health benefits. Here are 5 health benefits of indoor plants based on scientific study and research.
1. Improved Air Quality
As global citizens, we are becoming more aware of the importance of nature for our health and well-being. The increased number of wildfires around the globe is awakening humanity's concern for the Earth's environment including changes in the climate or atmosphere. Essentially, the air we breathe is an exchange between animals and plants. The forests, prairies, and wetlands of our beautiful planet inhale carbon dioxide and release oxygen. During this process, additional chemicals from the surrounding air are also ingested by the plant's leaf structures and released into the soil where microorganisms digest the various chemicals to produce nutrients for plants. The various nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium are exchanged via the roots with the tiny soil microbes encouraging healthy plant growth.
The above air cleaning process happens with indoor plants too! Volatile organic compounds (VOC's) found in carpets, paints, cleaning products, plastics, and furniture are invisibly present at room temperature indoors. Without proper ventilation, these chemicals can build up in the air and reach toxic levels. Scientific studies published by NASA and Environmental Science and Pollution Research concluded that different types of indoor plants absorbed various types of VOC's. For example, a Ficus elastica or a "Rubber tree" was found to remove benzene and toluene emitted by wallpapers, adhesives, furniture wax, rubbers, and tanned leathers. A Schefflera arboricola or "Umbrella tree" removed formaldehyde that is present in paints, synthetic fabrics, and pressed wood.
Ficus elastica removes harmful chemicals like benzene from the air.
Laboratory experiments conducted by NASA show a considerable improvement in indoor air quality in just 24 hours after a plant was introduced to a space with high levels of VOC's. Thus, adding plants to your home will help you breathe cleaner indoor air. The more plants the better the air quality of your home. If you are new to indoor plants, ask for help from your green thumb friends or a staff member of a local nursery about an easy to care for indoor plant.
2. Increased Energy Levels
Studies show that communing with the natural world increases our feelings of well being and vitality. As our outlook becomes more positive, so does our energy level. Plants in the home or office offer more than a positive outlook. We learned that one health benefit of indoor plants is cleaning the air of toxic levels of VOC's. As the air-quality increases, so does our vitality. Our physical body, such as the lungs, liver, and blood, is not overburdened by invisible harmful chemicals. Additionally, as plants clean the air, our green symbiotic friends also contribute oxygen to the indoor environment.
Increased oxygen levels in our bodies allow the cells to perform optimally boosting brain and muscle function, as well as, increased metabolism and waste elimination. Furthermore, many bacteria and viruses are anaerobic and can not survive in oxygenated conditions. As our bodies work efficiently with more oxygen and less harmful chemicals in the air, we feel less sluggish with more energy. Who would have thought an indoor garden would have such an effect on our vigor and vitality?
3. Better Concentration & Memory
A few days in nature has been proven to greatly increase our cognitive ability in a recent study by Kansas University. Disconnecting from devices, reducing constant interruptions, and being surrounded by the natural world stimulated the brain. According to Paul Atchley, the associate professor of psychology at KU, "We constantly shift attention from one source to another, getting all of this information that simulates alarms, warnings, and emergencies. Those threats are bad for us. They sap our resources to do the fun thinking and cognition humans are capable of."
Your home or office does not need a forest to increase your memory or concentration, a few plants can assist in enhanced performance. A recent study at the University of Exeter found plants introduced into a sparse office environment increased productivity by 15%. Participants in the office study reported feeling higher levels of concentration and improved air quality.
Nature, as well as, a simple potted plant can provide a space to rest and daydream from the constant interactions required in our daily lives. This small break in the mental clutter can lead to less stress and an enhanced feeling of well-being. Humans have a positive association with plants and nature. Having a plant in your home or office provides a respite from constant stimulation allowing the brain to relax and just like that, enhancing your cognitive abilities of concentration and memory.
4. Improved Relationships
Can a plant really help improve relationships? The American Society of Horticultural Science reported plants did indeed improve relationships in a study conducted in an Assisted Living Center with aging adults. Eighteen residents participated in four interactive horticultural classes. Lessons included simple tasks like maintaining a potted plant. Some members of the group were required to take responsibility for the care of an indoor plant, while other members' plants were maintained by staff members. Those who cared for their own plants were more alert and interacted more with fellow residents and staff while requiring less staff care. They self-reported being active and happy (self-rated happiness) with increased perceptions of personal control (ASHS).
To have responsibility for another living being whether a plant or animal develops our awareness and compassion for others. We must step outside of our own needs and care for the survival of another. We learn to feel genuine concern and empathy. Both feelings are a necessity for building healthy human relationships.
5. Longevity
If the previous 4 health benefits aren't enough evidence to convince you that having an indoor garden could lead to a longer happier life, then here are a few additional findings to clear up the matter.
According to research by Dr. Bradley Willcox of the University of Hawaii, one of the common factors of centenarians around the globe is physical fitness in the form of walking and/or gardening into old age. Research has found gardening reduces stress, increases personal well-being, and creates a shared sense of community. As we age, the value we can offer ourselves and our community is of vital importance to our state of health and longevity. In Willcox's study, he claims that gardening gives centenarians something to get up for every day.
Don't worry if you are not yet a gardener, there is still time to gather an abundance of indoor plants to stimulate your senses, reduce stress, clean the air, improve your health and relationships so you can live a longer, happier life.
How many news reports have emphasized the numerous benefits of nature on our mental health and physical wellbeing? Too many to count and more than enough to cause anxiety for all the hours spent indoors. It's funny how we humans can shut down and turn away from our simplest natural actions when we have a constant barrage of information telling us why something is good for us.
Then, via social media and television, we are inundated with fabulous photos of adventure climbers, yoga experts, and top athletes experiencing nature in monumental ways. These images are meant to inspire but only make us feel inferior as we take the dog for a walk down the same trail again. Not to worry, here are 3 Easy Ways to Enjoy Nature for stress relief and mental balance.
1. A Ritual Sit
Nature happens with or without our notice. Cycles of the sun, moon, and seasons have become about fashion, television shows, sports, and travel destinations but the real magic is happening every day outside your door. All you have to do is set a time that is convenient for your schedule and sit for 10 or more minutes to observe the outdoor elements. It is as simple as quietly drinking a cup of coffee in the morning or a glass of wine in the evening on your front porch, back patio, balcony, or open a window to the great outdoors to use your senses. Each day will bring different sights, sounds, scents, temperatures, weather, and wildlife. After a few days, you will crave the peaceful interaction with mother nature and maybe even feel more energetic and alive.
2. A Daily Walk Outdoors
Not every walk will be on a trail into the wilderness and that is ok. The point of a nature walk is to slow down and observe the surrounding environment. Whether you live in the city, suburbs, or country, the outdoors is filled with life. In all outdoor environments we can observe cloud formations, wind, rain, moon, sun, birds, and people.
Here are some simple questions to help you observe outside. What phase of the moon appears in the day or night sky? Is the moon waxing or waning? What type of clouds do you see? Can you smell damp earth or feel the warmth of the sun? What are people wearing for the weather? What sounds do you hear? Can you hear birds?
It really is that simple, but you must do it with intention. No cell phone or music for your daily walk outdoors. A nature walk should be at least 15 minutes for both physical and mental wellbeing. If the weather is uncooperative then practice a Ritual Sit for 10 minutes while gazing out a window.
Climbing Mount Everest or doing yoga in the forest is not the goal of being in nature. Many of the most noteworthy naturalists, like Aldo Leopold, Rachel Carson, John James Audubon, or Ansel Adams simply took the time to write, sketch, or photograph their observations on their daily walks. Over the years, patterns and cycles emerged yielding new insight into the surrounding natural landscapes. We are all different, hence, our individual observations of the natural world are equally important to both our own wellbeing and the health of the planet. The simple act of walking can lead to amazing things.
3. A Nature Journal
Ok, the title alone may cause anxiety for some. However, there is no right or wrong way of creating a Nature Journal. The best suggestion is to take an additional 3-5 minutes after your Ritual Sit or Daily Walk Outdoors and simply write down any observations you have. No need to be poetic or artistic, unless you feel inclined. The best way to begin is to make a list of 5 or 10 things you noticed, possibly include a fallen leaf or seasonal flower pressed into the pages. If you are more scientific, write down the temperature, season, times of the sunrise & sunset, phase of the moon, weather, cloud cover, and plants in bloom. Over time, these simple daily rituals will uncover hidden meanings in the movements of the outdoor elements. Those same elements that once felt 'foreign' or 'meaningless' will begin to guide you, pacify your thoughts, reduce anxiety, and renew a sense of wonderment and awe at life.
*Check out our curated list of Naturalist books, Adventure Travel, Historical Fiction or Nature Journals for yourself or a child, please visit our bookshop.org store, where purchases not only support us but also help keep local independent bookstores in business. A win-win for everyone! Click on the link below to see our curated book shop.
]]>“All living things contain a measure of madness that moves them in strange, sometimes inexplicable ways. This madness can be saving; it is part and parcel of the ability to adapt. Without it, no species would survive.” Life of Pi
The iconic gestural structure of a Joshua Tree is both strange and part of its ability to survive the surrounding hostile desert conditions.
What type of tree is a Joshua Tree?
Technically, Joshua is not a tree at all, but rather, a succulent plant botanically named Yucca brevifolia. Joshua trees are the largest of the yuccas reaching 15 to 40 feet in height. Scant rainfall and any available air moisture are directed and captured by the upward-facing, lance-shaped leaves. The fibrous limbs and trunk can store the precious water to survive periods of drought. If a quirky, young yucca plant can survive the harsh desert environment, it will live as a Joshua Tree for hundreds or possibly a thousand years.
Mojave Desert
Joshua Trees are native to and found only in the Mojave Desert located in southeastern California and southern Nevada with bits in Arizona & Utah. The Mojave covers an approximate area of 50,000 square miles situated inside a rain shadow of several mountain ranges. On average, the Mojave receives 2 inches of precipitation per year and is considered the driest desert in North America.
The statuesque yucca trees serve as an indicator species of environmental changes within the Mojave, including Joshua Tree National Park. Scientists are studying the effects of climate change in the existing severe conditions of the Mojave desert. As the region's temperatures increase and periods of drought lengthen, Biologists have noticed a one-inch per year migration of the mighty yuccas to higher elevations and westward toward the Pacific Ocean.
The question remains, are the trees conscious of the relocation? or Are animals simply dispersing seeds in better environments for germination?
Spreading a Yucca's Seed
Like many desert plants, Yucca brevifolia needs freezing winter temperatures and spring rains to flower. Once a Joshua Tree blooms, the flowers require pollination by a yucca moth, which spreads pollen while laying eggs. Next, another Mojave native, the antelope ground squirrel, eat the spongy pollinated fruits, thereby releasing the seeds to the ground. The seeds then lie dormant, patiently waiting for a little rain as a chance to sprout. During the last Ice Age, the now-extinct Shasta ground sloth would have eaten the blooms whole and dispersed the seeds across the ancient pluvial plains. It is unclear to biologists how the yucca seeds are relocating because ground squirrels do not travel vast distances.
This past August, the Mojave Desert temperatures soared to 130 Fahrenheit (54.4 Celsius) in Death Valley. The extreme temperature is one of the hottest temperatures ever recorded. Wow! and Cody & I thought 115 Fahrenheit at Lake Havasu in late August was unbearable. We, too, migrated west toward the Pacific coast, where we waited until cooler autumn weather to visit Joshua Tree National Park.
Joshua Tree National Park
Although Joshua Trees name this National Park, the reasons to visit are beyond the yuccas' staked claim. Joshua Tree National Park covers an area of nearly 800,000 acres. Inside the park is a vibrant blending of 2 distinct desert ecosystems, the higher elevations of the Mojave with the lower, slightly more tropical southern Colorado Desert. Freezing winter temperatures define the Mojave, while summer monsoons and winter rains feed the grasses, hardy perennials, and springtime wildflowers of the Colorado Desert. One thing the two deserts have in common is extreme daytime temperatures. Make sure to have plenty of water while hiking the various trails throughout the park.
Cody and I have visited many deserts, but this was our first "beware of death" while hiking warning.
Joshua Tree National Park contains portions of 6 mountain ranges. The many hiking trails include easy nature walks and fun boulder climbing to several strenuous trails leading up and down steep terrain to reach a true desert palm oasis. No matter the level or length of a trail, hikers will experience the beauty and splendor of the terrain and vegetation of a desert landscape.
Cholla Cactus Garden trail is only a quarter-mile in length but an otherworldly experience.
This spring fed palm oasis is a longer hike that is best done in the morning before the heat.
Geology of the Climbing Playgrounds
The oldest rock formations are 1.7 billion years old. Southwest of Joshua Tree National Park lies the San Andreas fault system that is responsible for the formation of the mountainous terrain. However, it is the underground springs that eroded the many giant blocks of stone into the bouldering playgrounds found throughout the park. There are over a thousand named rock climbing routes at various skill levels. Many are easily accessible along the roadside or surround established campgrounds. Cody and I conquered a few boulders while hiking and near our campsite.
A grippy granite rock face makes climbing in approach shoes simple.
Plan a visit to Joshua Tree National Park in October through May. Desert temperatures are extreme in the summer months. Weekends are busy during the cooler weather months. Several campgrounds require reservations but others are on a first-come, first-served basis. We found several open campsites on a weekday in autumn. The northwest entrance near the town of Joshua Tree is busy while the other entrances had no wait. National Parks charge a $25 entrance fee per vehicle. Several well-maintained roads navigate considerable portions of the park, making a day trip or a side trip worthwhile. For now, the Joshua Trees line the roadsides with their eccentric posture. We can only hope to live long enough to see how the current climate conditions influence their slow-motion migration dance to an elevated existence.
The Botanical Journey is now partnered with Stay22 to provide you with easy access to lodging information at the best prices available for Hotels and Airbnb. The following map is interactive for the Joshua Tree area. We receive a small commission for booked reservations. Thank you for your support.
]]>1. Bring more water than you think you will need.
Our truck holds 18 gallons of water with an Epic Pure Water filtration system. We can last 8-10 days if we only use the water for drinking. Once you factor in cooking, washing dishes, showering, tooth brushing, hand rinsing, and the plethora of other things that require water, then 5-6 days is the limit. If there is a river or stream nearby to wash clothes, dishes, and bathe, then 18 gallons goes much further like 7-8 days. The best situation is a nearby river and a restroom area for brushing teeth, rinsing hands, showering, and other needs. We can last 9-10 days on 18 gallons. We have learned that water is not readily available in many rural areas of America. Do yourself a favor and bring more than you think.
2. Always take the opportunity to fill up on gas or water.
When living in and around urban areas, it is hard to imagine that everything is not readily available everywhere.
We have wandered the back roads and wilderness areas across the United States, and the modern world conveniences quickly fade from view on a long dirt road into the unknown. When Cody & I find an extraordinary landscape, there are two questions: Do we have enough gas to get there and back? & Do we have enough water for the time needed to camp & hike? Oh, the frustration to be roaming free in the backcountry and be limited by gas & water. Take the time to top off your tanks or refill your RotopaX on a backcountry road even if the price is high. You might end up in Wyoming after driving several National Forest roads across the Rocky Mountains, not knowing you crossed into a new state until the road signs changed shape. Cheers to following the path to its end, my friends. 🍻
3. Do Not rely only on GPS or Camping & Overlanding Apps that rely on GPS
Once you leave the modern world and head into the mountains, deserts, and plains of America, your location applications will fail. We rediscovered the comforting benefits of having Topographic Recreational paper maps. Never again are we unsure of our location when the GPS signal disappears. Best of all, there is a Topo/Recreational map for every state that includes the same campgrounds that are on DYRT & Campendium. Also, the Topo/Rec maps contain National Forests, Parks, points of interest, rest areas, rivers, mountain peaks with elevations, and so many additional items beyond the limited Apps you view on your phone. If you really want to explore and not just follow the beaten path of the trendy Van lifers or retired RV set, then Topo/Recreational Paper Maps will expand your horizons. Click here to find a map for your next adventure. And, Yes you can read a paper map.
4. Speak with Park Rangers to find the best & uncrowded camp spots, hikes, and views
Our most liked Instagram post was the above photograph. This is a camping spot recommended by a ranger at Natural Bridges National Monument. Due to COVID 19, camping inside the park was closed. We asked the rangers about the best nearby camping. They recommended the most incredible off-road camp spot overlooking the surrounding canyon and desert landscape. That evening in the misty, full moonlight, we danced in solitude as shooting stars soared across the heavens. Park rangers are experts in the landscape. Take the time to talk with a Ranger to find the hidden gems that are off the beaten path.
5. Use your red light when camping or hiking at night
Voices carry in the wilderness, and so do your LED headlamps, flashlights, and lanterns. When camping or hiking in the backcountry, be mindful that others may be nearby in the surrounding wilderness. More than loud voices, a beam of LED light can be blinding to nocturnal wildlife and disturb other campers while sleeping. Most headlamps and flashlights have a red night vision option. If you summit a mountain and must hike in the early morning hours before dawn, be aware that your bright light may help you to discern the trail, but prevents others from seeing in the dark. Change to the red light, and everyone can see without losing their night vision. Click here for the best outdoor USB rechargeable headlamp (no batteries needed) and it has an easy red night vision option with a pivoting angle to direct the light down. Anything USB rechargeable makes life on the road easier.
6. Clean up and Keep Clean.
Bears, chipmunks, birds, and insects will find your food if not properly stored. Chipmunks are super adorable, right? Nope, they are sneaky and will infiltrate your vehicle through the tiniest holes to obtain a nutty snack. Meanwhile, bears might rip off your car door to get at that bag of blueberry granola. Or, worst of the worst, Ants will ruin your picnic by infesting your food stores.
Living in the tiny space of a van, truck, camper, or RV requires organization and a devout cleaning habit. Here are 3 products we highly recommend for organization and to keep critters out of your food stash for your safety and theirs. A set of 3 smell and leak proof Dry Bags for trash and recyclables, Stainless Steel leak & smell proof containers, and a Kevlar Critter Bag to keep your nuts from getting nibbled. These 3 products will provide you with an added peace of mind when you are living in the wilderness. Stay Safe, Be Organized & Keep Clean. Wildlife safety depends upon it.
7. Pick up Trash & Leave No Trace
Not all trash in the wilderness is because people are lazy or don’t care. While living outdoors, we have learned that the wind will suddenly gust, or a storm appears from out of nowhere, blowing your campsite down like the Big Bad Wolf in Little Red Riding Hood. Heck, I’ve been overtaken by a dust devil while hiking in a desert canyon. Expect items from your campsite will be blown into the wild without your knowledge. A good habit is to pick up any trash along the trails and near your campsite. If we all take ownership of cleaning the wilderness, we can keep it wild and leave no trace.
8. Have a Secure Storage Compartment outside your living space.
There are many reasons to have a secure storage compartment outside of your camper or van, but the most important reason is for toxic chemicals that may seep from gas or propane canisters. We have had several of the green propane canisters leak after use. Cody built a low profile black wooden box on top of the truck cab (see photo below), so we can safely store propane along with our dry sacks of trash & recyclables. The box is weatherproof and locks to prevent critters and thieves from helping themselves to our stuff. Best of all, if your shoes or boots get muddy, there is a temporary spot to store them until cleaning time. Although we built our box to custom fit our truck, there are many manufactured hardshell cargo carriers available. Click here to view options. Also, Amazon has a vehicle search bar to best match a cargo carrier to your make & model. (We have an affiliate relationship with Amazon and receive commissions from purchases made.)
9. Always carry a shovel, so you can bury your poo.
It’s a fact of life we all have to go number 2. In the wilderness, toilets are not available. The backcountry toilet, whether hiking or camping, is a hole in the ground. Unpleasantly, we stumbled across human feces a few times at the National Parks this summer. As more travelers are taking to the great outdoors, the more we must educate people about the Leave No Trace policy. According to LNT.org, 9 out of 10 people in the outdoors are uninformed about their impacts. Human feces can pollute water sources that wildlife depends upon for survival. Bury your waste at least 6-8 inches in the ground. A Collapsable Survival Shovel is easy to carry and fits in small spaces like a backpack or under the seat. We have found that a shovel is our most used tool for our life on the road.
Quick Overland Lifestyle Tip: Dig your hole the night before so you can rise and shine with ease.
10. Have a pair of slip on Shoes or Boots, not sandals, for nighttime nature calls.
The most miserable night’s sleep is waiting for the ambient light of dawn, to finally go the restroom. Frankly, I enjoy a late-night pee to catch a glimpse of the stars but watch out for rocks and other debris. Nothing lays you up more than a clobbered toe or foot. Simple accidents will ruin a planned day of activities. Equally concerning are snakes hunting at night during the heat of summer. A pair of cowboy boots are my nighttime slippers at any time of year. Protect your feet with an easy slip-on shoe or boot for those late-night sleepy walks to the nearest tree. View REI’s collection of slip-on boots by .
11. Only You Can Prevent Forest Fires
Fire Prevention seems so simple, but surprisingly, many of the wilderness areas we visited did not have fire restrictions even when the landscape was dry and crispy. In several deserts and grassy plains, Cody and I purposely chose not to have a fire. We left Colorado due to the smoke-filled skies from 3 mountain fires to find that eastern Utah was affected by the same smoke. Utah’s landscape is hot and dry with drought conditions, yet there were no fire restrictions in some places. Weekend campers were still having fires in the 100-degree heat while winds whipped through the stone canyons causing sparks to fly. If you intend to have a fire for anything more than mere survival, make sure to pay attention to the wind and the conditions of the surrounding landscape. The livelihood of the animals, birds, insects, reptiles, and trees depend upon your informed decisions.
12. Send your loved ones Postcards
Everyone loves getting mail, especially postcards from your travels. It is the perfect way to let someone know of their importance. Recently, my mom pulled out a box of all the postcards I’ve sent her over the years. It was a magical experience looking back at all the places I’ve visited. In the age of email and social media, a cheesy travel postcard is a compassionate act in a socially distant world. Take the time to let your family and friends know that you really do wish they were there.
If you haven’t received a postcard yet, email your address to sunshine@thebotanicaljourney.com and we’ll send some love your way.
We have affiliate relationships with many of the products we recommend and earn a commission from purchases. Thank you for your support.
Did you know that Yellowstone National Park is located above a molten hot magma chamber nearly the size of the island of Oahu?
Yes, it's true. The Yellowstone caldera that formed most of the iconic features inside Yellowstone National Park is the result of a relatively recent series of super volcanic explosions over the last 2 million years. Scientists do not agree on the origin of the volcanic hot spot but most agree the next "super" explosion will be in the far distant future.
No need to worry just yet, unless, NASA's proposed $3.46 billion dollar plan is approved to inject water at high pressure 10 kilometers down into the magma chamber to release and relieve the heat back to the Earth's surface in hopes of gaining a geothermal power source and suppressing a near-future supervolcano event.
Isn't that what the more than 10,000 naturally occurring hydrothermal features including boiling mud pots, hot springs, and 500 spewing geysers are actively doing already?
A hot spring boils (above) while a nearby geyser (below) erupts on schedule.
In the Upper Geyser Basin, where the world-famous Old Faithful geyser resides, an easy 5-mile hiking trail consisting of boardwalks and paved pathways routes visitors past gushing geysers and jewel-toned pools. Placards announce eruption times and educate viewers on the underground volcanic plumbing. Additional trails lead from the basin to less crowded backcountry geysers, rocky waterfalls, and spectacular observation points of the basin below.
The vivid colors are created by microscopic lifeforms that thrive in thermic environments.
The first European explorers to visit the Yellowstone area in the early 19th century described the landscape as "fire and brimstone." Many dismissed the reports until the Washburn expedition of 1870 spent a month exploring, observing, and collecting specimens in the Great Geyser Basin. Soon after, several members of the expedition petitioned Congress to protect the region for future generations. In 1872, Yellowstone National Park became America's and possibly the world's first national park signed into law by Ulysses S. Grant. Consequently, the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem is one of the largest nearly-intact ecosystems in the northern hemisphere.
The native grasslands of Yellowstone feed one of the oldest free-roaming bison herds in America.
Geysers, Grizzly bears, and bison are just a few of the attractions people from around the world come to enjoy. Yellowstone is a striking geological landscape filled with steam, sulfurous scents, and alpine mountains covered in a lush pine forest that conceals the sun. Hiking to grand waterfalls, jewel-toned geyser formations, or a summit overlooking the Yellowstone caldera can range from a leisurely walk to difficult terrain that requires rising early to make the summit before afternoon ridgeline storms appear.
Avalanche Peak is 10,568 feet in elevation and overlooks the eastern ridge of the Yellowstone caldera. Beyond the ridge, is Yellowstone Lake which lies directly above the molten magma chamber. In the far distance are the snowcapped peaks of the Grand Tetons.
There are over 4 million visitors to Yellowstone National Park each year. The summer months are the busiest, while much of the park is inaccessible in the winter months. Reservations for lodging or camping should be made well in advance. However, we went on a whim and were able to find free camping in the surrounding Shoshone & Brigider Teton National Forests during the peak of summer tourism. Trails and roads were crowded, but we were still able to find isolated spots to enjoy the views. There is no other place on Earth like Yellowstone. Anyone, at any age or ability, can enjoy the fascinating landscapes of Yellowstone National Park.
Standing on the edge of an ancient sea, gazing across a windswept, battered, and stacked landscape, one perceives the ebb and flow of space and time. Somehow, the intense cerulean sky above feels tangible as the brightest titanium white clouds form shapes that honor the surrounding terrain. Where waters once swirled and surged sculpting canyons and depositing sediment, life clutches to the ever-changing shores for survival against winds and lack of rain.
Angel Peak and the Kutz Canyon Badlands in Northwestern New Mexico
Ephedra or Mormon Tea creatively surviving the semi-arid terrain of the Badlands.
The formation of Badlands is the result of the deposition of sediments over time by rivers, seas, or tropical zones. Once the layers have solidified (over eons), the exposed mineral layers become subject to erosion creating stunning canyons, colorful sedimentary striations, and otherworldly landscapes.
Entering nearby Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness Area (above) was etched by natural elements creating a fantasy world of bizarre rock formations, also called hoodoos (below).
Photo by John Fowler
Cody and I spent four days exploring the Badlands. The heat was tolerable for early July, low 90's. We were the only people. Every afternoon the clouds gathered forming thunderheads releasing a soft rain and cooling breeze. In the evenings we were treated to a lightning show.
The term "badlands" refers to the difficulty traversing such landscapes, but we were quite capable on foot and by mountain bike. Due to the abundance of rattlesnakes, we traversed the terrain in the midday heat when snakes take to the shade to regulate their body temperature.
Angel Peak rises to 7000 feet and is a visible landmark for miles in every direction. We spotted the peak from the nearby town of Bloomfield, New Mexico, 21 miles away. The colorful canyon is concealed by the high plains and only revealed to those who make the journey.
On our final day, we drove 27 miles across the plains to Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness. Rain clouds filled the desert sky. The water droplets evaporated before reaching the ground. The heat was intense. Again, we were the only people. The parking area was in the middle of a high plains wilderness with a small sign hinting at the surrounding magical landscape.
We began our hike across the high mesa sage scrub. About three-quarters of a mile later, the terrain descended into a gently sloping ravine that promptly dropped into an arroyo-like canyon that was reminiscent of walking along a seashore at low tide with reef-like stones and water-carved rocks. Further into the canyon, revealed the fungal shaped hoodoos and colorful sedimentary layers associated with Badlands terrain.
Photo by John Fowler
"Bisti" is a Navajo term referring to"adobe formations." Seventy million years ago the area was a river delta of an ancient sea. At some point, a volcanic blast covered the region with ash. When the waters receded, prehistoric animals survived on the lush fertile landscape. More recently during the last ice age, glaciers covered the solidifying rock. When the glaciers receded about 6000 years ago, ice, water, and wind sculpted the sedimentary stones into the fascinating shapes seen today.
Angel Peak and Bisti Wilderness areas are open year-round and can be accessed by the nearest town of Farmington, New Mexico. There are no amenities at the parking area or anywhere around. You must come completely prepared to be on your own. Bring plenty of water as it can get very hot at any time of year. There are no trail markers and cell phone coverage is poor. Do not rely on your Maps app. Pay attention!
While we were hiking the canyon, a loud noise filled the terrain like a rock slide and we stopped to see from where it was coming. The sound continued in intensity until a dust devil was only 10 yards away and it overtook me blowing off my hat and whipping sand and rock against my skin and face. I ran about 20 feet away and then stood there watching it in awe until Cody shouted, “Go Jennifer. You said you always wanted to jump into one!”
So I ran back into it.
*The Botanical Journey is now partnered with Stay22 to provide you with easy access to lodging information at the best prices available for Hotels and Airbnb. The following map is interactive for the Angel Peak & Bisti Wilderness area. We receive a small commission for booked reservations. Thank you for your support.
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Anyone wishing to have a vacation with plenty of space away from other people and filled with hiking, sandboarding, stargazing, offroading, and exploring nature, Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve is an ideal destination for families and outdoor enthusiasts alike.
]]>The San Luis Valley basin is approximately 122 miles (196 km) long and 74 miles (119 km) wide, extending from the Continental Divide on the northwest rim into New Mexico on the south and includes the headwaters of the Rio Grande river. Across the valley at the base of the Sangre de Cristo mountains is a landmark long-established for navigating the open plain by early humans, frontier settlers, and visitors today, the Great Sand Dunes of North America.
North America's tallest sand dunes seem out of place in a high plains valley. However, it is the colossal mountain terrain that provides the sand as it washes down from seasonal melting glaciers and rains. A prevailing southwesterly wind then blows the sand across the basin into the dune field. The dunes cover an area of 30 sq mi (78 sq km). The dazzling shapes and height of the dunes are the interplay of winds rushing down the mountains against the frequent southwest winds.
Barchan sand dunes are crescent-shaped and face the wind.
Star Dune is the tallest dune at 750 feet or 229 meters.
Hiking into the dunes quickly establishes the expansive size of the landscape. Walking the sandy flat from the parking area takes nearly 15 minutes to reach the first small dune hill. During the summer months, it best to hike early in the morning before sunrise or at nighttime to view the stars because the sands can quickly heat up to 150 °F (66 °C).
Once you reach the highest peak, over an hour of trudging, sandboarding and sledding are the best ways down. Be sure to pick up a sandboard rental before arriving as all rental shops are outside the park.
By Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve- Man Sandboarding, Wikimedia
Sand in your shoes is not the only fun to be had, half of the park is a preserve in the magnificent surrounding mountains and national forest. Several hiking trails lead to alpine lakes, abandoned frontier cabins, and mountain summits reaching over 14,000 feet. The most fun we had was driving the backcountry Medano Pass primitive road through the sand, forest, and 9 different water crossings to various isolated campsites.
American Beaver Family
A young black bear with blonde coloring
The wildlife was spectacular as we witnessed American beavers building damns and a young bear frolicking in the sun and foraging for food. Hummingbirds swarmed our truck each morning as butterflies covered our clothes in the afternoon sunshine. Blue and purple columbines and delphiniums blossomed in the alpine meadows alongside golden mountain arnica and yarrow blooms.
Anyone wishing to have a vacation with plenty of space away from other people and filled with hiking, sandboarding, stargazing, offroading, and exploring nature, Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve is an ideal destination for families and outdoor enthusiasts alike.
*The Botanical Journey is now partnered with Stay22 to provide you with easy access to lodging information at the best prices available for Hotels and Airbnb. The following map is interactive for the Great Sand Dunes National Park area. We receive a small commission for booked reservations. Thank you for your support.
]]>Driving west out of Ft. Worth on a searing summers’ day, the grasslands begin their undulating journey to the horizon in all directions. Shimmering heat blurs any details of the landscape into a barren countryside. Horses, cattle, corn, and wheat dominate the scene where the Great Plains once flourished.
Fifteen percent or nearly a billion acres of grassland prairies covered North America only 200 years ago stretching from Canada to Southern Texas. Today less than 1 percent of native vegetation remains, making the Great American Prarie one of the most endangered ecosystems on Earth.
It is difficult to inspire a global movement to save this "desolate" looking ecosystem.
How Grasslands are Formed
Grasslands are found all around the globe but mostly in the center of continental landmasses. These 'middle' regions of continents are typically semi-arid zones that are less affected by ocean moisture. Rainfall is often scant or seasonal resulting in dryer periods or even drought.
The formation of the Great Plains began 50 million years ago when 2 continental plates collided and uplifted the landscape to form the Rocky Mountains. The newly elevated mountains created a rain shadow from the Pacific ocean moisture down the middle of North America. Then during the last ice age, glaciers advanced southward scraping the landscape and leveling the terrain. When glaciers retreated about 10,000 years ago, the melting ice sheets deposited 'till' or a glacial sedimentary mix of small rocks and pebbles with fine silt and sand. This soil type, the lack of rain, and constant winds across a flat landscape host an environment ideal for tough deep-rooted grasses to grow.
A wild pronghorn antelope on the grassy plains. Pronghorns are the fastest land mammal in North America and can reach speeds of up to 60 mph.
Native bison roamed the American prairies in the tens of millions before settlers pushed west into the Great Plains. Now numbering less than a million, the remaining American bison herds are privately owned and managed.
"On the plains the senses expand and man begins to realize the magnificence of being" ~Col. Richard Irving Dodge, Hunting Grounds of the West
The Importance of Praire Grasses
Prairie ecosystems are suited to the uncertainty of the climate conditions. Grasses grow deep roots, several feet or more, into the Earth stabilizing the soil and protecting it from erosion. These fibrous deep roots grow and decay seasonally due to lack of rain and/or winter weather adding more organic matter and carbon to the soil year after year. Undisturbed grasslands are massive carbon sinks helping to store excess carbon from the atmosphere. Additionally, most of the biodiversity in a prairie is underground in the form of microbial activity which increases soil fertility. Unfortunately, the high fertility of grassland soils is what makes it vulnerable to habitat loss.
America's Farmland
Life was hard for the settlers on the plains. Rain and water were scarce and the deep fibrous roots of the prairie grasses were untillable. Until 1837 when an early American blacksmith, John Deere, invented the steel plow that was tough enough to cut through the prairie. Since the mid-1800s, agriculture has uprooted millions of acres of native grasses for food production. However, in the 21st century, the Great Plains is under attack from an industry believing itself to be the harbinger of sustainability and the eco-movement.
Biofuels
In late 2007, the Energy Independence and Security Act was signed into law with a federal biofuel policy stating "that domestic transportation fuel sold or introduced into commerce, on an annual average basis, contains a specified volume of renewable fuel, advanced biofuel, cellulosic biofuel, and biomass-based diesel"(https://www.congress.gov/bill/110th-congress/house-bill/6).
What seemed like an eco-friendly idea has now wiped millions of acres of undisturbed natural grasslands in favor of corn and soy biofuel production. Clearing the native grasses causes habitat loss for critical species of plants and animals, as well as, emits tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere while contributing to soil erosion, flooding, and drought. Ever heard of the Dust Bowl?
Thankfully there is a solution that does not include a doomsday ending.
A ten-year study conducted by scientists at the University of Minnesota investigated abandoned and degraded agricultural fields in the northern plains that were returned to native perennial grasses "as a way to increase the environmental benefit of biofuels." The study found that moderate treatments of nitrogen and irrigation to native prairie grasses resulted in a biomass yield of 6 tons per hectare (2.2 acres) versus 8 tons from corn production. However, researchers argue that the large amount of carbon storage coupled with restored habitat for wildlife resulted in a higher overall greenhouse gas savings when converted to bioenergy (https://phys.org/news/2019-01-sustainable-bioenergy-native-prairies-abandoned.html).
How Can You Help
Prairie restoration projects are happening all across the United States. Many need help propagating seeds on-site or in your own backyard. Once the grasses sprout, volunteers plant the seedlings in larger containers until more volunteers come to transplant the maturing grass into a prepared prairie site. Check the National Grasslands website for volunteer opportunities. Also, many local nature centers and botanical gardens need volunteers to help in prairie restoration efforts including seed collection or hosting garden groups.
Another fun way to help restore biodiversity to your area is to grow a pocket prairie in your own backyard. Last spring, I converted a corner of my mother's yard into native grasses and wildflowers. In less than 6 months, owls, hawks, opossums, pollinators, woodpeckers, a rosy wolf snail, and many other native species quickly found the restored habitat. When people visit her garden, the dancing grasses, abundant flowers, and bouncing butterflies impress even those who favor the indoors.
The Great Plains may look desolate barreling down the interstate from the car windows but upon closer inspection, saving the American Prairie may be just the thing we need to inspire hope and unify a vision for a brighter future.
]]>My mother reads from the left column downward, 1, 3, 2. Could it be a system of counting?
More than 21,000 etchings decorate nearly 50 acres of rocky outcrops in south-central New Mexico's Chihuahuan Desert. Three Rivers Petroglyph Site is one of the largest concentrations of rock art in the Southwest. The area is managed by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management which set aside the site "solely because of the rock art." Removing part of a rock’s surface to reveal a distinct image creates petroglyphs. The glyphs at Three Rivers were produced between 900 and 1400 AD by peoples of the Jornada Mogollon culture. The inhabitants of the region are believed to be distinctly different from the Ancestral Puebloans from the Four Corners region. Also nearby is a trail to the remains of a Mogollon village.
Gazing at this face with earrings feels like a glimpse into the past.
In Jornada Mogollon rock art, the creators cleverly use the texture of the rocks. The nodule in this rock is used for the bighorn sheep's eye.
Visitors can access many fascinating petroglyphs along a rough half-mile trail. A trail guide informs viewers about the various glyphs at numbered markers along the way. However, there are numerous designs, patterns, and figures all over the rocks.
Hikers are encouraged to wander the area watching out for rattlesnakes. Visitors will enjoy sweeping views of the surrounding Sacramento Mountains to the east with Sierra Blanca Peak rising to 11,973 feet. To the west, a puzzling white haze obscures the Tularosa Basin below the San Andres mountain range. Maps along the trail outline the views and mountain peaks explaining the geological history of the region and the windblown cloudy haze from White Sands National Monument 30 miles to the southwest.
My mother and I were able to view rock art easily but with caution. Several craggy areas may require assistance for small children or the elderly. The petroglyph site can be enjoyed in a couple of hours. Additional trails into the mountains and the Lincoln National Forest are nearby.
The cloudy haze of windblown gypsum from White Sands National Monument.
Three Rivers Petroglyphs combines some of my favorite things; archeology, geology, hiking, and art. I believe the tangible nature of the site will inspire both children and adults' curiosity about the ancients.
The petroglyph trail is open year-round and is located in New Mexico off US HWY 54. The site is approximately two & a half hours south of Albuquerque. A daily entrance fee of $5 cash per vehicle or $7 for camping is required. The tiny visitor's office was not able to make any change. Several groups waited in the parking lot until other cars arrived with change or simply paid a higher fee as a donation.
Lodgings are available in the nearby towns of Tularosa and Alamogordo. Bring plenty of water, sunscreen, and a hat to enjoy the stimulating landscape.
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Chaco Canyon inhabits nearly 34,000 acres in northwestern New Mexico's high desert. To reach the canyon requires 20 miles along a rough dirt road. Eager to visit I convinced my mother to tour the ruins in early autumn when the weather conditions were ideal. After exiting the busy Interstate 40, we found ourselves rather quickly traveling down a desolate desert highway. Nearly an hour later, a modest sign points us in the right direction. Slowing to a near halt, we gaze upon an endless barren road stretching to the horizon. Hesitant, we looked around with only one option.
The first few miles my mother drove cautiously until we realized that it would take more than an hour to reach the park entrance. We increased our speed through the dry dusty plains and to our surprise the rutted road softened. Soon after, iconic Fajada Butte appeared around the final bend.
Fajada Butte rises 135 meters or 442 feet from the canyon floor. Petroglyphs, pottery, and cliff dwellings have been found, as well as, a constructed long ramp leading to the upper regions of the butte.
Humans have inhabited the San Juan Basin surrounding the canyon for over 10,000 years. Between 850 - 1150 C.E., Chaco Canyon was a major center of culture for the Ancient Pueblo people who constructed the elaborate multi-storied "Great House" structures. Chacoans utilized the movements of the rising and setting sun and moon in the placement and design of the structures. Due to long winters, hot, dry summers and the remoteness, the sites at Chaco Canyon are believed by archaeologists to be for periodic ceremonial use rather than habitation. Likewise, today there are no lodgings only camping for the few intrepid souls who journey the unpaved roads to reach the canyon.
My mother and I hiking the ruins of Chetro Ketl.
We arrive in time for the Park Ranger's tour of Chetro Ketl, the second largest stone structure in the Southwest. The original construction was a single story large room. By the 12th century, nearly one hundred years later, intricate buildings covered 3 acres with over 500 rooms and 3 stories high, including a subterranean Kiva. In modern Puebloan cultures, kivas are used for religious worship, dance, prayer, and other public activities. Ceremonial items like beads, as well as, pictographs were found during excavation. Our enthusiastic guide, Jackson Lincoln remarks, "It's kinda ironic the artifacts were uncovered to be reburied in boxes." According to the National Parks' website more than a million Chacoan artifacts have been excavated and are stored in museums.
The Great House of Chetro Ketl.
Ceremonial Kiva at Chetro Ketl
Inside the Chetro Ketl Kiva is 29 niches or recesses believed to correlate with the phases of the moon. Studies of the archaeoastronomy of Chaco Canyon sites by the Solstice Project reveal the north and south walls of Chetro Kelt in perfect alignment with an 18-year lunar cycle. During this cycle, the moon will rise and set along its most southerly point on the horizon known as a minimum moon and roughly 9 years later will reach its most northerly point on the horizon known as a maximum moon. A full cycle is 18.6 years and referred to as a Lunar Standstill. The south and north walls of Chetro Ketl and other sites in the canyon align exactly with the transit of the minimum and maximum moons. Most impressive is that the moon's setting points on the horizon are not visible due to the canyon walls.
The northern wall of Chetro Ketl aligns with the maximum moon of the 18.6-year lunar cycle. March 7th, 2025 the moon will reach its next maximum.
Chaco Canyon was at the center of an ancient world for over 100 years. At its height, the scale of the main buildings inside the canyon would have rivaled the grandeur of the Roman Colosseum. Over 12 generations of people walked 200 miles of well-engineered roads to reach Chaco Canyon. The specific purpose of this magnificent city remains a mystery. However, archeologists recognize the Chacoan complex as a sublime colossal timepiece important to the ancient people of the Southwest. Today, many Pueblo people consider the area to be sacred and a part of their history.
The isolation of the area has won Chaco Canyon the designation of an International Dark Sky Park. Later that evening, my mother and I pull to the side of the road to view the night sky. Above our heads was the brilliant spiraling arm of the Milky Way galaxy. Nearly 80 percent of Americans and a third of the world can no longer see our galaxy at night. To the ancients, our civilization would be lost.
Milky Way by Clarisse Meyer
*** Chaco Canyon is under attack from Oil & Gas leases for fracking. Please visit the WildEarthGuardians.org to find out how you can help.
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The next morning my mother and I awake before dawn eager to catch the Super Moon setting over a shimmering sea of white gypsum. Approaching the entrance to White Sands, the surrounding desert landscape does not impress. The native grasses and small scrub brush-covered hills conceal nearly 275 square miles of gypsum sand dunes. The only evidence is in the glimmering fog suspended above.
Super Moon setting over White Sands, New Mexico.
As the sun begins to rise, the gypsum haze changes to dusty rose and lilac. The moon sinks deeper into an icy landscape. We step onto the crunchy surface and pull our jackets closed against a wintery chill that has caught our breath and not from the cold air, but rather, the snowy white scene that unfolds to the horizon.
And so the trail begins into the ever-shifting sand dunes reaching to the horizon.
White Sand’s National Monument is the world’s largest gypsum dune field created over 250 million years ago. During this time all of the Earth’s landmasses were one colossal supercontinent and the shallow Permian Sea covered the southwestern portion of the United States. Gypsum and other minerals were deposited on the seafloor through a series of rising and falling sea levels.
As the Earth’s tectonic plates shifted and collided over millions of years, the gypsum seafloor lifted forming mountains. Eventually, the continual shifting of the Earth's plates pulled the western San Andres range (below) from the eastern Sacramento Mountains, and the Tularosa Basin was formed 30 million years ago.
San Andres Mountain Range
During the last Ice Age, beginning 24,000 years ago, snow and rain flowed down the mountains carrying gypsum deposits. The water also created a lake. After the Ice Age, the climate became warm and dry evaporating the lake and as the wind carried silt and clay from the ground's surface, gypsum crystals were exposed. The large crystals were eroded into sand by freezing and thawing snows. The regional southwest winds move the gypsum grains inches at a time to the northeast creating the billowing white haze and undulating snow-white sand dunes.
White Sands National Monument from a 30-mile distance.
Snow white dunes close up.
White Sands National Monument is open daily. Hours vary due to road closures and missile testing. Click here for more information. Do not miss nearby Three Rivers Petroglyphs, where you can view hundreds of ancient rock carvings along a short trail. You can also enjoy the elevated view of the billowing white haze of White Sands National Monument. Both White Sands and Three Rivers are easily accessible by automobile. All ages and abilities can walk the terrain. Learn more by clicking here .
]]>According to native legend, in 1250 C.E., a nomadic tribe known as the Mexica entered the Basin of Mexico searching for fertile valley land. The local Culhuacan people allowed the tribe to settle on a piece of land and in return, the Mexica would assist in battle. A daughter of the Culhuacan king was appointed to rule over the Mexica. She was sacrificed and the Mexica were driven from the land into Lake Texcoco, where an eagle perched on a nopal cactus was spotted on an island in the middle of the lake. On that island in 1325, one of the oldest capital cities in the Americas was born, Tenochtitlan (teh-nohch-tit-lan) or present-day Mexico City. Here the Mexica later named the Aztecs by the Spanish, constructed a mighty Mesoamerican empire stretching 80,000 square miles from the Pacific to the Gulf of Mexico and reaching as far south as Guatemala. Nearly 25 million people were subjects of Aztec rule. Taxation, manual labor, and human sacrifice would be the successful engineering of a grand floating city and the demise of a brutal empire.
An idealized image of Tenochtitlan in a large scale fresco by Diego Rivera in the Palacio Nacional in Mexico City, painted in 1941-1952, photo by J.Trandell.
A modern view of the central plaza of Tenochtitlan, photo by C. Jones.
The Cathedral of Mexico (left) sits atop an ancient Aztec Temple, Templo Mayor. The National Palace (background) is built on top of the palace of Moctezuma II, the ruler of the Mexica during the arrival of the Spanish. The Mexican Presidential offices and treasury currently reside in the Palacio Nacional, as well as, 11 large scale frescoes depicting the History of Mexico as painted by the Mexican muralist Diego Rivera.
Both mountains and volcanoes surround the Valley of Mexico. Volcanic rocks are less dense and lighter weight construction material. Life in the middle of a lake presented challenges like subsidence or sinking foundations. The early Mexica inhabitants engineered 30 feet long by 4 inch wide wooden piers to be inserted into the stable earth beneath the shallow lake bed. Masons then built upon the stabilized foundation piers massive temples and other structures with light-weight volcanic rock cemented together with limestone plaster.
Behind the Cathedral is an ongoing excavation of the Great Pyramid of Tenochtitlan. The entrance fee includes the Templo Mayor Museum and the archaeological site.
In 1978 a local power company digging a trench near the Palacio Nacional unearthed a massive stone carving that lead to the eventual discovery of the great Tenochtitlan pyramid, Templo Mayor. The volcanic rock and limestone plaster used to construct the temple remains intact nearly 600 years later. Like the Spanish conquerors who constructed a new city atop the Aztec buildings, so did the Mexica build upon the older structures as the empire expanded. The Templo Mayor was constructed during the zenith of the empire in the late 15th century. The base of the pyramid is believed to be 240 ft x 300 ft and 15 stories high. To complete the great temple would have required a massive amount of manpower and plenty of human sacrifice.
Unearthed stairs at the Templo Mayor archaeological site in Mexico City.
Archaeologists have determined through historical and empirical data that the empires of Central America did not have beasts of burden or the use of the wheel. Heavy rocks and lumber were carried by men across mountains and deserts. In the formation of the island city of Tenochtitlan, canoes carried goods and freshwater to the early inhabitants. Eventually, the building of grand temples and other massive structures required other means for resources to reach the island. Miles of wide causeways, aqueducts, and levees were engineered creating a sophisticated ancient city. As the empire grew through military expansion, men, women, and children were seized or traded from the newly acquired provinces. Tens of thousands of men were needed for building construction and as military soldiers. Women, children, as wells as, men were used in ritual human sacrifice. During the excavation of the Templo Mayor, a great wall of human skulls was unearthed confirming native legends of the Mexica's thirst for blood.
Wall of skulls in situ (above) and a wall of unearthed skulls on display inside the museum (below.)
As the population of the island city grew, so did the need for food. Artificial floating gardens or chinampas were utilized in the shallower lakes to the southwest of the capital. Agricultural floating islands were created from woven reeds and piled with mud and earth. Organic matter from the vegetation and moisture from the lake provided an intensive and highly productive form of farming. Fruits, vegetables, and other produce were ferried by raft or canoe to the capital. Many of these floating gardens have taken root and are now permanent islands creating a system of canals about an hour south of Mexico City.
'Chinampas' or floating gardens were created for agriculture during the Mexica empire. An idealized view of the gardens as painted by Mexican muralist Diego Rivera in the Palacio Nacional in Mexico City.
Today the area is known as Xochimilco, where locals continue to cultivate and sell plants, produce, and flowers. Visitors can rent colorful 'trajineras' or gondola style boats to cruise the remnants of a vast water transit system built by the Aztecs. The atmosphere is festive with plenty of stops for food, drink, and plants.
Colorful 'trajineras' cruise the canals once used by the Aztecs, photo by Anagoria at Wikimedia commons.
Cody, a local friend, and I arrived at Xochimilco near dusk, as vendors were closing and traveling home for the day.
When Spanish conqueror, Hernán Cortés, arrived on the Yucatan peninsula in March 1519, the Mexica empire was at its height. Hundreds of miles of roads traversed the countryside with relay runners reporting news daily to the 'tlatoani' or ruler in Tenochtitlan. The arrival of eleven floating mountains (ships) and over 500 men with strange beasts (horses) was reported immediately to Moctezuma II in his resplendent island palace. As Cortés made his way toward the magnificent capital city, the ruler and his nobles knew the Spaniards every move. However, due to the empire's unrestrained quest for land, resources, and blood to appease the gods, many of the natives were eager to assist Cortés and his men in defeating the great Aztec ruler and his empire. In over the course of a year including six months living inside Tenochtitlan, Hernán Cortés, his army, and over 100,000 locals defeated the Aztec empire through blockading food and water to the island, winning hard-fought battles on land and in the lake to the eventual triumph over the citizens of Tenochtitlan. On August 13, 1521, Tenochtitlan was claimed for the crown of Spain becoming officially known as Ciudad de México, Mexico City.
A map of the Valley of Mexico when the Spanish arrived. The greater metropolitan area of Mexico City with its 21 million people resides above the now drained lake beds. The city is currently sinking approximately 3 feet per year. Map provided by Madman2001 at Wikimedia commons
In Mexico City, a visit to the Museo Nacional de Antropología or National Museum of Anthropology is essential. The museum is located in Chapultepec Park, the Aztec term for grasshopper. The prosperous area is home to one of the largest urban parks in the western hemisphere and was once a native forest used by the early inhabitants of the Valley of Mexico. Inside the museum, a vast collection of ancient artifacts and pre-Columbian art are on display from the great empires of Mexico and Mesoamerica including the enormous 24 ton stone carving of the Aztec Calendar or "Stone of the Sun."
Carved from a single rock of basalt, the monolithic sculpture was buried by the Spanish conquerors and rediscovered in 1790 during repairs on the Mexico City Cathedral. Although archaeologists do not agree on the exact use, many believe it was used as a ceremonial ritual altar. In the center is a solar deity with a sacrificial knife tongue as clawed hands on either side hold human hearts. The quadrants and glyphs refer to solar eras of time and Mexica cosmology with Tenochtitlan as the center of the universe. Today the calendar stone image is a symbol of cultural identity, as is the Mexica legend of an eagle on a cactus holding a serpent that proudly flies on the Mexican Flag.
Bandera de México, The Mexican Flag
Mexico City is an ancient and modern marvel of art, architecture, and culture. The vibrant city is filled with welcoming, spirited people proud of their collective history. Everyone we met was enthusiastic to share their knowledge and helped direct our mission of discovering an ancient empire hidden among a modern bustling metropolis.
*The Botanical Journey is now partnered with Stay22 to provide you with easy access to lodging information at the best prices available for Hotels and Airbnb. We receive a small commission for booked reservations. Thank you for your support.
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Lucky for the Texian Army on April 21, 1836, nature worked in their favor during one of the most decisive battles in American History, the battle of San Jacinto. The war for Texas Independence was launched only 6 months prior in response to a decade of political and cultural turmoil with the Mexican government, including a new aggressive policy toward Texas immigration and immigrants.
The first American settlers to coastal Texas observed a vast extensive prairie extending from western Louisiana to South Texas. “Think of seeing a tract of land on a slight incline covered with flowers and rich meadow grass for 12-20 miles,” reports John Brook an early settler.
Coastal Prairie along the Texas seashore
Those extensive tracts of meadow grasses attracted the early settlers. The rich fertile soil below was ideal for farming and the grasses exceptional for raising cattle. After Mexico won its independence from Spain in 1821, the fledgling country was unable to control far-flung borders like the territory of Texas. In the beginning, American settlers were welcomed to help stabilize the region. As more Anglo immigrants arrived by the thousands, an aggressive sentiment arose changing Mexican policy and erupting into a revolution.
In October 1835, a skirmish at the town of Gonzales between mostly American settlers and Mexican soldiers ended with the soldiers retreating and the campaign for independence commenced. Over the next few months, battles were fought with small victories for the Texian volunteer army. By December 1835, Mexican President-General Antonio López de Santa Ana signed over his presidential power to lead over 6000 soldiers to defeat the rebels. Before leaving, General Santa Ana authorized by an act of Mexican Congress, the Tornel Decree, declaring any foreigners fighting against Mexican troops "will be deemed pirates and dealt with as such." Essentially, there would be no prisoners of war all would be killed. Over the next few months, Santa Ana marched his troops north defeating the Texian rebels at the bloody battles of Goliad and the Alamo. Several more brutal defeats found the Texian Army retreating east toward the U.S. border of Louisiana to the final battle of the Texas Revolution.
Reenactments soldiers: General Sam Houston in the middle with black boots and a sombrero. Photo at San Jacinto Day ceremonies April 21, 2017 by Cody Jones
"We view ourselves on the eve of battle. We are nerved for the contest, and must conquer or perish. It is vain to look for present aid: none is at hand. We must now act or abandon all hope!" -General Sam Houston, April 19, 1836
Camped in the woods along Buffalo Bayou, the volunteers for the 930 strong Texian Army awaited their final battle. The Mexican army led by General Santa Ana camped only a mile away across the prairie awaiting reinforcements. On the morning of April 21 around 9:00 am additional Mexican soldiers arrived. Drums and cries of joy erupted from the enemy camp. Mid-morning General Sam Houston called a war council to ascertain whether the Texian army should attack or wait to be attacked in their cover of trees. The vote won in favor of waiting.
Unknown to the Texian Army was the Mexican reinforcements had marched through the night without rest or food and Santa Ana’s troops by midday were allowed to relax.
"Since I was worn out from having spent the morning on horseback and had not slept the night before, I lay down in the shade of some trees while the troops were preparing their meals." -General Santa Ana, April 21, 1836
The Texian Army was described by Benjamin Cromwell Franklin, a captain of 9 volunteers from Galveston arriving in time for battle, "Immediately on my landing,...around some twenty or thirty camp-fires stood as many groups of men, English, Scotch, French, Germans, Italian, Poles, Yankees, Mexicans all unwashed, unshaven for months, their long hair, beard and mustaches, ragged and matted, their clothes in tatters, and plastered with mud. In a word, a more savage band could have scarcely been assembled." Photo provided by the San Jacinto Museum
A mile-long prairie of tall grass rising at the far end beyond which the Mexican Army slept lay before the Texian Army. A profound silence filled the battleground by the afternoon. The Texians gathered to attack. At 4:00 p.m. General Houston ordered, “Trail arms! Forward!” The troops silently pushed forward concealed by tall prairie grasses. They advanced undetected including two heavy cannons under cover of grass until 200 yards from the enemy camp. The left-wing regiment of Colonel Sidney Sherman crept through the woods along a marsh flanking the prairie. Col. Sherman’s troops encountered the first Mexican guards 100 yards from the enemy camp. The first shots were fired. The Mexican army was caught off guard and tried to mount a resistance. Once Sherman’s regiment entered the camp the makeshift defense wall was powerless and under 20 minutes the Mexican soldiers retreated including officers and General Santa Ana. While fleeing, the enemy again suffered from another natural feature, a ravine obscured by lush green grass and a marsh below. Here the horses, mules, and soldiers began sinking into the muddy mire and the Texas Army avenged their fallen brothers. Shouting, “Remember the Alamo!” and “Remember Goliad!” as a reminder to take no prisoners.
A map of the battleground from the Texas Parks & Wildlife battleground brochure.
Every year there is a reenactment of the final battle of the Texas Revolution at the San Jacinto Monument, the original battleground site. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department manage the historic site. Together with volunteers from the Texas Master Naturalists active restoration of the tallgrass prairie and surrounding wetlands are bringing history back to life. The San Jacinto Monument stands 567 feet high and is open 9-6 daily. The battle reenactment starts at 3:00 p.m. on the Saturday closest to April 21st.
Current prairie restoration efforts by TPWD & volunteers from the Texas Master Naturalists. Thank you to Boyd Harris of TPWD for the interpretive natural tour of the battlegrounds. Immense gratitude to Dianne Powell for arranging our visits and the official invitation to the San Jacinto Day Ceremony.
]]>Peering into the heart of an agave rosette. Photo credit by Erol Ahmed
Agaves like cacti are native to the Americas with over 200 species. Maguey, pronounced 'mah gay', is the largest of the agave species growing as tall as 8 feet in a distinctive rosette form with massive bluish to green leaves. Also known falsely as the century plant, maguey can live for nearly 2 decades gathering water along its long, leaf funnels while absorbing carbon dioxide in its stomata (leaf pores) from the cool night desert air. All the water and carbohydrates are stored for one single life ending purpose, a botanical bloom stalk reaching up to 30 feet high.
Flowering bloom spike of a maguey. Photo credit by By Thomas Brown (Maguey Flower (Agave americana)), via Wikimedia Commons
Agave was an important resource to many native Americans, however, it was the people of the central valley of Mexico that venerated the wild succulent for its diverse abilities to provide food, fiber, shelter, paper, soap, and a ritual drink known as 'pulque' for the ancient civilization of Teotihuacan, the City of the Gods.
Pulque tasting outside of the Teotihuacan Pyramid site.
A coconut-like sweet fermented drink is collected from the honey water seeping from the cut leaves into the heart of the agave. Nearly a gallon a day of 'aguamiel' or honey water is collected for up to 6 months. In less than 24 hours fermentation begins and that is the sacred ritual drink known as pulque. Scientific studies have shown pulque to be a nutritious libation containing proteins, amino acids, vitamins, minerals, pro and prebiotics. Legend has it that the life-giving blood of the goddess Mayahuel is aguamiel from the heart of the maguey.
Before the agave expends all its energy to flower, the maguey plant is harvested for the honey water. Above is a descriptive image of how early natives removed aguamiel from the heart of the maguey using a long gourd. Photo by Casimiro Castro (1826-1889) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
Before arriving at the pyramids of Teotihuacan 40 km northeast of Mexico City, Cody and I visited a farm where tourists can glimpse the past. We were able to observe how the ancient people utilized the giant agave to build the largest metropolis of the New World rivaling the size of Imperial Rome during the same time period, the first century to the 6th century A.D. The fiber from the maguey leaf was braided into nets or a strong cord for rope. The early peoples of Mesoamerica did not have beasts of burden and had only stone-age tools. The massive pyramids of the site were built on the backs of men with the use of agave fiber.
A massive maguey being hauled by a tow truck.
Pulling the fiber fresh from the agave leaf.
These strands of fiber are used for weaving cloth or braided to make nets or rope.
The ancient city of Teotihuacan was over 20 square kilometers laid out on a perfect grid of long avenues from north to south. This ancient metropolis was larger than Imperial Rome (same time period) with a multiethnic population of over 150,000 people from all over Mesoamerica. The fibers of the maguey plant helped to build the massive pyramids, as there were no beasts of burden and only stone-age tools.
When the Aztec's rediscovered the massive pyramid ruins nearly a millennium later, they believed it to be the birthplace of the gods naming the area Teotihuacan or the place of the gods. Archeologists date the construction of the massive pyramid complex to the 1st and 2nd centuries AD. Teotihuacan is the first megacity of the Americas reaching its zenith in the third and fourth century. There are no written historical records or ideograms left behind to tell the story, only artistic murals leave clues. Surprisingly, inscriptions at Maya sites further south in Guatemala and Honduras like Tikal and Copán relate stories of the Teotihuacan people. The cultural diffusion of the Teotihuacan building style and cosmic belief system influenced the early Maya and can be observed in the later pyramid structures, the worship of an underworld and a feathered serpent god, named Kulkulkan to the classic Maya.
The Temple of the Feathered Serpent at Teotihuacan. Similar carvings and reliefs can be found on later Maya pyramids.
The Temple of the Feathered Serpent is situated at the heart of Teotihuacan. Recent excavations have revealed an underground tunnel leading below the center of the temple. Archeologists were hoping to find an important tomb but instead found an underworld filled with pyrite star covered walls with hollowed out channels that were once filled with water. Puzzled at first, then later realizing it may be a metaphor for their creation myth.
Water flows from the underworld through the mountain creating life. This mural is from the Tepantitla site outside of the main pyramid complex.
Teotihuacan was an important center to the ancient Americas. Artifacts specific to the area, such as green obsidian, are found throughout Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras. People traveled from all over Mesoamerica to visit the metropolis. Interestingly, there are no defense walls leading archeologists to conclude that the ancient Mesoamericans believed the site to have an important sacred significance, just as the Aztecs believed. Today, Teotihuacan is the most visited archeological site in the Americas. Next time you see an agave, give a nod in honor of the maguey goddess, Mayahuel, whose life-giving blood and fibers helped mankind build an astonishing ancient empire.
Atop of the Pyramid of the Sun with the Pyramid of the Moon in the background. Over 20 stories high, it was quite a hike up to the top!
These maguey fibers are dyed using plant pigments and then woven into colorful designs for blankets, tablecloths and other items. To see the loom in action visit our YouTube channel, The Botanical Journey or click the link below.
Here are a couple of fascinating resources I found while researching for this article.
The first is a 1958 Ralph Adams production about maguey and Teotihuacan. Only 11 minutes long in a classic Hollywood style and worth watching to see the ancient technique of braiding the fibers into cord and rope at 5:15. Maguey: The Plant of a Thousand Uses
The second is a PBS documentary from 2016 and the uncovering of the tunnel beneath the Temple of the Feathered Serpent. 54 minutes long including the most recent findings and ideas about the ancient metropolis. Teotihuacan's Lost Secrets of the Dead
Last but not least, A minute long video from The Botanical Journey's YouTube channel of a demonstration of the agave fiber loom in action. Agave Fiber Weave
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In 2018 the spectacular ruins of Tulum became the second most visited archeological site in Mexico surpassing Chichén Itzá. Over seventy-five percent of the annual visitors are foreigners. Cody and I visited the Yucatán peninsula in late October for our honeymoon enjoying the turquoise crystal waters of the Caribbean Sea. We stayed in a cozy coastal cabana on a private cove inside Tulum National Park. On our 3rd day, we grabbed 2 beach cruiser bicycles and pedaled a couple kilometers through the jungle-covered mangroves to the entrance of Tulum ruins.
To avoid crowds, stay at a hotel inside Parque Nacional Tulum to arrive earlier than the tour groups and busses.
When the first explorers sailed past the eastern coasts of the Yucatán peninsula 500 years ago, a shallow reef system protected the coastline limiting access. By the time the Spanish arrived in the New World, the great Maya political complexes of the Classical period had dissolved leaving the magnificent cities abandoned and dividing the remaining native people into smaller warring provinces. The location of the splendid coastal fortress of Tulum perched atop cliffs and surrounded by a 5-meter thick defense wall fostered the establishment of a powerful Postclassic Maya city-state controlling maritime commerce from the Gulf of Mexico to Honduras.
The Temple of the Wind is believed to have aided in the maneuvers of embarking and disembarking canoes visiting a central marketplace located at Tulum.
Tales of gold and other riches encouraged the adventures of the early Spanish conquistadors. In 1518, Juan Diaz, aboard a Spanish ship, describes the first European encounter of the coastal watchtowers and impressive pyramid city of Tulum as he sails past in the azure waters while writing the Itinerary of the navy of the Catholic King to the island of Yucatan, in India, the year 1518 (translated below.)
Friday to May 7- We began to discover the island of Yucatan.- This day we left this island called Santa Cruz, and we went to the island of Yucatan crossing fifteen miles of gulf. Arriving at the coast we saw three large towns that were separated about two miles from each other, and you could see in them many stone houses and very large towers, and many thatched houses. We would like to enter these places if the captain had allowed it; but having denied it, we ran day and night along this coast, and the next day, near the sunset, we saw very far a town or village so big, that the city of Seville could not seem greater or better; and there was a very large tower in it. Many Indians walked along the coast with two flags that rose and fell, signaling us to come closer; but the captain did not want to. This day we came to a beach that was next to a tower, the highest we had seen, and we could see a very large town; there were many rivers on the land. We discovered a wide entrance surrounded by logs, made by fishermen, where the captain went down to land; and in all this land we do not find where to continue coasting or move on; so we made sail and we went out where we had entered.
Tulum in 2018 is pictured from above looking to the northeast. The native name of the site is believed to be Zama or 'Dawn' reflecting the east-west alignment of the buildings. Photo by Dronepicr, wikimedia.org
Map of Mesoamerica in the year 1671 (wikimedia.org). More than 150 years after the first written account of Tulum, the eastern Yucatán coast remains unknown. There are no known records of the site until 1840 when an inspector for the Spanish crown, Jose de Galvez, gathered information for a royal policy to increase crown revenues.
The shallow reef system protecting the Maya inhabitants from the Spanish explorers is known as the Mesoamerican reef and stretches from the northern tip of the Yucatán peninsula to the Gulf of Honduras. Tulum's location afforded the stone fortress control of both coastal and Yucatán land routes. Large canoes traveled the sea and an extensive river system marked by temples and towers functioning as navigational aids and in locating fresh water sources. Trade items from all over Mesoamerica have been found at the coastal archeological site including jade from Guatemala, copper, gold, turquoise, and obsidian from the mountains of Mexico, with salt and lime powder as the primary goods of exportation from the Yucatán. As the goods flowed, so did the exchange of ideas resulting in a cultural diffusion that is represented in the architecture, art, and belief systems of the late Maya.
A Maya mural depicting maritime trade at the nearby site of Chichén Itzá.
The walled city of Tulum was believed to be ruled by a priestly class due to the large number of shrines, altars, temples, and spiritual murals found throughout the site. The surrounding wall is believed by historians to be a social class barrier rather than a defense wall. As the Maya dynastic families of the Classical period lost power due to drought, famine, fires, and war, a new ruling class emerged in the Postclassic period wielding power through religion and sacrifice to appease the gods.
El Castillo is the tallest structure situated high on the cliffs above the sea. Although referred to as 'the castle,' it never functioned as one. The building was constructed at various stages in different time periods. The later addition of the top story as a temple includes the heads of a feathered serpent as influenced by the Toltecs of central Mexico.
Temple of the Frescoes is believed to have served both social and religious functions including an observatory and as a pilgrimage site for Maya women. The temple is located in the center of the site and includes many carved niches of a "diving god" or possibly Venus. Other adorning symbols relate to fertility including flowers, fruit, ears of corn and intertwining serpents. Photo by Carlos Delgado
Tulum is a sacred site. Many of the smaller buildings functioned as shrines or miniature temples often aligned with the heavens or near an important resource like fresh water. Altars are found throughout the various structures. Historians believe offerings were made as a means of connecting with the other worlds and deities.
The Maya were great astronomers and mathematicians accurately predicting celestial events in the future and the past. The most general word for a Yucatec high priest appears to have been ah k'in or 'calendrical priest'. When the Spanish Franciscan missionaries arrived in the late 16th century tasked with converting the indigenous of Mexico and the Yucatán to the Catholic faith, a grouping of texts was created, the Books of Chilam Balam, documenting the Maya religious traditions, ceremonies, and daily life. A great deal of information specifically pertains to the ancient Mayan calendar and the priests who maintained it. The Spanish used these documents to undermine and weaken the Yucatán Maya society contributing to the eventual abandonment of Tulum and other Maya sites.
Explorer John Lloyd Stevens and artist Frederick Catherwood visited Tulum publishing this lithograph in a book about their voyage in 1843. wikimedia.org
Although the Spanish were able to conquer much of the New World, the Maya of the Yucatán held much of the jungled Carribean coast until the 20th century. During the Caste War of Yucatán, from 1847 -1901, Tulum's ruins became a rebel outpost and any foreigner traveling in the region risked their life. An autonomous territory was formed by the Maya and recognized by the British. The last skirmish between Mexico and the Maya was in 1933. The surrounding area from Cancun to Belize is referred to as Quintana Roo but is officially titled, Free and Sovereign State of Quintana Roo. It remained a territory until October 8, 1974, when the Mexican Republic granted statehood. To this day, Quintana Roo remains Mexico's youngest state.
The beach below Tulum grants visitors access. Photo by Ken Thomas, wikimedia.org
Tulum Ruins are open to the public daily from 8 am to 5 pm. Cost of admission is 70 pesos, less than $5 US. Tours are available with a certified guide for an additional cost. Most hotels and resorts in the Yucatán area can arrange a visit from large tour groups to a private customized excursion. Remember to bring water, a hat, sunscreen, and a swimsuit as visitors are granted access to the private beach below the ruins.
*Cody and I enjoyed our stay at Diamante K Cabañas and Restaurant inside Tulum National Park. Click here for more information. Reasonably priced, attentive staff, fabulous views, a private beach, and tasty food.
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The images are anthropomorphic, part human and part animal
The pigments from the rocks were mixed with animal fats and other natural binders
The canyon dwellers survived for over 2000 years from hunting deer, rabbit, small mammals, and occasionally bison during wet climates. The inhabitants also utilized the desert vegetation as sustenance, such as agave, sotol, peyote, prickly pear cactus, and other seasonal plants and fruits. The canyons were fed by springs and rain lending to an oasis-like environment.
The root was boiled and eaten. The root also makes a liquor like tequila.
Spring fed canyon with lush vegetation
The rock shelter provided protection from the sun and rain. The reddish and black colors along the bottom are deteriorated images that once adorned the canyon walls.
According to our State Park guide, the canyon dwellers of the Lower Pecos are one of the longest continuous civilizations in history. My father said Egypt, but the natives of the Lower Pecos lived in a small canyon region with a similar lifestyle and culture for over 2000 years. Most of the ancient sites are on private land. There are 250 canyon shelters in Texas and another 50 or so in Mexico. Seminole Canyon was donated to the state by a cattle farmer in the late 1970s. The archeological studies are recent and there is much more analysis needed. A guided tour is necessary to view the ancient rock art to avoid potential acts of graffiti. There is hiking in the state park along the canyon rim for spectacular views across the desert and into the canyons including a Rio Grande overlook. Camping sites are also available. Regretfully, Cody and I only visited the park for a day. There are many more guided tours to several other pictograph sites and some only accessible by boat (possible future canoe trip). For more information visit the Texas State Park website http://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/seminole-canyon
Hiking the Canyon Rim
The Seminole Canyon Rock Art is rapidly deteriorating due to the increased humidity from Lake Amistad. The Rock Art Foundation is a nonprofit "that promotes the conservation and study of Native American Rock Art in the Lower Pecos Region." If you are interested in contributing to the preservation of native art visit http://www.rockart.org
]]>What do the crystal tourmaline waters of a Mexican cenote and extinction have in common? Well, everything.
Approximately 66 million years ago, a large asteroid crashed into the Earth along the northern coastline of the Yucatán peninsula and into the Gulf of Mexico. The Chicxulub crater, named after the Yucatán town near the center of the crater, is 93 miles (150 km) in diameter reaching a depth of 12 miles (20 km) down into the continental crust. This massive impact caused earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, megatsunamis, and the sky filled with debris and dust for years. There are over 6000 cenotes in the Yucatán forming a ring around the impact zone. It is believed that water from the Gulf entered the limestone bedrock via the impact and the falling debris collapsed the land's surface into open pits or sinkholes. This cataclysmic impact is associated with the mass extinction event of the dinosaurs and seventy-five percent of life on the surface of planet Earth. And all those tourists think they are just swimming in some pretty water.
Lavender and lemon are a divine combination. From bottom left to right- lemon curd, lavender lemon salt scrub, lavender lemonade (yum), lavender goat milk and salt bath, lavender sugar for making lavender lemonade and lemon fruits to share.
Each of the above recipes are quite simple while utilizing plenty of lemons from the tree. For additional recipes for lemons and other citrus see our post from last year, Citrus Celebration.
2 eggs beaten
1 1/4 cup sugar (white sugar makes a pretty yellow)
3 tablespoons butter
1/2 cup fresh lemon juice and the rind of 1 lemon grated
In a medium saucepan combine all lemon curd ingredients. Cook over medium heat until thickens up like pudding, stirring constantly. Pour into sterilzed mason jars and freeze or refrigerate until gift giving day. This recipe makes 4, 4 ounce jars. It is better to do small batches because it is easier to pour. As the curd cools it will become more viscous. Delicious with vanilla ice cream, yogurt with blueberries, butter cookies as icing, lemon pound cake, lemon bars, on toast, and as a rub for chicken.
The lemon juice pulls the color from the lavender making a rosy pink.
Lemon Lavender Salt Scrub
Course sea salt Lavender buds
Lavender essential oil
Organic olive oil
Ripe Lemons
In any size jar of your choosing fill 2/3 full of course ground sea salt. Then add a layer of lavender buds and squeeze the juice of 1/2 a lemon for a small jar or a full lemon for medium to large jars. Add final layer of salt to approximately 3/4th's full. Pour in organic olive oil slowly. The oil will seep through the salt mixture. Add 10-20 drops of lavender essential oil depending on the size of jar. Use a fork to stir the mixture. The oil should be a bit higher than the salt. If the oil is too high, add more salt and mix. Secure the lid. The rosy color will gradually darken as it sits. The salt scrub smells like a fresh summer's day. *Lemon salt scrub is best used in winter or at night when the skin is not exposed to sunlight. Do not use on face. Great for smoothing dimpled skin.
Lavender sugar tastes heavenly in hot tea, lemonade or sprinkled on deserts.
Lavender Sugar
Lavender buds
Lavender essential oil
Sugar
It is best to mix a large jar first and let infuse/sit for a week before filling your gift jars. Fill any size jar 1/4 full of lavender buds. Fill the remaining space with sugar. Add 20- 40 drops of lavender depending on the size of the jar. Shake to incorporate the lavender throughout. Let sit for a week, then fill gift jars.
Lavender Lemonade
32 oz bottle
3 cups water
1 cup lemon juice
3/4 cup lavender sugar (see above) or more if you like lemonade more sweet than tart.
Boil 2 cups of water with lavender sugar, stirring constantly. Pour sugar water into a sterilized bottle through a screen to syphon out lavender buds or leave buds if desired. Add lemon juice and 1 cup of water. Gently shake and serve over ice. This year make the holidays shine like the sun with homegrown, handmade lovely lemon gifts. To learn how to make preserved lemons or lemon vodka, click here for a citrus celebration.
HAPPY HARVEST & HAPPY HOLIDAYS from The Botanical Journey.
]]>The following is a list of 5 valuable lessons I have learned in building a successful business from a true passion.
1. Success is a path continually built by practice and dedication
Failure is giving up. There have been times when I had that feeling of quitting but I learned to tell myself, "not today." Inevitably something profound would happen almost immediately to keep the forward positive motion going. I have learned that success is life. Every day we make choices that define our tomorrow. Creating and building a business holds our choices accountable to both ourselves and our customers, clients, &/or followers. Each day is dedicated to achieving set goals, creating new ones, and letting go of those ideals that no longer serve the path to success. There really is only one way to not succeed and that is to give up. Whatever dream you may have, begin now. Living your truest self is Success.
2. Be Authentic and True to Your Purpose
Yeah, yeah, we hear this all the time but in a world with constant information and ideas coming at us, it is easy to get lost. Every business guru has a secret formula for success. But every business is different as is every business owner's path. I definitely enjoy a good success story and I encourage entrepreneurs to take some calculated risks but know your purpose and possible limitations too. For example, I hate ads and advertising. It annoys me to be bothered on my own time with a commercial interruption like a plane flying a banner overhead at the beach or an advertisement on a gas station pump screen. So, I have an equally hard time doing it to others to promote my business. I know, how do I expect to be "successful" if I am not willing to interrupt others' personal time by inserting my products into their space? Well, I fought long and hard with my instincts and figured out my own way to engage others through public speaking events, temporary markets, social media, and our newsletter. I may not have 100,000 followers and likes but what I do have is 5 years of cultivated true fans that genuinely connect with my articles, products, and posts.
3. Your Biggest Fans Will Not Be Your Family and Friends
This surprised me in the beginning and also hurt a bit that my closest friends and family were not that interested in what I had to say or about my botanical business dealings. Sure, they wish me well and emotionally support me but mostly the content was not their thing. It took a few years of gaining an audience that I realized my sincere interests in plants, nature, ecology & travel were for a different target group altogether. The first rule of marketing is to find your true audience. The idea that family and friends would be my biggest cheerleaders stood in the way of success. Now, that I have found my botanical community, I learn something every single day from my crazy plant friends from around the globe. They broaden my horizons, applaud my authenticity while reinforcing my true purpose: sustainable living, nature conservation, and plant education.
4. Be Bold
If you have an idea or an inclination for bettering your business, try it. If it does not work, at least you know. However, if you succeed then you will be happy you tried. In business, failures are very much a part of the learning process. It helps to define what you are not or what customers and clients specifically want from you. From the beginning to today, I have tried various attempts at generating revenue with some success but in the end, my customers & followers like best the informative articles, actual sales of plants, and native landscaping design. The truth is, I do too. Those are my areas of expertise and that is why people come to my business. It sounds easy to say now after several attempted ventures did not work out, but I am thankful I did try. In 5 years I have learned what I truly enjoy doing is what others want from my business.
5. Gratitude
In 2014, I found a gratitude journal while walking in my neighborhood. Every day for a year, Cody and I wrote 5 things we were thankful for each day. Our lives changed for the better. We have continued the tradition every day since and we feel more positive in our daily lives. Opening our hearts to the abundance that surrounds us awakens our minds to all the good that happens each day, no matter how small. I have learned that when things do not work out as expected, there is an obscured reason leading us to a better path. When we give thanks, we find more joy and positivity in the world giving us the strength to deal with all the challenges of operating a business.
From the bottom of our green hearts, thank you to all our family, friends, followers, and customers for supporting The Botanical Journey. We could not have succeeded without each and every one of you. Here's to another 5 years of amazing adventures together. 💚
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It is surprising that even the most seasoned gardeners do not know how to properly plant a succulent or cactus. There is one simple step that will set your creativity free to plant any container imaginable into a dramatic succulent garden. But first, let's begin by understanding nature's ingenuity in adapting to harsh environmental conditions.
Succulents are a group of plants that include cactus. These survivors of hostile environments are tough and resilient due to their ability to store an essential ingredient needed for survival, water. Succulent is from the Latin word 'succus' meaning 'juice' referring to the juicy flesh of the plant which actually contains stored deposits of water. Too much water will more likely kill a succulent than too little water. Here are 8 simple illustrated steps to properly plant a succulent and prevent overwatering in any container.
Tools & Materials
1. Horticultural Charcoal from a garden store or click here to buy online
2. Small Rocks or Gravel
3. Cactus Soil from a garden store or buy the best online here
4. Succulent(s)
5. Pot or Container
6. Spoon for a shovel
7. Various size brushes, to gently wipe away soil and debris
8. Scissors to safely cut any leaves or roots
The Trick to Filling a Pot or Container without a Hole
The first step is also the trick, line the bottom of the container with horticultural charcoal. This will keep excess water that falls to the bottom of the container 'sweet' or fresh. The water will not go rancid ruining the soil and roots of the plant.
The second step is to add a thick layer of rocks so that excess water can drain through the soil into the rocks and charcoal below.
The third step is to fill the container with soil and remove the succulent from its pot freeing the roots and shaking free the excess soil. You may have to tap your fingers circling several times around the base of plant to unlock the roots and soil. A little forceful is ok and trim any extra-long roots (it's like a haircut). You want the roots to be exposed for unrestrained growth in the new soil.
Now you are ready for step 4, use the spoon to create a hole in your soil to plant the succulent or succulents.
For step 5, add some soil back to completely cover the roots, so that the plant can stand up on its own. You may need to lightly press the soil down and add a bit more to help make the plant sturdy. Make sure to leave room for one last layer of rocks.
Step 6 requires the spoon to gently add a top layer of rocks or pebbles. This will help prevent moisture loss and looks attractive. Again, gently press pebbles into the soil to help stabilize the succulent.
Step 7, use the large paintbrush to sweep any soil from the pot. Use the smaller fine brushes to gently brush away dust or debris from the delicate succulent or the bristles on a cactus.
The final step, number 8, is after you finish cleaning your new brilliant creation, water accordingly. Most succulents require a small amount of water weekly. A cactus can go for 2 or 3 weeks. Pick a day of the week to water ensuring that you will not overwater. If the leaves begin to shrivel and fall off from the bottom, then you will need to water a bit more often. Err on the side of caution in the beginning to find the watering needs of your succulent garden.
Check out our Pots & Planters Collection for a fine selection of containers to plant a fabulous succulent garden.
]]>Peaches are the herald of summer reaching their ideal ripeness around the solstice. The markets are flooded with peaches and their copycat cousin, nectarines, from June to August. One of the few fruits to remain seasonal, peaches are revered as an icon of the South but are actually one of the oldest cultivated fruits. Inside each fleshy fruit is a seed or stone that can be easily transported. The botanical name, Prunus persica, is significant due to its early believed origin from Persia to Europe, however, peaches are native to China. Today, over half of the global peach harvest is produced in China.
Peaches are the fruit of immortality in Chinese legend. Today the fruit is a symbol of longevity.
The pits of peaches were brought to the New World with the early Spanish explorers and planted near the missions in Florida. It is a long-held belief that the Cherokee Indians were the first to cultivate peaches in the New World spreading the seeds throughout the southeast. In the temperate regions like South Carolina and Georgia, the graceful trees flourished growing feral in the forests. The colonist used the fruits as fodder for their pigs and other domesticated animals. During the Civil War, many southern plantation farms were destroyed and the soil was already depleted by intense cotton farming creating an environment for new cash crops like peaches.
In the mid to late 19th century, urban centers across the United States were growing in population and the expansion of the railroad offered a quicker way of shipping fresh produce to city markets and stores. Peaches became a summertime favorite and in the early 20th century, fortune favored peach harvests with festivals. Crowds in the tens of thousands were in attendance. Georgia had one of the largest festivals with a parade, music, games, and the crowning of a queen in a county aptly named Peach, founded in 1924.
Rows and rows of peach trees in Peach County, Georgia from our road trip across the south. Georgia is known as the Peach State.
In the mid 20th century, more rural folks moved to the cities as the mechanization of farming replaced manual laborers. However, peaches require a gentle method of handpicking to avoid bruising. Today, peach farmers still rely on seasonal laborers. New immigration policies have decreased migrant workers and in 2018, millions of dollars of peaches rotted on the trees in Colorado and California due to the labor shortage.
This year I have tried peaches from four states, South Carolina, Georgia, Texas, and California. My favorite was the Georgia peach as the juice ran down my arm and onto my leg. Not only was the fruit juicy and sweet but the flesh was buttery, almost like a peach pastry. Quite an extraordinary experience.
Left to right: Texas, South Carolina, California Yellow, California White and in the middle is the Georgia Peach, ready to plant.
Before all the squirrels ate my peaches, I was able to make Guava Peach Jam that was simply ambrosial. It might just be the bribe to get me in those pearly gates. Click here for the recipe.
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Guava Peach Jam
Recipe makes twelve 4 oz jars or six 8 oz
For this recipe, you will need:
1. 12 sterilized 4 oz jars or six 8 oz jars
2. A dozen medium to large ripe peaches or 2 dozen small homegrown peaches
3. 12 oz of Pure Guava Juice, Pulp or Paste. Look in the juice and frozen aisles in the grocery market or order from the Amazon link below. (Juices often contain other fruits like pear or apple. Use paste or pulp for authentic guava flavor.)
Conchita Guava Paste - 22oz round pack - Authentic Latin Guava
4. 1/3 cup lemon juice
5. 1 1/2 Cups Sugar*
6. 2 teaspoons fruit pectin, found on the baking aisle in any grocery store
*Sugar is what stops the bacteria from growing. If you are canning for gifts or future use, the amount of sugar is important and exact. If you are refrigerating or freezing before use, then adding less sugar is ok. For low sugar content, use Pomona's Universal Pectin.
Pomonas Universal Pectin,Container, 1 Ounce 2 Pack
Directions:
Peel peaches and discard pits and skins.
Mix peaches and guava together to equal 2 1/4 cup fruit mash. Add lemon juice and sugar to mixture stirring thoroughly. Next, pour fruit and sugar mixture into a stainless steel pot, add pectin, and bring to a boil for 10 minutes. Then lower temperature to a rolling simmer for 30 minutes stirring occasionally. In the photograph below you can see how the fruit mixture boiled down by half.
Add jam mix to sterilized jars leaving 1/4 inch headspace. Seal lids loosely and add to a canning bath for 5 minutes. Remove jars and let sit overnight. Lightly check for seal the following day. Label, date, and store in a cool, dark cabinet.
Perfect on toast, waffles, muffins or baked into pastries or cookies.
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An heirloom by simple definition is something, usually an antique handed down through the generations of a family or ethnic group. At the most basic level, an heirloom variety is a seed or plant offspring passed down for specific characteristics. The characteristics can be valued as a food, medicine or cultural custom.
Many botanists and professional gardeners argue age as a factor to reach heirloom status. The debate is whether it should be 50 or 100 years. While others push for varieties existing before the industrialization of agriculture in the 20th century when a much greater variety of plant food was grown. The only points of agreement are a plant must be open pollinated, not genetically modified, and handed down. Currently, there is not an exact time frame requirement for labeling heirloom varieties.
So, are hybrids a worthwhile inbreed cousin?
A hybrid is achieved when observed distinct genetic characteristics are selected and bred via cross-pollination or grafting creating a “cultivar.” This term distinguishes a wild plant from one that has been cultivated. A cultivar can be identified on the label. First, the Latin botanical name followed by an epithet in quotation marks (a term/name often describing the selected features). Sometimes the label will only state the epithet or named variety in quotation marks, like the photograph below. ‘Bush Early Girl,' is a hybrid tomato cultivated for its early maturity and bush-like growth.
Hybridization of plants by humans has been performed for thousands of years. Hybrids are very different from GMO or genetically modified organisms, where a scientist in a laboratory selects, alters and/or implants genetic information at a molecular level. Unfortunately, GMO’s are classified as cultivars and as yet do not have to be specially labeled. GMO’s are a new technological development in propagation and the long-term effects of rearranging genes in unknown. Thus in the Heirloom or Hybrid debate, GMO varieties are much too recent "to be passed down" and do not qualify for heirloom status.
If you are concerned about the safety of your food, then heirloom varieties are the safest bet and can often be found at farmers' markets or delivered in CSA boxes. For the home garden, seed packets will state the varietal type making homegrown food the best option. Don't be shy, a sunny window or balcony offers sufficient opportunity to grow your own herbs, fruits, and vegetables. Growing your own food makes cooking more fun, flavorful, and healthy.
If you need assistance choosing edible plants for your specific indoor or outdoor site, check out 5 Tips for Selecting Fruit Trees for Your Garden. This article will guide you through 5 simple questions to understanding the conditions of your specific site. Then, you can confidently choose a plant that will succeed. If you have any other questions, shoot us a message to info@thebotanicaljourney.com and we will be happy to help.
After decades of thoughtless consumption, we have reached a point of necessary change. There are a plethora of online articles, forums, podcasts, and books to guide our habits to a cleaner, greener Earth, but, in the age of information overload, it's difficult to focus on which changes make the most difference. In this article, we will furnish you with 5 simple ways to accomplish change in you and your families daily lives without feeling like an eco-terrorist in the making.
Everyone is bringing their own grocery bags and reusable water bottles these days, right? So what else can you carry that will help reduce unnecessary waste?
There have been countless times I make it through an order at a restaurant refusing all the unnecessary disposable items like the straws, plastic cutlery, and then, I am served my water in a plastic cup. Even when all the other beverages are served in a glass. I now have a collapsible stainless steel cup that attaches to my keychain.
Yeah, Yeah, you heard it before. Me too! I recently read the most insightful book that made me realize my obsessive environmental habit of recycling everything was creating a bigger problem. The book is entitled Junkyard Planet by Adam Minter. He grew up in the junkyard business, so he knows the value of waste. He travels the globe and reports on how waste materials are reused. All told, there are 3 waste products that are both coveted and easy to recycle.
*Did you know when the United States was a fledgling nation, newspaper companies imported rag waste from Europe for the printing of publications? That is why we often refer to a magazine or newspaper as the local rag.
You may have heard this before and it bears repeating, local products use fewer resources and chemicals than foods from far away. The fossil fuels used for transport and the chemical sprays required to enter the country make locally grown organic fruits, vegetables, cheeses, and meats a much better choice for your family's health and the environment.
Eating meatless one day a week began 100 years ago during World War I to assist in food rationing for soldiers. The challenge was reintroduced during World War II and declared by President Roosevelt, Meatless Monday. The idea was for citizens to come together for a greater cause. In 2003, Meatless Monday was brought back to the American public for health concerns of eating too much meat. In the nearly 2 decades of the Meatless Monday campaign, there are over 40 countries and countless people observing the dietary measure for personal health and the overall welfare of the planet.
Animal agriculture requires vast amounts of land, water, and food, not to mention the untreated excrement waste associated with the process. Meatless Monday does not require you to become vegan, but, much like war rationing, asks citizens to reduce meat consumption 1 day a week for the greater good of our planet. We have instituted the practice in our household and it has become a tradition we look forward to as we all find new delicious meatless recipes. Give it try, you might just enjoy it!
Everyone thinks about what they need from the store. We make lists or price compare online, but do we think of the life cycle of a product.
To live sustainably, we must think about the effects of our choices on the environment and how to simplify our needs to benefit nature, wildlife, and the quality of life for future generations. Here are 5 questions to help us become conscious consumers.