Wrapping up for the freeze

As anyone who has tried winter gardening in Tucson can tell you, the weather forecast can be iffy at best. I have been getting FREEZE ALERTS for the last few days along with sporadic announcements of possible rain and even snow - so I thought it was time to cover the base of our moringa to protect the roots. 

It was 48 degrees on Wednesday (but it felt colder in the wind) so I wrapped piping insulation around each of the thicker branches down by the trunks (tying it snug with string). 

HISTORY: Before I get any complaints about wrapping plastic around them, let me share a little history of our moringa. About eight years ago we planted moringa seeds in our new right of way basin with the idea that they would be well watered in the coming monsoons. I babied those seeds, using  tomato cage and shade cloth to protect them from the scorching June sun and watering them daily. We were amazed by how quickly they grew in the monsoon rain!  What we didn't anticipate was that, unsheltered on the side of the street, they would die back in a hard freeze.

Dec. 2017. The towels we wrapped around them didn't save them.

Heartbroken, we finally cut back the dead branches. We were delighted when they came back from the roots in the Spring. 

After a freeze warning one year, we tried covering the whole plant but that trapped the moisture and mold grew inside the branches and on our precious nutritious leaves. That's when I started protect them with piping insulation - which seemed to help. But when it rained some moisture did get caught between the insulation and the trunk. (Despite some mold, they still came back). So I started covering the insulation with old plastic table cloths. 

Yesterday it was supposed to rain, so I wrapped a cheap, old plastic table cloth around it to keep the rain out - tucking it between branches and holding it together with binder clips. Then I stuffed a plastic grocery bag in the hole in the top to make sure the rain wouldn't get in.. This was a challenge in the icy wind! I had to hold the tablecloth down with rocks so it wouldn't blow away.

;

Our poor moringa (a tropical plant) has been really struggling with the sporadic weather this year. Record heat and very little rain. I was able to harvest leaves for tea twice, but it didn't come back like it usually does. (Usually pruning it encourages more growth.)

Now it seems confused by the unseasonably warm winter, but no winter rain. It sent out new leaves (that wouldn't grow bigger) and even flower buds!  

Ever hopeful, we deep watered it recently (with the little rainwater left in our cistern) to help it out. 

But with the leaves already starting to droop from 36 degree weather and rain on it's way, I finally decided to harvest the little leaves for soup.

I held the branch and pulled off the biggest leaves. (No, I don't have 3 hands! Dan is holding the strainer for me...) Still hoping for warmer weather, I did leave some sprouting leaves with the flower buds. 

The table cloth did its job and kept out the rain (a whole 0.02"!) nicely. 

Back in the warm house, I washed them and removed the tiny leaves from their stems. 

I added moringa to some veggie scraps to make a super healthy broth. 

This gave me a chance to use up some wilting veggies I found in the fridge and some leftover broth and bread for soup and sandwiches.

After removing the kitchen scraps from the broth, I added potatoes, carrots, peas, and more moringa to make yummy soup. 

Nothing warms you up like wrapping up in a fluffy housecoat after a hot shower and enjoying a piping hot bowl of moringa veggie soup. 

By the way, we didn't end up having a hard freeze last night after all. (Maybe tonight?) Last I looked, the buds were still hanging in there! Crossing my fingers for them to finally bloom. It's always a bit of a gamble on whether to harvest them or not. 

Update: After the hard freeze some smaller branches, leaves and buds are dead. But some bigger branches, leaves and buds are still alive after 2+ days of freezing weather. So covering the base really seems to have helped.  

Some life left after 2+ days of freezing weather.

In the eight years we have had them, our moringa have given us lots of joy (some frustration) and many healthy meals and tea. Now I recommend that people plant their trees on the side of a building or surrounded by other trees to protect them from the cold. (Moringa's taproot goes down vertically so it can be planted close to the house.)  They are definitely worth it. 

MORE INFORMATION 

Story of 4 Little Moringas

#lovemyrainbasin

The Musical "Come From Away" Offers Hope in Trying Times

 

I recently streamed the live capture of the Broadway performance of Come From Away on Apple TV+.

The award-winning hit musical Come From Away tells the incredible true story of the people of Gander, Newfoundland, who opened their homes and hearts to thousands of airline passengers who were forced to land there when the U.S. airspace was shut down on September 11, 2001.

It has been a while since I’ve written a review. (I used to blog about inspiring and meaningful films.) But I can’t get Come From Away out of my mind. This is the second night that I woke up trying to find words to articulate why I was so moved by this musical. I was even more moved by the second viewing. It seems like the audience for the live performance didn’t want to leave the world of the play, either. At the end the musicians perform front and center and the audience celebrates the experience by enthusiastically clapping along. How could this play with a minimal set be so moving? Was it the spirited songs by writers Irene Sankoff & David Hein or the committed, enthusiastic performances from a diverse cast of regular people (some of whom could be your aunt or neighbor)?

All that is great, but it’s the kindness that really gets me. Sorta like when the town’s people come out to save George Baily in It’s a Wonderful Life. After all the cruelty George endured from the greedy banker, it’s so rewarding to see the community rally to save him. There is such joy in it. Honestly, I cry every time I watch it.

I believe everyone brings their own experiences to the theater with them and that’s how we relate to the story. For me, it was the frustration and deep disappointment from the push back against our efforts to create a more sustainable future for Tucson. As Tucson (and the world) continued to heat up and droughts become more extreme, we discovered a hopeful solution in planting cooling native shade trees in rainwater basins. Who would have thought that trees, of all things, would be attacked? That people would remove trees faster than Tucson Clean and Beautiful could plant them? That some landlords would remove them to avoid the expense of maintaining them? One politician even ran on the platform “A million potholes fixed instead of a million trees planted.” – taking a jab at the mayor’s 1 million tree program. Over 70 trees were removed from one neighborhood nature path to keep homeless from taking shelter under them. I find that kind of cruelty depressing. And it seems to be all around us these days.

So watching this play was exactly what I needed. The hope, collaboration, and sheer humanity of this story is inspiring. It was so uplifting to watch the community of Gander come together and work around the clock to provide for the needs of the exhausted, frightened travelers. Beyond taking on the huge task of providing for the travelers’ physical needs (a place to stay, food, and clothing), the community did what they could to support their emotional and spiritual needs as well. Televisions were provided so they could keep up to date on the tragedy unfolding and cellphones so people could ease the worry of their families back home. One woman took care of the animals locked in the cargo holds. A safe, quiet place was provided for people of different faiths to pray. The town even organized a huge barbeque so the people could connect. They embraced their shared humanity.

I don’t know what experiences you bring to the theater, but if you need an inspiring story that celebrates community, hope, and our shared humanity, this might be just the antidote you need.

More information on the musical production here: 

https://www.sankoffandhein.com/come-from-away

More information on our environmental efforts here: 

For the Love of Tucson: Creating a Desert Oasis to Combat Climate Change

Observations of a Crazy Winter on our Rain Garden

As a "would-be citizen scientist", I guess it's time to share my observations about the impacts of our crazy weather on our front yard rain garden this winter. 

The leaves on the jujube trees have fallen, as expected this time of year. We have taken the advice of local rainwater harvesting guru Brad Lancaster and left them in the basin to nourish the soil and retain as much moisture as possible. 

The globe mallow (the green shrub above) seems confused by our crazy winter weather. Is it sticking around in response to the unseasonably warm weather? (Many days around 80 degrees.) We haven't had our usual winter rains, so there isn't enough moisture to allow it to grow flowers. 

But take a closer look... Tiny yellow wild flowers have come up in the mulch. I spotted some little butterflies and bees pollinating them. (There is actually a species of native bees that burrows down in the mulch.) 

Our poor moringa trees also seem confused by the variable weather. They haven't frozen yet, so that's good. We still hope to gather some leaves for tea. (We have already harvested them twice this year. But they usually grow back...) They have sprouted new leaves. But I have watched in anticipation for weeks, and the  leaves don't grow big enough to harvest. And a few leaves have turned yellow. 

The latest development is some buds sprouting, but even with some additional rainwater from our cistern, they are struggling to bloom. (Thank heavens for the one winter storm in November that filled our cisterns.)

Moringa story continued here: 

Wrapping up for the freeze

Despite being watered daily, our sunchokes never grew beyond a foot before they withered up and died. They grew 3 feet last year and had yellow flowers. Last December I harvested more of the yummy tubers than we could eat...

As passionate rainwater harvesters, we always look forward to the winter rains filling our basins and cisterns. So it is pretty discouraging to have such a dry winter. Believe me, this isn't normal. Check out the normal highs and lows and rainfall in December and January from the National Weather Service. 

Our mesquite trees are starting to turn yellow and lose their leaves (which is normal this time of year.) The leaves that are left after the leaf cutter ants get their share become a part of the mulch in our front yard basin.  

 I'm afraid we won't have the abundant wildflowers we had last year. But I still find joy in seeing a variety of birds digging around in the mulch for food. I recently caught this goldfinch (below) getting a drink in our bird bath. 

Every morning Dan and I watch from the dining room window as the birds land on our decorative saguaro rib and then dive down to get a drink or splash around in our bird bath. 

Some regular guests are the Gila woodpeckers (pictured below), mourning doves, curve-billed thrashers, mockingbirds, sparrows and finches. We even had a red tail hawk once. 

This particular day there were so many birds all around our rain garden. I shooed away a stray cat that was hiding under the hackberry ready to pounce. That's why we keep ours in doors. Here is Freddy watching safely from his perch in the house. 

So, what have I learned from my observations during this unusual winter? That it is important to leave the leaves in the basin. The pollinators and birds really appreciate it. Cold weather or hot, rain or no rain, I still love my basins!  #lovemyrainbasin

More information: 

Basin Observations from a Would-be Citizen Scientist

Basin Observations from a Would-be Citizen Scientist

The nurse tree mesquite provides shade and nitrogen for the baby saguaro and hackberry

It's been a while since I've blogged about my beloved front yard basin. But I figured this was a great time to celebrate our basin with a new sign! Thanks to Abril for making it! #lovemyrainbasin

During these trying times I have found solace in tending the new pollinators I planted, watering them daily with rainwater from our cistern. All the while I have been recording the progress with pictures. Scrolling through google photos over the past nine months, I felt like a citizen scientist observing how our unpredictable, fluctuating weather has affected the plants and soil in our basin. 

The first thing I noticed was that through the extreme heat and long periods without rain our native trees (mesquite, acacia, and hackberry) thrived - even as our prickly pear cactus shriveled and drooped.

Our jujube trees did incredibly well too with just the rainwater from the roof that sunk into their basin. Rainwater flowed off of one side of the roof into the gutters and downspout then into the long basin. The trees grew 3 feet and produced an abundance of fruit. The waxy leaves stayed green until recently. Now they are showing their fall colors - which is kinda nice. 

You might be wondering about the dead "weeds" in the basin. But the reason the jujubes did so well was that I kept the native plants and grasses in the basin long after they turned golden brown to retain the moisture longer and to provide nutrients to the soil.

The dry grass and globe mallow slow down the rainwater so it can sink in rather than leave the basin.

I planted a desert senna plant in the basin last January. It struggled in the freeze, but the mulch helped keep its roots warm. 

It came back in August along with horse purslane that acted as living mulch to nourish the soil.

Look at that senna now! It seems confused by the warm weather and recent rain. It is starting to bloom!

When we first put in our basin, we filled it with mesquite chip mulch. But as that has been breaking down into soil, we allowed the basin to be covered with a living horse purslane mulch. 

As the horse purslane died, I broke it down into straw-like mulch. Here I am showing some to my son's girlfriend. She looked a little concerned about the dry grasses, but I reassured her that native bunch grass was a part of a working basin.

We were delighted when Arizona poppies popped up in that same area in March. 

When those poppies died, I also broke their stems into a straw-like mulch. I even gathered some extra from a neighbor and spread them in the basin. I saved 6 buckets full from the landfill! 

Check out how the poppy stems floated when the basin filled with the June rain...

When the water sunk into the basin, the poppy stems settled back down and the doves enjoyed evaporative cooling!

All that mulch created richer soil...

So I could plant more pollinators in the basin... And the cycle goes on.

Have I mentioned lately that I love my rain basin? 

How about you? Share the love by posting pics of your basins on your social media pages with the hashtag: #lovemyrainbasin.  

Read more about the campaign here: 

Love my rain basin campaign

More stories about our front yard basin here: 

Our Yard the Bird Feeder

Create your own Sonoran Desert Food Forest

Brush and Bulky Directions

 Keep it out of the landfill! Please, donate before resorting to Brush and Bulky. 

TELL YOUR NEIGHBORS! BRUSH AND BULKY TOMORROW

HAVE YOUR ITEMS FOR BRUSH AND BULKY AT THE CURB BY 6 AM ON MONDAY! There is no way of knowing the route the crew will take so you need to have your items at the curb by Aug. 19. Once they go down your street, the crew will not come back. Putting stuff curbside after they have picked up your street, will not get them to come back.   Brush and Bulky uses a Bobcat to pick up items to put them in the truck, so make a single pile at the curb in an easily accessible spot. Brush and Bulky will NOT enter your property to pick up piles.  Be sure the pile is NOT near a fire hydrant, your mailbox, trees, power poles, your wall, gas meter, etc.  Items in the pile cannot be longer than 5 feet or they will not fit in the truck.

Brush and Bulky Pick Up Starts Monday, August 19.    Please make sure your neighbors are aware of Brush and Bulky AUG. 19   The City discontinued the expense of the notification flyers,  so no one will receive a door hanger notifying them.   Brush and Bulky uses a Bobcat to pick up items to put them in the truck, so make a single pile at the curb in an easily accessible spot. Brush and Bulky will NOT enter your property to pick up piles.         Be sure the pile is NOT near a fire hydrant, your mailbox, trees, power poles, your wall, gas meter, etc.   Items in the pile cannot be longer than 5 feet or they will not fit in the truck.   WILL YOUR BRUSH AND BULKY PILE BE PICKED UP? Channel 9 did a great segment a few years ago on making Brush and Bulky easy AND safe for the crews to pick up. Click HERE to view.  https://www.kgun9.com/news/local-news/keeping-tucson-clean-how-to-help-make-brush-bulky-crews-jobs-easier?fbclid=IwAR2Dsfbj4nOE1ln790I0aPIyqcnITFyaLO1NKjv-b9ke81KQkyiij_GOETU Brush & Bulky will collect: Brush, tree trunks, branches and other green waste (up to 5 feet long and 24 inches in diameter) Lumber (up to 5 feet long and stacked in a separate pile) PVC and metal pipes (up to 5 feet long) Railroad ties (limit 5) Furniture, carpet, and doors Lawn mowers with fuel tank and crank case removed Scrap metal (bicycles, swing sets, etc., broken into 5 foot lengths) Cacti (must be contained - up to 25 lbs.) Appliances (remove freezer/refrigerator doors) Car tires (limit of five automobile tires) Metal drums (empty and cut in half)   Brush and Bulky will NOT collect: Any excess over the 10 cubic-yard limit Any items other than those listed above, such as Stone/bricks/concrete/aggregates Construction debris Hazardous waste like paint/oil/pesticides/solvents/liquids Glass/mirrors Television and computer monitors Compressed gas/air cylinder(s) Vehicle parts Commercially generated material City Brush and Bulky schedule map: https://www.tucsonaz.gov/files/sharedassets/public/v/1/egsd/documents/2024_brushbulky.pdf

DONATE ITEMS INSTEAD OF SENDING THEM TO THE LANDFILL

BUY NOTHING FACEBOOK PAGE or REALLY, REALLY FREE MARKET at Himmel Park - on the third Saturday of every month. BRINGING OUT THE BEST THRIFT SHOP on Speedway. Beyond what they can sell, they recycle everything: rags, old shoes, appliances, etc. etc. They don’t even have trash service for the shop.    TUCSON REPAIR CAFE - check with them first through their Facebook page, but they often accept electronics and appliances, small household items, etc, that can be repaired or be taken apart to use for parts.   SUBURBAN MINERS is near Garden District neighborhood and located one block west of Alvernon They repurpose and recycle all kinds of electronic equipment. They also accept other household items and have a "Free Store" open to the public. Suburban Miners is located about a mile away on Blacklidge just a block off Alvernon. ELECTRONICS RECYCLING: SWS Computers on Speedway, just west of Alvernon quite near us, recycles nearly anything electronic for free. A few of the many Charities where you can make donations: ·Assistance League on Alvernon between Pima and Speedway. Will pick up large items. https://altucson.org/donate/ Thanks to Meg for sharing this in the Garden District e-letter.