Out the Window, III

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Out the Window, III
Little Progress, Big Returns
I must admit if I were in the landscape business and I hired myself to do the job I'm working on I'd be about ready to give myself a pink slip. Progress has been slow, but as the title above says there have been some big returns. You'll see what I mean in a moment when you look at some of the photographs in this article. (In fact I just had to stop writing and grab the camera to take a few pictures. I have to admit I'm still shaking so I'm guessing the pictures might be a little fuzzy.)

In Out the Window, II I didn't do much more than buy a few drought resistant plants, make a couple of drainage channels and buy a concrete dish for a watering hole. Since then I have added two really nice ocotillos I purchased at a nursery, added a second watering dish, built a bird feeding platform and rebuilt a bird feeder, added one concrete bench, added one old fallen log as a photo prop, made a foot print bed, and added some drip irrigation.

I still want to add a path of flagstone, but every time I think about lifting those slabs of stone I manage to find something else "more important" that needs to be done. I also have several one gallon containers of Mexican primrose I started from seed but I know if I'm going to plant those I'll have to fence the area to keep the rabbits from eating them. I also have plans to add more drought tolerant plants. On a happier note the ocotillo fence I installed in Out the Window had a few of the canes leaf out near the end of summer. The brittle bush I planted may not recover from rabbits feeding on the vegetation and grubs eating the roots. I may have to plant something else or find larger specimens of brittle bush.

Keep in mind I spend the better part of my day sitting at a computer keyboard in front of the window. I like to look out the window every once and a while to watch my little piece of the world. (Yes, there are other houses and power lines out the window, too, but not ten feet away as you might find in many of Tucson's neighborhoods.) That outside world is more exciting when there are birds, reptiles, mammals and insects to watch and photograph.

To take pictures successfully I had to set things up. That meant keeping objects in range of my camera's lens. One of the biggest problem encountered was keeping the window clean. I've got two cats that like to look out the window, too, and neither is happy unless their wet noses are pressed against the window pane. I have to keep the Windex® and paper towels handy at all times. So now you should have a pretty good idea where the project stands - it's on its way, but it's not nearly done. Which means it's not time to shoot an overall photograph. Instead, here are some images of bits and pieces of the unfinished garden and some of the desert visitors I've witnessed out the window. You might want to visit Out the Window, IV for an update of this gardening project. (2000)

This was one of the photos where I had to stop writing this article to take the picture. Note the waterhole and newly planted large ocotillo on the right side of the picture.
There are quite a few visitors to the little oasis in the desert. Gambel's quail like this pair (male wears the reddish cap) are regular visitors. The rocks in the watering dish allow for animals and birds to easily crawl out if they happen to fall in. I've witnessed baby quail drown in dishes like this one.
This planter of pansies and stocks was placed on the bench not thirty minutes before this little antelope squirrel decided to dine on the blooms. Needless to say, the planter was quickly moved elsewhere.
The concrete bench has become a popular eating and lookout spot for some of the desert garden wildlife.
This log was located beneath the bird feeders as a perching place. It seems to have worked out the way it was planned. Quail, ground squirrels, rabbits, and this cardinal have all sat on this log to have their picture taken.
I'm not sure if this round-tailed ground squirrel is using the golden barrel for a back scratcher or as something to hide behind.
One more of the fellow in the first picture. Do you think he spotted me? He did and took off running in to the brush.