D e s e r t E x p o s u r e
April
2008
Earth Day Every Day
Examples of earth-friendly gardening, in the spirit of "the largest secular holiday in the world."
In case you haven't guessed, I am garden centric. Furthermore, I "cultivate" folks of similar persuasion who not only have green thumbs, but also green minds. On April 22, we will connect with over 1 billion persons to celebrate Earth Day — an event that the Earth Day Network describes as "the largest secular holiday in the world."
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The Curtis garden is "all about
butterflies and birds." |
Thirty-eight years ago, with a college graduate's gleam still in my eyes, I celebrated the first Earth Day in Washington, DC. (That's right, this columnist is not a toddler.) Today, the event spans teach-ins on global warming, school greening projects, creating a green economy and a Pulpit Pledge — for clergy to "preach and teach" about climate change.
While my ethos avidly embraces the significance of these activities, I also wave a banner for the gardeners who view their plots as a first step toward environmental stewardship. Fortunately, our area boasts a formidable number of both seasoned garden custodians and passionate wannabes who deserve some recognition. Featured here are a few practitioners of joie de terre.
MaryKay and Jim Brady are legendary around Deming for spearheading the Luna County Master Gardeners program three decades ago, as well as initiating Friends of Rockhound State Park and its celebration of spring in the Florida Mountains, called Desert Alive.
As green samurai, the Bradys are philosophically attuned with wind, sand, extreme temperatures and the daily prospect of a low water table. They weather these conditions with skill, patience and humor.
"Around here," MaryKay says, "we practice 'water-wise' gardening. We don't call it 'xeriscape' because most people think you're saying 'zero' scape, and no plants means ugliness."
The Bradys' mantra supports the use of drip irrigation, composting, organic products and native plants, to name a few. Using native plants helps maintain native fauna. To this end, the Master Gardeners used their connections to convince the Forest Service to sell native trees and shrubs at the Southwest New Mexico State Fair held in September.
According to MaryKay, "In the past, you had to own at least one acre to qualify to buy a minimum of several dozen trees at reduced prices. Now, the Forest Service sells 50 to 60 varieties of native trees and shrubs in the $1 to $10 range, and you can buy just one tree or a lot. This promotes a wider utilization of trees as windbreaks."
Green Space
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MaryKay adds that "50 percent of irrigation is lost to wind and evaporation."
Master Gardeners have spoken at homeowner meetings in two Deming subdivisions, addressing small-space and water-wise gardening strategies. This includes techniques like vertical gardening — growing cucumbers and other plants on trellises. Participants also viewed slides of surprisingly beautiful, water-thrifty shrubs like Apache plume. "Most people aren't aware of these plants and are delighted to learn about them," says MaryKay.
"We haven't had any moisture here since October," she adds, "so rabbit populations have swelled and they'll eat whatever they can find." MaryKay suggests two ways of coping with the cottontails: either over-plant or install chicken wire.
Presently, the Bradys are experimenting with an organic product, the consistency of talcum powder, that contains dried fox urine. It's called "Shake Away" and professes to repel small mammals, including squirrels and gophers. "It's pricey at $20 for 20 ounces," says MaryKay, "but I'll let you know if it works."
Not long ago, the Bradys wondered what was eating tomatoes off the plants' lower stems. When a desert turtle was caught "en flagrante," the gardeners just adjusted their tomato intake, harvesting only the upper fruit for themselves.
Katy Belt, an eight-year resident of Boston Hill in Silver City and a biologist by training, is another one of Mother Earth's handmaidens. Don't get the impression that she floats above the knolls draped in gauze and gossamer. No, no. She is simply a highly competent gardener with a vast knowledge of plants and wildlife. Neither bees, birds, butterflies nor lizards escape her interest or affection.
To Belt, the appeal of gardening lies in the creation and maintenance of an ecological resource. Her garden is planned to be more than a pretty place, although it is charming. In essence, being a gardener means being responsible for the continued presence of flora and fauna in spite of human presence.
Belt's fine advice on habitat creation has helped me appreciate the unexpected in my garden and promote its occurrence. I recognize that the feisty nuthatcher is there on a survival mission. The thrill and satisfaction of seeing creatures among the greenery has intensified because I help ensure their needs are met. This includes provisions like berry- and nectar-rich plantings; clean water; thick, thorny protective shrubs; trees for nesting and evergreen for winter coverage. The pleasure quotient is remarkable and can be shared.
But certain things are more difficult to control. According to the American Bird Conservancy, "Cats kill hundreds of millions of birds and more than a billion small mammals each year. Roughly 10 percent of the wildlife that cats prey upon are amphibians, reptiles and insects."
Another enlightened Boston Hill gardener, Kathy Curtis, deals expediently with cat predation: None of her five Siamese-mix felines is allowed outdoors.
"My garden is all about birds and butterflies," says Curtis, who served for six years on the staff of the Silver City animal shelter and earned the moniker of "cat lady."
"My cats have plenty of things to do inside," Curtis continues, "and that includes looking out the windows at the birds."
She grows a pot of oat grass (the seed is available at Dunn's Nursery & Garden Center in Silver City) indoors, which accommodates both cats' desire for chlorophyll and their enjoyment in chewing blades of grass. Her cats dine on canned food in the bathtub so the dog can't get it.
Four of Curtis' five cats were adopted from the shelter. "What they really enjoy is space to get away from each other," she says, "although they get along quite well."
My take on her cats is they are a happy, well-adjusted crew. But I am also Siamese-cat-centric.
In any case, peace and harmony reigns inside and outside the Curtis residence. Happy Earth Day!
Southwest Gardener columnist Vivian Savitt gardens at "Ditch Cottage" in Silver City.