July 19, 2023 · 9:00 am

Desert Gardening

In the vast expanse of arid landscapes, such as the Sonoran Desert or the Mojave Desert, where the scorching sun dominates and water is a scarce resource, lies a fascinating and rewarding pursuit—desert gardening. Contrary to popular belief, desert regions offer unique opportunities for cultivating vibrant and sustainable gardens that thrive in extreme conditions. With careful planning, resource management, and an understanding of desert ecology, anyone living in the desert can create an oasis of greenery amidst the desert’s harsh realities. Let’s explore the art of desert gardening, highlighting its benefits, essential techniques, and some plant choices that will transform your perception of what’s possible in a barren land.

Here are a few things you should understand before getting started:

  • Understand the Desert Environment
    Before embarking on a desert gardening journey, it is crucial to comprehend the unique characteristics of this environment. Deserts are known for their low rainfall, intense sunlight, high temperatures, and poor, well-drained soil. However, deserts also possess a rich ecosystem adapted to these challenging conditions, offering inspiration and guidance for gardeners. By observing the native plant species and their survival strategies, we can gain valuable insights into which plants thrive in these extreme climates. Remember, desert environments can range from freezing temperatures to high heat so be aware what your micro-climate might be.
  • Efficient Water Management
    Water scarcity is the biggest challenge in desert gardening. To overcome this obstacle, gardeners must focus on water conservation and efficient irrigation techniques. Collecting and storing rainwater through rain barrels or cisterns can provide a valuable resource during dry spells. Additionally, implementing drip irrigation systems, and using mulch to retain moisture are effective methods to minimize water loss and maintain soil hydration. Using passive water systems which combine berms with swales will make any rains efficient in watering your garden. Grouping plants with similar water needs together and practicing xeriscaping (a landscaping method that reduces water usage) can further optimize water usage in desert gardens.
  • Soil Improvement
    Desert soils are often low in organic matter and lacking in essential nutrients. Enhancing the soil’s quality is crucial to support plant growth in these harsh conditions. Incorporating compost, organic matter, and well-balanced fertilizers can significantly improve soil structure, water-holding capacity, and nutrient availability. Amending the soil with materials like perlite or vermiculite can also enhance drainage and prevent waterlogging, which is detrimental to desert plants. Keep in mind that some plants are happy living in the unenhanced soil found in the desert so don’t overdo it.
  • Plant Selection
    Choosing the right plants is fundamental to successful desert gardening. Native species that are adapted to the arid environment are the ideal choice, as they have evolved to withstand the harsh conditions. These plants have developed unique features like succulent leaves, water-storing stems, or deep root systems that help them conserve water. Examples of popular desert plants include cactus (golden barrel, prickly pear, or Mexican Fence Posts), succulents (such as agave and aloe vera), desert marigold, desert lavender, and desert milkweed. It’s important to consider factors such as sun exposure, cold tolerance, and water requirements when selecting plants for a desert garden.
  • Creating Microclimates
    In the desert, temperature extremes can be challenging for plants. Creating microclimates within your garden can help protect sensitive plants from excessive heat or cold. Using shade structures, such as pergolas or shade cloth, can provide relief from intense sunlight during the hottest part of the day. Planting taller, heat-tolerant species strategically to provide shade for more delicate plants can also be beneficial. Additionally, windbreaks made of fences or hedgerows can shield plants from strong desert winds, reducing water loss and preventing damage.

Desert gardening celebrates nature’s resilience and showcases the incredible adaptability of plant life. By embracing the unique challenges of the arid environment and employing smart gardening techniques, you can create lush and sustainable gardens that thrive in the face of adversity. Through efficient water management, soil improvement, careful plant selection, and the creation of microclimates, desert gardeners can transform barren landscapes into vibrant oases, inspiring others to appreciate the beauty and diversity of desert flora. So, if you’re ready to embark on an extraordinary gardening adventure, the desert awaits you with open arms and the promise of a flourishing paradise.

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May 1, 2023 · 1:33 pm

Last Photo on the Card

It is funny how one thing leads to another, which leads to another, and so on. I just had one of those experiences so I thought I would share it with you.

As you all know I just completed the A to Z Blogging Change, and during the month of April I found a few great blogs to follow. One of them is Its Still Life. The AI images, photography, and poetry are really quite nice. Today Misky posted “Last Photo on the Card” which caught my eye so I checked out what it was, which lead me to the blog that started it, Bushboys World who asks for the last photo on your phone/camera/SD card. So, here are mine.

For those who followed along with my venture through the alphabet, may recognize this as my photo from the letter P for Prickly Pear. This is from my little Lumix DMC at full zoom.

And the one on the right is from my Motorola One 5G Ace. Every time I finish any art, whether it is a quick sketch or a completed piece, I photograph it. This one I did yesterday following a tutorial on SkillShare. It was a fun exercise.

So, thank you to A to Z, Misky, and Bushboys for the inspiration for today’s post.

#LastOnTheCard

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May 1, 2023 · 8:00 am

Reflections on A to Z Challenge

What was it like to post an article everyday (except most Sundays) for an entire month? For me, this year was much easier than when I attempted this in 2018 and 2019 on my writing website, KJScrim.com. I feel this year it was easier mostly because I kept the doors wide open when it came to my theme.

In 2018 I did a series of posts talking about every aspect of a book I was writing at the time, titled The Manx (I still haven’t finished it). It takes place on the Isle of Man located in the middle of the Irish Sea. What a fun place to research! Now, all I have to do is actually go there. It sounds like an amazing place to spend a few weeks, along with Ireland, Scotland, and Wales.

In 2019 I covered everything about short stories. At the time I was just starting to write short stories so by writing 26 articles on the subject I felt I would finish as the number one story teller of the century. Dreams are fantastic. I only completed through the letter R, but I was still stoked that I got as far as I did. That’s what great about this challenge, you can go as far as you want. You want to get all the way through Z, right? This year I did. Yay to me!

I still haven’t gone to the Isle of Man (it’s on my bucket list), nor have I finished the book. My short story library has grown and they are just waiting for that acceptance letter. I’m not sure if my stories are too weird for most publications or if I need an editor. Either way, I’ve had a blast writing them.

So, what happened this year with A to Z? I covered a wide variety of subjects. Did you like them? Want more? Did you hate them? If you said yes, they were awful, you absolutely must explain why. If you don’t all your socks will soon have holes in the big toe. I love comments, and my favorites from the month were from everyone who left them. Thank you. I give you all the blessing of never having an odd sock, ever.

I hope you all stick around and keep reading ArbitraryDustBunnies. You never know what might pop up!

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#AtoZChallenge 2023 Reflections

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April 30, 2023 · 7:00 am

Zounds! We’re Done!

It has been a month since the beginning of this mad adventure with A to Z Blogging Challenge, and I’m proud to say that I made it!! I hope you have enjoyed reading these daily musings. My goal for this challenge was to get into the habit of writing blogs again.

The last two years have been rough on getting anything done except packing up one house, living in a rental surrounded by boxes for nine months then moving again. It sucked all the fun out of everything else. Happily, we are now settled in our new home and I can get back to some of the things I really enjoy.

So, my plan is to start writing posts about once per week or so. It could turn into just once per month, but the idea is to write about something as often as my creative mind will let me.

I need your help. You have read everything from the April blogging challenge, and I hope you have read some of the others as well. Please leave a comment of what more you would like to read about. What was your favorite subject? Favorite post? Did you stick with me through the entire challenge?

Thank you, to each of you who stopped by this month to leave a comment or a like. It meant a lot to me. ZOUNDS! It’s been a blast!

This post brought to you by the last letter in this challenge, Z and by:

#AtoZChallenge 2023 letter Z

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April 29, 2023 · 8:00 am

Dancing in the Rain

A little girl walks in the rain,
In a yellow raincoat bright and plain,
Her little feet splashing in the puddles,
As she hums a tune and giggles.

The raindrops fall upon her hair,
And down her face without a care,
But she keeps on walking with a smile,
Forgetting all her worries for a while.

The world around her turns to grey,
But she sees the beauty in the day,
As she skips and dances through the mist,
She feels like nothing can resist.

She twirls and spins with glee,
As the rain pours down so heavily,
Her yellow raincoat shining bright,
In the midst of the darkest night.

With each step, she becomes more brave,
As she faces the stormy waves,
For she knows that after every storm,
A rainbow comes to greet the morn.

So, she walks on with head held high,
As the rain pours down from the sky,
For she knows that in this moment,
She is strong, she is resilient.

Written by: ChatGPT

This post brought to you by ChatGBT, the letter Y, and:

#AtoZChallenge 2023 letter Y

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April 28, 2023 · 7:00 am

X is Art

X is Art
Image (C) Kathie Scrimgeour

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April 27, 2023 · 7:00 am

Watercolor – How hard can it be?

About a year ago, my creative interests turned to the visual arts. In my never ending pile of stuff-that-should-be-donated, I came across some of my old sketch books. To share them here would be embarrassing, but just know that my artistic expression has faced challenges along the way.

One medium I never touched on much was watercolor. I watched high speed videos on Instagram and the way the color flowed across the paper had me mesmerized.

How hard can it be?

I soon found that watercolor painting can be both easy and challenging. While watercolor is often regarded as a more difficult medium due to its transparency and fluidity, I also found it to be easier to work with in some ways, such as its portability and ease of cleanup. I can paint anywhere as long as I have a little bit of water.

As a beginner I found watercolor to be a great medium to start with because it is relatively inexpensive and requires fewer materials than other mediums. However, it can also be a bit unforgiving, as mistakes can be difficult to correct once the paint has dried. BUT, a little mistake is just an opportunity to turn a smudge into a flower.

One of the challenges that I have with watercolor is its transparency, which makes it more difficult to achieve vibrant, opaque colors. It also requires a different approach to brushwork and layering compared to other mediums, such as acrylic or oil painting. My background is in oil painting so I have had to visualize paintings very differently.

That being said, I keep the mantra that, with practice and patience, anyone can learn to work with watercolor and achieve stunning results, so I keep plugging along. There are many resources available, such as online tutorials, workshops, and classes, that can help you improve your skills and develop your own unique style. I found YouTube to be filled with how-to videos, but the best place is SkillShare. This is a subscription based app, but the instruction is very detailed.

Ultimately, the level of difficulty in watercolor painting will depend on your individual experience, skill level, and artistic goals. As I have progressed through my sketchbook I can see the improvements from start through today. There is a long way to go, but like any new skill, practice and patience are the keys to success.

Today’s post is brought to you by the letter W and:

#AtoZChallenge 2023 letter W

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April 26, 2023 · 8:00 am

A Story by Jasper

Yesterday, I posted a story written by ChatGPT and, as promised, today the writer is Jasper. This AI tool is much more robust than ChatGPT and where ChatGPT is free, Jasper is not. I set myself up on their 5 day free trail just so I could stick my toe in to see how dangerous the waters were.

What did I find? I gave Jasper a similar writing prompt as ChatGPT with the added ability to give the story a voice (I wrote “dark”). Right off, I will say that Jasper is, in general, a more creative writing tool, but it doesn’t go too far beyond that. I think this will be a great way to generate ideas more so than trying to write a novel.

Here is the prompt:

Write a short story using the words, vinegar, vice, vibrant, Vickie, volume, and vulture

Vickie had been walking for days. The desolate desert air was thick and heavy, leaving an acrid taste in her mouth like vinegar. With no water or food to sustain her, she trudged along aimlessly as the sun beat down from above. Every step seemed heavier than the last and all she wanted was to find shelter from the heat.

Just when she thought all hope was lost, Vickie spotted something on the horizon – a vibrant oasis shimmering in the distance, beckoning her forward with its promise of respite from this arid wasteland. Never before had anything looked so beautiful and inviting; it almost felt too good to be true! She quickened her steps but soon heard a loud cawing sound echoing across the sky above – two vultures circling overhead like a sign of impending doom. A feeling of dread came over Vickie and she began running towards what appeared to be salvation at any cost… until suddenly there it was right in front of her: a large wooden door with old iron hinges creaking open at an alarming volume.

Inside were row upon row of shelves filled with every kind of vice imaginable – alcohol, cigarettes, drugs…even weapons! It seemed that whatever one desired could be found within these walls – yet despite being surrounded by such temptation, Vickie only felt fear coursing through her veins as she backed away slowly from this place where sin ran rampant… until finally reaching safety once more outside under bright blue skies where not even vultures dared follow.

This post brought to you by the letter V and:

#AtoZChallenge 2023 letter V

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April 25, 2023 · 8:00 am

A Story by ChatGPT

Recently I have been hearing a lot about the AI trends and what they mean to writers and artists. I dabble in both so I have been experimenting a little bit with them. Today i was on ChatGPT and gave it this prompt:

Write a story using the words: Uncle, understand, umbrella, underground, and unfortunate.

Before we get to the story that was written, I want to say right off the bat that if this is the type of output writers are concerned about then I’m no longer worried. I haven’t fully tested any other platforms, but I do plan to check out Jasper with the same prompt (I’ll let you know how it works).

So, without further adieu I give you, “Jack and the Rainy Day”

Once upon a time, there was a man named Jack who was visiting his uncle in the city. Jack had always lived in a small town and was fascinated by the fast-paced lifestyle of the city. His uncle, who was always busy with work, had arranged a tour of the city for Jack.

As they were walking down the street, Jack noticed that the sky was getting darker and the clouds were gathering above. His uncle, noticing Jack’s concern, brought out an umbrella and offered it to Jack. Jack was surprised that his uncle had thought ahead and brought the umbrella with him.

The tour continued, and Jack was amazed by the hustle and bustle of the city. They walked through different neighborhoods, and Jack was surprised to see how different life was in the city than in his small town. After walking for a while, Jack’s uncle led him to a subway station. Jack had never been on the underground before and was excited to experience it.

Unfortunately, as they were standing on the platform waiting for the train, Jack realized that he had left his jacket behind on the bench they were sitting on earlier. As they rushed back to retrieve it, they missed the train. Jack was disappointed, but his uncle assured him that they would catch the next one.

While waiting for the next train, Jack’s uncle explained to him that life in the city can be unpredictable and that one should always be prepared for unexpected situations. Jack understood the importance of being well prepared and was grateful to his uncle for teaching him this valuable lesson.

As they rode the train back to his uncle’s apartment, Jack reflected on the day’s events and realized how fortunate he was to have such a wise and caring uncle. He realized that even in unfortunate situations, there is always something to be learned.

From that day onwards, Jack always carried an umbrella and was more aware of his surroundings. He grew to understand and appreciate the fast-paced lifestyle of the city and made sure to visit his uncle often to learn more.

This post brought to you by the letter U and:

#AtoZChallenge 2023 letter U

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