The other day, one of my neighbors stopped by as I was sipping coffee near my roses, and asked me about my trees. He said that the fire department had issued him a notice. He raked up his yard, and now his pine trees are dying. I nodded in agreement. This is happening all over California. We have been experiencing raging forest fires, and are in the midst of a drought.
I explained that we are allowed to have some mulch on the ground. We have to keep our weeds trimmed below four inches, but when bare soil is bone dry, it becomes hard as a rock and can't absorb the water.
Today I watched a documentary explaining how native plants help butterflies produce. That's part of the reason why my land is so productive. It is filled with lilacs, oak trees, and bright red Indian paintbrush wildflowers. The tiny hummingbirds flit from flower to flower, soaking up the nectar. My land is filled with them. I let the seeds dry on the stems, and then spread them each September. The soil remains undisturbed, except for the wildlife. I stay on my path when walking up and down the mountain with friends, neighbors or my dogs.
This afternoon I harvested the coffee berries. They are a flavorful fruit that resembles a blueberry. The taste is almost like licorice. They contain seeds, like a Concord grape. They start out green, turn red, and then become almost black. The plants were here when I bought the cabin, and are native to the area.
So, as the ecosystem hums along, without sprays or chemicals, people feel the buzz of life as they walk by; everyone who visits comments on the trees. They look up in amazement. Trees are life, and oaks are spectacular. My dad taught me that you can't put a price on mature trees in a neighborhood.
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It must be wonderful to live as you do, Stephenie, surrounded by nature. And from reading your posts, it is clear that you love your home in the mountains. X
ReplyDeleteI love living in the mountains, Jules. Have always been a mountain person. There's something about the energy of nature up here. The animals and birds are so healthy.
DeleteYou are wise to look after your land the way you do, Stephenie. Mature trees are a wonderful thing!
ReplyDeleteThey are, Bless. I plan to plant lupines and poppies for next year. The wildflowers really help, and they add color and beauty.
DeleteI love wild flowers. There are several wild flowers in my yard that are native to FL. They bring butterflies and bees. I think it also helps that I don't use weedicides.
ReplyDeleteSo do I, Nil. I just bought some seeds to plant more for next year. I'm sure it makes all the difference that you don't spray. I am planting a lavender plant in my garden this afternoon.
DeleteWe need more people like you Stephenie. You take such good care of the land that you own.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Cherie. I love how ecosystems cooperate. Soil fascinates me. It's so easy to create rich soil over time. It makes the plants and trees so much healthier and resilient. You take wonderful care of your garden, too.
DeleteI cannot think of anything better than having birds and butterflies in the yard. I spend part of each day watching all of them. Even the lizards are entertaining.
ReplyDeleteIt is so exciting, Anita. I love watching the lizards, as well. We even have bats at night. They eat a lot of insects. The whole food chain is fascinating.
ReplyDelete