the secret life of plants

Although the desert climate is arid, the plant biomass in the East Cape area is suprisingly lush. There are lots of roads, arroyos and single-track trails in the sierras to the west of town where the housing developments end and the ranching and waterfalls begin. Succulent and cactus varieties change that with the elevation are mostly at rest when we are in Baja for the winter. The deciduous shrubs and trees are showing their fall colours, although many trees stay green as long as there is some moisture.

In some higher places, the plants have grown tall. Cattle and burros make paths as they wind through the trees and cacti looking for food and fresh water which in turn creates a means for us to explore the wild spaces.

Scouting for mountain biking opportunities near El Coro at sunrise.

Looking westward through cardons to the Sea of Cortes

The elephant tree is part of a fragrant tree family and is realted to myrrh. Its' rubbery, aubergine-coloured seed pods have a wonderful smell. We were told that if you hug an elephant tree, you'll come back to Baja, so we are lucky to be in an area surrounded by so many.

Not to be outdone by trees, the cactus everywhere show off distinctive shapes, colours and blooms. Some the most colourful this season are the barrel cactus with their blood red spines and bright yellow fruit.

Most trailer park folk at Martin Verdugo's like to tend a small garden. Our neighbour to the north has a vegetable garden with chard, tomatoes and herbs that friends tend for him (and raid) while he is away. He remembers two giant eucalyptus trees that provided cool shade in front of our sites until a hurricane toppled them.

Inspired by the beauty of the hillsides and the little gardens around us, I visited a small, local vivero (garden centre) and selected two plants to spruce up the small garden on our RV site. There is a fan palm, a date palm and a large patch of aloe vera plants at the entrance to our spot already. The palm tree branches are regularly cut away, so these new plants will add some interest and colour where the palms have lost their "skirts".

The Corona de Christo was available in several warm, bright colours and with a little compost and water kept blooming in my trailer park garden.

Corona de Christo

 The Madagascar Palm will have clusters of white blooms with a scent as equally as wonderful as the elephant tree and with a slightly more spicy tone.

Our good friends who own Chatham Wind and Time in Cape Cod gave us the "Last Resort" sign for our Baja home which features a windsurfer amongst the view of the sun, sea and mountains from the beach front of the trailer park. The white sweet alyssum (seaside lobularia) in front, a favorite of bees, re-grew from seeds I planted last year.  The little stalk of purple basil behind it was purchased from the local organic farmer and it really sprouted once the warmer weather returned. I found a pot of sanseviera pagoda plants at the Cabo San Lucas Home Depot and added them in, too.

The date palm tree blooms the week before we leave, another fantastic fragrant plant. Amongst the piercing thorns if the palm fronds, the tiny white flowers  practically explode from the hard  brown capsule at their base. We and the bees can smell them for weeks before they bloom. The palms and aloes responded very well to a touch of fertilizer and water from my salad spinner.  I hope the new plants survive  without much attention (we did eat the basil already) . It will be interesting to see how they fared and learn their secrets when we return. 

Loaded and ready to roll