We had RAIN yesterday!!!

We actually had RAIN here in the desert and especially in our local mountains yesterday afternoon.  I was down in Indio, babysitting the granddaughter, and this is what I saw on my way home.  Ahhhh.....I LOVE the smell of rain in the desert!  Our mountains apparently were getting a real drenching.  I think I'll drive up there this morning and have a look!

Mountains and fence~Good Fences~041814

Those are the mountains of Idyllwild in the background and the fence is in the valley of Garner Valley, which is halfway between Palm Desert and Idyllwild.  I often drive up there and admire the ranch fences and the fences out in the meadows, like this one.  Last year, that area was covered with wildflowers.  This year, however, because of the drought, there are none or very few.  Sometimes I'll catch a photo of a meadowlark somewhere on this fence, but not on this day.  Good Fences for Friday, April 18, 2014.  To visit Good Fences, please go to:   http://run-a-roundranch.blogspot.com/

Snapdragons at the park~Today's Flowers~031617

We had to babysit the grandson yesterday, so we took him first to the Living Desert Reserve here in town, then to a nearby park for lunch.  While he was busy playing on the fire engine/slide, I walked over to a beautifully-decorated area with snapdragons and poppies.  The snapdragons were in full bloom and the sun was out.  It was a perfect day, although it was a tad hot out in the full sun.  But, these beauties sure were enjoying the sun!  Today's Flowers for March 16, 2014.   To visit Today's Flowers, be sure to go to:   http://flowersfromtoday.blogspot.com/

Ocotillos and sky~SkyWatch Friday~031414

The ocotillos are blooming up on Highway 74, the Palms to Pines highway.  We had a huge rain storm a few weeks ago and after that, BOING! They blossomed!  I took this photo last weekend, on my way up to Garner Valley.  SkyWatch Friday for March 14, 2014.  To visit SWF, please go to:  http://skyley.blogspot.com/

Palm Springs Indian Canyon shack~Whimsical Windows, Delirious Doors~031014

I love this old shack, which is up in the Palm Springs Indian Canyons.  It's on Indian land, so you have to go through a kiosk and pay to enter the canyon.  It sits there, year after year, abandoned and neglected.  Whimsical Windows, Delirious Doors for March 10, 2014.   To visit WWDD, please go to:   http://iwishiwereaphotographer.blogspot.com/

The palo verdes are blooming! And, it's only March!

Aren't they beautiful?  Palo verde blossoms.  They usually bloom when it is hotter, in May, but this year, they are blooming in March.

Sand, sand dunes, and fences

Normally I would post these photos on Friday Fences, but it is down until the meme owner buys a new computer.

I took these photos 2 weeks ago, when a huge storm was moving into the Coachella Valley.  I sometimes drive out past Washington Street to where there are some huge sand dunes.  It's an eerie area, especially when a storm is moving in, like the one two weeks ago.  I could see dust moving across the freeway further off.

But, I love to see the sand dunes.  They are always moving and shifting.

Coachella Valley grapes

The Coachella Valley is a huge grower of grapes.  Many of my students' parents work in these vineyards.  Last Friday, after school, I drove out to one of the vineyards by my school to take a look.  Aren't they cute?  Little, tiny grapes!  I hope they grow into delicious, luscious grapes!

Water in the desert

There was a LOT of water running here in our desert this past weekend as a huge Pacific storm rolled through the valley.  From closed roads to flooded washes, we were ALL slightly displaced by this storm.  I haven't seen this much water running...for YEARS!   :-)  We certainly need the water!  The first two photos show the water running down the Whitewater Canyon river.  This water will soak into the soil for the huge aquifer serving the entire Coachella Valley.  The bottom two photos show water in the Whitewater wash, which runs the entire length of our valley.  This is actually in Rancho Mirage, CA, next to the library.  There are golf courses all along the length of this wash and they were wiped out by the flowing water.

Weekend storm ~Our World Tuesday~030414

We had a large storm move through here Friday and over the weekend.  It caused all kinds of flooding problems in Palm Springs and several roads through the wash were closed.  I took a drive Friday afternoon, as the clouds were gathering, to take some photos.  I'm always amazed by the cows that are in the middle of date groves.  This herd has been here for years.  Apparently they do find enough to eat!  And, I suppose their manure helps the grove, right?  Our World Tuesday for March 4, 2014.  To visit OWT, please go to this link:   http://ourworldtuesdaymeme.blogspot.com/

Yellow flowers~Today's Flowers`020214

I went for a long morning walk this morning out by the city-owned golf course and was surprised to see so many brittle bushes in bloom...already!  It's only January!  They don't usually bloom until March.  While the rest of the country has been freezing, California, as you know, is in the middle of a heat wave and drought.  Our mountains have VERY little snow on them and in fact this past week, they just got a dusting of snow.  But, they are way below normal for the season.  While I was pleasantly surprised to see these, it IS early in the season.  Today's Flowers for February 2, 2014.   To visit Today's Flowers, please go to:
http://flowersfromtoday.blogspot.com/