I was talking to little lettuce plants on a comfortable Saturday morning in my backyard. I had made a couple trips back and forth from the front yard, then settled on this project of refreshing a frozen-back warm season bed Read more…
Winter rain is Gentle, lyrical Settling in Creosote-scented like summer More mint-flavored as I sip herbal tea inside Winter rain is Welcomed Walked in, played in without worry of lightning A relief from drought of water and of writing Shrouding Read more…
On a Wednesday night in October, I packed boxes bursting with plants, a bucket rattling with shovels, bags of heavy potting soil, and an assortment of plastic pots and seed packets. I remember choosing to wait until morning for the Read more…
Photos by Anna Van Devender unless otherwise stated. Escaping the Southern Arizona heat in June is a Van Devender family tradition. Driving to Yellowstone in Summer ’23 was by far the furthest road trip we’ve tried. My husband and I Read more…
Driving along Southern Arizona streets in May A near-daily necessity composed of skill, lacking will Destination over journey Fortunately, flowers help keep me going. Saguaro cacti with proudly proffered bouquets of white and green on each arm Or dense Read more…
In the five seasons of our Sonoran Desert, the main times for rain are winter and Monsoon summer. April (end of spring), and the first half of May (beginning of foresummer), were this year and are traditionally very dry. The Read more…
Wildflowers spread wonderfully in my backyard this spring. My foot also suffered an injury mid-March. So I was especially thankful for the show of color and natural beauty I could enjoy at home in lieu of hiking more wild spaces. Read more…
Weather forecast for Northern Arizona: 100% chance of snow on Jan 1, 2023. In the days leading up to our family’s December 31, 2022 departure, my husband and I exchanged weather websites, nervous looks, and turns with the kids. I Read more…
On a recent sticky August morning, I waded through the mint to look for zucchini and corn. Despite the memes about abundance appearing on my Facebook feed, I found exactly one zucchini fruit. Season total: three. The corn patch that Read more…
Plenty of things about Disneyland make me happy: the thrilling rides, the delicious food, the artistic details at every turn, my 9-year-old’s joy while hugging a wookie, my 12-year-old’s awe after viewing the fireworks. Our family navigated Disneyland this summer Read more…
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