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…
Tag Archives: foresummer
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…
The melon’s parents grew on a commercial farm, likely in Yuma. It was delivered to Basha’s or Albertson’s, then consumed by my family, sometime in 2020. Our family dubbed this variety “Grocery Store Cantaloupe”. The melon’s parents grew in a Read more…
When my 11-year-old gets up early and joins me on the back patio to read in the rain while I sip my coffee and watch the water, life is a little sweeter. When the same kid cheerfully gets his jacket Read more…
“The worms are alive!” I practically sang upon confirming that red wigglers moved within cool, moist soil in my portable worm bin. They were laying low, nestled into their rich vermicompost rather than feeding. But they also weren’t massed together Read more…
Desert gardening, on a practical level, means gardening in an arid environment. Desert gardening, on a personal level, means gardening in and with the place that I love. I love watching quail amble through the brittlebushes and goldfinches hop along Read more…
“Did this stick come from a TREE?” asked my 4-year-old. He accepted my affirmation thoughtfully, then inched along the trail again with an 18” pine bough in his grip. “This stick”, along with promises of ice cream, motivated him for Read more…
The trees are thirsty. The kids are restless. The day is young, and one that will heat up quickly. I turn the hose on a trickle and then rest easy. The water promises 30+ minutes in nature for the kids Read more…
We eat our breakfast outside. Every summer morning around 6:30 my two young boys and I schlep a simple meal to the backyard, pick a place to sit, and celebrate the company of birds, opening blooms, and warming-up cicadas. After Read more…
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