according to riley....

...it is officially summer and our pool is open. The outside temperature has registered in the 90's all week, but I'm not convinced the water in the pool is warm enough yet. By the fact that she isn't swimming under water like she usually does, and the shivering coming from her now and again, I'd say I'll wait until June.

unusual suspects

I love container gardening, especially here in Arizona because it allows me to move my plants around, away from the heat and direct sun if needed. I'm always looking for something different to plant in to make the arrangement a little more interesting. One find this weekend was this little red shoe shine carrier. It lent itself perfect for two favorite herbs, rosemary and parsley. As an experiment, I also planted the Peacock Echeveria in a teacup.

sacrificed

I found this very creative "bird feeder" this weekend at a garden/home shop. I'm interested to see what the birds do with it. Check back with me and find out!

frog rock

Sitting high up on a hill, this 60-ton frog-looking boulder can't be missed if driving on highway #89 in the desert town of Congress, AZ. It was first painted in 1928, and to this day continues to be maintained by local residents.

contain yourself

While living in Southern California, I got addicted to succulent plants. The sea air was very kind to them and they were happy in containers on the small patio. When we made the move to Arizona, I wanted to bring the plants along. I even sacrificed leg room just to fit them all in the car. I thought they should be fine in the desert sun, right? They're water-retaining, so they require very little water to flourish. Well, while most succulents are drought resistant, you can't forget to check on them more often in desert conditions. You see, they all died. We were in the mist of a six month home renovation and my time was stretched. Checking on plants was the last thing on my mind. So, today I set out to try again with the succulents. I love container gardening, and have stuck with a few of my favorite: vintage enamelware and home-made troughs. Wish me luck!

cooper ranch

Located in central Arizona, the Cooper Ranch dates back to the late 1800's, is comprised of 27,000 acres and managed by the establishing family. To get there you have to travel 17 miles on a dirt road from the nearest highway. My first thought while making the initial trip was, why would anyone want to live out here. Five minutes into my visit and I'm thinking why would anyone ever want to leave. This place is amazing. The Hassayampa River runs along the side of the house where horses, angora sheep, and cattle quench their thirst. Museum quality bronze art peppers the inside of the home, depicting the history of the ranch, crafted by daughter, Mary Cooper Hamill. A large journal stuffed with sticky notes and old photos lays upon a table telling the story of Cooper Ranch, one day to be published. Mr. Cooper (pictured below) is 82 years young and still working the ranch without missing a beat.

i wanna be a biker

We were down south this weekend, and it was a little cooler than expected. I didn't bring any headwear, so we compromised with the bandana. What can I say, my boy is too cute.