March is roaring like a lion today. There's been no rain since January so the landscape is brown with only tiny dots of the hardiest greenery. We desert rats are not surprised by this weather but maybe a bit disappointed. Green is such an alive color; heartening in spring.
The first - and we hope the last - fire of the season is burning SW of here in Hell's Gate, Coronado National Forest. Man-made they say. No one in their balanced mind would start a fire in the current conditions. The destruction is sad. Sad too that they killed Macho B, the famous jaguar that roamed in that same area as the current fire.
Obama is the name of the hour, week, month, year. You would think that he embodied a messiah by the way folks invoke his name. I am here to say, that whatever the man is or whatever he may try to do - WE are the ones we have been waiting for! It is naive in the extreme to think that one man can change all to good. He may inspire, but WE have to get to doing the work.
I am planting spring things in the garden and on the windowsill while planning for summer. Plant a garden for yourself wherever you live and become involved in working with a group of allies who work together locally. Things are setting up to rock and roll next year.
Take good care of yourselves in all you do and say.

Hey! It's raining again. Looking good for spring wildflowers. Soon the filaree will be out and Mexican goldpoppies will show in March with just a bit more moisture.
The Women of the Wild will be gathering in Brown Canyon next weekend, sharing herbal lore and performing ceremonies for the earth. In April will come the week of southwestern herbs and foods for a lucky 14 people who sign up first. See desertbounty.com for details and photos.

Soon it will be planting time for farmers and gardeners in Southern Arizona. Select your seeds and plants from desert-friendly sources like Native Seeds/SEARCH or Horizon Herbs and make your garden plan now.
The sun makes his return now and days will be getting longer, encouraging sprouting of seeds, both wild and domestic. Such a time of optimism for folks attuned to the natural world!
We were blessed with generous rains during December and with a few more showers, our spring flowers and grasses will be popping up for a show of lovliness.
Please be kind to yourselves and the Earth by going organic/natural in your choices. First do no harm is a good moto for humans.
Be happy in your work and blessings to you.

In April, my herbal friends and I will be offering a week respite from the confusion of our current world. We are offering a retreat in a wild canyon of southern Arizona for those interested in wild plants, brillant night skies, local native foods, herbal simpling, and connecting with a wild place with semi-wild people. See: www.desertbounty.com for more information & how to sign up.
The winter rains have started generously this month and we will have a grand wildflower display here come spring if we get a few more rain events. Rain transforms the land.
The Sierra Club offers 2 separate weeks of service trips in the Altar Valley here. One week in February and another in March.The group is small, usually 12 people, and they always have a grand time helping on the Buenos Aires Wildlife Refuge. They learn a lot, too. Southern Arizona is a fabulous territory to explore.
A different service trip is offered in March west of Tucson, just an hour north of the Buenos Aires. Susan and Charlie lead a group of volunteers on the Saguaro service trip in cooperation with the National Park Service. You can sign up through the Sierra Club online.
Arizona has sunshine, open spaces, variety, and uniqueness.

OK. So it's been awhile...things have been busy with lots of great new results. Thanks to my son and his womanfriend I have a beautiful website: desertbounty.com I am more than pleased with this evolving tool. Please take a look.
We planted several threatened plant species in the woods in Gowanda, NY. You cannot have too much goldenseal, ginseng, bloodroot, black cohosh, or Soloman's Seal. It was a joyous project for us. Two of the photos on the website are from that expedition.
I've been making soap and salves, several tincures for clients, spiffing up the space for my new Apothecary Shoppe (yeah!), writing articles for the local paper (one about jaguars here in our mountains), planting a garlic crop, and tending the goats and chickens.Had to discourage 2 raccoons from getting the chickens last night.
It has been unseasonably warm here until right now. Things will cool down to the 60's this weekend and we pray for rain to come soon.
Oops! There's javelina in the yard that the dogs are chasing...gotta go.

Ah, rain. Some are frightened by sounds in the night. Here in our desert crickets serenade us in the darkness all summer long. Last night, just after the orange waxing moon set among clouds, the rain came. Sweet, gentle, long lasting rain falling down and lulling me to sleep.