Rainbow Friday

Awoke before sunrise and upon stepping outside was greeted by a spectacular double rainbow with Portal Peak and the Chiricahua mountains in the background.  Although overcast, there was a patch of blue sky on the eastern horizon allowing light from the rising sun to refract through the light misty rain creating this gift as a way to start the morning and celebrate the arrival of guests at the Painted Pony Resort.  The monsoon totals are 5.65" and it is not over yet.

Double rainbow in the San Simon valley

A New Roof on the Cabin

This summer is best characterized as the "remodel", spending time remodeling a 3 bedroom cabin on the expansion property of the Painted Pony Resort.  The cabin brings the number of bedrooms available for guests to 12 which allows even larger family reunions and weddings, but will rent separately for couples and small families.  As with all house remodeling the roof requires investigation and in the case of the cabin it needed attention.  Since air conditioning was installed the old swamp cooler was removed and the opening sealed.  Then using a 75/25% mix of white elastomeric/rubber roofing compound from Ames Research Laboratories a new continuous roof coating was started.  This material has the consistency of pancake batter and goes on smoothly both with a brush and roller, although rollers tend to introduce air bubbles which must be removed and imperfections in the old roof may not be adequately covered requiring hand brushing.  Applied at a rate of 1 gallon/100 sq. ft., 10 gallons was required to create a new roof surface with 4-6 coats on the edges, seams, low spots, and other potential problem areas.  Then the whole surface received 3 coats of elastomeric/rubber roofing compound.  The final finish is good and the roof is much improved and will ideally last many years in the New Mexico sunshine.  Now on to stucco work.

Roof before, with swamp cooler removed and opening sealed.

After cleaning, with several coats covering the edges, seams, low spots, and other potential problem areas.  

First complete coat of rubberized roofing compound.

Second complete coat of rubberized roofing compound.

Edges coated.

Animal Rescue

Working on the roof of the cabin at the Painted Pony Resort is hot work requiring breaks for water and rest.  During one such break to check the water levels in the tank and the erosion features on the south end a turtle in distress was discovered.  It appears that while crawling along the south side of the tank the turtle encountered one of the erosion channels leading into the tank and fell in.  It came to rest upside down and was unable to right itself.  When found it was weakly waving it's legs in the hot sun unable to get a purchase on the sides of the arroyo to right itself.  Upon seeing the turtle in distress and a problem that could be solved immediately I jumped in and picked up the turtle and removed it away from the erosion channels and out to an area of sparse grass in the riverbed away from the hazards.  Then back uphill to the cabin to find the camera and upon returning the turtle was happily munching on green desert plants.  After grabbing a few photographs it was back to work roofing but with a positive in the account balance column for the day.

The full tank by the cabin at the Painted Pony Resort

Erosion feature on the south side of the tank (lower water levels).  The turtle was upside down on the bottom of this 4' deep arroyo.

Desert box turtle back in the grass of the riverbed.

Chiricahua Peloncillo Heritage Days 2013

It is time again for the Chiricahua Peloncillo Heritage Days celebrating the areas natural and cultural heritage.  The weekend of events starts with a reception and talk Friday evening at the Chiricahua Desert Museum.  On Saturday there will be talks, along with food and a farmers market at the Chiricahua Event Center.  On Sunday several excursions are planned, one to visit some rock art sites in the area and another on raptors in the Chiricahua Mountains.  It is shaping up to be another fine event.

Chiricahua Peloncillo Heritage days 2013 flyer

Rock art hike

Raptor walk

The Annuals

Wildflowers bloom after the rains, meaning a period of blooming after the winter rains in the spring and again during the monsoons.  This second round of blooming annuals in the valley is again underway and below is a species found blooming this morning along the driveway at the Painted Pony Resort.  Several specimens were found growing in association with a particular desert brush of unknown taxa.  Not being well versed in the native flowering species it is only possible to appreciate the color and beauty of these summer flowers while they are on the landscape.  If some one recognizes the species I would appreciate learning its' name.

Blue annuals at the Painted Pony Resort

Wildflowers in the desert

Addendum:
A helpful reader, a local botanical expert, identified the plant as a Day Flower.  Thanks to Barbara for the ID.

Monsoon Green

Although only receiving about 3" of rain in July, the grasslands are greening up nicely at the Painted Pony Resort.  The change in the landscape is dramatic with knee high green native grasses going to seed and the poppies blooming in the riverbed.  Monsoon green as a color is familiar to most visitors since they are surrounded by green plants at home.  But in the open desert shades of brown and red are predominant many times of the year.  The color change occurs with the winter rains and the summer monsoon rains.  The landscape changes dramatically shifting from the reds and browns to bright green as new grasses emerge and perennials green up, actively photosynthesizing in preparation for flowering and seed production.

This dramatic change can be startling, but has this dramatic seasonal change always affected residents in the high desert of southwestern New Mexico and is there any evidence to support this notion?  Personal observations of the landscape suggests former inhabitants also appreciated monsoon green.  From the use of green turquoise for jewelry to the production of manos (not shown) and metates from green rocks (see below), green was and continues to be a color of renewal in the desert.

Grasslands at the Painted Pony Resort

Granite peak from the San Simon riverbed

Portal Peak from the San Simon riverbed

green stone metate