Desert Messenger

10 www.DesertMessenger.com October 19, 2022 Gardening with Dennis IT'S YOUR YARD By Alex Taft Whether you have an acre of land or an RV spot or an apartment pa- tio, there is something medicinal about your yard. Whether you are sitting on your trailer steps looking at a mesquite tree growing in your park, or you have a home with elab- orate landscaping, or something in between – or your yard is more of a work- in- progress than not, it does not matter. It is part of your home, your sense of place. The feeling of belonging or being connected provides a strengthen- ing of self when what is going on in the world does not. Our yards are uniquely our own. They can inspire us and make us feel we need to do something better. They are why I offer all sorts of choices as to what you might want in your yard bal- anced with what is feasible to grow, within the limitations of your yard's size, your physical stamina and your willingness to tend to plants. Some yards are stone gardens or filled with metal or glass art, petrified tree trunks and rock designs. Some yards are filled with others' discard- ed items. All yards need tending to a greater or lesser degree, from un- wanted storm damage, from flood- ing when part of your yard turns into a lake and from wind when it knocks down yard art or a building or blows in trash. Desert landscap- ing can satisfy the avid gardener, the container gardener or the leave- it- alone non-gardener, the tree planter or the stone and sculpture gardener. In other climates, there are not as many choices. Dennis liked the challenge of grow- ing something successfully that wasn't easy to grow here. He grew fruits and vegetables to experiment with recipes; he was a desert farmer and botanist with an eye for beauty and his yard was an expression of all those interests. For the rest of us, as fall arrives, it is a wonderful time to plant trees, but not a good time to plant cactus. Cactus prefer the summer or late spring when the ground is warmer. All the rain and storms we have had recently have cooled off the ground, making it less inviting for cactus. Most of us are still clearing off storm damage and trimming trees so they Desert Messenger News offers FREE Classified Ads! Here's the small print: Items for sale under $1000. Private Party Only. 1 per month. Yard/Garage/Craft Sales, Wanted, Give-a-ways, Free, Lost & Found, etc. (non-commercial) For more information, contact Rain at 928-916-4235 or Email: Editor@DesertMessenger.com Town manager meetings have changed! The public is encouraged to attennd the monthly Quartzsite Town Man- ager's Meetings, which will be held at 1:00pm on the Wednesday im- mediately following the FIRST Town Council Meeting of every month. Bring your questions and con- cerns. The meetings are held at the Quartzsite Library Meeting room, 465 N. Plymouth Ave. For more in- formation contact Town Hall 928- 927-4333. Town Manager meetings are less likely to go down in the next storm. We are also deciding what is more storm proof that can be part of our yard in the future. The those who live in Quartzsite have found creative ways of beautifying their yards and RV spaces. Driving or walking around town and looking at all the yards or RV spaces where some are piled with pots of flowers or tomatoes and peppers or have enor- mous cholla plants and beavertail cactus, is always interesting. Each yard is creative expression at work. Whether they are welcoming you for the winter or after a day of work or fun, they are home that is an expression of you, a sense of be- longing and offering of some peace. Note: for those who did not know Dennis, he was a part-time employ- ee of the town parks department, a Master Gardener since 1985 and instructor for the Master Gardener Class. He passed away in 2018. Quartzsite Shop Small Bingo August Winner Marilyn McFate was the Quartzsite Chamber & Tourism's September Quartzsite Shop Small Bingo winner. Marilyn found the Quartzsite Shop Small Facebook page and the Bingo game to be very useful in knowing which busi- nesses were open and what hours during the summer months. Priz- es were donated by Roadrunner Rocks, Spiritstone Gems, Mys- tic Dreams, the Salvation Army Thrift Store and Service Center and the Quartzsite Area Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center. Quartzsite Shop Small on Face- book will not have another round of Bingo until the weekend fol- lowing Thanksgiving. Until then, we will post businesses that are open for the winter season. If you would like us to include your business, please email a picture, your business name, address and hours you are open. Quartzsite Area Chamber members will have priority in frequency of postings in our Facebook Quartzsite Shop Small group. The Chamber is located at 1240 W. Main Street, across from Mc- Donald's. We're open Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 10am-2pm. 928-927-5200 Email us at QuartzsiteTourism@yahoo.com Quartzsite OHV Staging Area, is now open in Quartzsite at 555 E. Quail Trail. The staging area is located across from Town Hall. 22- paved, 12' x 55' pull-thru spaces. No Fee. Night lighting, Camp Host, Accessible Re- strooms, Picnic Shelter. No over- night camping. Vehicle and trailer park up to three weeks. Built with grants from State Parks & Trails and local matching funds. Revenue is generated from your off-road sticker purchases. OHV Staging area open in town DEADLINE : WED. NOV 4 TH for N ov . 1 6 th edition Desert Messenger News Email: editor@DesertMessenger.com 928-916-4235 www.DesertMessenger.com

• Cover