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10 www.DesertMessenger.com August 16, 2023 Gardening with Dennis NOTICE to Advertisers: Please check your ad(s). Errors/corrections must be submitted before deadline, to be published in the next available edition of the Desert Messenger. DEADLINES are printed - in multiple locations - in EVERY issue of the Desert Messenger! For rates and deadlines visit www.DesertMessenger.com Desert Messenger News offers FREE Classified Ads! Here's the small print: Items for sale under $500. 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 Stay up to date with Town Hall Town of Quartzsite now offers text notifications on your phone through TextMyGov. iWorQ is excited to an- nounce a strategic partnership with @TextMyGov to expand citizen en- gagement with text messaging To opt in, text the word "QUARTZSITE" to 91896. What to expect: After the initial keyword is sent, you'll receive a confirmation message asking you to reply "YES" to verify opt-in. There will be 0-4 text messages per month with a notification from the Town regarding the categories you are opted-in for. Message and data rates may apply. Check with your mo- bile phone carrieer for more details. How to Opt-Out: Text "STOP" at any time to remove yourself from the notification list. Also are you looking for an- swers? Need to report an issue? Now you can Text the Town of Quartzsite directly. Introducing the new way to skip a phone call and use your mobile phone's text messaging to find answers to your questions. Text "hi" or one the words listed be- low, to 928-260-4442. "Trees, Sewer, Contact, Street, Wa- ter, Pothole, Weeds, Departments, FAQ." TextMyGov will help you to quick- ly find the answers your looking for or help you to report an issue to the Town. SHADE!! By Alex Taft In the 1950's I remember travelling in the summer through the Coachel- la Valley and places like Mecca and Thermal. In July, it was relentlessly hot and dry. Air- conditioning in cars did not exist then. The relief came when there was a date farm near-by. The temperature would drop fifteen of more degrees. Walk- ing into a date grove, it would drop even more because of the canopy that the palm fronds created; a real- ly separate environment of filtered light, shade and coolness. It was an indelible experience. This summer has reminded of that time. The major change in the environ- ment inside a date grove is why they were called desert islands. Date palms live for more than 100 years and grow 150 feet tall. Because of the long stretch of high temperatures we have endured this summer, dates are thriving and it is anticipated it will be a bumper crop. While I am not suggesting that we live inside a date palm grove, even though it will substantially reduce our air condi- tioning bills, tree shade, regardless of the trees you have, will work mir- acles of heat reduction. The Arbor Day Foundation has multiple articles on the benefits of trees. One discussed how trees can reduce heat islands in urban areas. We of course do not have heat is- lands. We are a heat island of ines- capable, unspeakable heat and dust. Here, any shade is helpful, whether it comes in the form of a metal or canvas awning, or a metal carport or garage… shade and protection from wind is really important. Another article discussed how trees reduce particulate matter that is unhealthy for the lungs; that is something else we have a lot of - dust. A third article discussed tree placement or land- scaping to make your environment more temperate and livable regard- less of what is going on outside. If you drive through any farm coun- try in the southwest, you will notice huge eucalyptus trees bordering the farm acreage to protect it from wind. This is old wisdom that has been tried and proven. These arti- cles and old memories combined to make me re-think a landscape plan. If your home is fronted by a road, trees and large shrubs can help to screen your property from particu- lates that come from blowing dust and road dirt. In our desert land- scape, tree and shrub roots help min- imize flooding. They soak up buckets of water during monsoon rains which we have yet to see this year. Arizona Municipal Water Users Association, a non-profit associa- tion, publishes a reference I often refer to for examples of low water use trees, shrubs and plants. Here is their list of why trees are important: "Trees provide shade and cooling. They reduce temperatures through shade and by transpiring water. One mature tree can produce the same cooling effect as 10 room-sized air conditioners." "They help clean the air. Trees fil- ter the air of contaminants and are proven to absorb carbon dioxide, which comprises over 80 percent of greenhouse gases in the US. Plant- ing trees remains one of the cheap- est, most cost-effective means of drawing excess carbon dioxide from the atmosphere." "Trees can help us save energy. Having plenty of shade trees in your yard can help reduce your energy bill by allowing you to save on air conditioning. Carefully positioned trees can reduce a household's en- ergy consumption for heating and cooling by up to 25 percent." "They contribute to our health and provide us with oxygen. Trees breathe in pollutants but then breathe out oxygen. One large tree can provide a day's supply of oxy- gen for up to four people. " "Trees help clean our water. Trees serve as natural sponges, collecting and filtering rainfall and releasing it slowly into streams and rivers, and are the most effective land cover for maintenance of water quality." Dennis recognized the importance of trees, which is why he took care of those that grew naturally in the town park as well as those that we planted. 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. DEADLINE : WED. SEPT 13 TH for SEPT 20 th edition Desert Messenger News Email: editor@DesertMessenger.com 928-916-4235 www.DesertMessenger.com

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