Nature

Arizona’s First Wild Animal Hospital

March 4, 2014 |

Already serving as one of the few wild animal hospitals in the country, Tucson Wildlife Center is expanding with a cutting edge new hospital.

photo courtesy Tucson Wildlife Center

photo courtesy Tucson Wildlife Center

Since it’s opening in 1998, Tucson Wildlife Center has thrived as a regional care center where people can bring in sick, injured or abandoned wild animals from the desert so they can receive care and be rehabilitated and released back to their natural habitats. It has also served as a world hub for education, as the cutting edge methods of surgery and treatment used at TWC brings in veterinarians and surgeons from all reaches of the globe. Comprised of five staff workers and over 75 constant volunteers, Tucson Wildlife Center offers care to our animal neighbors unlike any care they could receive elsewhere.

But the ultimate goal of the original founder/owners Lisa Bates and Peter Lininger was to eventually expand their rehabilitation sanctuary to include a hospital on site that would allow them to administer emergency surgeries to give a second chance to the 1,000+ wounded animals they take in per year. Unfortunately, their 501 (c)(3) non-profit budget wouldn’t allow for that in their budget. That was until they received special visitors who carried with them the vision of a deceased man’s final wish.

“Back in 2007 a couple came up from Florence who were executors to the estate of a man named Sam Goldman who had recently passed away. He told them when he died he wanted his money to go to a wildlife rehabilitation facility that cared for the desert animals he loved so much,” says Executive Director Dee Kidd. “So his executors went around to four different wildlife rescues in the country and they ended up in Tucson and called us for a tour. They never said a word about why they were there, but Lisa could tell they were very impressed. At the end they asked her what her ultimate goal was and she told them it was to build the first wild animal hospital in Arizona. And right there on the spot they told her that they were going to build it for her.”

Seven years later, the shared vision of Bates, Lininger and the late Sam Goldman is coming to fruition, as the Tucson Wildlife Center is preparing to cut the ribbon on April 4 for their brand new, state of the art Sam Goldman Wildlife Hospital. The new construction will add to the center’s 14-acre site: four animal ICU units, indoor and outdoor pens for the animals, a large avian enclosure for birds, an educational room, a large triage room, a surgery room and a radiology and x-ray room. There will also be a big garage for the ambulances to pull into so the heavier animals brought in can be transported directly inside without excessive moving.

“We’ll also be adding on veterinarian and intern quarters and we’ll be one of the country’s first education facilities on large mammals and raptors. That means that doctors and veterinarians can come from different countries and different places in the U.S. who want to learn how to care for wild animals because there aren’t many places in the world that offer that,” says Kidd. “And the diversity of the Sonoran wildlife is almost more than anywhere in the world. A lot of people show a lot of interest in coming here to learn. We have veterinarians who donate their time, human orthopedic surgeons who donate their time and vets who do internal surgeries. It’s a huge community effort and everything about the center was created to support our community.”

Wilbur and Wilma at the Tucson Wildlife Center. photo courtesy Tucson Wildlife Center.

Wilbur and Wilma at the Tucson Wildlife Center.
photo courtesy Tucson Wildlife Center

Of the thousand animals TWC treats a year, 90 percent of them are injured or harmed by human related incidents. With many animals getting hit by vehicles or getting run out of their habitats by increased construction, TWC is their only hope for survival once they’re inflicted with life threatening injuries. The hospital takes in over 300 birds and raptors a year and hundreds of javelinas, coyotes, bobcats, ringtails, badgers, bears and even many animals foreign to our habitat such as migrating pelicans and abandoned alligators.

“We’re dedicated to the rescue, emergency medical care and rehabilitation of sick, injured and orphaned wildlife while promoting habitat coexistence and protection through education. Basically we are a first responder, a hospital, an animal geriatric care facility, and information hub to the public. We welcome calls from the public to answer any questions about animals,” says Kidd. “Our mission goes beyond just bringing them in and giving them aid, we always try to complete the circle by making sure they are placed back out where they belong. Our new hospital edition is truly going to revolutionize how we operate and the will greatly widen the scope of the type of care we can give these animals.”

To book a tour or to donate to the Tucson Wildlife Center, visit TucsonWildlife.com. Questions can be answered 24/7 at (520) 290-9453.

Gardeners Square off at “Growdown”

March 4, 2014 |

On your mark. Get set. Grow!

An outdoor space created at Growdown 2013. photo courtesy Tucson Botanical Gardens

An outdoor space created at Growdown 2013.
photo courtesy Tucson Botanical Gardens

It’s time for the Tucson Botanical Gardens’ (TBG) second annual Growdown!, and this year’s gardening gurus are leaving nothing to chance. Three local landscape design firms will put their trowels to the test between March 18 and 22 in a battle to create the best small garden space in Tucson. Each of the three finalists—chosen by a committee from a pool of about ten design proposals—will be given $1500 in “seed money” and a fifteen-by-twenty-foot plot of dirt on which to craft a backyard sanctuary fit for desert royalty.

The winner will be announced on Saturday, March 22 at a ceremony and reception following a day of demonstrations by the competing designers. Judges will score the displays based on five criteria: aesthetic appeal, connection to Tucson, appeal to multiple senses, the use of space and practicality. The winner gets a handsome trophy as well as priority attention in the June issue of Tucson Lifestyle Home & Garden Magazine. Last year’s cover article meant some well-earned attention for Growdown! 2013 champions Phil and Janis Van Wyck of Van Wyck Projects.

Phil Van Wyck says that the cover story led directly to a handful of projects for the company, as well as countless complimentary phone calls from the community at large. But, Van Wyck says, the pride they felt in their work was the biggest payoff.

“We used every square inch of that space,” said Van Wyck, adding that, even though they prefabricated as much of their garden as possible before the three-day installation period began, putting it all together literally came down to the final two minutes of the competition. Their winning design included custom tile art by local artist Nick Tranmer, a water feature, as well as a raised, covered platform built along a soil cement wall—a technique the Van Wyck’s demonstrated at TBG last year.

Plans for the 2014 installations (billed as “Small Gardens, Big Ideas”) appear even more ambitious than the year before: Allen Denomy and Micaela Machado of Solana Outdoor Living partnered up to create a design which features a green-roofed chicken coop; Iylea Olson of LJ Design & Consulting envisions a garden full of local edibles with a water feature that uses harvested rainwater; Petrichor Design + Build’s Maria Voris aims to erect a modern suspended swing as her small garden’s centerpiece.

People work to create the best pocket garden at Growdown 2013. photo courtesy Tucson Botanical Gardens

People work to create the best pocket garden at Growdown 2013.
photo courtesy Tucson Botanical Gardens

Like the Van Wycks last spring, this year’s green-thumb gladiators can expect a few sleepless nights in the mad dash to install everything from gravel to gazebos from scratch, including every plant, rafter, fountain, and artistic accent in each of their pre-planned plots. And, though the time table leaves very little room for construction errors, TBG’s Marketing Director Melissa D’Auria assures us that these local agriculturalists are up to the challenge. D’Auria says that since Growdown! lets designers work without adhering to a client’s specifications, the annual competition at TBG is one of “the best opportunities for them to be creative in their profession.” And the small spaces that spring up as a result of that freedom are “really elaborate,” says D’Auria, incorporating fire elements, cisterns, and just about everything else you could reasonably think to put in your backyard.

The designers will all be on hand to answer your questions on the Saturday that follows installation, making it a spectacular opportunity to pick the brains of a few extremely talented professionals for design insight. For anyone looking to spruce up their own outdoor living areas, Growdown! 2014 is the perfect excuse to swing by TBG; you can learn a new trick-or-two from the demos, get some inspiration on how to give your small garden a big impact by checking out the finished gardens, and take an extra minute to stroll through the butterfly aviary before the exhibit flutters away again next month.

So, put on your best pruning gloves and some sunscreen and we’ll meet you in the garden.

It all grows, er, goes down March 18-22 with the final results presentation and contestant demonstrations taking place on Saturday, March 22. Growdown! exhibition is free with paid admission (adults, $13; student/military, $12; children 4-12, $7.50). More information available at TucsonBotanical.org or by calling (520) 326-9686.

It’s Tomato Time Tucson!

February 25, 2014 |
Smaller tomatoes do very well in Tucson. photo: Jamie Manser

Smaller tomatoes do very well in Tucson.
photo: Jamie Manser

March brings with it warmer weather and a new planting season in the Old Pueblo. Some of our fellow gardeners have taken advantage of the unseasonably warm temperatures in February to get a head start on their spring crops. Others, like myself, all too weary of a late spring frost have resisted this temptation. Regardless of your risk tolerance, late February through March is the prime time to plant tomatoes.

Tomatoes are the bane of desert gardeners everywhere because all to often plants end up looking green and lush with little to no fruit to make the investment worth it. In my conversations with gardeners, I’ve learned that the majority of the time this outcome could have been avoided had a few initial steps been taken. By following these simple guidelines, your likelihood of producing a bumper crop in 2014 will be greater than ever.

Success with tomatoes all starts at the nursery or with the seed selection. Forget the monster Mortgage Lifter that may have won you the blue ribbon at the county fair back home. Large beefsteak type tomatoes do not grow well in our climate and will most likely split before they reach their full size. Conversely, smaller tomatoes do very well. Local seed source Native Seeds/SEARCH has many great heirloom varieties of cherry type and small tomatoes, including Flamenco, Punta Banda and Texas Wild Cherry.

There are some other important factors that you should consider when selecting tomatoes varieties to plant in the low desert. Tomato cultivars with shorter days to maturity or those have been bred for heat tolerance are also known to do well in our climate. Some good examples you’re likely to find include Yellow Pear, Cherokee Purple, Stupice and Pearson Improved. After you have chosen a suitable variety of the low desert, the next step is make sure you get your tomatoes planted at the right time.

The most common mistake Tucson gardeners make is waiting too long to plant their tomatoes in the ground. As a result, they get poor yields. Tomato seeds should be started indoors or in the green house starting in December and transplants should be planted outdoors starting in mid- to late-February and continuing through mid-March. If you wait much longer than this to get your tomatoes in the ground, your yield is likely to drop as hot temperatures set in—decreasing fruit production.

Unlike most garden transplants, tomatoes are planted in a trench rather than a hole.  Trim your new tomato starts leaving only the top two sets of leaves. Dig a small trench one inch deep and the length of a stem with a hole on one side just large enough to accommodate the root ball of the transplant. Gently lay your new seedling in the trench and cover the entire stem leaving only the top two leaves exposed.  Your plant will grow slowly over the next few weeks, but by planting this way a strong root system will develop rewarding you will better drought tolerance and more fruit production in the spring.

Because tomatoes are tropical plants that prefer warm temperatures planting them in the ground late in the winter can present some challenges.  You must be prepared to care for your tender young seedlings if nightly temps drop to freezing levels. Small plants can be covered at night using a cloche made from home made materials such as an old milk jug or a 3 liter soda bottle. You can read more about how to protect your garden from frosty weather in the November issue of Zócalo Magazine.

As the season progresses and your plants continue to grow, you’ll want to care for them by applying organic fertilizers on a regular basis throughout the season. My favorite is Tank’s Green Stuff compost. Mix in generous helpings of compost to the soil at the beginning of the season before planting, and apply a two inch layer of compost mulch as the weather warms in April. Nutrients will be slowly released into the soil each time you water and the mulch will help to reduce watering needs during the summer. Tank’s compost, as well as tomato seedlings of some of the varieties discussed above can be purchased at Ecogro or Green Things Nursery.

Brandon Merchant is the proprietor of Southwest Victory Gardens. Visit his website at SouthwestVictoryGardens.com.

 

 

 

A Creek’s Heart, Expressed Through Art

January 31, 2014 |

Imagine kneeling at a rare brook in the desert. Gazing upon the vista from a mountaintop at a hushed valley below. Remarking on the sensations felt, images seen, sounds traveling across your ears and the scents and signs of the seasons, what does your heart tell you? How would you convey that connection?

A scene from "Rosemont Ours," a dance film celebrating the species that would be impacted a Canadian company currently seeking approval to mine in the Santa Rita Mountains. Photo courtesy of Ben Johnson & NEW ARTiculation Dance Theatre

A scene from “Rosemont Ours,” a dance film celebrating the species that would be impacted by a Canadian company currently seeking approval to mine in the Santa Rita Mountains.
Photo courtesy of Ben Johnson & NEW ARTiculations Dance Theatre

Join Tucson’s arts community and Cienega Watershed Partnership (CWP) on Saturday, Feb. 8, in spreading awareness about the Cienega watershed – a region bounded by the Canelo Hills on the southern end, the Whetstone Mountains on the eastern flank, the Santa Ritas Mountains to the west, and the Rincon Mountains to the north. Cienega Creek flows northwesterly, year-round, from the Sonoita Plain to Tucson’s southeastern edge where it becomes Pantano Wash. Artwork of, about and inspired by the watershed contains a valuable message: as one of the last perennial streams in the region, Cienega Creek has inherent importance to Tucson. The watershed also contributes significantly to the recharge of Tucson’s aquifer.

Cienega is Spanish for “wetlands;” imagine a cool, lush miracle in the desert. Really! Already vulnerable due to recent drought, it is now additionally threatened by Rosemont Copper’s proposed open-pit mine. CWP is a collaborative network actively engaged in sustaining the unique natural and cultural heritage of the Cienega watershed. To ensure the future of the creek, CWP coordinates programs for Youth Engaged Stewardship (YES!), frog conservation, erosion restoration, water monitoring, climate change scenario planning, and oral history. CWP works with every stakeholder; ranchers, recreational users and government agencies all impact the sustainability of ecosystems (including human).

Artists bring a unique focus to the richness and fragility of the Cienega watershed including Davidson Canyon, the Santa Ritas and Sonoita-area grasslands. The CWP Annual Reception will feature visual interpretations of the watershed through the arts. Many of the artists double as watershed managers and scientists. Others were introduced to the watershed on poetic and plein-air field-visits just last year.

A screening of “Rosemont Ours,” a short film by NEW ARTiculations Dance Theatre and visual artist Ben Johnson, and directed by Kimi Eisele, will show dancers doing movement meditations within the watershed. Eisele explains that by embodying the flora and fauna, “We realize how much we share with them, and how it changes us to try to see the world from their perspective.”

Prose will also be presented at the reception. Tucsonan and geographer Eric Magrane led the poetic research field trips. During these trips groups wrote individually and collaboratively, exploring relationships with the landscape and its inhabitants. “Poetry helps me to think otherwise about landscape,” Magrane explains. “A poem is about bringing life. It’s about relationship. It’s about witness.”

Watercolor of the endangered Chiricahua Leopard Frog by Dennis Caldwell.

Watercolor of the endangered Chiricahua Leopard Frog by Dennis Caldwell.

Watercolors shown will include works by Dennis Caldwell of Caldwell Design and Meredith Milstead of The Drawing Studio.

“During the past 6 months I visited the Santa Ritas and environs numerous times to sketch and paint outdoors,” says fellow local plein-air painter Betina Fink. “Experiencing the land while painting and drawing helped me to honor it, and pay homage to a region that could possibly be destroyed.” Caldwell has worked to protect endangered species of the creek, and of Empire Valley at its northern end, since the late 1990s. He has developed an intimate understanding of the ecology of the area, working on a CWP grant (The F.R.O.G. Project) to restore Chiricahua leopard frogs in the watershed.

Civano Middle School students, led by teacher Markus Whitaker, have also chipped in. They donated artworks focusing on healthy human relationships with the natural environment in Las Cienegas National Conservation Area, on the southern end of the watershed.

Select pieces from photography exhibit “Lens on the Land” will be on display. This project, led by Josh Schachter and Brian Powell, exquisitely shows the cultural and ecological richness of the watershed as captured by photographers from throughout the Southwest. “Lens on the Land” is supported by CWP partner organizations The Sonoran Institute and Save the Scenic Santa Ritas. (See story here.)

Take a moment to ponder the precious resources to Tucson’s early dwellers: flowing water, riparian cottonwood trees, topminnows… Imagine grasslands with antelope grazing, surrounded by pristine saguaro-studded slopes. You can still experience this today in the Cienega watershed! CWP is us: residents, agencies and scientists working together to sustain this heritage a hundred years into the future.

Cienega Watershed Partnership’s Annual Reception takes place Saturday, Feb. 8 at 1 p.m. at Civano Neighborhood Center, 10501 E. Seven Generations Way. Admission to the exhibit and silent auction is free. Look forward to local libations from Dragoon Brewing Company and Wilhelm Family Vineyards, and bring cash to vote in the infamous chili cook-off. Live traditional Irish folk music will be provided courtesy of Púca. Performances and annual Watershed Wall of Honor Awards begin at 1:30 p.m. Learn more at Cienega.org.

CWP Board Member Mead Mier guided many of the artistic field-visits. Mier has over a decade’s experience in watershed restoration issues including monitoring the hydrology of the Cienega Creek.

Lens on the Land: Environmental Photography of the Santa Rita Mountain Range

January 29, 2014 |
photo: Gooch Goodwin

photo: Gooch Goodwin

The beautiful Santa Rita Mountain Range in Southern Arizona is a tranquil and serene stretch of land that harbors a diversity of rare animals, plant species, water resources and communities that have inhabited the area for generations. Currently, the area is facing a threat in the form of a proposed copper mine that would cost $1.23 billion to dig the mile wide and a half mile deep area that will likely jeopardize the ecosystem and all of its regional inhabitants.

To help combat this, photographer Josh Schachter and Brian Forbes Powell teamed up with the Sonoran Institute and Save the Scenic Santa Ritas to compile a collection of stunning photographs of the region from 30 photographers of the area to be presented at the exhibit, Lens on the Land: Rosemont, What’s at Stake. Over the past two years, Schachter and Forbes Powell have narrowed over 500 photographs down to 50 for this special showcase to raise awareness of the need to save the area and its endangered species.

“Two years ago we went out there and started photographing and decided that we had to use art to help people understand how important the ecological resources are in that region,” says Schachter. “We decided that it would be more effective to partner with the organizations that were already working to protect that land of the Santa Ritas and surrounding areas. So we contacted them and then put a call out to photographers in the region and compiled hundreds of photographs. For me, it’s also exciting to have all of these artists come together and use their talents to explore and represent this landscape.”

Desert box turtle (Terrapene ornata luteola) looking at long-horned beetle. photo: Dennis Caldwell

Desert box turtle (Terrapene ornata luteola) looking at long-horned beetle.
photo: Dennis Caldwell

If the mine is allowed to proceed, it would operate for at least 20 to 25 years and could jeopardize nine endangered species, Southern Arizona’s $2.4 billion dollar tourism industry, the availability and quality of water for the area; it would darken the skies for the thriving astronomy industry, damage many cultural sites that reflect thousands of years of Native American habitation and could harm the rural economies including vineyards, pecan orchards and ranching.

“Throughout history, art has played a role on shaping our understanding of landscapes. Stories and visual stories can help solidify our community’s view of issues and policy maker’s perspective on these issues,” says Schachter. “Around the Rosemont [Copper potential mining] area and the water sheds and the Santa Ritas so many of the resources and species are so hard to see in passing, so photographs that illuminate them, like a jaguar in snow for example or rare flowering orchids, are amazing resources.”

The exhibit is showing at Fluxx Studio & Gallery, 414 E. Ninth St., and opens with a reception on Saturday, Feb. 1 at 6 p.m. The opening event and exhibit is free to the public and runs until Feb. 26 on Thursdays and Fridays from 3 p.m-6 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays from noon to 7 p.m. There is also a screening of “Rosemont Ours” a NEW ARTiculations Dance Theatre video production that takes place on Feb. 16 at 7 p.m. as a complement to the exhibit. The gallery will also feature dance, video, painting, poetry, audio interview and music that to help support the conservation of Rosemont.

“It’s very exciting because a collection of photographs such as these of this region haven’t been assembled like this before,” says Schachter. “It’s really an exciting celebration because it is such a unique region that has so many wonders that are rarely seen. Over all of the years of working on conservation issues, I’ve developed a deep passion for telling stories of species, people and land through art. It has allowed me to develop a vocabulary to be an photographer, as much of my own photography is focused on the designs of nature and without that I wouldn’t be an artist.”

Ofelia Uya Rivas, an advocate for the cultural and ecological heritage of her people and land for many years, sits by the proposed mine site after performing what she describes as “a ceremonial offering to the land and ancient ancestors in recognition of the sacredness of the significant O'odham legacy of survival since millennia." Behind Ofelia rest dozens of significant prehistoric sites, including an ancestral ball court site, traditionally used for games and ceremonies. Most of these sites, including much of the area shown in this photograph, would be buried under hundreds of feet of mine waste. photo: Josh Schachter

Ofelia Uya Rivas, an advocate for the cultural and ecological heritage of her people and land for many years, sits by the proposed mine site after performing what she describes as “a ceremonial offering to the land and ancient ancestors in recognition of the sacredness of the significant O’odham legacy of survival since millennia.” Behind Ofelia rest dozens of significant prehistoric sites, including an ancestral ball court site, traditionally used for games and ceremonies. Most of these sites, including much of the area shown in this photograph, would be buried under hundreds of feet of mine waste.
photo: Josh Schachter

For more information, and to RSVP for the opening, visit LensOnTheLand.com. 

A Child’s Best Friend

January 8, 2014 |
A Child’s Best Friend 2

A Gabriel’s Angels doggie volunteer gets its teeth brushed. Interacting with the dogs helps children learn the values of empathy, love, trust, understanding, self-esteem, respect and tolerance.

At four years of age, Tatiana’s life had been one filled with violence, abuse and neglect. Needless to say, it wasn’t surprising that when she found herself transplanted to a crisis nursery she had absolutely no desire to interact or open up to any of the caring staff or other children that now surrounded her. She spent her days quietly reserved, scared, scorn and detached from the possibility that any good could exist in her life. That was, until a loving and nurturing Weimaraner named Gabriel approached her one day and nuzzled his way into her arms.

“She took his leash and introduced him to every kid in there. She lit up and transformed in a way that she hadn’t before,” says Gabriel’s Angels CEO and founder Pam Gaber. “When I left she looked at Gabriel and asked when he was coming back and I told her that he’d be back in one dog week. So I came back as planned and she lit up and ran towards him screaming ‘Gabriel came back!’ The staff turned to me and said, ‘You don’t get it do you? The minute you left last week, she told us that Gabriel was never coming back.’ At four years of age she had already learned how to shield herself from disappointment. The staff there told me that that was the first healthy attachment Tatiana ever had.”

What began with one faithful gray dog in 2000 has now turned into a substantial healing force for abused, neglected and at-risk children in Arizona. Now 175 pet-therapy dogs strong, Gabriel’s Angels serves over 13,000 children across Arizona including 30 agencies locally: Casa De Los Niños, Emerge Shelters, Gospel Rescue Mission, Springboard, Boys and Girls Clubs, amongst others. Utilizing these loving canines to re-teach children how to love and be loved, the trainers use activities such as brushing the dog’s teeth to instill seven core behaviors – empathy, love, trust, understanding, self-esteem, respect and tolerance.

“Many of the children who come to our crisis nursery are experiencing incredibly toxic stress and drama-filled lives and often times the first being they will open up to and trust and show their love to are these animals,” says Casa De Los Niños CEO Susie Huhn. “We can see the transformation immediately for some of these kids who won’t open up with humans at the shelter because not only do the animals give the kids love, but also it enables the kids to show it back.”

A Child’s Best Friend 5

Augie, a Gabriel’s Angels doggie volunteer, offers a paw/handshake during a visit.
photo courtesy Gabriel’s Angels

Each of the therapy dogs have gone through extensive training and are certified through national organizations before they can become a part of a therapy team. Any dog and owner can apply to join the organization, which hopes to steadily increase their numbers to reach more children. The children visited at the shelters are typically broken up into groups of six to eight children, although Gabriel’s Angels also offers individual therapy sessions for special cases.

“What you have to keep in mind is that we’re working in cycles of violence. Most of these children are at risk and come from really tough circumstances and most of them have suffered some form of violence,” says Gabriel’s Angels Director of Development MeMe Aguila. “If you don’t show a child different things than they have learned they won’t understand them and that cycle of violence perpetuates. Wrong habits are developed from core behaviors that they are exposed to at a young age because of their situation. Our goal is to provide a child with those core behaviors so they can go on to become a successful adult.”

The organization all started by accident after Pam Gaber quit her high-powered corporate career and decided to do something for her community that would serve those in need. After volunteering at a shelter for children, Gaber asked if her puppy Gabriel could attend the children’s Christmas party and her breakthrough experience that day made her new life path obvious. And while Gabriel passed away in 2010, he alone was able to reach 10,000 children and his legacy lives on through the many dogs that are now following his lead.

“This agency started by accident, but it continues with unbridled purpose,” says Gaber. “These dogs are teachers. To learn to bring a dog water is no big deal, but for these kids it is. For them to realize another being is in need and have the desire to provide for them is huge. The dogs and children learn to trust each other and that plants a seed that allows them to grow. There’s a special bond between children and animals and that opens the window to allow a therapist to get through to that child. It truly is magical.”

To learn more information about Gabriel’s Angels, and how to get involved, visit the organization’s website at GabrielsAngels.org or call 1-866-785-9010.

Frost Protection for Southwest Gardens

December 5, 2013 |

Frosted vegetation on a winter morning.
photo: Jamie Manser

One of the best reasons to be a gardener in Tucson is the fact that, in Southern Arizona, we can have a garden growing all year long. Unlike other parts of the country where the ground freezes solid in the winter, Tucson winters are mild enough to grow a wide variety of cool season vegetable crops such as broccoli, lettuce and spinach.  However, just because these crops don’t mind the cool temperatures doesn’t mean that we don’t need to give them some protection from time to time.

Mid- to late November, and through December and January, are usually the times of year we can expect to experience our frost temperatures. Light frost occurs between 32-28 degrees. Most winter vegetable crops can handle short exposure to these temps with little to no damage; however it is at these temps where summer vegetables will die off. A hard frost occurs as temperatures dip below 28 degrees. The longer it stays below hard frost temperatures, and the lower they get, the more likely your winter vegetable garden will experience frost damage.

Other weather factors such as wind, humidity and cloud cover also play an important role in how frost affects your vegetable garden. Clear, calm nights with little or no cloud cover will let warm air escape back into the atmosphere increasing the chances of frost damage. Moisture in the atmosphere holds heat which can protect your plants, while wind can help keep cool air from sinking to ground levels where your plants reside.

If frost is in the forecast, you can take some basic steps that will help increase the chances your plants will make it through the night. First, a two inch layer of alfalfa hay mulch should be applied to any vegetable garden. Not only does the mulch act as a slow release fertilizer and provide a living environment for soil microbes, but the mulch also acts as a great insulator that keeps plant roots warm on chilly nights. Intensive spacing of vegetable crops will also aid in protecting plants from frost damage.

A good next step is to water your garden the morning before you’re expecting a frost. The water in the soil will act as an insulator absorbing the sun’s heat during the day and radiating it back at night. You can also protect your vegetables with water by lightly misting them. Misting your plants works to protect them by creating an igloo like effect that keeps temperatures above hard frost levels.

You can help warm air stay close to plants by covering them at night with a sheet or frost cloth, but be sure to never use plastic. Frost cloth or frost blankets are a light material designed to keep warm air trapped against the ground where plants are growing. Frost cloth is nicer than sheets because it allows sunlight to reach the plants so they can be left on during very cold days whereas sheets need to be removed in the morning. It can also be doubled up to increase protection.

Garden centers and hardware stores will often sell out of frost cloth when a freeze warning arrives, but Tucson Organic Gardeners usually keeps a good supply on hand. For frost cloth to work most effectively, it needs to cover the plants
completely to the ground without touching them. You may need to construct a frame around your garden using PVC or wire fencing to keep the frost cloth from touching the tops of plants.

Another effective tool for your frost protection arsenal is a strand of old Christmas lights. Christmas lights radiate heat and can act as mini heaters in your garden. Simply place strands around the garden on frosty nights.

For the most part, we only need to take these precautions a few times a year, but it is nice to be prepared for the worst. Frosts can be frustrating but they actually have benefits; they limit the numbers of pest insects, kill off non-native invasive plant species, and also increase the flavor of many winter vegetable crops. So don’t be discouraged if a frost is in the forecast, just be prepared.

Brandon Merchant is the proprietor of Southwest Victory Gardens. Visit his website at SouthwestVictoryGardens.com.

Rescuing Abandoned Reptiles

December 4, 2013 |

Charlotte Gillis at Bookmans in September 2013 during a Tucson Reptile Rescue adoption and education event. photo: Dan Perino

Every year in the U.S. millions of pets are abandoned, discarded or dumped due to neglectful pet owners or those who lack the ability to raise and maintain the animals once they’re fully grown. While the most common pets in the U.S. are dogs are and cats, many of these deserted creatures are reptiles. But thanks to the efforts of Tucson Reptile Rescue (TRR), abandoned reptiles are given new homes and a second chance at a happy life.

“Our main goal is to encourage long-term pet companionship. We want people to consider these animals’ needs for life,” shares TRR co-founder Charlotte Gillis. “A lot of times people can’t provide the proper housing for a reptile once it becomes an adult. Pet stores don’t typically carry enclosures for large reptiles when they grow full size. So when animals get over 6 feet long, a lot of times they get abandoned. It’s just not fair to the animals.”

Founded by Gillis and Doug Barreto in late January of this year, Tucson Reptile Rescue is the only non-profit organization that rehabilitates and finds homes for exotic reptiles in Tucson. TRR takes in animals with no surrender fee and provides them with a temporary home, food and medical care while locating a loving new household for a variety of snakes, lizards and turtles. Having only been in service for less than a year, many reptiles have already been rescued due to the tireless work by TRR’s staff and volunteers.

“A lot of times we’re the only option that people have to go to. We just got a recent call about a Boa constrictor from its owner who was saying that if we didn’t pick up the animal right away she was going to put it out into the desert to get rid of it. It was heavy bodied boa from Madagascar around 4 feet long,” Gillis shares. “We had to go out and get her immediately. If exotic animals are released into a foreign ecosystem they will either fail to adapt and die or adapt too well and become a threat to the local wildlife.”

Another major goal of TRR is to educate the community on reptiles and how to care for them. To achieve this they host gatherings, seminars and open houses for youth groups and the general public on a regular basis. On the third Saturday of each month, TRR holds a gathering at Bookmans, 6230 E. Speedway Blvd., where they bring in some of the animals up for adoption and answer questions from the crowd who get a chance to observe and interact with the reptiles. Monthly events are also held at Petco and the TRR facilities.

“We’ve gotten just a wonderful response from our community events. Tons of people have been coming out and they love to see the animals and ask us a ton of questions,” says Gillis. “One of our big goals is to further the education on reptiles and how to be an owner and properly keep one as a pet.”

And to help aid their efforts, TRR has just recently moved into a larger downtown location, 844 S. Sixth Ave., that is now open to the public. This will allow the organization to have more space to rehabilitate sick and injured reptiles while having room to expand their educational outreach program. Now school classrooms, scout troops, families and other groups will be welcome to enjoy their learning experience while also getting to observe the new enclosures for the reptiles.

“We’re thrilled to be in our new building which is a really large space and a big improvement for us. So far we have an enclosure for monitor lizards, an enclosure for our tortoises, multiple iguana enclosures and we’re adding other spaces for the rest of the boas and reptiles. We have space now for the public to come in and learn about the animals. The central location is great for the community to rally around and learn a lot about these animals.”

Driven by their passion of aiding animals in need – Gillis has worked in animal rescue for over two decades – TRR is quickly growing in popularity in the Tucson community as more and more people are realizing that reptiles are truly remarkable pets to own. And thanks to the efforts of Charlotte and her staff, hopefully these beautifully unique creatures will continue to find permanent homes with caring owners.

African sulcata tortoise, Dozer, was recently adopted through Tucson Reptile Rescue. photo: Dan Perino

“A big misconception is that reptiles are dangerous pets. There are some reptiles that can be purchased that have potential to be dangerous, but for the most part reptiles are safer than the average cat or dog. They have smaller teeth and smaller claws and they don’t have any fur, so they don’t cause people to have allergies. They don’t make a whole lot of noise either and they are very beautiful to live with and enjoy.”

Tucson Reptile Rescue is located at 844 S. Sixth Ave. and online at TucsonReptileRescue.com. Call (520) 991-9553 with inquires.

Eggplant Curry

September 28, 2013 |

“Raga” Indian eggplants
photo: CJ Shane

Eggplant is our featured veggie for October!

This lovely plant with its gray-green leaves and lavender blossoms comes in several varieties that produce eggplants in different shapes and colors. The most familiar are the large deep purple varieties known as aubergine in Europe. There’s also the Japanese elongated purple variety, Indian reddish-purple eggplants, and white eggplants that range in size from an egg to a tennis ball.

The first eggplants introduced to North America were the white varieties which lead to the name “egg” plant. Eggplants are tropical vegetables that thrive in the heat if they are helped with mulch and a weekly deep soaking. The plants are heavy producers that go until the first frost.

Eggplant Curry

¼ c. canola oil
1 tsp. mustard seeds
1 tsp. ground cumin
1 Tbls. minced garlic
1 onion sliced
3-4 cups of eggplant chopped into bite-sized chunks
1 serrano chili (remove seeds)
1 tsp coriander
1 can (14-15 oz) diced tomatoes
¼ cup water
¼ tsp. garam masala
1 tsp. salt
½ tsp. black pepper

Heat oil in a large skillet. Add mustard seeds and cumin until mustard seeds pop. Add sliced onions and minced garlic. Stir occasionally until onions are clear and begin to brown. Add eggplant and fry until skin begins to soften. Add chopped chili, coriander, diced tomatoes, water, garam masala, salt and pepper. Turn heat to medium low and cook until eggplant is soft and sauce thickens. Serve over rice.

GD2 Garden & Okra

September 6, 2013 |

Doug Merkle, volunteer irrigation monitor for GD2, and LaRae Barnes, GD2 garden coordinator.
photo: C.J. Shane

The word “garden” usually brings up thoughts of vegetables and flowers. Now another word associated with “garden” that is gaining traction is “community.” Tucson has a very active community garden scene organized by Community Gardens of Tucson. In coming months, we’ll visit community gardens around the city and take a look at what’s currently growing and being harvested.

My first visit was to the GD2 Community Garden in Tucson’s mid-town Garden District, bound by Grant Road, Swan Road, Speedway Boulevard and Alvernon Way. The GD2 garden is on Bell Street near Pima Street and Swan Road. A few gardeners were already tending their plots when I showed up, awaiting the arrival of Pima County Extension Master Gardener Giulio Grecchi. This gave me the chance to chat with the gardeners and to learn more about what they were doing.

Brad Holland, who donated the land for the garden, spoke about the evolution of the plot. “Originally I was planning on building my dream house, but the economic crash of 2008 changed all that,” Holland said. “I pondered what might be the highest and best use for the lot.” He decided on a garden so he contacted Community Gardens of Tucson to get started. How about the name “GD2”? Holland grinned and said, “Garden District’s Garden!”

Congresswoman Gabby Giffords lived across the street from GD2 garden and her office was located at Pima/Swan Roads at the time of the January 8, 2011 shootings in Tucson in which six people were killed and 13 others, including Giffords, were wounded. Holland reminded me of the shrines for victims that arose at Giffords’ office, at University Medical Center and at the scene of the shootings. “The material items at the shrines, such as cards and gifts, were archived,” Holland said. “All the plant material from flowers was brought to GD2 garden and composted to become part of GD2’s soil.”

Holland, a retired prosecutor with the Pima County District Attorney’s office and self-described “lounge act” (he’s a jazz musician), is convinced that GD2 has had a role in dropping the neighborhood crime rate. “There are so many more people now walking their dogs and kids riding bikes. There are more eyes and ears on the street,” he said. Holland’s next project is to introduce chickens to GD2.

LaRae Barnes recently became the new coordinator of GD2 garden. She showed off her burgundy-colored okra and  waxed poetic about how delicious the butternut squash has been this year. “Actually, every vegetable we’ve grown has just blown away any store-bought veggie,” she said. “Onions were probably the all-time favorite. I can’t even describe the subtlety of flavor and how it changed depending on which day you picked it.”

Barnes credits the garden for helping her recover from a concussion that led to painful nerve damage. In an article that she wrote for Community Gardens of Tucson’s newsletter, Barnes said, “Almost everything about the garden was good for me. It gave me a reason to get up in the morning after suffering through another tortuous night… my plants needed me.”

The word “community” came up when Barnes talked about GD2. She said, “I feel like our modern society has so many things that isolate people. Being that we are social beings, I think we are all a little bit starved for good old-fashioned conversation.” She has found good conversation at GD2.

Community is also a key aspect for Doug Merkle, who recently became the volunteer irrigation meter monitor for GD2. Merkle was active in building GD2 and digging plots. Then Merkel said, “I found I’m not a natural gardener. But the more I came, and the more I saw people, I began to see the community aspect. We started eating the food, and that’s when another piece of the puzzle fell into place. The variety and taste of the food is so much better than from the grocery store.”

Community is important for Mark Fleming and Lisa Ealy who have a garden at their home and also a plot in GD2. “We wanted to meet people in the neighborhood and be more sociable,” Fleming said.

The Dhital family – who are a part of the GD2 community – include: (left to right), Shushil, Savon, Gita Dhital.
photo: C.J. Shane

Part of the GD2 community is a refugee family who came here from Bhutan, the Dhitals. They grow flowers and vegetables on their plot. Meg Johnson, who produces the Garden District email newsletter, said that two other plots are gardened by a group of disabled adults. There’s lot of diversity at GD2.

When Master Gardener Grecchi arrived, he gave a presentation on transitioning from summer to fall gardens this month.

“In summer we eat fruits and flowers, and in winter, we eat roots, leaves and shoots.” Grecchi said. Winter crops for Tucson include Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, carrots, chard, kale, lettuce, radish, spinach, turnips, garbanzos (chick peas), lentils and more. We can begin planting seeds in September for many fall crops. Grecchi reminded us to organically fertilize our gardens (compost and manure), and to use mulch to hold in moisture and keep plants warm in winter. Grecchi suggested pulling out summer plants that are no longer producing well and replace them with winter veggies.

To learn more about our community gardens, visit CommunityGardensofTucson.org.

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Our featured veggie for September is okra, an easy-to-grow plant that loves heat, is drought-tolerant and will produce abundantly until frost. Okra is a staple of Southern cooking, especially Cajun gumbo and is also popular in Arab cuisine. Of course, the best dish of all is Southern-fried okra. Think crunchy and delicious, not slimy!

Southern Fried Okra
Serves 2

1 cup okra, sliced in 1/4 inch pieces (about 10 pods)
1 egg, beaten (optional)
3/4 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup cornmeal
1/2 cup flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 cup vegetable oil

Okra Blossom
photo: C.J. Shane

1. In a small bowl, soak okra in buttermilk (and optional egg) for 5 to 10 minutes.
2. In a large bowl, combine cornmeal, flour, salt and pepper.
3. Remove okra from buttermilk with slotted spoon, dredge okra in the cornmeal/flour mixture, and turn gently until all pieces are coated. Avoid clumping.
4. Sift a few pieces at a time in your hand to allow the loose extra coating to fall off and to avoid clumping, then set aside in another bowl.
5. Into a large heated skillet, pour oil to a depth of about 1/4 inch, medium-high heat.
6. When the oil gets hot enough to sizzle a wet piece of cornmeal, carefully drop a few pieces of okra at a time into the skillet.
7. Repeat until the skillet bottom is covered with a layer of okra no more than 1 inch deep.
8. When okra pieces are browned on one side, gently turn okra to other side with a spatula.
9. Don’t stir or turn again until second side is browned.
10. Drain on paper towels.

Thanks to Terry Dyke, Austin cook and gardener, for the basis of this recipe.

 

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