Checking out "Winter Sticks."

History in the Valley

Trudy and I had an opportunity today that could only come to us because we are docents at the Spring Mountain Ranch. As many of our friends knowSMR is one of the premier history locations in the Las Vega Valley.

From the earliest days of the Spanish Trail (circa 1776) through use by a notorious horse thief and ownership buy the rich and famous it was a continuously occupied, working ranch until the State bought it andSMR became a picnic/history spot.

Today we got a tour of the Oliver Ranch, just down the road from SMR, and not just any old ordinary tour. We went on a Mohave Desert Plant Identification Tour with two of the members of the Cooperative Extension Master Gardener program.
Mostly we came to look at "winter sticks" as one of the gardeners called them but of course no one could resist looking at the abandoned ranch house and out buildings.
I find the old wooden corals fascinating because they have been replaced by movable metal fencing.
The Oliver Ranch was settled in 1937 and stayed in operation until 1993 when it was acquired by the Bureau of Land Management. As far as the plants are concerned, the property has been abandoned and untouched almost 15 years. In addition to the Ranch there are 2, pre 1900 cabin sites and local history in excess.
Mormon Spring One is an extensive site of an old homestead. The State has sponsored some archaeology here and most of the site has been stabilized. These ruins are in the upper canyon, built when being close to permanent water was a primary consideration.

The semi modern building from 1937 could be closer to the road because technology had solved some of the problems of water and cooling.
"Winter Sticks" don't really make good pictures because there are few leaves and no blooms but learning to identify plants in the off season is important.
This is a Devils Cholla that has a beautiful red stem in the winter and a gorgeous complex yellow bloom in the spring. I'll try to guess the right time to be back.

More as it happens
Bob

The Emperor Rules (with a bit of reindeer help)

This past weekend was the time for our annual trip to see the Bellagio holiday floral display.

It may well be the most artistic and impressive I have seen. Trudy said it rivaled the Chinese New Year from last year. Too bad I didn't see that..

Just in case you want to say "so what," for this one, look carefully above and to the right of the ornaments. Small people or really big balls, you be the judge.

Several pecan reindeer flew. We tried to name then and came up short.

A few more giant Emperor penguins and then the trees.

Actually we went first to THE HOTEL at The Four Seasons for the Teddy Bear Suite by FAO Schwarz for Nevada Cancer Institute. This is the 4Th or 5Th year year for Sofia and the recession has hit. A full 5 room suite of 5000 stuffed animals has been reduced to a lobby display. A bit of a come down.
By the way, for the reindeer, I suggested Dopey, Doc, Grumpy and Bashful and got booed. Have a good rest of the month.

More as it happens
Bob