Apologies for “duplicats”. 🙂
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All posts for the month November, 2011
I finally have gone to the Miami, Arizona arts district and have photographed all the cat pictures I could find on the local walls. As mentioned in an earlier blog, an effort at beautifying Miami’s old business district and current arts district are worth bravos. In addition to the cats, I found waste bins that had been painted in glorious colors on different themes. I do not know who did these or if it was a collective effort, but they are good! The style is definitely different from the cat person. Some photos are included. If you see a rectangular background about 3 times as high as wide, that is the trash basket art work.
Miami, Arizona was hit hard in the 80’s when many of the copper mines shut down. Many Arizona copper mining towns were dealt a blow from which they have striven to overcome in the ensuing years. If you love cats and color, you will love these photos.
Not long ago I travelled to Miami, Arizona, an Arizona town with a frontier history. The town is mainly a mining town with a folk who are proud of their heritage.
I noticed a sign pointing to the “arts district”. Just off of U.S. Route 60 (north) are many old buildings that have been transformed into artists’ studios and galleries. It is really a nice stroll looking at all the different types of art. Artists have come to this little town because of the opportunity to be able to work and sell.
As we walked down the sidewalk, we began to see pictures on the walls, on the sidewalks or benches. It seemed that most of the paintings were of cats, but there were also a few other animals. I inquired at one of the studios and was told that an artist in the town decided to help with the area beautification by creating these wonderful images – one can about follow them through the whole district.
I have included a photo of one of the images. There are tens of images all worth a photo. So just in case you weren’t aware of it and plan to pass through Miami, Arizona, it’s worth a stop to look. Don’t forget your camera.
Have an interest in ecology and enjoy fishing? Arizona has an indigenous fish that has had a pretty remarkable history. It is the Apache Trout.
Native to a number of lakes and streams in Northern Arizona, this fish nearly went extinct and was placed on the endangered species list in the 1960’s. Hatcheries preserved the species and have worked ever since to offer a safe habitat for this special trout.
Due to the effort of the forest service and the Apache tribe in Arizona, stocking of Apache trout is now possible. It was necessary to keep the species by segregating it from other trout. Other stocked trout like Rainbows would breed with the Apache trout to form a hybrid (a trout with traits of both fish).
Area streams were enhanced by ensuring that other types of trout could not breed where the Apache trout were. The other trout also had a tendency to eat more of the local fish food. The success in keeping the Apache trout pure continues as it makes a come back. The Apache trout has a greenish bottom, gold color on top, and a very unique eye. For more about this fish, check out http://john000.hubpages.com/hub/Apache-Trout-an-Arizona-Fish-and-Species-of-Trout-Endangered-Bolsters-Ecosystem-of
The author, having lived in Arizona, was interested in writing an article with the specifics of Southwestern apricot growing for the homeowner. The apricot tree grows up to 20 feet tall, while its umbrella is small enough that it is easily manicured for a backyard. The apricot is a fruit tree well-suited for residential use.
Hole preparation, soil preparation, apricot fertilizing, general care, insects, and plant diseases are discussed.
A hole for the apricot should not contain too much organic porous material that will absorb large quantities of water. If the roots are damp all the time, the trees don’t do well. Since the root ball is not as deep as some trees, beds can be ready with soil and nutrients mixed. Simple nitrogen fertilizers, even some specifically called fruit tree food, are plenty good for apricots. You can cut back on nitrogen if the foliage is thick and very green.
Thinning the tree of small fruit will help the remaining fruit to grow larger. Most people prefer the large fruit. The author does not thin his peaches and gets fruit 2 – 3 inches by 2-3 inches in circumference. Most gardeners thin.
Apricots drink the most water of all the stone pit fruit trees. The author has found that deep watering at least once a week is necessary in Arizona. In the North and East, estimates are that the apricot tree requires deep watering twice a month. Check with your local gardening store for watering schedule based on your local climate. Similarly, the right variety of apricot tree for your area is important to know and the plant nursery can answer the question. In Arizona, one of the most popular is the Royal Apricot.
The information in this article (1200 words) will get most people started with a healthy apricot tree. It’s hard to beat fresh apricots! http://john000.hubpages.com/hub/How-to-Grow-Your-Own-Apricot-Trees