Post by dT on Aug 18, 2012 17:27:46 GMT -5
I have just returned from a trip to the Apache areas of southern Arizona. I will post a few photo's soon ... because I know there are visitors here who have not seen them. Both the Chiricahua National Monument and the Coshise Stronghold are very beautiful places.
I did plant seeds at the Chiricahua monument. They had a big fire there a couple of years ago, and many trees were destroyed. Things are growing back - but it will take time. I scattered fresh pinecones in some of the burned areas, as well as also planting seeds for manzanita bushes and native grasses. I obtained these seeds and pinecones from nearby high mountains. When planting, I poured some water on the seeds, buried them, and said a prayer at each planting site. At the end of planting ... I offered a special prayer to the Spirit of Cochise and apologized for being the worst gardener who ever worked on his land. Hahahahaha! It is true ... I have a lot to learn about re-growing the Earth. But it is my hope to keep these places strong, in terms of the variety of plant life.
The good news is that the burned out areas of the Chiricahua monument are showing good re-growth of grasses. That is happening. It will take a while for the trees to come back. But do not be discouraged if you are going there -there are still a lot of areas of nice forest. It was not all harmed by the fires.
One thing was very noticeable to me. I spent some time at the Chiricahua Monument, and most visitors seem to only stay for an hour or two. But is it very QUIET at the top of the mountain. In some ways this is a great blessing. I could actually hear the wing beats of flocks of birds as they flew over the mountain. That is an unusual sound - it was uplifting to hear that. But the still air also makes me sad .... this is a place that should have the sounds of childrens laughter, mothers making meals, and men calling out to one another. The Chiricahua people are missing from this place. Perhaps one day they will be able to return - that was also in my prayers.
dT
gardener for Cochise :-)
I did plant seeds at the Chiricahua monument. They had a big fire there a couple of years ago, and many trees were destroyed. Things are growing back - but it will take time. I scattered fresh pinecones in some of the burned areas, as well as also planting seeds for manzanita bushes and native grasses. I obtained these seeds and pinecones from nearby high mountains. When planting, I poured some water on the seeds, buried them, and said a prayer at each planting site. At the end of planting ... I offered a special prayer to the Spirit of Cochise and apologized for being the worst gardener who ever worked on his land. Hahahahaha! It is true ... I have a lot to learn about re-growing the Earth. But it is my hope to keep these places strong, in terms of the variety of plant life.
The good news is that the burned out areas of the Chiricahua monument are showing good re-growth of grasses. That is happening. It will take a while for the trees to come back. But do not be discouraged if you are going there -there are still a lot of areas of nice forest. It was not all harmed by the fires.
One thing was very noticeable to me. I spent some time at the Chiricahua Monument, and most visitors seem to only stay for an hour or two. But is it very QUIET at the top of the mountain. In some ways this is a great blessing. I could actually hear the wing beats of flocks of birds as they flew over the mountain. That is an unusual sound - it was uplifting to hear that. But the still air also makes me sad .... this is a place that should have the sounds of childrens laughter, mothers making meals, and men calling out to one another. The Chiricahua people are missing from this place. Perhaps one day they will be able to return - that was also in my prayers.
dT
gardener for Cochise :-)