Chile Ristras in Old Mesilla, New Mexico

Even in January, the ristras are still beautiful. There are numerous long ristras hanging from the lamp-posts in Old Mesilla, much to the delight of locals and tourists alike.

 

Gorgeous Fall Color in Las Cruces

The wonderful changing of the leaves continues, with this flame-leaf example on the NMSU campus.

Retire in Las Cruces for a true four-season climate! Yes, the summers are blazing hot and long, but we also have the other three seasons well-represented. It's a mild climate, overall. The low humidity and the plentiful sunshine helps many people's arthritis, and it certainly helps keep "SAD," Seasonal Affective Disorder, at bay, speaking from personal experience.

Join the other retirees in Las Cruces and experience four wonderful seasons!

Beautiful Salopek Farms in the Mesilla Valley

The two major pecan growers in the west are Stahmann Farms and Salopek Farms, two fine old families of great important to our economy and our community. It's always wonderful to drive through their groves, but especially so during autumn.

These photos are from Salopek Drive. It's a calm, windy road that spans between Highway 28 and Highway 85. In town, Highway 28 is known as Avenida de Mesilla and is the main road of Old Mesilla. Highway 85 is Main Street.

There's always a beautiful drive nearby when you retire to Las Cruces!

Las Cruces Memories

Las Cruces has quite a bit of unusual architecture to enjoy. Here is a snapshot of what used to be a very popular dancehall connected to an early drive-through liquor store, Lamar's. 

The round structure is falling to ruin, unfortunately. Behind it, just literally perhaps an inch separating them, is the venerable hardware store, Hayden's, in business since 1960. Hayden's was established by Hayden and Elnora Wiley. Over the years, the family business was expanded and continues to grow with Las Cruces and the surrounding neighborhoods. It's a small store where you can find almost any piece of hardware you could ever need, no matter how obscure.

That's handy to know, if you are considering retiring to Las Cruces! And I hope you will!

Guardian of the East Mesa

In the very beautiful, very new residential/commercial area centered around Sonoma Springs Road and Northrise Boulevard, the medians and sidewalk areas are very beautifully landscaped. A light version of xeriscaping is used, with many plantings of Palo Verdes trees, mesquites, Texas Mountain Laurels, lantana, and other desert-y plants.

One of the developers near Sonoma Springs Elementary School placed a beautiful bronze mountain lion statue at the beginning of their particular stretch of homes. I love traditional public art, and the lion looks quite at home with the Organ Mountains to his back. 

We have actual mountain lions here, as well as many other desert denizens, such as roadrunners, gray foxes, coyotes, cottontails and jackrabbits, and the occassional coatimundi passing through. We also have elk, deer, and amazingly,  the African Oryx, settled here decades ago on the White Sands Missle Range by the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish and now residing up in the Organs in sizable numbers.

All Four Seasons in Las Cruces: Autumn Leaves Now Changing

 Las Cruces, despite being in the desert, is not just a 2-season place, "Hot" and "Not Quite As Hot," as some may think. No, it has all four seasons, which is delightful.

All the markers of each season arrive each year. Our leaves turn beautiful colors during autumn, especially on the NMSU campus, in Mesilla Park neighborhood, and in most neighborhoods with established trees, such as Telshor.

This tree is in our back yard, and is a wonderful Mountain Ash, with golden leaves and vivid red berries during fall. 

Come experience a temperate, wonderful climate in Las Cruces! It's a wonderful place to retire, with reminders of "home," and great new experiences as your NEW home!

Our Amazing Cold Snap in Enchanted Las Cruces

So much more snow fell after the first night of our cold snap. My little courtyard burro, bought from a roadside vendor up from Juarez, Mexico, stood patiently in the cold, decorated for Halloween, which is tomorrow.

We are still under the governor's lockdown here in New Mexico, so I doubt there will be any trick-or-treaters. We are prepared, just in case! Our neighborhood, Telshor, can get quite a few trick-or-treaters. 

Autumn Beauty Continues: City Hall

Strangely, this year autumn is seeing a flush of growth far beyond the usual amount. We also have snow flurries predicted for today and tomorrow! Most unusual.

This prickly pear in against a walkway wall at City Hall, on Main Street just north of the Farmers Market area. I think you'll agree it has beautiful, delicate colors. When nature combines them, the hues harmonize perfectly.

Thank you for dropping by.

Beautiful Profusion of Blooms in Autumn in Enchanted Las Cruces

 While other locales are seeing blooms wither and fade, Las Cruces sees an explosion of beautiful blossoms. The plants seem to catch their breath after the scorching summer, and celebrate by putting on an autumn show.

Other areas may have the beauty of leaves turning colors -- and we do too, by the way, as will be shown in an upcoming post -- but we have the flowers of fall.

Here, clamboring over a wall on a deserted adobe home, is Coral Vine. The beauty of this vine when seen in person is just indescribable. It has such grace of habit, and the vivid pink color is striking.

Also making a good show is Texas Yellow Bells, a plant native to the U.S. It has an airy, upright growth pattern and holds its bright yellow bells out into the sun. 

Texas Yellow Bells have a cousin, Orange Bells, just as lovely and with a rich, golden yellow/mahogany shade.

If you love gardening, you will enjoy retiring to Las Cruces, where it's easy to grow so many beautiful and rare plants that bloom almost year around!

Autumn Peek at Famed Chile Test Gardens of NMSU

It is autumn and nearly time for the researchers to harvest their crop of experimental chile varieties. The gardens of the Chile Pepper Institute can be viewed from afar, but are off-limits to the public. The chiles will be examined for suitability of their yield, taste, fertility, etc. by NMSU plant scientists. In years past, the public could mingle the chiles, and I saw many fantastical peppers growing, from pitch-black spheres to ghostly yellow horns that almost seemed to be fluorescent. Now, admire them from behind the fence.

The chile garden is next to the Fabian Garcia Botanical Garden, at University and Main (University and Bowman Street of Mesilla Park form its western boundary). During COVID-19, it is closed, unfortunately, but I can only hope and assume this will not be the case shortly.

If you don't love chiles now, you will once you move here. The New Mexican chiles are the main reason our food is so delicious. Come retire in Las Cruces and taste it for yourself -- and attention SNOWBIRDS -- consider making Las Cruces your winter home! We'd love to have you!

The Aggies Are Back This Fall

NMSU, the large state university located in Las Cruces, is open despite COVID-19 this semester, at least so far. Usually, avoiding University Avenue while college is in session is a good idea, especially around lunch time, but with such reduced numbers attending, traffic remains light and unchallenged by students pouring across every corner by using the automatic crosswalk lights. 

The NMSU campus is just gorgeous. It is shady (always a good thing here) compared to the surrounding area, and has numerous interesting flowers and foilage plants. It is kept immaculately clean, trimmed, and swept. It's a beautiful choice for a walk any time of year.

Beauty is hidden around every corner: Either flowers blooming in profusion, the surprise of a muskrat pond, expanses of lawn (very rare here), antique buildings, Spanish-style architecture, and more.

For seniors interested in keeping our minds sharp, sit in an undergraduate classes just like a regular student, for $5 per credit hour, up to 10 hours. You earn the credit, just as usual, but are on a non-degree-seeking track. If you want to seek a degree, you can, just pay the regular tuition instead of the reduced rate. 

The photographs show autumn's bloomfest of the Esperanza plant, also called Texas Yellow Bells. They are found all over the older part of campus, with blooms in the millions during the early part of October.

Come retire here!

It's the Little Things / Son Los Cosas Chiquitas Que Cuentan

 Small things make a big difference in the livabililty of an area. For me, natural beauty is important. Spotting "hidden treasures" is important. 

When you drive around Las Cruces during your day-to-day life, you will come upon many "Oh! How quaint! How pretty!" moments. 

 

Here is one: Blooms against an adobe wall that is painted in what we term "Desert Rose," a very famous shade here, often called "burnt orange" by those new to the area. Vigas, which hold up the roof, jut out and are a very desirable touch.

Hope you will consider making Enchanted Las Cruces YOUR retirement home!

Las Cruces Landscapes Still Vibrant in Autumn

We have a long growing season here in the Mesilla Valley, where Las Cruces is nestled. With relief from scorching summer temperatures, the plants seem to catch their breath and find the energy to put on another show before the curtain of winter falls.

Do you love to garden? Does lots of sunshine perk you up? Las Cruces might be a perfect fit for your retirement needs. It has all the amenities of a city, yet still has a rural feel, thanks to the large NMSU campus and all the agriculture up and down the valley and tucked into neighborhoods such as Mesilla. Urban farming is starting here, too, with micro-farms in backyards, sideyards, and vacant lots. 

This side yard brings joy to all who pass by. Even with limited water, the desert here blooms beautifully. Make your retirement home in Las Cruces, and bloom along with our plants!

Las Cruces, the Apple of My Eye!

 

Who would've thought that apples grow well in the desert of Las Cruces? Did you know that at the turn of the previous century, Las Cruces was known for its excellent apples? Apples from here were proudly displayed in 1899 at the World's Fair in Paris -- where they won second place! In the 1800s, apples were an important crop here. In fact, they were the number one crop economically.

There's always something to do or see in Las Cruces, and one thing not to miss is the you-pick apples at U-Pick Mesilla Valley Apple Orchard off Shalem Colony Trail. 

Sometimes I get a little homesick for things back East, up North, or down South! And apples in autumn is one of them. It was such a balm to my heart to discover this wonderful fourth-generation apple farm that features three different kinds of apples: Common delicious, Red Delicious, and Jonathan apples. Get out there fast and pick fast to get the Jonathans! But there are literally tens of thousands of pounds' worth of apples in the orchards. It's a wonderful way to remember "back home" and a wonderful way to build memories here.

Even during these "COVID" times the apple farm is open for picking, by appointment! You just text them. So wonderful to see it open at all! Last year, the whole orchard smelled so sweet and good, and everyone we encountered was friendly and nice. It was heartwarming to see the children proudly picking their apples, and retirees such as ourselves out in the cool air, enjoying the morning! So 2020 will have to be a bit different, but join me in a hope and a prayer that COVID disappears and 2021 will bring crowds out to enjoy apple pickin' time together!

Beauty All Around in Las Cruces

 

There's a special feature of many homes in Las Cruces and the surrounding area (Mesilla, Mesilla Park) that other parts of the country don't have: EBID rights. What? Elephant Butte Irrigation District water rights! For low fees, property that comes with EBID "rights" can purchase water from the Rio Grande. The water gets to these homes via many large and small "ditches" with "gates" and pumps along them. When it's a certain neighborhood's turn to get the river water, a "ditch rider" drives along the right-of-way along the ditches and opens the gates, times the water, and then closes the gates. While the water is flowing, the properties along the ditches open their gates, or sluices, and the water flows into their yards. 

This is magical water! Anything it touches, it replenishes and makes grow luxuriantly! Roses, apples, pecans, pomegranites, orchard grass, vegetables -- ANYTHING -- grows so beautifully with river water.

The mountain ash tree shown in this post and full of berries is located in the Garcia Park Botanical Garden, maintained by NMSU. It's right on a ditch and the plants receive all the good Rio Grande water they can drink! 

Of course, homes without EBID rights can also have lovely landscaping. Most landscaping away from the EBID ditches feature xeriscapes, which highlight native and desert plants and different types of rocks and gravel instead of lawns. But some people have lovely lawns and they shimmer like an oasis in the sunlight. 

The home we bought doesn't have EBID rights and is up too high from the valley to be near the ditches. But we have several mature trees that are gorgeous, and have put in some grape vines, too. And we have many flowers growing in galvanized stock tanks in our front courtyard!

Houses with EBID rights are very special. If you love gardening, consider trying to buy a home that comes with EBID rights when you retire to beautiful Las Cruces!

The Foothills of the Organ Mountains: Talaveras Neighborhood

 

A relatively new, very exclusive neighborhood/development in Las Cruces is called "Talaveras," and it is on what is known as the East Mesa, at the base of the Organ Mountains east. 

Huge lots are a feature of Taleveras. It's an easy drive to the University, NMSU, so it's a favorite spot for professors to live. From this neighborhood, the Mesilla Valley can be seen to the west, and at night the whole valley twinkles and glows.

Utilities are underground here, so no wires and poles mar the landscape.

In spring, just north of Taleveras, millions of Mexican poppies burst into bloom, and thousands of sightseers visit along Dripping Springs road to photograph the poppies and pose in them. It's a favorite place to take graduation photos.

Beloved Rain: Our Las Cruces Monsoons

 

Monsoons are yearly rains that occur during the same window each year. We have monsoons in the desert Southwest, just as they do in India and Australia and other locales.

We depend on our monsoons, and lately, the weather scientists have taken to calling them "non-soons," because they have not followed their usual yearly pattern. We are in the midst of a drought, and our trees show it, with cottonwoods dying that have lived for decades just on the water from monsoons, and pecans having to be "topped" (cut) due to lack of sufficient rains to swell the Rio Grande during the time its level is being dropped by the Elephant Butte Irrigation District authorities (in preparation for fall and winter). 

Monsoons, when they do arrive, are very exciting. There is lightning, such loud thunder, outflow that is extremely strong, and icy cold, huge raindrops. As newcomers, I want to make sure you know to stay out of and away from arroyos (ditches) in the desert or near your home. They can flood very rapidly. 

We still have a few days left of "monsoon season," and I hope we will get at least one good rain. The plants just grow and perk up dramatically with the rainwater.

The photo at the top of this post is of monsoon clouds as seen from my backyard. A whole "show" was put on, but ultimately, no rain fell in our neighborhood, but the Talaveras neighborhood to the east did get rain. At least someone got rain!

Hidden Neighborhood of Whispering Pines

 

Last week I posted about the quaint and old neighborhood of Mesilla. Today I want to make sure you know about a very unusual neighborhood slightly North of the main part of Las Cruces. It's off U.S. 85 and it is just like entering another world far from the desert if you go for a nice Sunday drive out there. If you can get a house to buy out there, you're even luckier!

Tall pines are in each yard in this neighborhood. This cools it and scents the air delightfully. Shade abounds, and shade is a very desired commodity out here!

The homes themselves are gorgeous. And although it doesn't look like the rest of the desert, it is home to many Gambel's quail and roadrunners. I'm sure it has gray foxes and elf owls, too. Even our home in the Telshor area of the city has roadrunners, foxes, hawks, lizards, snakes, and owls! 

If you're considering Las Cruces for retirement, be sure to find a realtor who understands how very different our neighborhoods are, and which one would be a perfect fit for your needs. I know that while I love the desert, the pines in Whispering Pines really capture my heart! But when we bought here, we weren't aware of this hidden neighborhood. And in upcoming posts, I'll be talking about MANY other little neighborhoods that might just strike a chord with you. It's hard to find out about special little areas when you aren't living in the city where you might like to retire, so I hope to help with that.

Our Wonderful Saturday Farmers Market

 

Las Cruces boasts a very active, very interesting Farmers' Market that is held twice a week: The main market on Saturday mornings, and a much smaller market on Wednesdays. The Market is downtown, along Main Street, all year around!

You do NOT want to miss going to the Market. And in the warm seasons, you want to go VERY EARLY, because it gets entirely too hot. Local produce, pasteries, snacks, food trucks, craftspeople, artists, jewelry makers, seamstresses, and more are there each Saturday morning! Many times there are musicians of all ages performing on each block. Sometimes wonderful Mariachi bands are playing, and sometimes it's brave students perfecting their craft.

With COVID-19, of course, everything is changed. But I'm writing this as if those troubled days are behind us and everything is as it was in terms of having a robust market with thousands of visitors. Right now, it's a smaller market, but that will change, I hope, when we are free from the spectre of COVID.

WHAT Are We Calling "Tunas"?

 

In Las Cruces, prickly pear cactus is everywhere. The flat pads are edible when young, and are called "nopals" espcially when referred to as food items. I grew up in the South and we tended to call prickly pears "beavertails." But here, they are "nopals." I was just reading some research about how eating nopal is evidently very good for diabetics, especially those with Type II diabetes. They are full of fiber, and that's thought to help maintain blood sugar at safe levels.

They flourish here! The blooms I have seen here are either yellow or magenta, and they are beautiful in spring. They set many small fruits called..."tunas." In the fall, they are ripe and many do harvest them to eat. You have to be VERY careful of tiny, basically invisible stickers/spines in them that look like tiny areas of white. It's actually a myriad of tiny spines forming those white spots on the tuna. 

Some people make jelly from them, because they yield a lovely color, if not much flavor. But they are also beautiful just left in the landscape for visual interest.