Mesquite Trees in Arizona

Mesquite trees belong in Arizona. As Jay Sharp, editor and author for the website DesertUSA.com, expresses, "the mesquites symbolize our Southwestern deserts" as much as "the Coyote, the Black-tail Jackrabbit, the Western Diamondback, scorpions, the Saguaro and prickly pear cacti." Indeed, mesquite trees in Arizona are "as blended into the life of the land as cornbread and tortillas." (Lometa)

Perfectly Adapted to the Desert

Mesquites are very hardy desert trees, having adapted over the centuries to life in the desert landscapes in and around Arizona. All of their physical characteristics ensure their survival here, including their foliage, their bean pods, and their root systems. They grow well in full sun and high temperatures, but will also tolerate the cold during Arizona's winter (down to 0º Fahrenheit). They are sometimes found in rather high elevation and will adapt to shallow rocky soils. According to reports by the U. S. DepartMent of Agriculture and Forest Service, a mesquite tree can live for more than two centuries. (Sharp)

Mesquite trees in Arizona can survive in areas that receive very little rainfall because of their expansive root system. The lateral roots of a mesquite tree reach out many times farther than its canopy. They also have very deep tap roots that can dig for a drink as deep as 175 feet below ground level, though a depth of 50 feet is more typical. So, they simultaneously have access to water both at the very top and bottom layers of the soil.

The tiny waxy leaflets of mesquite trees retain precious moisture by minimizing the moisture lost through transpiration. They are deciduous trees, meaning they offer excellent shade during the summer but drop their leaves and allow the sunshine through during the winter for warmth. During extreme drought, they will diminish transpiration even further by prematurely dropping their leaves.

The mesquite tree is a member of the legume family (relatives of beans and peas), which makes it especially adapted to an arid environMent. Mesquite trees have the ability to fertilize themselves and surrounding plants through a symbiotic relationship with colonies of soil bacteria. The bacteria that inhabit mesquite tree roots convert or "fix" atmospheric nitrogen, making available in the soil this mineral that is essential for the growth and germination of plants. Many gardeners utilize this same process to enrich soil by planting nitrogen fixing cover crops. (Sharp, Schalau)

Mesquite trees in Arizona are amazingly prolific. Their beans, encased in protective pods, are very durable. In fact, "A seed left undisturbed in its pod can stay viable for up to 40 years." (Clayton) Animals play an important role in the scarification of the seeds (needed for germination) and dispersal through fecal matter.

Appearance

Mesquite trees are easy to identify, looking almost like a giant fern bush. They can reach a height of 30 feet, but the average mesquite tree growing wild in the Arizona desert is about half that size. Many have multiple trunks. Under the harshest of conditions, the mesquite will resemble a bush more than a tree. Their branch structure is often very twisted and jointed, adding to their individual uniqueness. In the spring and early summer, they display clusters of finger-shaped protuberances covered in tiny delicate flowers. These are followed by the formation of the long, thin bean pods, which are usually a shade of brown but vary in appearance between species. Many types of mesquite trees have thorns of some kind, which can either be very short or monstrous in length (and all are horribly sharp!).

Three Arizona Mesquite Tree Natives & Their Cousins

There are about 40 mesquite varieties found worldwide, but three species are native to the state of Arizona. They grow not only in the Sonoran desert, but also in the Mojave and Chihuahuan deserts. Their range is astonishing, spanning tens of millions or acres from western Texas to California, from Mexico to southern parts of Utah. They can thrive in a great diversity of habitats as found within the range described. (Lometa, Sharp)

The three mesquite tree species native to Arizona are:

Prosopis glandulosa - known as the honey mesquite or Texas Mesquite. These usually have a weeping form, and can be quite pretty. Prosopis velutina - known as the Arizona mesquite or native mesquite. Also called the velvet mesquite because of the soft hAirs that cover young growth. They are rather shaggy and snarled in appearance. They are popular in nurseries, and will grow well on lawns and golf courses. Prosopis pubescens - known as the screwbean mesquite, earning its name from the spiraled or coiled shape of their seed pods.
Besides these three, there are many other types of mesquite trees that grow in Arizona. Many are hybrids of the honey, velvet or screwbean mesquite, occurring mostly where the respective ranges of these native species overlap. Others are nonnative mesquite species, most originating from South America. There is the Argentine mesquite (Prosopis alba), the Chilean mesquite (Prosopis chilensis), and numerous other varieties and their hybrids. No nonnative species will be as suited to the climate here as the mesquites that are native to Arizona. For example, the Chilean mesquite does not seem as tolerant of the lower winter temperatures in Arizona.

Botanical Foes

Despite their many positive qualities, mesquite trees are considered by many as an invasive weed. In many countries outside of North and South America where they have been introduced they have been extremely invasive and troublesome, especially in Australia.

The mesquite tree is cursed by inhabitants of our own Arizona desert as well. CattleMen especially dislike them, but the overgrazing of their herds over the past couple of centuries has exacerbated the very problem that they complain about, which is the mesquite tree's competition with grasses. In an area that is overgrazed, cattle not only threaten the populations of the natural grasses that compete with mesquite trees for water, but they also help the mesquites spread by eating and dispersing the seeds. As Frank Dobie puts it, "The white man sowed with over-grazing; he is now reaping thickets of mesquites that are stabbing millions of acres of land into non-productiveness." All efforts to thwart or control this stubborn native Arizona tree have all failed and been deemed impractical or ineffective. Whether by fire, herbicide use, or physical tree removal of various means, the costs and environMental side effects of trying to control the population and spread of the mesquite have made it a problem with no easy solution.

Sharp reminds us: "Uninvited guest or welcome neighbor, the mesquites belong to the desert.  They evolved in the desert.  They play a core role in the desert ecosystem." (Jay Sharp)

Historic Significance and Modern Uses

"Over the past several centuries, no one plant has probably played a greater and more vital role in the lives of humankind in the southwestern United States than the short stature, crooked mesquite." (excerpted from The Magnificent Mesquite by Ken E. Rogers.) Indeed, the mesquite trees strewn across the Southwest have literally saved numerous lives. They provided the "manna from heaven" for the suffering men of the 1841 Texas Santa Fe Expedition, as recorded in the journal of George W. Kendall (also quoted by Rogers). The beans are sweet and nutritious, and more protein-rich than the soybean. (Lometa)

Another Food that comes from the mesquite trees in Arizona (though not directly) is honey. The swarms of bees that are strongly attracted to the mesquite flower's nectar do more than just fill their important role as pollinators, after all. This, however, does not complete the list of Foods derived from the mesquite. Even their sap has been utilized as sweet gum or as black dye.

'Pinole' is made by grinding the pods, with or without the beans still inside. It can be used as four or, because of its sweetness, as a condiment or spice. This mesquite flour is said to be healthy for diabetics, because it is sweetened by fructose, which the body processes without insulin. This is just one example of the many digestive and nutritional advanTAGes of the mesquite tree and other foods of the desert that has been discovered. (Lometa)

Various parts of the mesquite tree have also been used as remedies for many different ailments by the Indians and settlers of the frontier era. Examples of the ailments that the mesquite tree helped to ease or heal are: diarrhea, dysentery, colic, flesh wounds, headaches, ailing eyes, and sore throat.

The wood, bark and pods of mesquite trees are popularly used for barbecue and for other purposes. The dry wood burns slow, hot and with very little smoke. It has an unmistakable aroma. Some insist that burning the pods along with the charcoal and wood chips make the flavor even richer. (Lometa) Besides for heat and for Cooking, the wood has been used for the construction of Spanish missions, colonial haciendas, ranch houses and fencing. (Sharp) The Native Americans used the hard mesquite wood for spears and arrowheads, and the bark of the mesquite tree for making baskets and fabrics. The thorns were used as needles. Today the wood is artistically valuable for making furniture or sculpture because of its sometimes dark colors and beautiful gnarled patterns.

Of course, mesquite trees in Arizona are beneficial not only to humans but also to our wildlife. Animals use the mesquite as shelter, habitat and food. In the late summer and fall, mesquite beans make up as much as 80 percent of the coyote's diet!  The bean pods also can serve as fodder for livestock when the grasses are inadequate.

Maintenance, Problems and Treatments

Though mesquite trees in Arizona do not require much maintenance, the specimens growing around our homes could benefit from a little extra care during unusually hot summers or times of extended drought. Sun-scorch is one of the very few problems that can plague mesquite trees planted as part of landscaping, though they are not as susceptible to this as are citrus and other fruit trees in Arizona. Infrequent but deep watering and occasional fertilizing will help ensure that the mesquites around our homes do not suffer a decline of health and beauty.

During years when Arizona receives plentiful rainfall, mesquite trees do not need extra watering. However, in times of drought, the leaves will become sparse and allow more sunlight through to the branches. This is exacerbated by the need in the city to keep mesquite trees thinned out to survive storms and heavy winds, so as not to cause damage to homes and other structures. If the bark is exposed to too much intense sun, sun-scorch may occur, especially where the sunlight is most direct (i.e. on the top of horizontal branches at midday). Sun-scorch causes permanent damage to the cambium, or the sapwood layer underneath the bark. The cracked bark and dead tissues resulting from severe sun-scorch can lead to secondary infections and infestations, such as bark beetles and a fungus called 'sooty canker'.

Sun-scorch on mesquite trees in Arizona can be prevented but not undone. Reflective paint on the most vulnerable branches will minimize a mesquite tree's chances of being sun-damaged. Branches already affected should be removed back to a branch with healthy tissues. The best way to prevent sun-scorch is to encourage leafy growth to protect the tree during the hotter part of the year by some watering and by light fertilizing. Give the mesquite trees ammonium sulfate once in the springtime. Unless already fed by drippers or sprinklers (whether in your own or in a neighboring yard), water them deeply every two months from early spring to early fall. If the monsoons bring adequate water, skip deep-watering during this period.

A mesquite tree that is planted in someone's yard may not be as hardy as the volunteer trees growing wild in the desert. Most likely, a nursery-grown mesquite tree planted for landscaping purposes has spent some time in a pot. The more time any tree spends in a pot, the more likely it is to become root-bound. An impAired root system makes for a mesquite tree that not only struggles to receive what little water they need to thrive, but also is more prone to falling over because their 'anchoring' is not as sturdy. John Begeman says, "Try as you may, it is impossible to get a wobbly tree to anchor in the ground. By putting up stronger stakes and wires, righting the tree when it falls over, [...] you are just prolonging the inevitable. [...] The best thing to do with an unstable tree is to get rid of it and start over with a healthy specimen." Please refer to his article entitled Remove Wobbly Mesquite Trees [http://ag.arizona.edu/gardening/news/articles/17.29.html] for more information on the subject.

If nothing else, I hope that this article on mesquite trees in Arizona increases some Arizonans' appreciation for this native plant as something that undeniably belongs in this desert we call home.

"Primroses burn their yellow fires

Where grass and roadway meet;

Feathered and tasseled like a queen,

Is every old mesquite."

-J. Frank Dobie

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Begeman, John. "Remove Wobbly Mesquite Trees." Arid-Southwestern Gardening Information. Sep 2003.

Begeman, John. "Sun-Scorched Mesquite and Palo Verde." Arid-Southwestern Gardening Information. Mar 2000.

Clayton, Robin N. "Velvet Mesquite Tree." Arizona Highways.

Dobie, Frank J. "The Mesquite." Arizona Highways. Nov 1941.

Lometa. "Mesquite (Thing)." Everything2. Aug 2002.

Shalau, Jeff. "Respect the Mesquite Tree." Backyard Gardener. Jan 2007.

Sharp, Jay W. "The Mesquite: Something that Belongs." DesertUSA.

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1950's - An Era of Elaborate and Dressy Hairstyles

HAirstyles have continued to evolve over the last century and every decade seems to have its own look. Just as the look now is straight and sleek, the look back in 1950s was more youthful. 1950's was a time of innovative and flamboyant hAirstyles, some of which even today continue to inspire hAir artists. It was a time when there was peace and prosperity across the globe. The war had just ended and unlike the utilitarian look that characterized the 1930s and the 1940s, the look of this time was more glamorous.

Back in the 1940s, the predominant style was feminine and romantic. With soft curls falling onto the shoulders or long, wavy natural hair gently blowing in the breeze, the 1940s hairstyle was an invocation of the eternal feminine form. This however was the look for the people in the higher rung of the society or a look reserved for the evening parties. 1940s was a period when the world was going through a major economic crisis. This economic scenario had forced many a woman to come out and work. The hairstyle of the time was thus practical and suited to workingwoMen. At that time, woMen mostly worked in farms or factories and hair products as shampoo were tough to acquire. In this scenario, the look was strictly utilitarian and woMen wore their hair usually in a neat roll around the nape and over the ears, often covered with a headscarf knotted. Styling lotions that held the hair in place was much in vogue.

This all changed in the 1950s when the look became more glamorous. The essential aspiration was to look like a domestic goddess, one who effortlessly did household work despite looking like a diva. In the early part of the fifties, the ponytail was the most popular hairstyle. The casual yet chic look offered by the ponytail had many takers among women. In the early part of the fifties, the look for the evening Party was a French pleat or chignon. However, in the later part of the fifties we see the origin of more elaborate and complicated hairstyles.

Every woman during this time aspired to look stylish and well groomed. This was the time when women were just returning to their homes after the demands of wartime. Because of this reason, women now could spend more time on their make up and hairstyles. This led to an era of heavier makeup and flamboyant hairstyle.

As we see eyebrows, mascara and eyeliner come to be applied more in the make up area, so also in the hair section, we see a lot of experimentation with hair. Straight hair was absolutely out and beauty meant having curly or wavy hair. In fact, fifties was the time probability when the regular womanly visit to the parlor for hair care and shampoo became must. As hair setting achieved magnum proportion with hair being teased, sculpted, sprayed, permanently waved and forced into perfectly formed curls, more and more women started to spend a lot of money on hair care products that were essential to maintain the "well groomed hair look".

For men the look was the greased back hairdo with heavy sideburns such as James Dean and Elvis had. Women on the other hand copied styles dictated by Hollywood divas as Elizabeth Taylor and even the young Queen Elizabeth II. Other popular stars whose looks were copied by almost all women were Leslie Caron, Audrey Hepburn, Sophia Loren, Brigitte Bardot and Doris Day.

Among the most popular hairstyles of the time was the poodle cut which seeked to frame the face in a round fashion offering it an youthful demeanor. In fact, by end 1950s, hairDressing was a big industry and there were about almost 30,000 new salons only in Britain. Elaborate hairstyles and hair rituals were the order of the day. From gigantic back combed bouffants, beehives, and French pleats that were twisted in a fashion so as to form the intricate coiled hairstyles, the look late 1950s for sure was Dressy.

Most of these styles are no longer in vogue now. Nonetheless, they continue to remind you of an era when there was prosperity in the world and people had enough time as well as money to think and spend on their hair.

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Feijoa - A Fine Dwarf Fruit Tree For A Mediterranean Garden

Feijoa - A Fine Dwarf Fruit Tree For A Mediterranean Garden

If you're looking for a small fruit tree to add to your garden, and you live in an arid, mild winter climate, it could be worth your while considering the virtues of the Pineapple Guava, Feijoa sellowiana. It is a plant which produces an abundance of tasty fruit, and as an attractive ornaMental, can contribute handsomely to a garden composition.

The fruit of the Feijoa is both delicious and nutritious. It has an intriguing sweet-sour taste and a kind of chewy texture. It is apparently rich in vitamin c and minerals. As a healthy plant produces massive amounts of fruit, you can either make yourself popular with your neighbors by giving a lot away, or you can prepare jams, cakes, wines and liquors. Both the fruit and the plant as a whole are relatively hardy to pests and disease, at least in Mediterranean climates.

Pineapple Guava is basically a large evergreen shrub. As such it functions well as a screen and informal hedge. Needless to say, shearing it as a trimmed hedge will prevent the bush flowering and producing fruit. By virtue of its medium leaf texture, it associates well with shrubs and trees like Viburnum, Pomegranate, Olive and Pitanga. Feijoa can also be trained to grow horizontally on a wall or fence, a technique known as espaliering, and can be shaped into a dwarf tree. In this way, the plant in age assumes an impressive sculptural quality, as its twisted, gnarled branches are exposed.

Care and growing requireMents

Actually, Feijoa sellowiana does not originate from a Mediterranean climate, but from sub-tropical South America. It is nonetheless easy to grow in Mediterranean climates. It is hardy to about -3c or so, and has modest water needs, requiring some 300 mm per year of irrigation, possibly less, providing reasonable rainfall occurs during the winter. Feijoa can be grown successfully in either heavy or light soils, as long as they have adequate drainage. The one limiting factor is chalky soil. As the plant suffers therefore in highly alkaline conditions, it will benefit from additions of large quantities of compost, as this regulates the soil pH, making it more neutral in the acidic-alkaline scale.

As gardeners in dry, arid climates, we should always be on the look out for plants that combine together a number of functions. When that plant, also happens to be suited to our sort of climate, and can be grown within the confines of a water budget, you know that you have a fine candidate. The dwarf fruit tree, Feijoa sellowiana, is one such plant.

clif kid twisted fruit

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