Ghost Ranch and Abiquiu, New Mexico

It has been raining nonstop for the past 3 days.  Rain is predicted for the next 4 days. This is a normal occurrence for Northern California...in February. This is almost unheard of in Taos. We have been experiencing a severe drought. In fact, the past 3 years have been the driest since 1895.  I am excited to see the final numbers from this rainstorm and the impact on the drought.  I will update you in a future post.

But last week was sunny, warm and glorious.  We decided to take a day trip to Abiquiu, New Mexico and then hike at Ghost Ranch.  What a beautiful day.  You should do this.

Abiquiu is a small unincorporated village located about an hour west of Taos. Best known as the home of the artist Georgia O'Keeffe, now primarily an artist community.  There is an amazing open studios art festival held each year during Columbus Day weekend.  In addition to art, Abiquiu has some of the most beautiful scenery in New Mexico.  We had a picnic at the stunning Abiquiu lake located just a few minutes from the tiny town. Mosey had a terrific time swimming and we soaked up a bit of sun.  Perfect afternoon.

After lunch, we packed up and drove 14 miles north to Ghost Ranch, a 21,000 acre education and conference center known for their retreats, activities, nature, museums and lodging.  If you stay here you can enjoy horseback riding, swimming, tours, camping or stays in cute cottages and white water rafting   It is like summer camp for adults.  But if you come for just the day you can take advantage of the beauty by taking one of the 7 hikes on the property. We only had a few hours so we took the Box Canyon hike.  Check out the Ghost Ranch website for details of the other options.

Box Canyon is a fairly easy hike by New Mexico standards in that the grade only increases by 500 feet. (from 6400 to 6900 feet).  This California living at sea level all her life  girl still gets winded by some of the hikes around here with elevation changes of 3000-4000 ft!! (OK, I don't do those yet).  Box Canyon is about 4 miles round trip and you scramble over huge boulders at the end to take in the view. During the hike you will see a lovely pond, an arroyo, a small stream, beautiful rock formations and blue, blue sky. A perfect way to spend an afternoon. And only an hour from Taos. As always, I am so grateful to call this amazing place home.

My best,
diane
September 14th , 2013

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Summer Flowers

The Taos Garden Club, Los Jardineros, creates dozens of beautiful hanging baskets for the Plaza.  

Wandering around Taos during the months of July and August delivers views of flowers everywhere you look.  Carpets of wildflowers line hillsides, dot roadside lanes and blanket fields & meadows. Cultivated flowers are abundant in home gardens and businesses.  It is all so beautiful I thought I would share some images I have taken in the last couple of weeks. Enjoy!

If you have not been here in summer and fall, you may think everything is brown and dusty.  That would be true in early spring, just after snow melt.  But now?  Glorious.  Lots of green...and bright blue skies...and flowers everywhere.  Just gorgeous. We are in the midst of our monsoon season and, while we have not received the usual daily rain, thunder and lightning storms, we have had a few storms a week all summer.  So grass, wildflowers and a bit more water in our rivers. I plan to enjoy every bit of summer possible.  Fall is perfect here...but give me a little more summer please.

Summer is a wonderful time to visit Taos. (but, so is winter, spring and fall).  Come see us...soon.  Happy Labor Day Weekend everyone!

my best,
diane
August 28th , 2013

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Taos Garden & Home Tour 2013

We joined the Garden Club of Taos earlier this year.  Named Los Jardineros (the gardeners), the club is a 501(c)(3) non profit organization which helps beautify Taos and educates its residents on the unique challenges we face gardening in our high desert locale.  Los Jardineros raises funds which are then distributed through grants to local organizations for horticultural projects in the community.  The main fundraiser of the year is the annual garden & home tour.

The tour is traditionally held the first weekend in August.  I had the pleasure of volunteering as a docent this year.  What a wonderful experience.  Four lovely homes were selected...each unique in home design and garden layout.  For a newcomer to Taos, these gardens give such hope as to what is possible regarding plant choices in flowers, vegetables, trees and fruit trees able to survive our short growing season and high altitude.

The homes ranged in style from a LEED certified green home with clean lines and pure spare design to a more traditional adobe with curved walls, beeswax rubbed walls and hand painted murals.  The gardens were spectacular!  My favorite was "my" home...the one where I was a volunteer.

This garden, designed by the homeowner Susie Schwartz was chock full of echinacea, campanula, yarrow, climbing honey suckle, Virginia creepers, creeping thyme, yellow-flowered rue, sedum, Mexican heather, snapdragons. zinnias and veronicas.  Trees such as Persian Hawthorne, Mugo Pine, Blue Spruce, Autumn Blaze Maple and Russian olive to name just a few.  Truly spectacular!

In addition to the tour, there were local artists at each home painting in each garden. What a treat to see these extremely talented individuals working and exhibiting their art in such beautiful settings.

Here is a tip...make plans now to attend this event next year, you will be glad you did.
Oh, and if you are here in Taos and interested in additional information about Los Jardineros, please check out our website here.  Some info from the website:

MEETINGS are held in Taos on the third Thursday of the month between February and October.  At each meeting an invited speaker presents a program on a subject directed to the interests and needs of high desert gardeners. Past topics have included: edible landscapes,permaculture, container gardening, orchid care, selecting the right tree, native and flowering shrubs, raising herbs and vegetables, xeriscape principles, and beneficial insects.

MEMBERSHIP includes admission to the annual Garden & Home Tour held on the first Saturday in August as well as to our Members Only Tour in July.  Members also receive discounts from local businesses.

The hollyhock was selected as the official flower of Los Jardineros in 1949, the first year of the club. Members collected hollyhock seeds for planting along streets, alleyways, and throughout the countryside around Taos.

my best,
diane
August 16th , 2013

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Fiestas de Taos 2013, part 2

So I promised everyone a recap of this year's Fiestas de Taos and started to write a very long blog post. Halfway through I was a bit frustrated because I could not seem to convey the flavor...the pageantry...the colors...the atmosphere.  My solution?  To recap via the photos I took.  Here goes:

Fiestas reminded me of a summer carnival, or street fair, or festival anywhere in the states...with a New Mexican vibe.  Vendor booths line the historic Taos Plaza and many different types of food is sold.  You will find all of the "street fair food" favorites.  You know, those items that we guiltily devour at these type of events...funnel cakes and roasted corn, hamburgers & hot dogs, ribbon fries & fried vegetables, cotton candy & popcorn. Fiestas add traditional Northern New Mexican foods like green chile, fajitas, Indian tacos, burritos, chile rellenos and the only-in-New Mexico...Frito pies.  Many of these dishes have the same name as the more well known Mexican food, but the chiles, beans and spices are different (Check out my blog Red or Green? for additional information)

When I was a child we used to visit San Diego, California for a few weeks each summer. My paternal grandmother lived there and those weeks were filled with visits to the beach, Sea World, the Zoo, baseball games and...always...a trip to Mexico for a day of shopping. My mom loved to walk into each shop, browse the merchandise and then bargain for the best price for anything she found interesting.  The shopping at Fiestas brought me right back to those summer days.  Lots of items...nothing you really need...but watching the people (especially the children) shop, buy and then carry their new treasures around is a wonderful experience.

There is tons of music at Fiestas...a different band every hour...and many of the musicians play for free as a way of supporting the cause.  Fiestas is one of the most important events to the locals here in Taos, especially to the Spanish and Hispanic culture.  I heard a woman describe it as "as important as Thanksgiving and Christmas". Native Taosenos who have moved away make it a point to come back for Fiestas each year and when you wander through the Plaza during the weekend you can see entire families together listening to the music, eating the food, shopping and celebrating just being together.  There is such a sense of tradition...of belonging...of family that I think is the real importance of Fiestas. The theme for this year's Taos Fiestas is "Welcome! Our community is your home".  I think this sums up the "feel"  of Fiestas.

this year's REINA ANGELICA RODRIGUES  (photo fiestas de taos website)

To native Taosenos, nothing may be more important than having a female relative elected to the Royal Court. This court is comprised of a reina (queen) and her princesas (princesses).  The girls are elected after tryouts which include a talent piece, a written essay, answering impromptu questions and submitting a design for their costume among other criteria. Las Fiestas de Taos Royal Court spends the year representing Taos at Fiestas throughout New Mexico.  For most families having a daughter elected to the court is one of the greatest honors in their lifetime.  The Taos News quoted one woman, who had a number of princesas in the family throughout the years and finally had a granddaughter elected reina, as saying "Finally, una reina en la familia!"  (Finally, a queen in the family!)

So...Fiestas de Taos: food, music, shopping, royal court, crowds, loud, tradition, history. Que Vivan las Fiestas de Taos! (Long live the Fiestas de Taos!)

my best,
diane
July 24th , 2013

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Fiestas de Taos 2013

Fiestas de Taos begins this week!  Traditionally celebrated the third weekend of July, Fiestas is a centuries old (at least 300 years) party held in Taos Plaza. Filled with music, dancing, food, crafts, a children's parade, historical parade, mariachis, etc, this event is always one of the most popular draws of the summer.

¡QUE VIVAN LAS FIESTAS!

CELEBRATE FIESTAS DE TAOS

Taos, New Mexico!

July 19-21, 2013

2013 Theme: Welcome! Our Community is Your Home!
 ¡Bienvenidos! Nuestra Comunidad es Su Casa!

A centuries old fiesta celebrating the gathering of generations to enjoy delicious cuisine, traditional music, and fellowship, while honoring the cultural uniqueness of Taos.  The Taos Fiesta Council proudly invites you to join us for the 2013 Fiestas de Taos on the historic Taos Plaza.

¡QUE VIVAN LAS FIESTAS!

I wanted to learn a bit more regarding the history of Fiestas so I attended a lecture last Saturday given by Don Francisco Trujillo, president of the Taos Fiesta Council. The speech was filled with stories regarding the patron saints of Taos...Santa Ana and Santiago, anecdotes about how some of the traditions began and the historical perspective for Taos Culture.  Mr Trujillo made a very interesting point.  He reminded us that post Native American rule, New Mexico was under Spanish control for 300 years, Mexico for only 25 years and then became a US territory in 1850 and a state in 1912.  The culture in New Mexico, especially in Northern New Mexico is a blend of all of these cultures.  I am very much looking forward to seeing how they all come together during the Fiesta.  I will post again next week with photos and a recap.  If you are in Taos this week this is a must-do event.  If not, put this on your calendar for next year!

images courtesy of fiestasdetaos.com

The schedule for this years Fiestas de Taos is as follows:

FRIDAY, JULY 19, 2013
12:00 pm - 12:30 pm	Spanish Soundtrack
12:30 pm - 1:30 pm	Dicky Cordova
1:30 pm - 2:30 pm	Mystic Dance
2:30 pm - 3:30 pm	The UZ Band
3:30 pm - 4:00 pm	Niños Bailadores
4:00 PM - 5:00 pm	Legacy of Santa Fe
5:00 pm - 6:00 pm	Catalina Rio Fernandez & Flamenco Nuevo Mexico
5:30 pm - 6:45 pm	FIESTA MASS - OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE
6:45 pm - 7:00 pm	PROCESSION WITH MARIACHI
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm	The Fun Adixx
7:00 pm - 8:00 pm	OPENING CEREMONIES ON TAOS PLAZA
8:00 pm - 10:00 pm	Mariachi Encantadoras del Río Grande
10:00 pm	PLAZA CLOSES
SATURDAY, JULY 20, 2013
9:00 am - 10:00 am	Mariachi Capitaleño
10:00 am - 10:30 am	CHILDREN’S PARADE
10:30 am - 11:00 am	Mariachi Capitaleño
11:00 am - 12:00 pm	Mystic Dance
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm	Baile Illusion
1:00 pm - 2:00 pm	The Legacy Band of Colorado Springs
2:00 pm - 3:00 pm	Los Zapateados
3:00 pm - 4:00 pm	The Tanya Griego Band
4:00 pm - 5:00 pm	Baile Español
5:00 pm - 6:00 pm	Monica Yvette y Grupo Confianza
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm	Lydia Rael - Baile Folkloriko de Santa Fe
7:00 pm - 8:00 pm	Suave
8:00 pm - 9:00 pm	The Julian Lucero Band
9:00 pm - 10:00 pm	Izcalli In Nanantzin (Danza Azteca)
10:00 pm	PLAZA CLOSES
SUNDAY, JULY 21, 2013
9:30 am - 10:30 am	St. Francis Choir
10:30 am - 11:30 am	Audrey Davis Trio
11:30 am - 12:30 pm	Trio Los Gallos
12:00 pm	HISTORICAL PARADE
12:30 pm - 1:30 pm	Ernestine Romero
1:30 pm - 2:30 pm	Dwayne Ortega
2:30 pm - 3:30 pm	Mezcal
3:30 pm - 4:00 pm	SPECIAL COMMUNITY PRESENTATION
4:00 pm - 5:00 pm	Gonzalo
5:00 pm - 6:00 pm	Severo Martinez y Fuego
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm	Darren Cordova y Calor
7:00 pm	CLOSING CEREMONIES ON TAOS PLAZA

my best,
diane
July 18th , 2013

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