Miniature Juniper

Although I hardly gave it a thought I didn't really doubt our miniature juniper, a bonsai, would survive our desert vacation. It likes the dry air of our home, needs water once a week at most and seems meditative and active, both. While away I rediscovered my love of agaves - sotol and century plant - met Mortonia and became reacquainted with squawbush, its citrus drupe which makes traveling the long horizon of the desert uplands endurable. Live oaks - emory, wavyleaf - dominant and regally spaced giving ground to mesquite only on the sere sand flats. I counted and drew inflorescenses, spikelets, florets, awns but grasses remain a mystery their microscopic parts. This year I'll study, give them serious thought before our Spring starts. The cactus wren was the one bird I could be certain about. Sunsets made me sorry the desert is not my home. But the ocotilloes flowered before we left and that made up for the vicious attack of a hedgehog cactus. Impressive, ponderosa pine and Arizona cypress the canyon canopy watered with snowmelt and along the high cliffs limestone formations predating our arrival by ten million years of weather. Newspapers kept us aware humanity had not accomplished yet the end of history and that was fair. The planes were full of citizens who no longer applaud upon landing. Snow flew, not a pinyon pine or manzanita within two moons walking. On the dining room sideboard, waiting, our miniature juniper.