Oh...You want to see a Mesquite TREE

[lindyannajones]

After showing you many of the interesting parts of the mesquite tree, I thought you might like to see the whole tree. The picture on the bottom left was taken of a neighbor's adobe wall that was constructed around the arm of this mesquite.

All these photos were taken within a 5 minute walk from my home. I live near an historic district that thrived 100 years ago. The homes were built of adobe and seem to grow organically out of the soil. And they do. All were constructed of a adobe bricks that are made of earth and straw. I love the warm browns and the bright colors added to doors and window sills. My little home, on the other hand, will need a 100 years before anyone exclaims the virtues of slump block. I've included the second photo to show a door constructed of mesquite wood.

[jakethepig]

I would neve have thought there could be so much greenery in the desert. These are wonderful shots Lindy and so well presented, but that has become your trade mark. I love the one where the wall has been built around the tree. I also like the textures and how the bricks are made from earth and straw. Thank you for another great lesson on desert life. You always make the lessons so intersting.

Jake.

[fstopMike]

Love that adobe. Plenty of dirt out there, right? I see beams sticking out of the adobe. Are they exposed inside? I can picture exposed beams, cool Mexican tile on the floor and an outside patio shaded by a mesquite.... I like the contrast in colors presented by the pitchers and the gate. Marvelous photos!

[Sheriliz]

You have converted me.......I want to move to the desert! These are beautiful. I love seeing your work.

[Fred flyfisher]

Once again, you taught me something I never knew. Plus I got to see your wonderful images Lindy. Great stuff.

[RustySterling]

Great stuff Lindy. You always seem to hone in on the essence of your subjects.

[praline3001]

Lindyanna~ beautiful photos as always!

We were down in your neck of the woods 3 years ago. I was AMAZED at the yards there!!! ALL were sand and rocks! It was so strange for me to see no grass lawns! LOL

I kept taking photos of people's yards hahahaha I am such a dork I know but it was so odd for me to see no grass in any yards LOL

I guess it would be the same if you came here and saw all the water logged swamps everywhere LOL


I do have a question ... why is it ya'll stick your air conditioning units on the roof of your house? I noticed this a LOT while visiting and couldn't figure out what the point to it was?

[lindyannajones]

Originally Posted by jakethepig

I would neve have thought there could be so much greenery in the desert. These are wonderful shots Lindy and so well presented, but that has become your trade mark. I love the one where the wall has been built around the tree. I also like the textures and how the bricks are made from earth and straw. Thank you for another great lesson on desert life. You always make the lessons so intersting.

Jake.

The making of adobe bricks is back-breaking work. I spent some time in Mexico in 1970 and during one visit we helped a Mayan friend make these bricks for an addition to his extremely modest one-room house (picture dirt floor, single light bulb hanging from the ceiling). After the men mixed the mud with their feet, they poured it into wooden frames where each brick was left to dry. I suspect it took months for them to be ready to use. It was quite the experience!

Originally Posted by fstopMike

Love that adobe. Plenty of dirt out there, right? I see beams sticking out of the adobe. Are they exposed inside? I can picture exposed beams, cool Mexican tile on the floor and an outside patio shaded by a mesquite.... I like the contrast in colors presented by the pitchers and the gate. Marvelous photos!

I love adobe not just because of it's organic beauty but also the natural cooling and heating they provide. The beams are called vigas and I imagine the are exposed inside with Saguaro or Ocotillo ribs forming the cross lattice work. Mexican tile is a good call as is the patio--sometimes in these Spanish inspired homes, the patio is in the center of a quadrangle. Here's another view of an adobe wall and mesquite shade:

Originally Posted by Sheriliz

You have converted me.......I want to move to the desert! These are beautiful. I love seeing your work.

Well, bring your sunglasses and sunscreen and come on. These old adobe are a thing of beauty. I wish more were being built. Thanks, Sheriliz.

Originally Posted by Fred flyfisher

Once again, you taught me something I never knew. Plus I got to see your wonderful images Lindy. Great stuff.

Thanks, Fred. You may just have to plan a trip to Tucson sometime and see some of this for yourself. Appreciate your kindness, Fred.

Originally Posted by RustySterling

Great stuff Lindy. You always seem to hone in on the essence of your subjects.

Sadly, I never really looked at the facade of the house in the second photo before Monday. Wow! It is beautiful. While I was out on the shoot I even met a neighbor who let me photograph her chickens. In the middle of town, she has chickens. Amazing. Thanks for your kind comments!

Originally Posted by praline3001

Lindyanna~ beautiful photos as always!

We were down in your neck of the woods 3 years ago. I was AMAZED at the yards there!!! ALL were sand and rocks! It was so strange for me to see no grass lawns! LOL

I kept taking photos of people's yards hahahaha I am such a dork I know but it was so odd for me to see no grass in any yards LOL

I guess it would be the same if you came here and saw all the water logged swamps everywhere LOL


I do have a question ... why is it ya'll stick your air conditioning units on the roof of your house? I noticed this a LOT while visiting and couldn't figure out what the point to it was?

I lived in Baton Rouge from November 1968-May 1969. I know you won't completely understand this but the trees made me claustrophobic. I'm used to open spaces! The reason there's no grass is because....it's a desert Actually, everyone used to have grass until we realized that if we kept using water in the way that we were, our grandchildren would not have water to drink much less maintain a yard.

The units you saw were actually not air conditioning units. They are called evaporative coolers. It's a metal box with pine shaving pads that fit into each panel of the box. There is a tube that conveys water via a pump to spider looking devices that drip water on the pads. This creates moist, cool air. A motor turns a blower that blows cool air into the duct work of your house and cools your home. They are very inexpensive to operate and work very efficiently except during the rainy season which is one month out of the summer. Because they add moisture, they don't work in humid climates. Aren't you sorry you asked! I love your curiosity. Thanks for sharing your experience. The bayous did boggle my mind though I did go crawdad fishing in a bayou one time.

[praline3001]

I lived in Baton Rouge from November 1968-May 1969. I know you won't completely understand this but the trees made me claustrophobic. I'm used to open spaces! The reason there's no grass is because....it's a desert Actually, everyone used to have grass until we realized that if we kept using water in the way that we were, our grandchildren would not have water to drink much less maintain a yard.

The units you saw were actually not air conditioning units. They are called evaporative coolers. It's a metal box with pine shaving pads that fit into each panel of the box. There is a tube that conveys water via a pump to spider looking devices that drip water on the pads. This creates moist, cool air. A motor turns a blower that blows cool air into the duct work of your house and cools your home. They are very inexpensive to operate and work very efficiently except during the rainy season which is one month out of the summer. Because they add moisture, they don't work in humid climates. Aren't you sorry you asked! I love your curiosity. Thanks for sharing your experience. The bayous did boggle my mind though I did go crawdad fishing in a bayou one time.

Thanks for answering that for me! I can't wait for hubby to get up to tell him as that baffled both of us LOL Its funny to hear people piping in humidity, we actually have a dehumidifier we run almost 24/7 to help our A/c unit. Of course 90% humidity isn't fun =/
I have a t shirt from Tempe that has a skull withered away in the heat and the shirt says "But its a dry heat" LOL it cracked me up so I had to have it. We spent time in Scottsdale and it was soooo pretty! I loved all the reds and browns in the desert. We even did one of the hot air balloon rides early one morning. The humidity is so high here that they don't usually have hot air balloons so it was a real treat for us!

What I also found so strange is how the mountains just appear out of nowhere in the middle of the city LOL they look like big huge ant hills HA HA It was beautiful and not something I was used to at all ~ it was like being on mars LOL When we got off the plane on our return flight ~ the humidity hit us so hard it was hard to breathe at first!
You have a beautiful state ~ green lawns or no green lawns

[Chewys Dad]

Great Shots Lindyanna!
I love how they built around the tree, That's unique and I'm sure the tree appreciated it.
The 2nd shot is lovely as well, You live in a very nice neighborhood!
Thanks for Sharing these
Chewys Dad.