I wanted to talk to Veterans about memorial day, so when I contacted the Commander of the Joshua Tree VFW Post 7264 about coming down and talking to them, I pictured the same guys I would see in parades where I grew up… old timers, frankly. I was a little surprised to meet two guys around my age, possibly younger now that I think about it. John Pellior is the Commander of the VFW Post 7264 - VFW stands for Veterans of Foreign Wars. It’s located right off Hwy. 62 down a small street called…

Chia are a nice native that can pop up in a yard. Let it grow and go to seed for more next year. If you are like me and have been a little lazy on some of your weeding and you will be using the long weekend to get your yard weed-free, you may want to take a closer look at the grasses and winter annuals that came up. The taller, faster growing weeds can hide baby native plants that have used the wet winter to get established. This year in my backyard, I found dozens of baby creosote bushes…

An update from the Society of the Conservation of Bighorn Sheep. They are going to be doing a water haul to the Kerr Big Game Guzzler in the Mojave National Preserve on Saturday, June 1st. They need as many 4x4 vehicles as possible that can carry a large water cube. They are also in need of volunteers to help lay hose and man the pumps. Scott Gibson of the Society for the Conservation of Bighorn Sheep says that The Kerr Guzzler did collect water this last season, however, a catastrophic failure…

Mosquitos are a relatively “new” issue in southern california, with wetter winters giving the water-borne pests more spots to breed. Luckily the San Bernardino County Mosquito and Vector Control Program (or MVC) is here to protect the public health by controlling these pests, reducing the risk of diseases like West Nile virus and the plague. The MVC conducts inspections and treatment of water sources here in San Bernardino County to control mosquito breeding or any other diseases that may become…

You have probably seen them around town or in your neighborhood: little free libraries have been popping up in the last few years offering free books and other fun items to neighbors and passerbyers. Having a little library filled with books in your neighborhood can help give kids and adults access to reading material they may not normally find. You can make them out of a lot of different things - some are charmingly cute custom built enclosures, while others have repurposed things like old…

There is a USDA Food Distribution in Twentynine Palms today, Monday May 20th from 3 to 5PM at 6450 Stardune Ave. The USDA's website incorrectly listed tomorrow for the distribution. This will be the only food distribution at this location for this week. The food is being distributed behind the church, please bring an ID. If you know someone who relies on these food distributions and may have received the wrong information on USDA's website, be sure to let them know.

Desert Dances is an evening of creative dance performance where dancers and movements artists take inspiration from our expansive landscapes to create an evening that promises to move you to your bones. The evening starts at 6:30 tomorrow when doors open at the Firehouse JT in Joshua Tree. It will feature choreography by Lucia Joyce Daisog, Jennifer Henry, Barbara Koch, Carlolyn Pennypacker Riggs, Lauren Slivosky, Alex Valdivia. Tickets will be available at the door - it’s a sliding scale from…

Join the Mojave Desert Land Trust and The Wildlands Conservancy for a free guided hike to Whitewater Preserve on Saturday, June 8th. A bus will provide free return transportation from Jacobs Park in Yucca Valley to Whitewater Preserve and snacks will be provided. Whitewater Preserve is a nature preserve owned and managed by the Wildlands Conservancy within Sand to Snow National Monument. Visitors can learn about the perennial river, striking geology, and special native plants and animals found…