I fear the above report will probably prove accurate…Spring seems to be toying with us this year. We had glorious sun for most of Saturday, which I spent gardening {thankfully}. Then, the clouds began to thicken around 4pm, and it has been raining ever since. In hindsight, I certainly didn’t need to water so heavily after planting.
Okay, where was I? Oh yes, Palm Springs…the Smoke Tree Ranch in Palm Springs is a hidden gem that seems to have been, ever so pleasantly, lost in time. The simple cottages, homes and ranch house are surrounded by acres of pristine desert and arid mountains, just as it was in 1930 when the ranch was created.
When you arrive, bikes seem to magically appear at your abode, and there you leave them when you depart. Between arrival and departure, my bicycle is my absolute favorite mode of transportation around the ranch.
Perched upon my two wheeler I could really enjoy the desert as I went to tennis, the pool, a pals place or lunch. I loved riding by the sand, cacti and wildlife and seeing all of the colorful pops of fruits and flowers.
My favorite sights were the poppies and the citrus trees.
I always love a poppy, any poppy, the tight pods and papery petals are so spectacular.
This is the first time I’ve met these poppies, and I must admit, they really took me aback. This giant patch of Matilija Poppies grew in front of a home I rode by everyday. I’m not sure what was more appealing, the sprawling blue~green patch of foliage..
or the gorgeous saucer sized flowers {Matilija’s are the largest flowers in the poppy family}…I think it was just a perfect combination.
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| Matilija Poppy, (romneya coulteri) |
Then, of course, there were citrus trees, which always make me a little weak in the knees. Citrus trees abound at the ranch, small orchards fill many of the shared properties and each home has at least a tree or two.
I think this has been a very good year for citrus fruit. I’ve notice the fruit we’ve have had at home has been especially flavorful this year, and the trees at the ranch were absolutely dripping with ripe fruit.
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| Lemon tree, Smoke Tree Ranch |
One of the most famous residents of the Smoke Tree Ranch was Walt Disney. He loved the natural setting, the ranch lifestyle, riding horses and he especially enjoyed lawn bowling. He called his ranch home his “laughing place”, a quote from Brer Rabbit, which was later used in the Splash Mountain ride at Disneyland. In the center of Disneyland, there is a statue of Walt, holding hands with Mickey Mouse, in the statue he is wearing a necktie with the ranch initials “STR”. Disney’s love of the natural setting at STR and on the Missouri farm where he was a boy terrifically influenced the designs and aesthetics of Disneyland. He was also known to create characters based on friends and acquaintances, including a few “colonists” from Smoke Tree Ranch.
Our outdoor lunches at the Ranch House were splendidly distracting. Aside from the intriguing outdoor fireplace towers, it is a very open setting. There is a bowling lawn on one side.
On the other side, a small citrus grove, the Mojave desert, the San Jacinto Mountains, and skies that seem to go on forever. While nibbling and quibbling, I kept finding myself gazing at the majestic mountains, or following the trail of the swarms of bees, butterflies and hummingbirds, purposefully flitting from flower to flower…
and enjoying the clear blue sky.
Looks like heaven! Poppies, blue sky and citrus trees seem just about perfect right now. I have to say, I'm a bit over with our not-so-spring weather! Sigh… Thanks for the virtual sunshine!
Jeanne