Teddy Bear Cactuses
Watch for teddy bear cactuses...
they like to hug--it's true!
And if you walk through my garden,
you might find one hugging you!
Once... a teddy bear cactus
"teddy-bear-hugged" my toe.
Only the strongest pliers
could make that teddy let go.
You see, teddy bear cactuses
get too lonely, I believe,
and once they find a close friend...
they never want to leave.
--From the book, Cactus Garden,
by Carolyn French
Watch for teddy bear cactuses...
they like to hug--it's true!
And if you walk through my garden,
you might find one hugging you!
Once... a teddy bear cactus
"teddy-bear-hugged" my toe.
Only the strongest pliers
could make that teddy let go.
You see, teddy bear cactuses
get too lonely, I believe,
and once they find a close friend...
they never want to leave.
--From the book, Cactus Garden,
by Carolyn French
Cowboy Cactus
A lone cowboy cactus,
stood so courageously,
"Howdy! little partner!"
I'm sure he said to me.
He stood so tall and brave
in his prickly habitat,
I'm sure I heard him ask,
"Has anyone seen my hat?"
His arms were quite ready
for a rustler to come by.
"You watch out for them bandits!"
I'm sure he did reply.
His green prickly outfit
was full of holes so old,
"It's them darn little critters!"
I'm sure I heard him scold.
When the fading desert sun
shed colors across the sky...
I know I saw him wave
a cowboy cactus goodbye.
--From the book, Cactus Garden,
by Carolyn French
I Wish I Were a Rattler
A genuine buckaroo!
The most fearsome snake
the desert ever knew.
I love the way a rattler
"rattles" its tail like a whip;
scaring its enemies by,
then giving them all the slip.
The rattler's so refined,
and rarely looses control.
A snake that demands respect.
A snake that's powerful!
Its rattle gives warning to all...
"Back off! or I will fight!"
The desert listens well,
and avoids its deadly bite.
Plus, a rattlesnake has looks
that frightfully appeal,
and I'm tired of being a mouse--
a gourmet rattlesnake meal!
--Carolyn French
--Rattlesnake sketch from the book, "Cactus Garden"
A genuine buckaroo!
The most fearsome snake
the desert ever knew.
I love the way a rattler
"rattles" its tail like a whip;
scaring its enemies by,
then giving them all the slip.
The rattler's so refined,
and rarely looses control.
A snake that demands respect.
A snake that's powerful!
Its rattle gives warning to all...
"Back off! or I will fight!"
The desert listens well,
and avoids its deadly bite.
Plus, a rattlesnake has looks
that frightfully appeal,
and I'm tired of being a mouse--
a gourmet rattlesnake meal!
--Carolyn French
--Rattlesnake sketch from the book, "Cactus Garden"
The Visitor
A large,
poisonous,
strikingly
beautiful
snake
visited my garden today,
And as I very carefully left,
I wondered...
if it could,
just what would
it say....
Perhaps,
"Thank you so much
for not harming me,
and for letting me
pass this way."
--From the book, Cactus Garden, by Carolyn French
A large,
poisonous,
strikingly
beautiful
snake
visited my garden today,
And as I very carefully left,
I wondered...
if it could,
just what would
it say....
Perhaps,
"Thank you so much
for not harming me,
and for letting me
pass this way."
--From the book, Cactus Garden, by Carolyn French
Gila Privacy
I just want my privacy!
Can't you understand?
I'm not some "monster-wana-be"
that haunts this desert land.
You know, my poisonous bite
is my only defense.
I have no wings for flight,
or smell I can dispense.
I walk much too slow...
with my short beaded legs,
to chase friend or foe,
so I look for placid eggs.
And now, my furry traveler,
I think you ought to flee...
You're stirring up my hunger,
so let this lizard be!
--Carolyn French
I just want my privacy!
Can't you understand?
I'm not some "monster-wana-be"
that haunts this desert land.
You know, my poisonous bite
is my only defense.
I have no wings for flight,
or smell I can dispense.
I walk much too slow...
with my short beaded legs,
to chase friend or foe,
so I look for placid eggs.
And now, my furry traveler,
I think you ought to flee...
You're stirring up my hunger,
so let this lizard be!
--Carolyn French
Cactus Wren?
"How do you hop
through that sharp spiny cactus?
How do you nest
in that thick thorny cactus?
'Cha-cha-cha-cha-cha!'
Oh! I see...
with a whole lot of practice!"
--From the book, Cactus Garden, by Carolyn French
"How do you hop
through that sharp spiny cactus?
How do you nest
in that thick thorny cactus?
'Cha-cha-cha-cha-cha!'
Oh! I see...
with a whole lot of practice!"
--From the book, Cactus Garden, by Carolyn French
It's Grand to be
a Tortoise
So wise and so old...
If I only had a rocker,
and some tea--not too cold.
I could sit, and tell long stories...
all through the long hot days,
'till the quail start yawning,
and the coyotes run ablaze.
I'd say bring along your babies,
listen to my song...
I'll just sing a short story,
and then you can run along.
My!..............
what a life that would be!
singing in my rocker,
and sipping cactus tea.
To you, it may sound boring--
not quite the "active theme."
but as a desert tortoise,
it is my ultimate dream!
--Carolyn French
a Tortoise
So wise and so old...
If I only had a rocker,
and some tea--not too cold.
I could sit, and tell long stories...
all through the long hot days,
'till the quail start yawning,
and the coyotes run ablaze.
I'd say bring along your babies,
listen to my song...
I'll just sing a short story,
and then you can run along.
My!..............
what a life that would be!
singing in my rocker,
and sipping cactus tea.
To you, it may sound boring--
not quite the "active theme."
but as a desert tortoise,
it is my ultimate dream!
--Carolyn French
An Old & Leisurely Place
The spicy scent of creosote bush
flows gently past my face,
as I stroll through my garden,
an old and leisurely place.
The creosote bush is one
of the oldest plants on Earth,
but many people dig them up,
and say they have no worth.
And no one knows exactly how old
a desert tortoise may be,
but many are pulled from their lifelong homes
'cause they're too slow to flee.
See... cactus gardens don't mind our visit,
if we respect their space,
and allow them to keep on growing
at their own leisurely pace...
So no matter how old or slow
I may grow to be...
I will always treat this wonderful desert
how I'd want others to treat me.
--An Old & Leisurely Place, from the book, Cactus Garden, by Carolyn French
The spicy scent of creosote bush
flows gently past my face,
as I stroll through my garden,
an old and leisurely place.
The creosote bush is one
of the oldest plants on Earth,
but many people dig them up,
and say they have no worth.
And no one knows exactly how old
a desert tortoise may be,
but many are pulled from their lifelong homes
'cause they're too slow to flee.
See... cactus gardens don't mind our visit,
if we respect their space,
and allow them to keep on growing
at their own leisurely pace...
So no matter how old or slow
I may grow to be...
I will always treat this wonderful desert
how I'd want others to treat me.
--An Old & Leisurely Place, from the book, Cactus Garden, by Carolyn French
A Heart-Broken Toad
How could she just leave me?
How could she hop away?
We had such fun this summer...
She promised me she'd stay.
I remember when I first saw her...
when the rains came around.
Both our chubby toes met,
as we surfaced from the ground.
We sat in the warmest evenings,
under the desert moonlight,
and hopped through the muddiest puddles...
she was a beautiful sight.
We dined on the juiciest bugs,
'till the nights felt rather cold.
That's when she told me goodbye...
She's a heart-breaking
Sonoran Desert Toad!
--Carolyn French
How could she just leave me?
How could she hop away?
We had such fun this summer...
She promised me she'd stay.
I remember when I first saw her...
when the rains came around.
Both our chubby toes met,
as we surfaced from the ground.
We sat in the warmest evenings,
under the desert moonlight,
and hopped through the muddiest puddles...
she was a beautiful sight.
We dined on the juiciest bugs,
'till the nights felt rather cold.
That's when she told me goodbye...
She's a heart-breaking
Sonoran Desert Toad!
--Carolyn French
Don't Follow the Pack Rat!
If you ever see a pack rat...
don't follow him too close,
or you might hear him run and say,
"so long, good bye, audios!"
That's because the pack rat
has treasures beyond compare!
from engine hoses to wire disposed of,
and even old silverware!
One night you may hear him humming...
as if he's found "buried gold,"
but it's all the same to a pack rat--
treasures to find and behold!
--From the book, Cactus Garden, by Carolyn French
If you ever see a pack rat...
don't follow him too close,
or you might hear him run and say,
"so long, good bye, audios!"
That's because the pack rat
has treasures beyond compare!
from engine hoses to wire disposed of,
and even old silverware!
One night you may hear him humming...
as if he's found "buried gold,"
but it's all the same to a pack rat--
treasures to find and behold!
--From the book, Cactus Garden, by Carolyn French
I wanted to share with you one of many funny experiences that I have had with pack rats--also called wood rats. My experience was with White-throated Wood Rats (above). The animals get the name "pack rat" from their habit of collecting many small objects, which they use to help construct and protect their nests. Their large mound-like nests are often found under clumps of prickly pear cacti, and are protected with twigs and spiny cactus joints. We've had quite a few of those near our homes throughout the years. Since some wood rats live close to humans, the nests' construction materials may consist of just about any useful object the animals can find. I have found many of my household "treasures" sprucing-up their nests, including all the items mentioned in my poem. Did I mention that I have also found money and even toys! Whenever my children lost their Legos, I always knew where to look--the pack rat's nest.
"When one walks with nature, one receives far more than he seeks." --John Muir