Borrego Springs Art Guild Installation at The Arches

Borrego Springs artist featured in regional landscape exhibition.

The season’s first exhibition will feature artwork inspired by the plants and animals of the natural world. The Borrego Art Institute is inviting artists to submit work for Of Earth & Sky, an exhibition centered on the plants and animals of the natural world. The exhibition will run October 17 through November 29, 2026 , at the Borrego Art Institute gallery, 665 Palm Canyon Drive in Borrego Springs. Artwork in any medium may be submitted. Artists may enter a maximum of two pieces, with work received at the gallery on October 10 and 11 from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Wall art must have wire on the back so it can be displayed using the gallery’s cable-and-hook system. All work must be clean, presentable and reasonably priced. BAI members pay no entry fee. Nonmembers pay $20 for each accepted work. The institute will not accept artwork that has previously been shown in the gallery. For questions or entry forms, contact Cody at gallery@borregoartinstitute.org. Summer Show Artwork Must Be Picked Up by October 11 Artists with work remaining in BAI’s Celebrating the Summer Show must pick it up no later than Sunday, October 11. Artwork may also be collected before that date. Beginning October 1, gallery hours are: Thursday–Saturday: 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Sunday: 10 a.m.–4 p.m. BAI Membership Borrego Art Institute members pay no entry fees for BAI exhibitions, with the exception of the Plein Air Invitational. A variety of membership levels are available.  Borrego Art Institute 665 Palm Canyon Drive Borrego Springs, CA 92004

Growing this Summer If you have landscaping or a garden, you have probably spent time this summer wondering if your plants are going to make it. There have been many days I’ve walked outside, looked at a plant and said, “Sorry little feller, I feel your struggle!”  Be patient with your plants. In Borrego, nighttime heat is one of the biggest challenges. During the summer, plants need cooler nights to breathe. When night temperatures stay in the 80s, plants struggle because they conserve water by closing their stomata, which are tiny pores used for gas exchange. On hot nights these pores stay closed to prevent plants from losing more water than they can afford. But then they struggle to breathe. Cool nights are what allow desert plants to absorb carbon dioxide so they can create energy. In simple terms, hot nights keep plants from breathing, which slows the creation of sugars they need to be happy and survive. Look at the plants that naturally grow around us. There is a reason so many desert plants have small, thick leaves covered in wax. A smaller leaf has less surface area where water can escape. Waxy leaves create another protective layer that helps hold moisture inside the plant. Creosote and other plants have spent a very long time figuring out how to live wisely in the desert. Other landscape plants are less adapted to living through a Borrego summer. Even cacti struggle with the heat and get sunburned. And when a plant looks stressed, giving it more water is not always the answer. Too much water can complicate problems even further for many desert plants. Summer is a good time to practice patience. Pause for a moment and let the plant tell you what it needs. Sometimes plants need an extra drink and some shade cloth. Other times a little pruning will focus good energy on what is still alive. And when all else fails, slow down for a moment and talk to your plants. They are good listeners and appreciate words of encouragement. It has been a hot summer, and the plants are struggling just like the wildlife and many of us are. Wander outside and offer a little extra attention to everything that is surviving this summer. A few caring words and a little patience can make all the difference.

Monthly

Celebrating Young Artists and the Future of Creative Education 

Award-Winning Filmmakers Return With Anza Borrego Sunrise to Sunset Documentary

Originally published February 1999.

2027 Concert Season

Award-Winning Cellist Ruslan Biryukov Performs Two Concerts in Julian

Santa Ysabel Art Gallery Showcases Young Creative Talent

East County News Services Looking for an affordable summer outing? San Diego residents can visit select Balboa Park museums free every Tuesday through the park's popular Free Museum Tuesdays program. Each Tuesday features a different participating museum, but on the first Tuesday of every month , residents receive free admission to both the Fleet Science Center and the San Diego Natural History Museum (The Nat) . Visitors simply need to bring a valid photo ID or other proof of San Diego County residency. The recently updated San Diego Natural History Museum offers five floors of exhibits, including displays on Southern California's unique wildlife, fossils and conservation. One featured exhibit showcases artwork created from plastic collected along shorelines, highlighting the impact of marine pollution. Just steps away, the Fleet Science Center has also undergone recent renovations and features hands-on science exhibits, interactive displays and activities designed for visitors of all ages. Parking can also help keep the day budget-friendly. Several free parking lots are available throughout Balboa Park, and the City of San Diego has temporarily paused parking enforcement in many areas through early next year, making it easier for visitors to enjoy the park without added expense. Free Museum Tuesdays rotate participating museums each week, giving residents the opportunity to explore many of Balboa Park's cultural attractions throughout the month. For the current schedule and additional information, visit balboapark.org . ---------- Located about 90 miles southwest of Borrego Springs, Balboa Park makes for an easy day trip, offering San Diego County residents free admission to select museums every Tuesday through the Free Museum Tuesdays program.