A Desert Observer

August

noreply@blogger.com (Dee) — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 13:05:00 +0000

August in Tucson has a certain magic with the seasonal rains either happening, or not, but always changing the air with higher humidity. The Queens Wreath comes into full bloom each August. Although I get a few early blooms from this vine, it seems to wait for August to really shine. I love the tiny pink flowers and the way the tendrils shoot up every which way from the fence they grow along.

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August is also Barrel Cactus blooming month. These common cactus are the backdrop to Tucson. Whether in the urban areas or in the wild areas, they start blooming in August. Yellow- Orange and Red- they are so beautiful if you take the time to look. These next pictures are from a wild desert area near my job. It looks like the Javelina have been eating them this year. I wonder why, and what they normally eat that they are not getting enough of.

This last barrel is one in my yard. It seems to bloom later than the wild ones.

And some garden pictures...a wayward gourd...

I pulled all but two of the dead sunflowers out. They were such a joy- both to me and to the gold finches who devoured every seed. Next year I'm doing sunflowers again! The bed sure looks empty but it awaits the next adventure.

Even the Prickly Pear seems to "love" August!

Happy August!

The ladies have arrived...

noreply@blogger.com (Dee) — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 16:28:00 +0000

After hundreds of boy pumpkin flowers, I finally saw a girl.

A sea of "boy flowers"

Snaky gourds- growing up over and into the tomato plants.

The vines have taken over the garden, parts of the drive way and are making their way through the Oleanders on the other side of the fence.

There is a pumpkin hiding in there...see it?

Good-bye to July!

Raining down on me

noreply@blogger.com (Dee) — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 14:53:00 +0000

The last day of June brought me the sad news of my older brothers unexpected death of a heart attack. The Monsoon arrived a few days later, keeping in tune with my heart it seems. My brother touched many lives with his music, friendship and love. May his spirit - his humor, his creativity, his music keep us close to him.

Jerry Kessler- March 27 1952- June 30 2011.

June Sunflowers

noreply@blogger.com (Dee) — Sat, 25 Jun 2011 17:19:00 +0000

I'd like to be a hummingbird....just for a day. They buzz around and taste each flower, then zoom off high into the tree-tops to sing sing sing. They seem to love the sunflowers though they are about bloomed out now. They are really friendly, seeming as curious about me as I am about them.

The sunflowers are also a big hit with the little gold finches. If you look very closely in the following pictures you will find some happily enjoying the past blooms. Click to enlarge them.

Happy, Happy June!

Meaningful May

noreply@blogger.com (Dee) — Sat, 28 May 2011 23:47:00 +0000

I missed lots in May- I was off being "meaningful" at work. But the cactus keep on blooming and the sunflowers grew tall this month!

May's One Day Wonders

noreply@blogger.com (Dee) — Sun, 15 May 2011 21:11:00 +0000

May has been passing quickly for me, with more work than play. Many days I left before the blooms opened and came home to find them closing up. Most cactus blooms don't last but a day- or a night- if it's a night bloomer. I did catch a few though to share with you.

The Sunflower collection I planted in this round bed have grown quickly- the tallest are almost 6 foot now. They are starting to bloom now too. My plans to grow a vine up around the Jungle Jim did not work out- I just couldn't decide on the right vine and it never got done.

My biggest tomato! I have 6 plants- 3 have fruit on them.

I think I might actually get grapes this year. Unless the birds and the bees get them first.

Baby Tangerines. Out of my 3 citrus trees, the lime and lemon both died completely back with our unusually cold winter. They have new sprouts coming from the base of their trunks but it will probably be years, if they ever fruit again. The grapefruit and tangerine survived, but only the tangerine flowered this year.

And the Pomegranate tree never fails to capture my glance and fill my heart. To think this little tree would have died long ago had my son not intervened on that cold dark rainy night.... almost 3 years ago.

Happy May!

Pieces of April

noreply@blogger.com (Dee) — Sun, 17 Apr 2011 17:41:00 +0000

April is just magic in Tucson....I know the heat is coming but right now it feels like paradise. Here is a sampling from recent days spent in the sun and dirt.

Ocotillo buds

Ocotillo flowers

Pomegranate flower

baby grapes to be

Happy April!

Back in the garden again

noreply@blogger.com (Dee) — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 12:33:00 +0000

I spent hours in the garden this weekend, and it never fails to bring me joy. So many wonderful things going on, not the least of which is this "Old Man" cactus whose odd looking blooms started opening today.

You can't keep a good pear down...my almost completely stripped Prickly Pears are making a comeback!

Here are the baby Mescal Bean (Texas Mt Laurel) trees I started from seed..they are about a year old now, and ready to be planted in permanent homes. I have 8 of them and they are free to a loving home. I'm in Tucson - I can't mail them, but I can work out a pick-up place if anyone is interested. I also have family in Maricopa- I could get them there over Easter.

My bulb bed has been a huge success...

The little Persian Lilac is in fully bloom. I love the scent but it just doesn't compete with those in the Midwest..still it is better than no lilacs in the spring and they are just lovely.

My little Banana tree survived the freezing temps, and is coming back, a bit deformed but determined.

A bed full of Sunflowers just getting started. My son found the old Jungle Jim- I hope to have vines covering it this Summer.

It feels so good to be back in the garden.

Spring at last

noreply@blogger.com (Dee) — Sun, 06 Mar 2011 13:56:00 +0000

Winter was brutal- for Tucson standards anyway. We had two stretches of freezing night temps- dipping down to about 18 or 19 degrees a couple nights. It was the worst I've seen since I started gardening, and I lost so many plants. Every night blooming cactus in my yard is either dead or severely damaged. My two majestic old Prickly Pears (one featured in my header picture) are just stumps coming from the ground. The dead and rotting pads filled a pickup truck load. The Sky Flower, Hibiscus, two Passion Vines, all seem lost. My sweet little Ponytail Palm- if it comes back it will be amazing.

But it seems Spring has found us at last...and the little bulb garden I planted in the fall is really coming to life. The first Crocus opened up yesterday.

As I walked around the yard, I noticed the little Mescal Bean Tree, the first one I planted, has some tiny blooms starting. This little tree has not grown an inch, and has deformed leaves, never thriving no matter what I did. But it is going to bloom! It made my heart soar.

Happy Spring!

Conflicting views

noreply@blogger.com (Dee) — Sun, 27 Feb 2011 17:40:00 +0000

The mountains were inclined to think that Winter still remained....

The Hyacinth sweetly took another view...

Leaving Winter behind...

noreply@blogger.com (Dee) — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 10:54:00 +0000

Winter hit Tucson hard this year, at least for a few days, but Spring is in the air and I am ready to dig in the dirt!

Early morning sunrise

String of Pearls ready to flower

When I got around to the pots of cacti was I ever surprised to see several of them with buds showing.

The bulbs I planted last fall had started growing before the frost hit. They are all sending up green shoots again!

The first Hyacinth

Last plant in the garden-broccoli- will it ever be big enough to eat?

The freezing nights hit some of my cactus the hardest. The big prickly pears had large branches freeze and just break off. In the almost 8 years I've lived in my home I've never seen this happen until this winter.

Prickly Pear destruction

Frozen in the desert

noreply@blogger.com (Dee) — Sun, 02 Jan 2011 13:20:00 +0000

Winter has come to Tucson and brought with it several nights of hard freezes. Walking through my yard breaks my heart- so many plants have frost damage. I've got lots of clean-up to do once it warms up a bit. However much as I dislike Winter there is no denying the beauty of the snow covered peaks that rise up North of the city. I just wish the cold would stay up there too!
Spring...where are you?

Blooms for Thanksgiving

noreply@blogger.com (Dee) — Sat, 04 Dec 2010 13:53:00 +0000

This little cactus bloomed again this year, for Thanksgiving week, just as it did last year. I'm not sure of the variety. I thought it was a Ferocactus latispinus but someone who knows much more than I suggested it might be Biznaga de Dulce or Ferocactus macrodiscus. I don't really care...to me it is my Thanksgiving cactus...one of the few cactus that bloom for me this time of year, and one of my favorite blooms.

The little guy has 5 buds this year, and even the recent hard freeze we had here in Tucson, doesn't seem to have bothered it. I like that in a plant!

Memorizing November...

noreply@blogger.com (Dee) — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 11:33:00 +0000

As November comes to an end I find myself wishing time would slow down. The days have been warm and sweet and I am already missing them. I'd love to bottle them forever..but perhaps a picture will have to do.

Happy Thanksgiving week!

The Green Giant comes to visit...

noreply@blogger.com (Dee) — Sat, 13 Nov 2010 11:36:00 +0000

Look who I found hanging in my Yellow Bells bush. Isn't he a cutie? Anyone know what kind of caterpillar this might be? In trying to research it seems it might be a Tomato Horn Worm, but it isn't on the tomato plants and the horn is green, not red. I left him be...will have to watch and see if he has any buddies nearby.

Wander in the culture of the earth

noreply@blogger.com (Dee) — Sun, 07 Nov 2010 16:15:00 +0000

November in Tucson means gorgeous warm days, and cool nights. And lots of reasons to wander the garden.

Peter Piper Picked a Peck of Purple Peppers? Well maybe just a few!

Babies!

The probably doomed to freeze Banana Plant

Contraband

Moon Flower awakening!

No occupation is so delightful to me as the culture of the earth, and no culture comparable to that of the garden.

Thomas Jefferson

Good Morning Morning Glory

noreply@blogger.com (Dee) — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 13:05:00 +0000

While my son, Zach, and his beautiful bride, Heather, said their wedding vows in an orchard in Ohio, the Morning Glory seeds they sent me for Mother's Day finally sent up blooms in Arizona.

Obsessed with October

noreply@blogger.com (Dee) — Mon, 11 Oct 2010 17:20:00 +0000

October has brought wonderful weather- warm sunny days and cool nights. The garden rejoices!

Blue Plumbago- love love love this color!

I "finally" got a Moon Flower bloom! These remind me of Brug blooms- similar scent too!

A couple shots of the area under the Olive tree. This shows the sweet potato vines.

I spent much of my weekend planting bulbs in this bed...about 100 of them...Can't wait till Spring!

Lots of fun in the little veggie patch...peppers and more peppers.

Watermelon...Yum!

Honey Dew too!

This one fell and broke so the birds got a piece too.

Purple peppers!

Queen Wreaths vine...love this so much I planted a second one this year.

Here's to October..may Winter never come.

Moon over Morning Glory

noreply@blogger.com (Dee) — Sun, 03 Oct 2010 12:37:00 +0000

Aim for the moon. If you miss, you may hit a star.

W. Clement Stone

Trouble in Paradise...

noreply@blogger.com (Dee) — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 11:36:00 +0000

My little Mescal Bean trees are growing quickly these days, with the tallest over 4 foot. However as I wandered the yard this weekend taking note of the plants, I discovered one of the little trees was infested with caterpillars-- at least the very top most leaves were covered with these little buggers.

A little research identified them as Genista Caterpillars- and turns out they love these trees. I lopped off the affected parts, and hopefully that takes care of them. Only one tree had any evidence of them, but I will certainly keep close watch on them all now. Yuck!

The picture shows the branches I lopped off- lots of little worms feasting away! Click for a better view of the little guys.

Summers best of weather...

noreply@blogger.com (Dee) — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 18:53:00 +0000

September brings a little cooler weather and the promise of better gardening soon. The monsoon is almost over and we actually got a little rain the last couple weeks. The yard has attained a "lush" look it doesn't have other times of the year, thanks to the weeds. Of course theres a few things besides weeds growing in my garden.
This little cactus has been blooming non-stop all summer!

I almost missed this bloom. The pot was tucked in a corner and had already bloomed once without me noticing.

This little cactus has bloomed many times but this is the first time I've caught an open flower in a picture. They seem to open and close up quickly.

The giant sunflower blooms and blooms...

A shot of the whole plant. It must be 8 foot tall.

Rain Lilies that bloomed in spite of my forgetting they were planted in this bed that has been overtaken by weeds due to the recent rains.

What is that hiding in the garden? A Watermelon!!!!

And twin pomegranates developing nicely.

The Morning Glory vine- all vine and no blooms.

My Shrimp plant has really responded to recent rains. Lots of new growth and new flowers.

I just love my little Baja Fairy Duster- it always has a bloom or two.

Lovely Lantana

This little cactus has one bloom starting and an interesting green fruit from a previous bloom.

This beautiful vine doesn't start to bloom till late August. I see it planted near trees locally and suddenly the trees are wreathed in pink flowers. It is gorgeous. The one I have planted by the fence out front is doing pretty well.

Lots of little buds poking up in my Owl cactus.

More lovely lantana.

Part of the succulent garden under the olive tree.

And Moon Flowers To Be!!!

3 Kinds of Prickly Pear in a pot- this came from the desert near my job.

Sky Flowers- dainty, delicate and loving the rain.

Baby cactus growing up from my butchered cactus. I've waited over a year to see if anything would rise out of the ashes of this old piece of cactus that I lopped off after a fellow blogger suggested it. At last!!! And the "twins" have a baby too!

And last a fat caterpillar feasting away on one of my Passion Vines...it is a battle that wages on every day. Me vs the caterpillars...this week they are winning.

"By all these lovely tokens, Septmber days are here

With summer's best of weather, And autumn's best of cheer."

- Author Unknown

Blame it on the barrels

noreply@blogger.com (Dee) — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 13:30:00 +0000

Come mid August in Tucson the desert comes alive with blooming Barrel Cacti. They bloom in shades of yellow,orange and red and desert outside my office comes alive with them. If you can't find me at my desk, it might be due to these darn barrels. I just can't seem to resist their charms.

Don't blame me if I am not to be found at work... Blame it on the barrels.

Waiting out Summer...

noreply@blogger.com (Dee) — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 11:24:00 +0000

Our Monsoon season has pretty much fizzled out this year. We had one week of rainy days, and even those didn't live up to expectations. I water water water, but do little else outside, and look forward to cooler temps and more garden time. The best is just ahead! The cactus blooms are slowing a bit but there is still something blooming almost every day. Here are some cactus blooms from the last week or so.

And sometimes, after the flowers come fruit. I tasted these and they are pretty tangy little fruits. The birds usually get them before I can snap a picture.

Happy Cactus Monday- to see other artwork and photography with a prickly theme please visit. Teri's Painted Daisies!

Anticipation and Morning Glories

noreply@blogger.com (Dee) — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 23:29:00 +0000

While most everything in my garden looks parched, in spite of frequent watering, the Morning Glory vine I planted from seeds my son sent me continues to take over the bird area. Still no blooms though I've even given it a bit of bloom booster. The vine is crazily vigorous, taking over the cactus wood and now starting on the bird feeder posts.

The heart shaped one is also going strong, but no blooms there either.

But while I wait and anticipate Morning Glory blooms I bide my time, smelling the Passion Flowers...

"Oh, cut me reeds to blow upon,

Or gather me a star,

But leave the sultry passion-flowers

Growing where they are.

I fear their sombre yellow deeps,

Their whirling fringe of black,

And he who gives a passion-flower

Always asks it back.

Lessons from a little bird

noreply@blogger.com (Dee) — Sat, 07 Aug 2010 11:45:00 +0000

The Curved-Billed Thrashers who share my yard, and nest in my Cholla are always fun to watch as they roam around the yard, pecking at the dirt looking for insects, or pieces of grass or debris to build their big nests with. I've watched the babies come out and play with the Cactus Wren babies and watched them grow up and have babies of their own. Recently though, I was saddened to see a little Thrasher that was missing his tail feathers. He seemed no worse for wear, as he hopped up the big prickly pear cactus, pad by pad until he was at the very top and could survey the yard.

I first noticed him about a month ago, and figured he would not last a day with all the wild cats in the neighborhood, to say nothing of the hawks that frequent my feeders.

But he is still around, and I see him almost every day, searching for bugs, or hanging out at the top of the Prickly Pear. He can fly down, but has to hop up from pad to pad.

I hope his tail feathers grow back- giving him true flight again. But he sure hasn't let the lack of them stop him.

He lives in a nest in this Cholla. He scrambles to the thorny protection underneath whenever I dare get too near to him. I've decided to not clean up this particular Cholla for awhile, but to leave him a safe place. It is overgrown with fallen segments and weeds but it can wait a while longer.

A little bird and a big lesson about dealing with what life gives you and not letting it keep you down. Thanks little bird- long live!