DESERT LOVE

See this?

It isn't too attractive, is it?

It kind of makes you wonder why I'd have it  planted in such a prominent spot in my back yard.

Look at this and you'll see why.

http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/photo/1083875347048216361iLaGkB

That only happens in the hottest part of the summer when we get sufficient rainfall and it doesn't even last for long.  But, oh, the fragrance...to say nothing of that lovely lavender cloud of sheer beauty!  It is SO worth the wait!

I showed you our ocotillo the other day...looking all fancy in her Spring green frock!  When she blooms, she'll look like this...covered with spikey fiery red blossoms!

Most of the year, it looks like.....

I was going to insert a link into what it looks like most of the year, but it is so ugly...so unattractive...that apparently no one has posted an image of it in all of google-dom!  I have certainly never been moved to photograph that particular time in the life of an ocotillo.  But I will..and show it to you one of these days.

Just imagine 12-15 foor long dead looking sticks covered with deadly looking thorns and you've got the picture!

Prickley Pear Cactus...now there's another desert plant that is not terribly attractive most of the time.  But with sufficient rain...at the right time...you get this.

There's so many desert plants which will surprise you, given the right circumstance.  With all the winter rain and snow we've had this year, I think all the circumstances just might be perfectly in place to knock your socks off this Spring.  I will do my best to get photographs of her at her best and share them with you.

This desert is truly a magical place.  But, you have to be willing to be patient...to wait until she is ready to unfold her secret delights to your gaze.  She is  very secretive...very seductive...very sexy.  And if you don't pay her enough attention, she will NEVER show you her true self!  That is true of every smart woman, don't you think?

But watch out...'cause she can be a devil.  Just like a black widow spider, she'll kill you, if you allow yourself to fall completely under her spell!  She's dangerous....probably somewhat like the sea.  You NEVER  want to forget who's in charge!

But, also, you neve want to forget that she is really a beauty.....unique and wonderful in her own way!

I have lived on this desert for almost 20 years now.  I was completely enthralled with her from my very first visit and remain enthralled with her to this very day.

Spring on the desert!  It is almost here!

Oh!  I can  hardly wait!!!!!

I am so grateful to live on this Sonoran Desert!!!!!!

SPRING GREEN!

Spring is definitely coming to the desert.


My plan was to feature the color ‘yellow’ next. But I just don’t think that’s possible….what with all the lovely, luscious greens springing up all around me.

With all the rain we’ve had this year, the desert is bustin’ out all over!

I can hardly wait for the blossom displays which will be very soon. But for right now, the gorgeous greens are doing a quite nice job of taking my breath away!

For example…

Our Tombstone roses which cover our entire back fence look like this right now.

Within a few short weeks…or maybe days…it will be covered with tiny white roses and look exactly like it’s been completely covered with popcorn!


Why is it called a Tombstone rose?

lhttp://www.tombstonetimes.com/stories/rose.html

Tucson is at a much lower elevation than Tombstone, so our roses bloom about a month sooner than THE Tombstone rose in that story.

Here's another link for some more interesting information about this most special rose.

http://www.tombstonechamber.com/Rose-Tree-Museum-and-Books

Our ocotillo, (oh-co-tea-o) which looks like nothing more than an unpleasant, ugly bouquet of thorny sticks during dry times, is now covered top to bottom with lovely, soft green leaves. But you still need to watch out for those thorns! And we’ll be watching for the orange-red blossoms which inebriate every hummingbird around with their sweet nectar.

The Palo Verde…(green wood in Spanish) is this chartreuse green year round. Later it will become an ethereal yellow cloud. This it the tree which drives me nuts trying to paint it!

I guess I should 'splain that 'stuff' hanging in my palo verde tree.  It is, starting from the top, an old rusty hay hook, to which is tied 2 rusty horse-shoes, hubby and I found while roaming the desert and one rusty old small shovel which was used by my blacksmith grandfather.  Together it all makes a delightful clanking and clunking when the wind blows.  Even my neigbors enjoy these 'wind chimes.'

Under the Palo Verde is this mass planting of African Daisies…mixed with an abundance of weeds! I will spend hours identifying and pulling all unwanted plants from this particular area.

In many places in Tucson, African daisies are already in full bloom.  These are in shade until afternoon, so they are going to be late-bloomers.  But, that's ok 'cause they are sure worth the wait!

The Bermuda grass hasn’t had enough warm night-time temperatures yet to push new blades up through the old fall-dead mat. But it will…soon!

I couldn't  pass up this opportunity to show you this picture of Codi.  I guess she is waiting for lunch.  I feel so bad that I let the birdbath dry completely up!  That's a glimpse of our Tombstone roses in the background.

In this warm micro-climate, right at my studio door, the wild verbena is not only growing, but blooming already!

My golden lantana showed me some blossoms, telling me that I have put off pruning as long as I possibly can this year. I must get after that…and my Mexican Bird of Paradise….Arabian Jasmine…and everything else that needs cutting back this time of year.

Oh yes! It’s definitely time to get the pruners out and get busy!



Green.



The color of money….but even better….the color Spring wears each and every year!



Oh…and it’s the color of St. Patrick’s Day, too!  So, even though it's a little early....

Slainte!

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_do_you_say_slainte


And one more thing.

Green is the color of frogs.

If you’ve known me for long…and especially if you knew me from the Oprah discussion boards….you KNOW I have a very special place in my heart for frogs…and for all my froggie friends.

You know who you are!

I am grateful for the Frog Pond…and the color green!