Bloomin' Tuesday- My cactus is in the pink

This "snaky" cactus was left to me by my homes previous owner. It started out in a pot, I planted it in the ground for awhile, and when it didn't do so great there, I put it back in a pot. It is currently doing very well and I just love how the new growth comes out pink. It also has gorgeous pink flowers, but I have never caught one full open with the camera. I've always noticed just a little too late to capture them. I keep thinking "Next time..."

I don't know what the proper name is for this cactus. If anyone knows please do comment and let me know.

This little "Thimble Cactus" (Mammillaria gracillis fragillis) in the picture below is flowering for the very first time! I bought this lovely little cactus early last June, and although the flowers are tiny, they are still a thrill to see.

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Green Thumb Sunday- Birthing rocks!

My Fall garden keeps popping up with wonders every day! One of the very coolest are the little rocks that appear to be giving birth! I bought these 3 Split Rock (Pleiospilos nelii) plants last Spring, and the first few months I had them they were getting eaten by something. The dark spots were little holes that looked like they had been pecked by a bird. I moved the pot to a more protected area, and the attacks stopped. The protected area also kept them from getting too much water I think.

I noticed the other day that they are starting to split. The new leaves emerge and as they do the outer ones shrink and dry. The cycle continues, with new leaves replacing the old each year. I believe these also produce pretty flowers, but I haven't had mine long enough to see if I am lucky enough to get any.

I haven't had the best of luck with some of the succulents I've tried- well to be honest, it is most certainly my fault that some have died. I've not always been the best steward, and though some of my plants seem to thrive on my ineptness, succulents are definitely pickier all the way around. I am slowly learning that less is more when it comes to watering some plants. I even purchased a moisture meter, so I am not completely in the dark about what is needed.

The next two pictures are of a new succulent that was given to me a week or so ago. If anyone can help with an ID on this that would be great! My neighbor brought it over- it was thriving on total neglect in their backyard so I hope my loving care doesn't do it in!

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The mighty Saguaro

I got my first look at the mighty Saguaro at age 12, when I visited Arizona for the first time with my parents. I was amazed at the huge cactus and the exotic landscaping of the Sonoran desert. To a kid from South Dakota this was a strange land indeed. About 15 years ago I lived in cold Wyoming and a picture of a Saguaro adorned my bulletin board- it was a dream I'd had forever to live in Tucson Arizona. I did eventually make it and after 14 years living here, I am still captivated with this harsh and beautiful desert and its plant and animal inhabitants. The Saguaro is pretty amazing, and as I've posted previously I would love to have one in my yard. I am lucky though that there are a few in my neighborhood so I don't have to walk far to enjoy them.

The Saguaro in my header picture and in the first three pictures below, is actually two Saguaros that have grown together. The one lost an arm and their main trunks are very pitted with holes but they seem pretty sturdy overall and I hope to have them standing longer than I am around to take pictures of them. The two of them leaning together look so content and harmonious don't you think?








Another neighbor has this young Saguaro in her yard. This one has no arms yet so is less than 100 years old. The large ones with more than five arms are estimated to be more than 200 years old. Can you imagine what they have seen in their lifetimes? It boggles the mind!

The pictures below are from Picacho Peak in Picacho Arizona. The southernmost battle of the Civil War was fought here and it is reenacted each year in the same spot. The Saguaros grow up the side of the hills- quite a sight!

The Saguaro blooms in May with beautiful white flowers. The ones in my header picture are closed as they are night blooming. They are pollinated by bats, insects and birds. Fruit follows the flowers. The fruit is often made into candy and syrups.

An interesting fact I found is that the Saguaro flower has more stamens than any other cactus flower and the fruit has more seeds than any other cactus fruit.

Bougainvillea color at last

My job has kept me really busy lately, with very little time for blogs, my own or others. I am leaving this afternoon for Denver for a part business part fun trip. I thought I would post a couple of pictures of the bougainvillea that is starting to bloom. The red one I planted two years ago and I was just about ready to give up on them ever blooming when a week or so ago I started seeing some blooms. The light pink one was just planted this summer, but the blooms have been rare so far.

Green Thumb Sunday- October blooms

The nights are getting colder, but the days are still quite warm, and my garden seems to be thriving overall. The little pink hibiscus plant finally bloomed again. I've only gotten a very few blooms from this plant, and this late season flower is much smaller than previous ones, but still beautiful. There are three more buds coming, so this little gal will finish the blooming season with a bang!

The plant in the next two pictures is called a "Sky Flower" or "Golden Dew Drops" though it's proper name is Duranta erecta. Mine is only a couple months old, but it took off blooming right away. It is very hardy and should do really well in my area. The blooms seem to drip from the plant and they smell a little like chocolate. After the blooms come tiny golden berries. I am taken with how the plant grows with each new section in an almost x like pattern. It is very unique and is supposed to be a fast grower. I snapped the second picture at a nursery today, of a much larger one. I can't wait until mine is as large.




I couldn't resist planting a "balloon flower (Platycodon grandiflorus)" after reading about them on another blog, and seeing one in a local nursery. The plant is small but it put out its first bloom this week, with the bud resembling a little balloon. The opened flower is beautiful and the prettiest shade of blue violet. It too is very hardy and should provide me with lots of future flowers.

I planted the Blue Plumbago below not too long ago, and it also bloomed for the first time this week. The flowers are also a lovely blue violet and this plant should be quite hardy in my area. I look forward to it spreading and climbing the fence, hiding the view into the neighbors weedy yard. The first picture is of the unopened bud, which I think is as beautiful as the opened flowers.


Well that is what is blooming in my desert garden this week. To see posts from around the world and to join in Green Thumb Sunday yourself please visit "As The Garden Grows".

SkyWatch Friday - Welcoming fall and blue skies

Winter is coming and the weather is changing, with the afternoons still hot, but not unbearable, and the nights turning colder. It is already dropping down into the upper 40s-low 50s here. With the change in season comes an anticipation not unlike what I felt as a kid in the Midwest, with summer approaching. I love winter in the desert and am looking forward to it. The weather today was absolutely perfect. I took some pictures of the incredible blue sky. The first is my Cholla, then a neighbors Cyprus, the third is looking up into my Olive tree, and the last one is looking through the babies hanging from my Spider Plant.



For more SkyWatch Friday photos from all around the world please visit SkyWatch.
Here are my previous desert SkyWatch photos

A Red Rocket explosion and Sunday morning bird tales

My Red Rocket Crape Myrtle has burst into it's very first bloom. I am just thrilled with how this little plant has taken off and I can just see it 5 years from now- it will be a beautiful addition to my big front area.

It was eerily quiet this morning outside my office window. I normally have a real noisy bunch of birds out there feasting away. I went into the backyard and could hear a huge chatter of birds coming from the Oleander bushes, but none seemed to want to come and eat. I stepped out the front door and saw the birds lined up on the telephone wires, watching but not coming down.

My son came in and told me there were two huge blackbirds swooping around the area. I didn't get any close-up pictures but a few with a zoom on. They hung out in the area, flying between Cyprus trees, for about 20 minutes and then they both flew away. They were beautiful birds, and huge- my pictures really don't do them justice. Click on them for a better view.

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SkyWatch Friday- Sunset over the Agave

I haven't had much time for anything but work these days, but I did manage to walk the garden tonight as the sun was setting. It was another spectacular sunset, with an ever changing canvas of colors. The first picture shows the tips of my Agave americana and the last is just a snap of the palm tree a blowing in the wind...
Happy SkyWatch Friday everyone- happy weekend ahead!
My previous desert SkyWatch photos.
To see more amazing SkyWatch Friday pictures from around the world, please visit SkyWatch.