August

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!