A long awaited bloom

The other day, late in the afternoon, the little P.neli finally opened up her little bud- at least half-way. It was a lucky thing I even caught the show, as it was brief, and she closed it right up as the sun went down. That was two days ago, and I haven't seen it happen since. The bud started to open up yesterday a little, but never even made it half-way. The third picture is the current state of affairs. I suppose maybe the colder weather we have been having is keeping it closed. But even half-opened the flower was wonderful! I never expected orange at all, as the only ones I have seen pictures of were yellow and white, with maybe some pink. So orange is unexpected, but oh so beautiful!

My son started me some pansies from seed last fall, and the first of them have finally started to bloom. I've been enjoying Pansie blooms regularly from the small plants I purchased, but these are the first from the seed started plants. I fell in love with this color combination- it is the prettiest Pansie in my yard so far.




I had so many comments on my little reindeer dude so here is a picture of all of him. He stands guard in the bird area, and the passion vine tangles through him. I bought him down in Mexico and I adore him too! I think there is a better picture of him at the end of this post I made last September.

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Feels like Spring...I want it to be Spring...does that mean it is Spring?

The weather here has been quite warm- in the 70s during the day and the low 40s at night. It really does feel like Spring is here, and although I know it can, and probably will get cold again, and we could even have some nights that dip down to freezing, Spring really is pretty close here in Arizona. I have had a few plants die back even though I've been covering many of them on the coldest nights. However I do have a few blooming things along with the dead and brown!
The Mammillaria (muehlenpfordtii) cactus seems to do really well with the sunshine we've been having and her ring of flowers pops out beautifully in the afternoons. There are a few flowers a little lower and the smaller heads on the plant are showing flowers coming up as well.

The little "Thimble Cactus" is also still blooming with the old blooms turning into tiny red fruits- at least I think that is what they are. They are visible on the little cactus in the back of this clump of three.

This "living rock" plant has me on pins and needles wondering if the odd little protusion is going to be a bloom. I've seen pictures of these when they bloom and they are awesome so I am especially anxious to see if mine is going to bloom.

This little "Black Tree" , (Aeonium, arboreum var) is one of my favorite little succulants. It just glows in the sunshine.


And more Pansies- tiny ones this time. I love the orange and purple color combination. I am getting quite a collection of dried pansy blooms now.

Happy Green Thumb Sunday! How many more days till Spring now?

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Winter is coming to Tucson

Winter is finally coming to Tucson Arizona. The temps outside are dropping quickly, I think we lost 5 degrees in the last hour. There is a Winter Weather advisory out, and snow is forecast in the mountains, and perhaps in the valley as well, although it probably won't stick around long if it does snow here. In Tucson we have an incredible view of the Santa Catalina Mountains, and when a storm comes the visions of snow capped mountains are beautiful. Below is my view of these mountains, looking out to the North from my home, they are almost completely covered in clouds. After the storm, I am betting, the clouds will lift and I'll get my first view of snow for the season.

With the cold coming in I am starting to feel a little panic at what will die if we get freezing temps here in town. Of course I knew this had to happen eventually, and hopefully even if a freeze takes the green, the roots will be OK and the plant will grow again when it warms up. I also bought a HUGE "planket" that I will use to cover the potted cacti and succulents. I have brought them all in under the protected patio area and will cover them up if the temperature gets below 40.

A few final pictures to say good-bye. I've a feeling this cold weather is going to change the look of my garden very soon.

The snail plant with 3 blooms open- I bet in a day or two they are gone though-wiped out by the cold weather coming our way!

The two stray sunflowers are still standing but they will probably be another winter casualty.

Although there are more un-opened buds on both Hibiscus plants, I doubt I'll see another go through the entire cycle- bud- open flower- dried flower on the plant. This year anyway!

Here is wishing the cold won't be quite so cold and all the tender plants survive and bloom again! Happy Green Thumb Sunday- please visit other participating blogs by clicking on the links in my Green Thumb Sunday Blogroll, or to join in yourself please visit "As The Garden Grows".

Flowers wearing their Fall colors and a Curved Billed Thrasher claims the Cholla

As I walk through my garden this November I am just captivated by the deeper colors the flowers have with the colder weather. The blooms also last longer, and dry in vivid colors on the vine. They are just gorgeous-so I captured pictures of some of them.

This one is a Lavender Lady bloom, that stayed for a few days and then dried in this graceful pose.

The pink Hibiscus blooms are smaller, and a deep deep pink color now. This plant has bloomed more now that the weather is cooler than it did all summer. The blooms dry to a beautiful maroon- I am going to try and pick them and see if they will last dried.

The orange Hibiscus bloomed quite a bit all summer, and the flowers now are much smaller. The color though has completely changed from a gorgeous bright tangerine to an almost blood red orange. They dry a deep orange and Burgundy.

When I wrote last Sunday's post I had thought that the owner of the bird nests in the Cholla was the Cactus Wren who was calling out from the Cholla a few days earlier. However I've since met the real owner of the big nest inside the Cholla- a Curve billed Thrasher, with bright orange eyes and a curved bill. I caught her out searching for food and she made a dash for home. It was the big nest in the center of the big Cholla. She seemed right at home there, and very defensive about me so I didn't get close. What a beautiful bird though.

The Sunflower that sprouted from leftover bird seed, has opened at last. It is just beautiful.

And a couple of pictures of the bird area.

I was going to plant these pansies in this pot the other day, when the pot broke on me. I planted them anyway, in what was left of the pot, and they seem to be fine. They are so pretty, and remind me of home!

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Desert Wren encounter for Green Thumb Sunday

I was standing near the big scary Cholla yesterday, contemplating the Cape Honeysuckle and the affect of the lower night temperatures on the blooms, when I heard the distinct sound of the Cactus Wren. I looked up and perched on the Cholla, staring right at me was a darling little Cactus Wren, one of the inhabitants of the many nests in my big Cholla cactus. I quick put the camera up and took a few pictures, as she chittered and hopped among the thorny limbs. These birds are known to be quite outgoing and she seemed to be quite at ease being so near to me, but still protected in her thorny home. In reading a little about the Cactus Wren I discovered that they build many nests, but only one is the real nest for the babies, the others are decoy nests that serve as roosts. That would make sense why there are several nests in this cactus, the newest being almost in the center of the plant, and very protected by the sharp thorny arms of the cactus- hopefully her protection doesn't become her killer in the end. These little birds live on a diet of mostly insects, and a little fruit, so I love having them in my yard. The Cactus Wren is also the official state bird of Arizona. The second picture below is a shot of the newest nest in the Cholla.

I wanted to post the tiny lavendar bouganvilla flowers that are forming at last. Now all three of my Bouganvilla have begun to bloom. It was a long wait for some color on these but definitely worth the wait.

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Happy Green Thumb Sunday!

Silly Rabbit- stay out of my salad!

My experiment with a salad bed was going very well. I actually had the first harvest a few days ago. I thinned out the over-planted bed of young greens and have been happily adding them to sandwiches and enjoying every bite.

However Halloween brought some silly rabbits to my yard, playing tricks and taking treats. I woke yesterday to find my lovely little salad bed was no more. I am pretty sure it must be rabbits as they ate every tender leaf in sight.
Here is a picture of my one and only harvest:

This is what was left of the tiny spinach plants.

I believe this one was a broccoli before someone munched it away.

Not content to just eat the edibles, the silly rabbit decided to take a taste out of my split rock plants. He put a big bite in one and dug all three out of the pot, and leaving them on the ground- they must not have tasted very good!

I replanted them and will hope for the best.

Anyone know any good rabbit deterrents? I am not interested in hurting them but I sure would like to keep my plants safe.

On a brighter note, my Hibiscus has put out some interesting pods. I don't recall seeing these last year, and the other smaller Hibiscus does not have any. They formed in the cups, that once held blooms. I am guessing this is where the seeds come from. In the picture below the one to the right is the pod, next to a bloom getting ready to open. This plant is still putting out gorgeous blooms in my Fall garden.

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Happy Green Thumb Sunday!

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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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".