Lilacs and other April delights

I have loved Lilacs since I was a little girl, and when I first moved to Tucson I missed them terribly in the Spring.  Two years ago- about the time I started this blog, I found a Persian Lilac that could live in our desert climate. I had just a few blooms last year, but this year the little tree is covered in sweet lilac scented blooms.

The entire garden seems to be in bloom or preparing to bloom.  I entertain thoughts of taking my desk outside and plopping down in the middle of all the action to work- or day dream perhaps.

Makes me wish April would never end.

Blooming Tuesday Blue Hibiscus (Alyogyne huegelii)

It seems like forever since I joined in Bloomin' Tuesday and I've missed that wonderful bunch of garden bloggers.  My Blue Hibiscus is about two years old now and this Spring it is putting on quite a show in my bird feeder area.  The plant is covered with the papery blooms that glow in the early morning sun.

Happy Bloomin' Tuesday!  To see what is blooming in other gardens please visit Ms "Green Thumb" Jean's.

Yellow Bells for Bloomin' Tuesday

I thought I would share some pictures of my "Yellow Bells" plant, also called a Trumpet Flower. This plant is quite common in Arizona. It seems to do well with our dry climate, producing gorgeous yellow blooms, and bright green leaves. Mine is still small- I planted it last Spring.

Happy Bloomin' Tuesday!!! To see other "Bloomin' Tuesday" posts from around the world please visit Ms "Green Thumb" Jeans.

Reasons to be obsessed with October

The barrel cactus flowers have turned to fruits. Some of them still green, but most taking on a yellow tone.

The Desert Paradise has beautiful seed pods waving against the blue blue sky.

Just outside the back door is a new arbor/seating bench my son build for me recently. It has grape vines growing up the side that attaches to the back of my home, and a bench built into the other side. The Orange tree is peeking around the corner, offering some fruit that is just starting to turn orange in response to the increasing cold temps at night.

I've got baskets of mint and other herbs hanging from the arbor/bench.

The little rescued Pomegranate only had one fruit make it to maturity but isn't it a beauty?

I picked a big bowl of limes today...now to find time to make my Key Lime Endeavor. Yum!

The snaky cactus is growing amazingly fast. The ends of the longest are past the ground. I can't keep finding higher places to put this pot. Maybe the roof? :)

My little Skyflower tree is just beautiful. It is still putting out the prettiest cinnamon scented flowers, but now there are tiny yellow fruits as well. This plant is also called "golden dew drop" because of the little fruits that form in the fall.

My little Baja Fairy Duster is always in bloom..one of my favorite care-free plants.

And the peach dahlia blooms and blooms and blooms!


I planted this little barrel cactus from a pot to its permanent home near a prickly pear in the big front area. This little guy had never bloomed but look what I found today. Are these buds?

I've more than babied my little Hydrangea, but it has so been worth the effort. The flowers which turned green after the initial deep pink, now have a delicious rosy color for Fall.

The Blue Plumbago I planted this summer is doing well...I just love this color blue.

Pink rose buds in the morning light.

The pink Coral is also showing some fall changes...little ivory colored flowers with pink edges...just delightful!

Look who else is watching over my desert garden? Most specifically watching over the bird feeding side of the house. It is the Hawk...waiting for her next meal. Isn't she/he a beauty? Click to see the details.

There is something in October sets the gypsy blood astir: We must rise and follow her, When from every hill of flame She calls, and calls each vagabond by name.
-William Bliss Carman

June Blooms and other garden delights

Want to take a trip through my desert garden and see what blooms in June? Come along with me....

I love the way the Dahlias open up, each stage having its own beauty. Here is that steady blooming orange dahlia of mine, just ready to raise her head and open her petals.

And a shot from the side.....

Here is a picture of my little Baja Fairy Duster. This little plant has done well from the start and always has a few little flowers open.

My "Fuzzy Navel" cactus put out 4 lovely little night blooms. 3 bloomed the first night, 1 the second night.

My two Pansy plants were faithful bloomers all winter long, providing me with hundreds of flowers which I dried and have saved to do something crafty with. My Mom makes pictures, bookmarks and other neat things with dried Pansy blooms. Once it started getting hot I put the two plants in a shadier area and I am still getting some pretty blooms.

This pot holds a mystery sprout that came up last year in another pot. I had to smile to see the two little chain-fruit Cholla fruits that dropped into the pot when it was under the Cholla tree. They have both sprouted into little Cholla plants. I'm not sure what I'll do with them- these Cholla are wicked when grown, but these little guys are just plain cute!

I never did find out what my mystery sprout was. It has lots of leaves but has never bloomed.

The 3 Passion Vines are in constant bloomers, and their long vines have grown wild around my office window and up the bird feeder area. This next picture is the last one I planted. It had a little transplant shock but it got over it quickly and seems very healthy and vigorous now. The leaves seem to take the sun better than the Lavender Lady passion vine. That one has lots of sunburn but this little vine stays nice and green for the most part.

I planted green "Envy" Zinnias in several different areas, including in this cement tube my neighbor gave me. I have it under the bird feeder and they have done better here, than in the flower pot near the front of my home. Some of these actually have more than one outer row of petals. They still are not full and lush as expected. The Arizona heat is hard on flowers. Still they look green and pretty next to the bird feeders.

And lets take a walk to the backyard now and check out the little oranges on the orange tree. They are growing quickly- I can't wait to taste them!

And remember the little "rescued" Pomegranate tree? It has 3 Pomegranates growing- here are two that look like twins!

And my experimental Rhubarb plant- experimental because I don't think Arizona is ideal rhubarb country but I can just taste that Fresh Rhubarb Cake recipe I used to win purple ribbons with at the state fair in South Dakota.

I planted a few different kinds of Sunflowers and some did better than others. I thought this one was a "Teddy Bear" Sunflower- but it doesn't look quite like the other Teddy Bear Sunflowers which are fuzzier in the center. Check out the last sunflower picture below to see them side by side.

And almost every day I see the little lizards that like to climb my Olive tree- here is one doing his daily push-ups! Click to get a better view.

And my beloved Brugsmania...two drying blooms.

Meeting a fellow Tucson gardener and bringing home some Canna cuttings got me going with my first little pond set-up. I have plans to expand this but haven't found the time yet.

And the aquatic Canna were inspiration for some normal dirt grown Canna that I planted on the side of my house.

My Hibiscus which are two years old now, put out bloom after bloom. I love the pink ones when they are just ready to open -they are so graceful!

Heres to June- its been a wonderful month in the garden. July should bring monsoon rain and lots of thunder and lightening shows too if we are lucky!