Springtime in Tucson

mesquite buckeye · March 07, 2016, 11:58:32 AM

Yards in the desert often look a bit different from places with more rain. Ours is coming into bloom and I thought you might enjoy seeing it.

Penstemon parryi, The common penstemon seen in the Tucson basin.

They are very nice when there are a bunch of them. They get 2-4 ft tall.

Closeup of the flowers.

Another view. The big rosette succulents are aloes. Most of these come from South Africa. The pretty green one in the middle is Aloe vanbaleni. Here is a closeup of the flowers. These have been going now for a couple of months. We have to protect them if it goes below 25° or we lose the flowers.

Aloe saponaria, also called zebra aloe. Probably the most commonly grown aloe in Tucson.

Orange bulbine.

Another South African introduction. Blooms off and on almost year round.

Thelocactus macdowellii This one has been moved around to like 5 genera so far. We shall see how long this name sticks. Anyway they are pretty. Native to Coahuila and Nuevo Leon (two Mexican states bordering Texas).

Another hedgehog cactus in bud. The buds are those fuzzy things popping out the sides. I'll try to get a photo when they open. Can't recall the name at the moment. Maybe Echinocereus baileyi, but not sure. It is another Mexican species.

Silver torch cactus. Cleistocactus straussii. That's as far as the flowers open. They are pollinated by hummingbirds and I guess that's all the room they need. ;D This plant is from the mountains of Bolivia and Argentina.

An Adenium hybrid. These guys come from South Africa and can't take very much cold at all. This guy is going to stay in the greenhouse for another 2 weeks at least. They bloom almost all the time if they are warm and happy. Sort of like an undersized oleander with oversized flowers and succulent stems. They get really cool when they are old.

Angelita daisy, Tetraneuris acaulis native to the mid elevations in AZ. Blooms almost year round if it has water.

Another penstemon that is part of my penstemon breeding program.

Tufted evening primrose, Oenothera caespitosa a mid elevation native. The flowers are about 3" and bloom at night, opening in the evening. This one is perennial.

This yellow one is an annual wildflower.

Indigo bush, Dalea pulchra native here from the upper desert to the lower oak woodlands. Not really an indigo, just a common name. Common names are stupid. Often. Some scientific names are also stupid. Work with what you got, I guess. :-\

Lady Bank's rose coming into bloom.

And yes, it is orange blossom time, very smelly.

And the peak of the citrus harvest season.

WV Sawmiller · March 07, 2016, 12:29:57 PM

MB,

Real nice pix. It just makes me think those of us in the South need to get ready for pine pollen season. Maybe we all need to move out west?

sandhills · March 07, 2016, 12:53:05 PM

That's some nice pictures, thanks for sharing that. We usually visit my inlaws down there for a few days during the winter but no one (including them) got the chance this year, I really enjoy the desert.

tule peak timber · March 07, 2016, 02:01:49 PM

Some pics from my place this morning...yikes! Keep in mind I'm 45 minutes from Palm Springs -and my palms are loaded with snow. Rob

buzywoodliff · March 07, 2016, 02:09:46 PM

Thanks for sharing the flower pictures.... The snow pictures, not so much. :)

Ready for spring, they're calling for rain today so I'm sure our snow will turn to mud soon.

I got to spend a weekend in Globe Arizona a few years ago and really enjoyed it ( and the food )

It's on my bucket list to visit again someday.

mesquite buckeye · March 07, 2016, 03:51:21 PM

Quote from: WV Sawmiller on March 07, 2016, 12:29:57 PM
MB,

Real nice pix. It just makes me think those of us in the South need to get ready for pine pollen season. Maybe we all need to move out west?

We are also sneezing. Native ragweeds, mulberries, African sumac then olive, mesquite and bermuda grass. :'(

mesquite buckeye · March 07, 2016, 03:53:07 PM

Rob, you can keep that cold. I don't want to lose next winter's citrus crop.

We only got 2.7 minutes of rain out of this storm so far, but it is a lot cooler than it has been.

sprucebunny · March 07, 2016, 05:16:57 PM

Thanks very much for the flower pictures. 8) 8)

The snow, I got. With ice under it...then mud, then ???

Roxie · March 08, 2016, 06:02:23 AM

Quote from: mesquite buckeye on March 07, 2016, 03:51:21 PM

We are also sneezing. Native ragweeds, mulberries, African sumac then olive, mesquite and bermuda grass. :'(

Yes, but it's a dry sneeze. :D

coxy · March 08, 2016, 06:34:38 AM

nice pics

but

:D :D

mesquite buckeye · March 08, 2016, 09:43:14 AM

mesquite buckeye · March 14, 2016, 11:58:16 AM

Penstemon parryi is at peak bloom in Tucson.

Spring is about 2 weeks early this week. ;D 8) 8) 8)

mesquite buckeye · March 22, 2016, 06:30:35 PM

More stuff.

Boyce Thompson Hedgehog.

Long spined prickly pear.

A pink hybrid coral bell.

red coral bells

Lady Bank's Rose at peak bloom.

This is the hedgehog that was in bud last week.

Adenium hybrid. We keep this one in the GH in the winter. South Africa

Our Lord's Candle, Yucca whipplei

Growing from about 6" to a foot a day. Cool 8) 8) 8)

A promising penstemon we are working on. Looks good, but lots more evaluation needed before we do anything with it or name it.

sprucebunny · March 22, 2016, 06:59:38 PM

Beautiful flowers ! So different in the desert.

Kbeitz · March 22, 2016, 07:12:43 PM

I think I'll just keep my briers. They don't look near as dangerous as some of your
pointy lookin things.

mesquite buckeye · April 04, 2016, 12:19:46 PM

More stuff.

WV Sawmiller · April 04, 2016, 01:37:25 PM

Quote from: Kbeitz on March 22, 2016, 07:12:43 PM
I think I'll just keep my briers. They don't look near as dangerous as some of your
pointy lookin things.

Dangerous? Watch someone try to wade through a multiflora rose bush sometime! Like a barbed wire fence with roots.

tule peak timber · April 04, 2016, 02:56:14 PM

Nice pics Russ,,,,You are about a month ahead of us weather wise. We had a snow flurry last week ! Rob

mesquite buckeye · April 04, 2016, 05:53:20 PM

mesquite buckeye · April 11, 2016, 12:32:44 PM

More stuff.

Road kill cactus. Another hummingbird pollinated one.

ocotillo

more hybrid penstemons

Penstemon 'Red Headed Beauty', named for the fabulous Darlene. They are a little flopped over from being in too much shade, but still Fabulous. ;D

New Mexican Verbena

Frankincense, Boswellia sacra. Gets to be a small tree eventually.

Alicoche, Echinocereus pentalophus another hedgehog cactus. This form of it is a spreading groundcover.

The fabulous Darlene approves.

Onthesauk · April 11, 2016, 08:08:18 PM

And I'll bet you got pretty good rain over the weekend!

Den Socling · April 11, 2016, 09:23:08 PM

We are in Phoenix for a few days. There are a lot of flowers. Went out to White Tanks today. https://www.google.com/search?q=white+tanks&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjMh_X Yesterday it poured rain. And I mean down poured. Today is 72 and beautiful.