The Wild Tree: May

Out to the wild Palo Verde tree (Parkinsonia florida) today to see what I would see.  Actually, it was more a question of hearing at first.  A tremendous amount of bird chatter was going on in the vicinity.  Although it took me a while to figure out what was happening, it appears that fledging Cactus Wrens were leaving the nest.  I got a few shots; forgive the quality please!

Here is one nestling flying up into the Palo Verde tree...

The adults as well as the young are spotted, so at first I didn't realize I was actually seeing the babies, but the fluff visible in the next picture seems decide the question.

Cactus wrens are much quieter, more retiring birds than House Wrens or Carolina Wrens (the latter raised many, many nestfuls of babies at our home in the Midwest).  Despite being a bit more secretive, these are very attractive birds, and they do seem to be comfortable living around us as one couple has been nesting off and on in the cavity left by a dangling patio light which we really should get fixed...  Frankly, it's more fun watching the birds!

On to the tree.  It was a source of some excitement itself, being loaded with seedpods after flowering heavily last month.  As you can see, it is a member of the Legume family, and as I understand, the seedpods are edible.  I haven't tested them so far!

It is leafier than it was then as well.

But it is still markedly leafier in the interior of the tree.  The outer branches carry seedpods but few leaves...

 ...while the inside displays leaves but few pods.

The bark is its usual lovely, soft green hue.

The leaves are very small.

And it shelters some wonderful birds.  What more could one ask of a tree?

Linking this May update with Lucy's Tree Watching meme at Loose and Leafy, where a good many other wonderful trees can be discovered...

Parkinsonia florida in May...

Weather Diary: Partly Cloudy, High: 83 F (28.3 C)/Low: 59 F (15 C)

Wordless Wednesday: Early Summer

Above the Sonoran Desert

Aquilegia desertorum

Aquilegia desertorum

Clouds over the Sonoran Desert

Tomato "Lady Bug"

Salvia elegans

Rose "Wollerton Old Hall"

Rose "Sterling Silver"

Over the Desert

Weather Diary: Mostly clear, High: 87 F (30.6 C)/Low: 67 F (19.4 C)

Monday Vase: Bright Month of May

And this is why it is sometimes called "Firecracker Plant"!  Russelia equisetiformis is a mass of scarlet bloom at present, and I thought I would try featuring it more or less on its own today.  It seems a good emblem for the brilliant weather we are having.  Last week temperatures rose to 100 F (37.8 C) for the first time this year, but last night we had a lovely downpour of rain, and temperatures are back down into the 80's (30ish C) with marvelous blue sky and clouds.

And wind.  If you notice this little collection of flowers looking quite dissheveled, it is!  I wanted very much to shoot this out in the sunlight in the patio.  I took one set of pictures while the wind battered the stems from one side of the vase to the other.  Then I gave it up, took everything back indoors, and rearranged the whole.  Back outside for a second try.  With roughly the same results.  Be assured that the vaseful is now happily residing in the kitchen.

I love the colour and exuberance of Russelia.  It must be admitted that its habit could never be described as neat even in the absence of strong winds.  But it wins hearts anyway.

I did add a few stems of Eremophila "Outback Sunrise" for the foliage.  A few of its yellow blossoms are open as well.  In fact, it is putting on a second flush of flowers right now.

The stems all went into my dark brown stoneware jar which, I think, sets off the brilliant hues of the Russelia.

So here is some bright Maytime for the Monday Vase meme, kindly hosted by Cathy even when she is away from the garden!  Many other vases can be seen today at Rambling in the Garden.

It looks like we might still get a little more rain.  It can be hard to tell with Arizona clouds, as they tend to drop moisture fairly sporadically as they move across.  Here is the view across our wall and the neighbors' flowering trees (identity unknown, to me at any rate).

Happy Monday!

Weather Diary: Mostly cloudy, High: 82 F (27.8 C)/Low: 63 F (17.2 C)

The Little Red Rose

To my surprise, I find that this will be my 100th post!  What better way to celebrate than with a rose...?  A red rose, at that.  A very small, red rose...

This is Kordes' "Daniela" (KORpolare).  It is a husky miniature with blooms of perfect hybrid tea form and foliage of a rich, glossy green.

As a rule, I have shied away from miniature roses because of poor success in past years.  But this rose in this garden is making me rethink the omission.  I think its good condition has to do with the intense sunlight.  This little plant is tucked between the concrete edge of the patio and the now-largish Salvia greggii "Autumn Moon", a location that would be prohibitively shady elsewhere.  But it clearly is receiving enough light to keep it healthy and blooming, and I'm sure that the proximity of the larger plant helps keep it cool and a bit more moist.  So I am thinking about trying a few more miniatures as the garden builds up.

The shade of larger plants nearby is often an advantage here.  So the size of the miniature no longer works against it; instead it can flourish alongside (and under) bigger perennials, enjoying their protection from sun, wind, and heat.  That, at least, is my theory at the moment!

This little bush was not, in fact, nearly so healthy at first.  It nearly succumbed to a hefty attack of spider mite; and a second "Daniela", purchased at the same time but not planted out, did die of the pesky pests.  By the way, why do most miniature roses arrive with spider mites ready to devestate them?  I have lost several in pots this way.  I swore off introducing any more mini roses onto the property at all several months ago.  But in the ground and with frequent hosing, the mite problem has disappeared on this plant, leaving it strong and healthy.  So I am rethinking the moratorium; only I will insist on planting the bushes out instead of keeping them in pots!

Despite its early ill-health, its survival is probably due in part to the individual variety.  "Daniela" shrieks vigour and sturdy growth.  It is a tad larger in scale than the daintiest grocery store minis, though quite a low-growing plant.  The blooms are two inches across or thereabouts.  It is lightly fragrant, though I don't get down to check the scent very often!

It has not required an unreasonable amount of water, situated as it is within the halo of moisture given off by the sage (which is turning out to be fairly drought-tolerant).  I feed "Daniela" when I feed the rest of the garden: twice monthly.

All in all, it is turning out to be an excellent plant for the spot.  As I say, I am thinking about slipping more of these into a few more "shady" spots when I can.

The Desert Columbine: Aquilegia desertorum

Delighted!  Another flower and more buds are coming along on the desert columbine.  This is little Aquilegia desertorum, a native of Arizona, but nevertheless a true columbine, with small, spurred flowers in brilliant yellow and scarlet.

Although native to the state, it is not expected to be particularly xeric.  Its home is in the mountains, and it loves to grow where there is natural water seepage.  Nevertheless, it is said to adapt well to lower elevations.  I am watching it carefully, and so far it has been very comfortable growing just below the "Sterling Silver" rose, where it receives perhaps half a day of light shade.  I hope to eventually add a few taller plants nearby to increase the shade, but it will have to endure this summer without, I'm afraid.  The real test has yet to come, but so far it has grown extremely well since planting in March.

It's a lovely thing with hummingbird flowers: red and yellow.

The leaves are very recognizable, though perhaps a little more sparse than regular garden hybrids.

There is another, better-known Southwestern columbine, namely A. chrysantha, which has produced some beautiful hybrids available in commerce.  These are also said to be good options here in the desert, especially as they tolerate the intense sunlight well.

In the meantime, I am thoroughly enjoying this bright little beauty.

Weather Diary: Mostly sunny, High: 96 F (35.6 C)/Low: 65 F (18.3 C)
Yesterday did reach 100 F (37.8 C), so perhaps it should be considered the "first" day of summer...!