Verna and Bob's Weblog

Arizona

Lemon Blossom Pollinator

Lemon Blossom Pollinator

Even though the lemon tree in our “orchard” has dozens of lemons on it already this season, there is a whole second wave of lemon blossoms opening in the late spring months. Last fall, we had way too many lemons and I guess that this fall we will again have a bumper crop.

I was out by the RV drive next to the lemon tree and got this photo of a honey bee collecting nectar from the blossoms on the tree. Click on the image to enlarge.

This year, rather than destroying the lemons we are going to use for Limoncello, we will squeeze the lemons and save the juice in ice trays in the freezer to be used later in recipes and for lemonade. We also will donate lots of lemons to the local senior center for lemon pies and lemonade.

June 10, 2015 by Arizona Critters Flowers Home & Garden Photography

Take Me to the Mama

The Daddy Carrying Me

The Mama went outside and I couldn’t see her. I went to the Daddy and gave him my worried look because I didn’t know where the Mama went.

The Daddy won’t let me outside without a leash ’cause I run and explore. So, he picked me up and we went looking for the Mama.

We finally found her in back of the house. She took this picture of the Daddy and me when she saw us. Click on us to make us big.

June 9, 2015 by Arizona Critters Family

Bumps on Cabela’s Nose

Bumps on Cabela’s Nose

Sometime last few days, something bit me or stung me on my snout. My hoomins didn’t notice when it happened, cause I am always sticking my nose in holes wherever I find them.

The Mama took this picture of me to show the bumps on my snout just behind my nose. They don’t seem to be causing me any pain or discomfort. Click on me to make me big.

June 8, 2015 by Arizona Critters Family Weirdness

More Red Bird Flowers Opening

Red Bird Flowers

The first raceme (see below) on one of our red bird of paradise is rapidly having flowers open. This is the first several flowers opening in the courtyard this season. We will have more, of course, as summer progresses and the shrubs open up to their full potential.

More information on these beautiful flowers from Wikipedia:

Caesalpinia pulcherrima is a species of flowering plant in the pea family, Fabaceae, that is native to the tropics and subtropics of the Americas. It could be native to the West Indies, but its exact origin is unknown due to widespread cultivation. Common names for this species include Poinciana, Peacock Flower, Red Bird of Paradise, Mexican Bird of Paradise, Dwarf Poinciana, Pride of Barbados, and flamboyant-de-jardin.

It is a shrub growing to 3 m tall. The leaves are bipinnate, 20–40 cm long,bearing 3-10 pairs of pinnae, each with 6-10 pairs of leaflets 15–25 mm long and 10–15 mm broad. The flowers are borne in racemes up to 20 cm long, each flower with five yellow, orange or red petals. The fruit is a pod 6–12 cm long.

June 6, 2015 by Arizona Flowers Home & Garden Photography

Huge Desert Tomatoes

Huge Desert Tomatoes

I say “huge” tongue-in-cheek because these little green tomatoes are barely an inch in diameter. However, with any luck, the little vine out in the courtyard will produce more of these as these first ones become ripe on the vine.

There were no store-bought seeds used here. These are all growing from seeds that I harvested from tomatoes in the kitchen. The exact name for this variety of tomatoes is not known, but I bet they will be good in salads or in sandwiches.

I have other garden vegetables starting up on the back patio. I am hoping for a good crop of all kinds of home-grown stuff this summer and fall. Click on the image to enlarge.

June 5, 2015 by Arizona Food and Dining Home & Garden

More Saguaro Flowers

Saguaro Flowers

Many of the saguaros in the area are flowering. This one, a couple hundred yards up the road, had its crown low enough that I could get my camera up close and get a couple of shots of the flowers.

Camera information: Canon EOS REBEL T3, 1/800 sec, F6.3, ISO 100, Focal length 55mm. Click on the image to enlarge.

June 4, 2015 by Arizona Flowers Home & Garden Photography

Avalon 1998

Categories

Archives