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.

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.

Maybe tomorrow the first of my courtyard red bird of paradise flowers will open. The flower buds are growing larger and the lower ones that typically open first are showing the colors of red and yellow already.

We get these all summer long, so expect to see a lot of photos with red birds. After all, they are my favorite desert flowers. So pretty. Click on the image to enlarge.

UPDATE: Just as we thought, the first of the flower pods opened this morning.

Only three this time (I think the record is 20), but they’re as pretty as ever. Click on the image to enlarge.

This cactus started in a two-inch plastic pot and we purchased it in Chandler, AZ, way before we decided to move to Arizona, about eighteen years ago. This is for sure the oldest member of our cactus collection now that we’re living here.

Some of our old cactus collection were lost when we sold the California place, but we’re planning on replacing those with new cacti as we continue to refine our Arizona courtyard and rock garden. One day at a time, we’re getting things done.

I am so excited that we’re going to have my favorite Red Bird of Paradise flowers in the courtyard very soon. There are already some more mature Pride of Barbados shrubs here in town and down in the Valley whose flowers are already open, but ours here in the courtyard are showing the promise of those elegant flowers appearing soon.

I took this image of a flower stalk with numerous pods emerging from the fastest growing shrub in the courtyard late this afternoon. Take note of the little green bug to the left of the fourth pod from the bottom. Click on the image to enlarge.