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Spring Flowers Around Our House

Spring Flowers Around Our House

I love it here in the desert all year around, but the spring flowers blooming might be my favorite time. This is some of the flower activity now showing in our garden.

At the top, a bright pink beavertail cactus flower opened up today. Below from left to right are golden barrel cactus flower, a lemon blossom in the “orchard” and an ocotillo flower bud just sprouting from the top of one of the canes. Click on the image to enlarge.

Cactus Flower Buds

Cactus Flower Buds

One of the cacti in the courtyard has developed three flower stalk buds. This will be the second spring for us to enjoy the hot pink flowers produced by this cactus. Last year, it had about nine flowers over a period of a couple of weeks.

Of course, I will post flower pictures when they open up probably in April. Click on the image to enlarge.

Daffodils

Daffodils
Spring flowers are popping up everywhere here in Wickenburg. Last week, I purchased several bundles of daffodils and put them in a vase. This morning, they had all opened up. I took this picture of them at the breakfast table. Click on the image to enlarge.

Stargazer Lily

Stargazer Lily

Now that the floral department in our supermarket has started getting Asian lilies again, I can look for my favorite Stargazers to bring home to the flower vase. I took this close-up of one of the fragrant ‘gazers a couple of days ago. Flowers are still opening on the stems in the vase. Click on the image to enlarge.

Saguaro Birdhouse

Saguaro Birdhouse

When we originally had the big saguaro cactus transplanted to our property, there was only one hole in the upper arms. Now, there are four (three visible in this photo). I spotted a woodpecker boring the hole on the right the other day.

Saguaros, common to the Sonoran desert regions of Arizona are a habitat for several types of birds. Cactus Wrens, Dwarf Owls, Woodpeckers, Verdins and a variety of other birds call the saguaro their home for raising their chicks in the springtime. We’re hoping that some of them will make the big cactus their own.

January Outdoor Grilling

January Outdoor GrillingWe managed to escape a few showers that were moving through the area today in order to cook our entrée on the grill behind the patio. There were showers early in the morning and then a reprise until after we finished dinner and put the grill away before some shower activity resumed.

Image: Us posing on the RV Drive in front of the grill as the robot camera took our picture.

Our delicious meal consisted of Grilled Chateaubriand with Carrot/Snow Peas Medley and Mashed Potatoes. The roast was part of a beef tenderloin that we bought a couple of weeks ago. The side dishes were also very good.