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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

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

Red Bird Flowers Soon

Buds

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.

First Red Bird Flower

June 2, 2015 by Arizona Flowers Home & Garden Photography

Tomatoes Coming Soon

Tomatoes Coming Soon

My tomato vine in the courtyard garden has had several tomato blossoms, one of which produced this one-inch green tomato. I am hoping that there were be several of these growing on the vine soon.

I have had varying success with growing vegetables in the courtyard; some of the plants simply fail in the desert conditions, while others are eaten by varmints like squirrels and rabbits. With the new courtyard gate at the rear of the wall separating the yard from the rest of the property, I am hoping that the pest problem will be minimized.

We shall see. Click on the image to enlarge.

May 31, 2015 by Arizona Food and Dining Home & Garden Retirement

Avalon 1998

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