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.
This is a flower that opened today on our “Lawyer’s Tongue” cactus near the west edge of the lot. Although this cactus was started from a rescued paddle that we picked up off the ground at a local park in town, it can be considered natural native vegetation to this area since there are many others of this variety of prickly pear cactus growing within walking distance from here.
This cactus originated from a paddle small enough to fit in a red solo cup. I planted it in a pot filled with local soil and within two years it had sprouted enough paddles that I had to put it into the ground. It is now over three feet tall and has numerous more paddles that will continue to produce flowers and fruit and more paddles as this cactus grows. Click on the image to enlarge.
Everybody loves spring, including us. The “big guy” saguaro out front loves spring so much that it is budding up like never before. The large bud near the center of the image above will likely open up in May while the smaller bud to the right may not open until June.
This cactus was transplanted here from our friend’s place in Aguila, about 25 miles west of here along US 60. The same guys that planted the original “big guy” planted the new one in August of 2012 and it has been healthy and happy since.
The cactus has had flowers for the two spring seasons in 2013 and 2014. This year looks to be no exception other than maybe having many more flowers than in the previous two years. Click on the image to enlarge.
The first flowers are opening at last on our new ocotillo. The landscape guys replaced the old one last year when it died. The new one is finally getting flower buds, some of which are opening.
The ocotillos are sometimes completely without leaves or flowers. After the winter rainy season, the canes are covered with leaves and in the spring, the flower buds develop at the tips of the canes. We currently have two canes with flowers on the tips, one is a double where there are flowers on two branches near the tip.
If you click on the image to enlarge, you can see several flowers open with yellow stamens extended from within. The rest of the buds should open shortly.
