We arrived home today to see the Asian lilies on our front porch were still blooming. I adore these beautiful flowers, especially the beautiful colors. Click on the image to enlarge.
Another Picnic Today
Yipee! We got to have another picnic today. Lots of new news since this one was in a place called Quartzsite. My hoomins had salad with left over steak for lunch. I got to snack on the left over steak too. Click us to make us big.
Picnic in the Park
The Mama and Daddy took me to a park today for a picnic and barbecue. I like the park because it has lots of news – you know – scent left by other dogs that I like to sniff and ‘read the news.’ After I do that, the Hoomins make food on the fire and I get some of the meat after they eat. This is a picture of me just before I took a nap. Click to make me big.
Bird in a Yucca
We’re still not sure of this bird’s species, but we’re closing in on it with our guide to Arizona birds booklet. He has a yellow face and breast and is mottled browns on the back and wings. He is perched on a yucca bloom and was noted to pick on the blooms for either insects or the flower’s blossoms. Click on the image to see (slightly) enlarged.
Desert Verdin and Her Nest
We were at our new home site in Arizona today doing some business. We went to the lot we recently purchased just to have a look around and make some decisions about how we want to direct our contractor to proceed with the new home construction. Just before we departed, I noticed a birds nest in the palo verde tree on the roadway in front of the lot. As I prepared to photograph the nest, a tiny verdin emerged and lit on a branch in the tree. At first, I thought it was a hummingbird being so small. After it perched in the tree, I took this photo. Click on the image to get a closer look. Click here to see its nest.
Red Bird of Paradise
We’re on the road again and staying near Blythe, CA on the Arizona side. I was delighted to see one of my favorite “Red Bird of Paradise” a.k.a. “Pride of Barbados” shrubs growing along the frontage road. The shrub doesn’t do well in cooler climates like the California coast, so I always look for them when we’re in warmer areas. I went out a while ago and got this close-up shot. Click on the image to enlarge.
More about these from Desert Tropicals:
The Red Bird of Paradise is a relatively frost sensitive Caesalpinia, and it is generally better to trim it close to ground in winter. This keeps it more compact without seeming to delay it in spring. The canes tend to freeze in all but the warmest areas, and even if they don’t, the new growth in April is somewhat ungainly. For this reason many gardeners cut the bush to the ground at the end of November, and it will grow back green and compact in mid spring.
