GardenGirl

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

The Colors of Tucson

Lovely Herb Garden

Blooming Cactus

Pink Fairy Duster

Desert Spiny Lizard

We took a trip to Tucson early this week and visited several gardens. The Tucson Botanical Garden has a wonderful exhibit in the spring. It is called Butterfly Magic and their greenhouse is alive with tropical plants and Butterflies from Costa Rica. It is a bit steamy inside, but well worth the visit. The orchids and other rainforest plants are in bloom, and there are butterflies everywhere!

Out in the desert garden at Tohono Chul Park, spring is showing off many colors. The pink cactus blooms remind me of the colors of the roses that always grew in my mother's garden when I was young. She grew a rose called the Peace Rose - it was always my favorite, and it had a sweet fragrance. Peace - Something this world could use more of right now...

Back to the colors of Tucson... Even the lizards are showing their best colors. Ahh spring! There is nothing like it!

Sunday, April 7, 2013

Now Blooming

Globe Mallow

Bachelors Buttons

Passion Flower

Mexican Bird of Paradise

Penstemon

Blanket Flower

Not a Hummingbird!

I love my yard in the spring. There are flowers that come back every year to be enjoyed, and then there are surprises. ( I am always throwing down old seeds in the garden on a rainy day to see if they will sprout). I don't remember planting the Bachelors Buttons, so when they started blooming I was thrilled. I love their blue-purple color. The other surprise I found in the garden yesterday, was not a flower, but a Gila Woodpecker on the hummingbird feeder. Looks like he stopped by for Happy Hour. It made me laugh...

Friday, March 8, 2013

Rainy Day at Home

I think I'll let the rain wash these carrots : )

This little verdin is usually hiding, but today he was out enjoying the rain.

Mockingbird in hiding

She needs a pedicure!

I love working in the garden while it's raining. Call me crazy, but it is so relaxing. I really needed to pull the rest of the carrots so I can put in my tomatoes. I planted a few seeds also - sunflowers, lime basil and asters. I noticed in the cordia bush there were several birds - all in the same bush and getting along just fine. They were just happy for a little shelter from the rain. Three different species - a verdin, a mockingbird and a white crowned sparrow sharing a space, peaceful and content.

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Birds in the backyard

It's been cold and rainy here, unusually cold for Arizona. The Hummingbirds love to come out in the rain. Last week these little birds needed to wait until well after sunrise to sip from their feeder because the nectar was frozen!

Anna's Hummingbird

This week the hummingbird feeder was visited by other birds as well.

House Finch at sunset

Verdin

Sunday, January 20, 2013

Rumors of a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

We heard there was a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker at the Boyce Thompson Arboretum this week. (Haven't you always wondered if you would ever come across one?) I have always wanted to see one, and it was a warm sunny day, so we got in the car and headed East. It turned out to be a great day for a hike.

Cardinal looking very cautious

Lesser Goldfinch

The desert looked beautiful

The sun was warm

Finally at the end of the walk we spotted what appeared to be a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. However, after further investigation (allaboutbirds.org) it appears to be a female Red-naped Sapsucker. So close!