Cactus or Desert Shrub?

Ocotillo fascinates me!

When it is leafed out, of course!  Otherwise it looks like a pile of dead sticks!  But even then the shape catches your eye.

I think it is the form that is so striking and so unlike other shrubs or plants.  When it blossoms it is even more stunning!  If I had property here in AZ I'd definitely be using it in landscaping!

Thanks to the abundant (for AZ) winter rains this year, it is looking mighty fine right now!
 
 http://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/cacti-succulents/ocotillo/ocotillo-plant.htm

 Fouquieria splendens Ocotillo

2015 Perennial of the Year!

While reading the Rochester Post Bulletin this weekend I discovered the article by Robin Fruth-Dugstad regarding the 2015 Perennial of the Year.

It is an easy reading in depth article about what a Perennial of the Year is as well as this year's selection, which is geranium x cantabrigiense "Biokov"!

Biokov is a dwarf cranesbill for zones 4-9, long blooming, low growing for full sun to part shade!  A fit for most any garden? 

http://www.perennials.com/plants/geranium-cantabrigiense-biokovo.html

Lichen, an amazing plant life...

While touring the Superstition Mountains in Az with friends this last week we found a few desert flowers in bloom.

Just enough to tease us about what is ahead in March to enjoy.  Lots of abundant lush green plants provided lots of color to desert scenery. 

The lichen was very colorful on the boulders and rocky slopes.  The above average winter rainfall is responsible for this display of green color that we usually didn't notice other years.

So, I checked out the internet and found more information on this amazing plant life, which is unique to this area.

http://www.redorbit.com/images/pic/28839/lichen-covered-boulders-in-the-superstition-mountains-close-to-the-phoenix-metropolitan-area/l

AZ Lemons 2015

These lemons were picked yesterday from a neighbor's tree!  Thanks to our winter rains this year they are double the size of one in a store right now! 

Lots of lemonade, lemon pies, etc.!  I have a few dozen to squeeze juice from and freeze for future delights!

Next month we'll be enjoying the fragrance of citrus blossoms!

Potential miniature garden plants?

While checking my email this morning, with my 2nd morning cup of  coffee, I noticed a email from Monrovia about new plants available this year.   I just had to check them out, of  course! 

Yep, I spotted two ideal plants for miniature/fairy gardens that stay small (short).  They are succulents, which indicates easy care.  More southern zones than 4 but worth a try as I over winter those little gardens protected by a garage.  So may be worth a try if I find them in a plant nursery near here.   I so enjoy dwarf type perennials that come back next year!

Little Pickles, an ice plant!
http://www.monrovia.com/plant-catalog/plants/3282/little-pickles-ice-plant/

Mossy Stonecrop

http://www.monrovia.com/plant-catalog/plants/2786/mossy-stonecrop/

Bougainvillea, a desert plant!

In Az Bougainvillea grows and lives happily all year!

In MN it is a tender plant, mostly grown in planters or hanging baskets outdoors needing temperatures above freezing and full son!

In AZ it grows in the ground like a bush or sprawls like ground cover or climbs on supports such as a trellis.
 
Interesting,  last year I saw near freezing temps hit a Bougainvillea, while I was here, which resulted in needing to trim it back to bare stems almost to the ground.  It was also of interest to watch it rebound later in full glory  and the next year was back it's former size, etc.

It is recommended as a easy plant for desert climates that blooms almost 11 months of the year.  Drought tolerant, loves full sun, and provides beautiful color to landscapes and gardens.

http://www.bgi-usa.com/kb/bougainvillea-101/



Bougainvillea  Nyctaginaceae



Played in the dirt!

What fun playing in the dirt creating their first Fairy Gardens!

Bev and Jan (snowbirds from Washington & Iowa) will be taking home their creations with pride!  It is such fun to share this gardening joy!

Bev
 

Jan
 

Searching for fairies in AZ

And so what does ladies having lunch have to do with gardening?

Well, it's hard work searching for accessories for Fairy Gardens and nourishment is needed to keep our energy level up to the task!  Five of us adventured together to Queen Creek AZ to visit The Cottage floral shop because Karen and Harriet had sighted (and purchased) accessories there a few weeks before this!  Yep, we found accessories and are now dreaming of the fairy gardens we will be creating!




At Kneader's in Queen Creek enjoying a fabulous lunch!
 



The Cottage at Queen Creek

 

Another Fairy Garden Tree!

Another version of creating a small tree for a Fairy or Miniature Garden!  This time using a Jerusalem Cherry, which is an annual outdoors or a house plant in Minnesota. 
 
The fruit (develops and is light green turning orange) is really eye catching!

Thanks again to Sandy at Hillside Nursery in Chatfield for this neat trick!  Again you usually can purchase the plant as well as the plant trimmed to tree form there!

 

Mexican Heather plant becomes a flowering tree!

Thanks to Sandy at Hillside Garden Center in Chatfield for teaching me how to make this  adorable tree for a fairy garden!  It is absolutely adorable with its bright pink tiny flowers!  I  find the Mexican Heather plants available in AZ while I am here so take advantage of the 3 months of growing season here and bring them home!

If you don't want to make one yourself they are usually available to buy at Hillside Garden Center!  They also usually have the plants ready for you to make into a tree!

Palm Trees plus sun, blue skies with warm temperatures

is where you will find palm trees towering high
reaching for the white puffy clouds as they float by!
 
Be it Florida, California, Texas, AZ and other points south it seems they are there.  As you drive around in Mesa it is interesting to see how they are used.  Today they are used more sparingly than in the past.  If you spot a dense population of tall ones you can be sure it is an older mobile home park.

Otherwise you will find smaller groups of palm trees as accents usually near entrances of newer recreational resorts or shopping centers, etc.!  We saw one that is actually a cell tower but disguised as a palm tree!

Regardless, they seem to be a traditional symbol of the south in the USA!

Below is the skyline of our mobile home park which was established in 1977!