It’s been very cold lately in the High Desert and we are spending time enjoying the company of one another.
A couple of weeks ago, we woke up to a freezing morning fog.
Morning Fog (view from the backyard).
A few days later I noticed the formation of thick clouds over the mountains, which rapidly turned into snow. It’s a breathtaking sight from my backyard.
Thick Clouds/Snowy Mountains.
I have enjoyed watching Hummingbirds feed from my kitchen window.
Hummingbird Feeding.
Finally, Snow began falling tonight. It’s been a year or two since the last Snowfall. This one comes as our end of year present from Mother Nature.
What an absolutely lovely Full Moon tonight. It was delightful watching it rise above the mountains.
Full Moon Rising.Full Moon Rising.Full Moon Rising.Full Moon Rising.
“The faults of a superior person are like the sun and moon. They have their faults, and everyone sees them; they change and everyone looks up to them.” — Confucius
What a lovely Sunday afternoon at Home with my Family. The days are getting hotter and the weather has been hectic lately. Walking around my backyard, I saw a few interesting things which brought a smile to my face.
As I sat on the swing, watching the wind blow and looking at some of my tallest plants wave back and forth in the breeze; one of the Allium Drumsticks stem got caught in between the legs of my King Frog garden stake and if I didn’t know any better, I would say Mr. Froggy was enjoying the moment. What an interesting sight.
Frog and Allium Drumstick globe-shaped flowerhead.
While watering the mini Rosebushes, a Desert Spiny Lizard emerged from underneath the plants, staring at me.
Desert Spiny Lizard.
I spotted a set of Harlequin Bugs on my Dwarf Cup Flower ‘Purple Robe’ plants. These bugs, members of the stinkbug family, are very active during the Summer and destructive to cabbage, broccoli, radishes as well as some ornamental flowers. These bugs cause damages to plants by sucking the sap which in turn cause the plants to die. They have a high reproductive rate. For more information on this insect pest, click here.
The weather has been really warm lately in the High Desert. We are still in Spring, yet it often feels like Summer. I wake every day feeling grateful for the weather because I know in some States and Countries it is raining and/or still snowing. Yesterday I captured the moon as it was still up in the sky prior to driving my son to school.
Moon in Daylight.
A few of my miniature Hybrid Roses are blooming.
Sedona Hybrid Tea Mini Hybrid Rose.
A few of my Sunblest Hybrid Tea Rose flowers are starting to produce rose buds within the rose flower. I read somewhere that this phenomenon is called proliferation and is usually caused by pollinating insects and or temperature change. According to the website HuntingtonBotanical.org, proliferation is not a disease but caused when the apical cells are multiplying so fast that they do not stop dividing when a flower is produced, but they keep on dividing and produce a cluster of new buds in the center of the earlier flower.
Rose Buds Within a Rose.
We’ve caught a glimpse of Squirrels attempting to access the Sweet Almond Tree in the front yard in search for food as well as Cottontail Rabbits in the empty lot behind our Home.
After nearly three days of rain, the High Desert is starting to see some sunshine and blue skies.
Mountains covered in Snow.Mountains covered in Snow.
I awoke this morning to a beautiful view of the Mountains, which were covered in snow. The soil on the other hand, is still damped from the excess humidity and moisture in the air. As I walk around the property, I am pleased that there are no damages to the plants and the structures. All the plants look a lot happier and healthier.
Flowering Photinia Fraseri.
A few of my Photinia Fraseri shrubs are already showcasing their small white flowers and red color of new growth. Fraser’s Photinia is a beautiful drought tolerant shrub that is great for hedges and privacy.
Coleonema Pulchrum (Pink Breath of Heaven).Coleonema Pulchrum (Golden Breath of Heaven).
My Coleonema Pulchrum“Pink Breath of Heaven” and “Golden Breath of Heaven” are covered with beautiful tiny delicate pale pink flowers and fragrant leaves. What I love most about this shrub is that it’s drought tolerance, wind tolerant, non-invasive, evergreen and has an aromatic fragrance when crushed. It blooms from late Winter through late Spring.
Berkman’s Golden Arborvitae (Thuja orientalis ‘Berkmans Golden’).
This time of year, the Berkman’s Golden Arborvitae in my backyard are looking lovely with their delicate and attractive golden foliage. I have a few of these disease free, hardy and drought tolerant evergreen shrubs with the tallest being on each side of the entryway to my enclosed Patio. The shrubs are starting to produce cones.
Wishing you a wonderful time in your Garden today!
By JM Perez
