SUNFLOWERS

FOOD

NEW VISITORS

BLOOMING

I planted a tomato in a grow bag that sits in my kiddie pool and low and behold this sunflower came up and bloomed.   It is so beautiful.  

Sunny Day

After almost 1-1/2 days of a slow rain,  today is bright and sunny and such a warm day to be out getting areas ready for planting.  

I had company as well.  

It's FaLL

In Arizona and especially in Phoenix, I think fall has arrived as my pomegranate leaves are finally turning the fall colors.  So pretty.  The pomegranates are usually eaten by the birds.

 
The alyssum and marigold in this pot are doing fairly well as we have had some warmer than usual weather for the fall.  

A Great Find

I found this screen at Goodwill the other day.  It has 12 squares of different objects.  I've placed it on my patio cover hoping that it will shade my plants from the west.  It looks like it is made of canvas/nylon.  There was also a lavender one but I left it for someone else.  

What did you find thrifting?

MY WINTER RESIDENT

This is where he sits on his perch everyday on this mulberry tree to ward off others that want to hoard in on his meal.  

Feeding time.

Love his coloring.

This gives me so much pleasure to watch him daily and feed and bathe in my back yard.  
What do you have in your area in the wintertime? 

VISITOR

MALE

FEMALE

Odds & Ends

The heat is on in Arizona.  It's gonna be a long hot summer. So far things are staying green but wilting in the middle of the day.  

Blooming

I planted this Iris in the spring and didn't think it would bloom until next year.  To my surprise, it is blooming.  My grandmother used to have a bunch of purple iris under the water barrel by the kitchen.  They were always beautiful.  

I have to remember NOT to water these too much cuz they don't like their feet wet and for some reason, probably living in the desert, I tend to overwater.  

I'm Linking to: Outdoor-Wednesday

Squash

I have been reading about the RGGS (rain gutter growing system) on facebook.  Being the age that I am, I was a little hesitant.  I had an old canvas bag in my closet, you know the kind that you get when you go to a seminar, and thought that would work.  I also had one of those hospital basins and thought that would work too.  I have never been able to grow squash so I got a zucchini squash plant and planted it in the bag.  I kept the basin mostly full of water most of the time.  I could see that the top of the bag was moist so I knew there was enough water in there.  This plant started growing like gangbusters.  I was so excited.  Today, I went out and there was this most beautiful golden squash blossom.   Now, I like blossoms for breakfast but had to save this one for photos.  

 

I have also planted my Armenian cucumber and some zinnias in separate bags and shall see how they grow.  
What have you planted this Spring?  

Desert in Bloom

I took a drive to Wickenburg on Friday to visit with my aunt and the desert is blooming in some places.   I just love these beaver tail cacti.  

Truck

I was at the roping this a.m. to see a friend I hadn't seen in awhile and I came across this awesome vehicle.  

Isn't it gorgeous?  I love the tufted & rolled top.  I forgot to look at the seats to see if they were the same.  I'd drive this if given the chance. The only bad thing I saw was that it had an Obama sticker on the back window.   

Rain

Last Saturday there was rain in the valley and this is what one of the storms left at my house on that stormy afternoon.  

I know you have all seen hail but this was a freaky storm as it had been drizzling most of the morning and in the afternoon the clouds rolled in and it really poured and along with some hail.  Hail is not good for air conditioner grills or the tile roof.  
Now, if we could just get another nice rain this weekend maybe the desert will begin to get green and bloom with some of the spring flowers.  Though the weeds are on a terror!  

Monday Morning

The sun is shining and the temperatures are going to be 80 degrees and above for a few days.

It's way too early for it to be this warm. 

Hope this is not a sign of how hot the summer is going to be.  

I'm linking to:
fertilizer-friday-flaunt-your-flowers

CARDINAL

I've been waiting for the cardinals to show up.  Usually, there are a pair but I haven't seen the female.   Maybe they'll come together sometime.  

Joani