Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Blooms, Butterflies and Bottles

Echinopsis candicans

I was able to catch the opening blooms of this Argentine Giant for a change. If the temperature is below about 80 degrees, the buds will open during the day instead of at night. The flowers do wilt within a few hours, though. If the flowers open at night, they will last about 12 hours this time of year.


Arizona Bottle Tree (Not a Plant!)

I've been admiring Pam's (Digging) Texas bottle tree for months and since my birthday was coming up, I told my husband I wanted a bottle tree for my gift, but one with an Arizona flair that would fit in with my desert landscape. He designed this rebar and steel tree for me, and I love it! I got the dozen blue wine bottles from Ebay. It stands about nine feet tall, and really glows in early morning and late afternoon.


Rosa 'Peace'

When I've shown this rose variety before, many folks have commented that it looks different that the 'Peace' rose they have. Most comment theirs has more pink. There are several different varieties of 'Peace', and the one with more pink is probably 'Chicago Peace'.



One view of my late spring, April desert garden, looking east. The Palo Verde trees are blooming lightly, and the Mesquites are just now putting out their new leaves, so they are kind of bare. They are not really deciduous, but do shed old leaves each spring.

Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui)

A Painted Lady butterfly rests on my just-sprouting radishes. (I really put these in too late, so I'm not sure I'll get radishes.) This butterfly is found worldwide, and it is an irruptive migrant, that is, it migrates without regard to geography or season. It lives about two weeks. My garden is full of them this week, but I see them all year.



Thelocactus bicolor


I need to get this cactus in the ground! Each time I get the time, it puts out another round of gorgeous flowers, so I put it off. Not that I wish it wouldn't bloom, I would just like to transplant it while the weather is tolerable. I think the flowers on this genus are especially beautiful.
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22 comments:

  1. Phoenix C.April 7, 2009 at 2:18 AM

    The echinopsis flowers are beautiful. I love the reddish tinges and the structure contrasting with the fragile looking flowers.

    Great bottle tree - at first I thought what a translucent glow the blue flowers had!!

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  2. UnknownApril 7, 2009 at 3:20 AM

    You have some nice blooms this week, love the bottle tree!

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  3. CanadianGardenJoyApril 7, 2009 at 4:38 AM

    Aiyana ! Wow ! I bet that "bottle tree" can be seen by planes passing with such a vibrant blue sparkling ? : )
    The Peace rose is gorgeous .. I love the look of a tea rose .. and your amazing garden .. the dry river bed .. the cactus in bloom .. it is beautiful .. if ever I had to choose another style it would certainly be yours girl ! : )

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  4. ClaudeApril 7, 2009 at 4:57 AM

    I've always wanted a bottle tree too... but I've never gotten up the gumption to get one. The Argentine Giant is Beautiful.

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  5. LouiseApril 7, 2009 at 5:29 AM

    The Echinopsis candicans reminds me of my night blooming Cereus which is sitting in the basement right now waiting for the 'real' spring to come. I love your desert garden by the way!

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  6. TeresaApril 7, 2009 at 5:39 AM

    Your garden is beautiful. That echinops is just amazing. Lovely photos.

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  7. SuzanneApril 7, 2009 at 5:44 AM

    There are so many lovely things to comment on today. First, the Argentine Giant is amazing. I've never seen one and your photos of it is breathtaking. I love your bottle tree. So colorful and whimsical! The rose is beautiful and the photo of your garden is really wonderful. What a tranquil setting you have -- really pretty. Thanks for sharing it all!

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  8. PaulaApril 7, 2009 at 6:04 AM

    It is so fun watching your desert garden develop through the season.
    I LOVE YOUR BOTTLE TREE! The blue is beautiful. Happy B-day too by the say. Thanks for showing your east view - I so enjoy seeing the whole view you have.
    Thanks for sharing all of this! Paula from Idaho

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  9. PaulaApril 7, 2009 at 6:18 AM

    Aiyana,
    I just read your comment on my blog about the holyhock seeds. I don't know if there are laws across state lines or not, but in the fall I couls send you seeds from these bright pink ones if it is ok to do. Let me know and I will get your address later in the summer and send soem along. Funstuff4paula@yahoo.com

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  10. Yolanda Elizabet HeuzenApril 7, 2009 at 10:10 AM

    How nice Aiyana to see more of your garden as I've wondered for quite some time now what it may look like and now I know. You and I garden in very different ways, you with hardly any water at all and me with an abunce of the wet stuff. And although your April desert garden is very different from mine it is gorgeous!!! Thanks for sharing.

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  11. JeanApril 7, 2009 at 11:50 AM

    Your bottle tree is striking in your garden! Looks as if you have a large property to take care of. I really appreciate seeing the whole area. All of your blooms are so unique I enjoy every one! Jean

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  12. Pam/DiggingApril 7, 2009 at 2:39 PM

    Marvelous blues, Aiyana. Happy birthday to you! A bottle tree is a great way to celebrate. Thanks for the shout-out too.

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  13. PudgeduckApril 7, 2009 at 2:59 PM

    Going to ask Hubby for a bottle tree for my b-day!!!!I love it. He has only a few days....

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  14. Elizabeth-Plain and SimpleApril 7, 2009 at 4:38 PM

    Loved the blooms, butterfly and especially the bottle tree. Thank you for sharing them.

    Blessings,
    Elizabeth

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  15. ClaudeApril 7, 2009 at 6:34 PM

    I was thinking about that darned bottle tree all day while working... I almost talked myself into it, then I realized that I would probably just use it as an excuse to get rip-roaring drunk...

    "But officer (hic) I had to drink all that (hic) wine, I'm (hic) making a tree!"

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  16. AiyanaApril 7, 2009 at 7:22 PM

    Claude,
    Take the easy way out and get 'em from Ebay. In your business, I bet you will run across a box of empties through serendipity--now that you're thinking about blue bottles!
    Paula,
    I'm going to take you up on that! I'll send my address in September. Just love that color hollyhock. If you know what it is, let me know.

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  17. JulieApril 7, 2009 at 8:49 PM

    Your garden is just unbelieveable! A place where anyone would be just so happy! What a thing to wake up to every day! I am glad to hear you can order all your colored bottles on Ebay...I would hate to have you have to drink that many bottles of Skyy vodka to make a tree!!! LOL!

    You are inspiring me to keep moving on getting my yard filled with succulent plants!!!

    I want to try and find a fairly good sized spineless Opuntia...I know I will have to pay big bucks...but it will be worth it!!

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  18. WiseAcreApril 8, 2009 at 4:52 AM

    Happy belated Birthday - enjoy your new tree.

    I stopped by to see what's blooming and soak up some heat. Snow and freezing temps are keeping me inside today.

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  19. kesslerdeeApril 9, 2009 at 5:28 AM

    Love the bottle tree- the blue bottles are so striking! Your garden views are so gorgeous-- love those big flowers too!

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  20. kate smudgesApril 9, 2009 at 9:27 PM

    It looks as if you received a wonderful birthday present. I love the blue bottle tree. You have a talented husband!

    Glimpses into your garden are good for my soul. I love the incredible array of texture and the rock path. The mesquite trees look so beautiful. The Rosa 'Peace' is a lovely colour. I was glad to see it, knowing that you've kept the roses thriving.

    Some of my indoor cactus are blooming and they make me think of you. I don't know their names though. It's okay because I just think of them as Aiyana cacti.

    Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

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  21. melissaApril 11, 2009 at 1:25 AM

    fantastic photos ..cant believe that we have the same butterflies .....
    beautiful ...
    sweetpea

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  22. LythrumApril 11, 2009 at 4:39 PM

    I'm a bit late but I had to compliment your bottle tree. I love the blue bottles. :)

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