Thursday, May 13, 2010

I'm Back!




I seldom show photos of my front yard, but the Palo Verde trees are in full bloom right now and I just couldn't resist showing them off. I have two more in the back, which I've shown a number of times in previous posts. They leave a mess with all the spent blooms, but that's about the only downside to these trees, other than constant worry about breakage or uprooting during windstorms and the need for regular thinning. Come to think about it, that's a lot of downside!

After my six week absence from blogging, I am trying to get back into the swing of things by posting again. In early April, my husband had cardiac surgery, and after 16 days, he came home after spending that time in the hospital and then a rehabilitation facility. After he came home, he needed constant care, including trips to doctors, physical therapy, lab tests and other things associated with such surgery. He was cleared today by his surgeon, and will now be under the care of his regular cardiologist. In three weeks he'll be able to drive again and I can then get back into my regular routine.







My favorite Echinopsis hybrid, 'Flying Saucer', bloomed last week. Last year, it only produced one flower, so this is an improvement. I hope the flowers double each year!






Another favorite is Echinopsis 'Shere Kahn'. I'm partial to salmon, coral and orange hued cactus flowers, and 'Shere Kahn' along with 'Flying Saucer', fit the bill.




Most of my prickly pear cacti have bloomed and the fruits are ripening. Shown here are two types of  Opuntia; in the foreground is Opuntia Santa Rita, and in the back, Opuntia paraguayensis. I have three other types in addition to these.

8 comments:

Julie said...

I just saw Pudgeduck's Palo Verde tree also! They are so beautiful this time of year!!! Glad nothing has befallen this lovely huge tree in your front yard!

Glad your hubby is doing OK since his surgery! Good to see you back again...I sure missed ya!

I agree with you on the coral or orangy cactus blooms! They are real stunners!!! Love the Shere Kahn!!!

Louise @ Buddy Garden said...

Nice to see you back! I missed your posts and wondering where you've been. Hope your husband is doing better now.

mr_subjunctive said...

Wow. 'Flying Saucer' is pretty incredible.

Glad to hear that things are (relatively) okay, and that blogging is a possibility in the near future.

Pudgeduck said...

Love the blooming cactus!! Nary a bloom here!!! When will my Palo Verde get as large as yours??? I can't wait- they are so beautiful!!! Good news-after such a scare...driving in three weeks-priceless!!

Window On The Prairie said...

The Echinopsis are perfect. They don't even look real they are so perfect. Amazing!

Rock rose said...

I am so glad to see your blooming cactus again. I really was concerned because of the no posts over the last few weeks, knowing that this was peak time for blooming. It is good news that your husband came through the surgery and is on the mend.

Jocelyn H. Chilvers said...

Glad you're back and that your husband is well on the road to recovery!
I'm a big fan of any flowers with coraly-apricot hues - maybe because I just don't see them that often - they mix so well with other colors in the garden...

verobirdie said...

WOW! that tree is amazing! I love it, love it, love it.
I hope that by now your husband and you are fine.