Echinopsis candicans 
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.
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.
