Friday flowers…vivid

FOTD 1.26.23

Plus it had a delicious scent

Six Word Saturday 10.1.22

FOTD 10.1.22

Tiny but lovely

Not all flowers are large and showy or even found in the usual places. These little ones are a perfect example. Happy Friday!

FOTD 9.30.22

Friday flowers…spotlighted by the sun

FOTD 7.1.22

Friday flowers…morning glory

While in California the last two weeks, I realized that while I’m there I’m taking photos almost exclusively of grandson, flowers, and doors. 🙂 I did get some of the ocean but somewhat tangentially. As I’ve mentioned before, the doors in Arizona are often purely practical doors designed to keep the sun’s very direct, hot, and harmful rays away from the inside door. It makes sense but doesn’t make for very interesting door photos. My family has gotten used to me stopping all the time for door and flower shots and are remarkably good about it, even holding my to-go cup when needed. 🙂

However, it’s Friday and that means doors were yesterday and flowers are today. How about some morning glories to start (or perhaps a much-needed jolt of happiness in) your day?

FOTD 6.17.22

Just a little hung over today

Six-Word Saturday and FOTD 5.7.22

Friday flowers…the color purple

Somehow it’s once again Thursday night and I’m flying fast to find a flower photo for Friday…and throwing in a bit of alliteration for you. I hope your Friday is full of fun. Did it again. 🙂

FOTD 5.5.22

A sidelong look

Here’s another look at a trumpet cactus flower, this time from the side. Happy midweek! I’m excited because yesterday I bought two tickets for the Los Angeles 7’s rugby tournament at the end of August. It’s going to be an amazing experience.

Also for Cee’s FOTD aka Flower of the Day 🙂

The Sonoran desert at Tohono Chul

Once we joined the Desert Botanical Garden, I figured we should take advantage of the reciprocal membership option, good at botanical gardens throughout the US. Tuscon’s Tohono Chul was on the list and as some of you know, we fell in love with its slice of Sonoran desert plant life.

The variegated plant in the front left is a century plant but don’t get too excited. As the Gardening Solutions website points out:

The plant’s common name is a bit misleading; while many people think it means these plants live for—or bloom after—100 years, it actually matures much faster. Century plants generally take between 8 and 30 years to flower.

Once the plant has reached maturity, a central stem grows up to 20 feet tall. Pale yellow or white blossoms appear atop this branched flower spire during summertime. Most century plants will die after they flower, although the spineless century plant (Agave attenuata) flowers multiple times a year.

Our rental house had one of these which blossomed last year. Eventually the tall, thick stem began to list and had to be cut down and put out for bulk pickup along with the rest of the dying plant. We were underwhelmed. Still looking for something to replace it.

I love Tohono Chul’s large amount of signage for their vast number of desert plants. “Red Spike Ice Plant” is a great name even though ice is unlikely to occur anywhere in its vicinity.

Fire sticks is a perfect name for this plant.

Although the century plant is a type of agave, this agave is probably more easily recognizable as such. There are over 200 types of agave. I must say that this one is pretty impressive. These leaves serve as catchalls for all sort of desert detritus or, every so often, rain. The edges have little sharp protrusions, making them look a bit like saws.

For me there’s nothing quite as attractive as a well-built stone wall but having a planter spot for a cactus elevates this one.

Thus endeth our walk for today. But don’t despair. There will be more.

FOTD 3.8.22

Thursday Doors…blocked doors

First the good news: yesterday we settled my mom in a care home, something that badly needed to be done. We just couldn’t do everything to care for her at home and my dad can’t do it either. It’s a huge weight off my shoulders but also the main reason I haven’t been around much this last week. Hopefully life will get a little more normal now and I can get back to visiting all of you regularly again.

Anyway…while we were having a non-alcoholic drink in the courtyard at Tohono Chul, I looked around for photo ops, finding some attractive doors. Alas, all three of these had something blocking the perfect shot and it wasn’t a car. This first one looks like one of those doors that can open at top and bottom.

I was so tempted to try to move the holders for the free papers to get all the very cool Southwest door panels. I wonder whether the three without design are unfinished or in process.

That sign and the wet floor stands are out of order as far as I’m concerned. Good thing I didn’t need to use the restroom! But I did use the door.

Thursday Doors 1.17.22

Cee’s Thursday Doors