Gardening, anyone?

Sharing a photo of my neighbors ocotillo, which I always thought was a variety of cactus, but not so, just a desert dwelling plant. The first time I ever saw one of these was in Carlsbad, NM, home of the infamous caverns, during spring visit when it was in full bloom.

These plants are more "low desert" in nature, so I am impressed the neighbhor has been able to get this to successfully thrive here in the "high desert" where we have more seasons and a real winter. For perspective, this plant is almost 15 feet tall and the red flowers are it's bloom. I noticed the plant in all it's glory on my drive into the development and could not resist taking some pics!

I am going up to Santa Fe tomorrow and Monday for a little get away and going to their botanical gardens and will share any interesting pics from my adventures there!

I've seen fences made from ocotillo in west Tx. They tend to root and bloom after it rains.

look at these beauties who came to say hello today! I have no clue what they are and I don't see them in my PNW bird book. I zoomed in as much as I could. Can anyone identify?

Monis- Thanks! I've come to the conclusion also that it's the Western Tanager. At first my bird book didn't convince me, but I looked online at some ID sites and saw they differ quite a bit when juvenile. They are so tropical and exotic looking. Was a very nice gift from nature today

Jazzy- what wonderful photos! You have a good eye. I especially like the one that looks like a sedum, or hens and chicks. Glad you had a nice day out

Very nice! Enjoyed these! Love the fall color too!

Besides a large variety of birds that grace our bird feeders, look who I spotted today eating bird seed that had fallen to the ground:

I get to plant my garden today!

Luv the pics!

Monis! What a lovely, tidy garden!

And wo, those poor peonies. Among my very favorites

I saw this today on FB. How about this for a garden retreat?

First yellow prickly pear bloom today. Not very open as it is an overcast day, but lovely just the same. Will share more as we go along! I have two other cacti yet to bloom!

Yellow prickly pear is really blooming now. It must have about 100 buds on it. Today were the most open yet, and think it will be a lovely bloom cycle. My pink prickly pear is about finished blooming.

The cacti go on and on for awhile. I still have an elephant ear (tangerine colored flowers) and cholla (fushia colored) yet to do their thing.

I am enjoying all the pictures.  I planted my containers with my multicolored annuals.  They look really pretty but I went with one flat for $10 instead of spending $70 or more on the bigger plants.  I'll post some pictures when they get a little bigger.  I also had an idea to try sunflowers in containers.  Maybe I can outsmart the critters that way.  Keeping my fingers crossed!

Such interesting photos and chitchat.

Jazzy, maybe try to grow an ocotillo plant?

So far no raccoons or skunks grazing on bird food. Feared as rabies carriers in the North Country.

My peonies are just starting to have buds.

The rain is now knocking off the blossoms from the following fragrant lilacs.

*hybrid purple lilac*

I wish the lilacs could continue to bloom throughout the Summer!