Hints ..of Spring

[Silas_Sancona]

A little Easter Weekend color..

















No issues w/ our chillier than normal winter w/ the Madagascar Periwinkle




First Chocolate flower of the year..



Earlier than expected flowers on our native Pipevive, Aristolochia watsonii








2nd of the Senna wislizenii  i planted out front, showing planting later than i'd hoped last fall, followed by a less than ideal winter afterwards didn't hurt it.. Had this one for awhile and was a bit beat up after being in a pot  ..Should be happy now.



A little repotting action this weekend as well.. Some specific cacti into staged pots, and, not pictured, some Plumeria seedlings stepped into 1gals.. About half a dozen left to get out of tubes / 3" pots.

Mammillaria longimamma.. Supposedly the larger-flowered form.



Echinocereus englemanii, one of a few cuttings i took off a couple plants i'd found out in the desert. One looked like it had been run over and was half dead, the other trampled / partially up rooted by cattle, or something else  a couple years ago.



Echinocereus cinerascens. May have gone a little deeper on the pot than i'd planned, but have heard these can fill a container fairly quickly when happy.. We'll see..




Might be a touch early, but decided to do a trial batch of our native perennial Portulaca ( P. suffructescens )  i'd collected seed of last August..  May come up w/ the heat, or wait until July..

As you can see, Seed on these is tiny.. One teaspoon full was more than enough for this pot.. I'll do another batch later, this time w/ minimal gravel topping the finer sand the seed is set on, just to see if there is any difference in germination rates..





Overall idea in doing this is to build a seed bank of another obscure S.W. native which should be grown much more than it is ( ..or isn't, truthfully ) Looks exactly like the Annual Moss Rose many people plant for summer color, but is perennial, so it will return from the roots each year after establishing itself ..Is what is suggested by most references for the species anyway... Part of trialing them is to see how true that is, let alone how it performs under " cultivated " conditions. 

Orange Flame Flower, Phemeranthus / ** Syn. Talinum ** aurantiacus  is another unique, tuberous-rooted, Orange-flowered succulent perennial that flowers primarily during monsoon season i'm on the hunt for this year..

[Tom in Tucson]

What is the name of image 7? Some sort of Salvia?

Hi 92˚, Lo 48˚ the hottest this year

Edited April 10, 2023 by Tom in Tucson

[Silas_Sancona]

30 minutes ago, Tom in Tucson said:

What is the name of image 7? Some sort of Salvia?

Hi 92˚, Lo 48˚ the hottest this year

That is Salvia coccinea, Tropical Red Sage.. next time you venture over to Tohono Chul, they have a bunch growing in different spots within the display gardens as you enter the building where the Greenhouse / Nursery are located.  I obtained seed for it, but think the garden propagates it as well. More shade / moisture, like where i placed most of it at the house, the bigger it can get.

Blue flowered Sage is Mealy Cap.. Picked that up from Tohono Chul.

[miamicuse]

My Psedobombax ellipticum, pink Shaving Brush Tree flowers, in bloom but towards the end of it.

 

[Tom in Tucson]

23 hours ago, Silas_Sancona said:

That is Salvia coccinea, Tropical Red Sage.. next time you venture over to Tohono Chul, they have a bunch growing in different spots within the display gardens as you enter the building where the Greenhouse / Nursery are located.  I obtained seed for it, but think the garden propagates it as well. More shade / moisture, like where i placed most of it at the house, the bigger it can get.

Blue flowered Sage is Mealy Cap.. Picked that up from Tohono Chul.

Thanks for the ID and advice.

Hi 97˚, Lo 51˚ record high for the date

[Silas_Sancona]

On 4/10/2023 at 7:32 PM, Tom in Tucson said:

Thanks for the ID and advice.

Hi 97˚, Lo 51˚ record high for the date

..If Tohono Chul doesn't have started plants, check Spadefoot. They've had both the standard red and a pinkish colored variety.   There's is a white flowered form also, though don't think anyone local is selling it. " Flowers By The Sea " in CA would be a mail order source for it ( ..and many other Salvia sp. ).

[Silas_Sancona]

A few from the Oasis, as the Mesquite start to green up.. Another good year for the Brittlebush..  Palo Verde there / around town are starting to bud so " P.V. season 2023 " isn't too far off. Noticed the Sweet Acacia in many areas are nearly done w/ their spring flowering cycle already..













How'd those poppies get there?, Haha..  Nice to see at least some survived We'll try scattering Senna covesii  seed again in a few spots when Monsoon Season starts.. Tossed around a bunch last November, but the birds must have gotten most of it.







Bauhinia lunaroides covered in flowers now.. Did not realize the flowers have a faint, but detectable up close scent.. Like good smelling Soap, or Cotton Candy -to my sniffer..

[Peter]

Yummy lunaroides

[Silas_Sancona]

1 hour ago, Peter said:

Yummy lunaroides

Indeed..

[amh]

Zephyranthes drummondii?

[Silas_Sancona]

1 hour ago, amh said:

Zephyranthes drummondii?

   Wide, bluish toned, Daffodil- like leaves, & wide, flat-faced flowers that should be fragrant ( more so in the evening, i think.. )..  Z.  chlorosolen  will have greener, narrower leaves, flowers that are larger and held / arranged somewhat differently ( Anthers stick out of the floral tube vs. being set deeper in the floral tube < Z. drummondii > ). Not fragrant either ..Flowers on the colony i have sure aren't.  Obviously, possible you could find crosses between the two if both grow in your yard.

Waiting for the drummondii i picked up last fall to flower.

[amh]

5 minutes ago, Silas_Sancona said:

   Wide, bluish toned, Daffodil- like leaves, & wide, flat-faced flowers that should be fragrant ( more so in the evening, i think.. )..  Z.  chlorosolen  will have greener, narrower leaves, flowers that are larger and held / arranged somewhat differently ( Anthers stick out of the floral tube vs. being set deeper in the floral tube < Z. drummondii > ). Not fragrant either ..Flowers on the colony i have sure aren't.  Obviously, possible you could find crosses between the two if both grow in your yard.

Waiting for the drummondii i picked up last fall to flower.

These match the description, but there are so many synonyms that I have become confused. I even see Zephyranthes chlorosolen listed as a synonym.

The deer like to eat the flowers and leaves.

[Silas_Sancona]

2 minutes ago, amh said:

These match the description, but there are so many synonyms that I have become confused. I even see Zephyranthes chlorosolen listed as a synonym.

The deer like to eat the flowers and leaves.

Going by what iNat has info-wise, Z drummondii  was formally listed as Cooperia pedunculata, while Z. chlorosolen was listed as Cooperia drummondii. 

I myself always go by the size / arrangement of the flowers, leaf size / color to differentiate both.

[amh]

5 minutes ago, Silas_Sancona said:

Going by what iNat has info-wise, Z drummondii  was formally listed as Cooperia pedunculata, while Z. chlorosolen was listed as Cooperia drummondii. 

I myself always go by the size / arrangement of the flowers, leaf size / color to differentiate both.

Do the bulbs transplant well; I'd like to relocate some to where the deer wont eat them.

[Silas_Sancona]

21 minutes ago, amh said:

Do the bulbs transplant well; I'd like to relocate some to where the deer wont eat them.

They do, but ..from everything i've read, drummondii produces large bulbs that can sit somewhat deep ..like 8-12" below the soil ...or something like that.  Should transplant fine though.

[Silas_Sancona]

Nothin' special, just some Pumpkin seedlings.. Trying these this year, along w/ some Peppers ( not sprouted yet ..need to get starts of some others ) and Tomatoes ( later on since Spring tomato season will end soon. )









While planting more for the heck of it, and despite the smaller size, these are edible.  Supposedly more compact growing compared to "traditional-sized" 'Punkins.


With the Poppies / Phacelia on the wane / seeding out,  getting close to getting Cosmos / a few red Mex Sunflower going for the planting area on the side of the carport. Hoping the Sunflowers won't croak there like they did out by the street last year.   Been tempted to start some of the  "traditional" Sunflowers soon  but here, mid / late June is when most people start them so that they will be in flower for the end of Monsoon Season ( September ) and Autumn.

[Rivera]

Iris douglasiana (Douglas iris)

Armeria maritima (sea thrift)

Diplacus aurantiacus (shrubby monkey flower/sticky monkey flower)

[Silas_Sancona]

1 hour ago, Rivera said:

Iris douglasiana (Douglas iris)

Armeria maritima (sea thrift)

Diplacus aurantiacus (shrubby monkey flower/sticky monkey flower)

" Pac. Coast " Iris hybrids have to be the one group of CA natives i wish could be grown here.. Can't count all of my favorites but some like Sea Admiral, Finger Pointing, Steamer Lane, Seaside Street, Weather Eye, Sunol Grade, Masked Man, and Pioneering Spirit are top of the list..

Have told myself in the past that if i could grow these, various temp. tolerant Orchids, and Plumeria ..all in the same place,  i'd be set..

[Rivera]

36 minutes ago, Silas_Sancona said:

2 hours ago, Rivera said:

Iris douglasiana (Douglas iris)

Armeria maritima (sea thrift)

Diplacus aurantiacus (shrubby monkey flower/sticky monkey flower)

Expand  

" Pac. Coast " Iris hybrids have to be the one group of CA natives i wish could be grown here..

Though the blooms are short-lived, they're the most beautiful flowers in our garden. Not sure what this variety this is. 

This corner was dry for the past few years, but now the iris will benefit from supplemental water provided for the nearby howea forsteriana.

[Silas_Sancona]

1 minute ago, Rivera said:

Though the blooms are short-lived, they're the most beautiful flowers in our garden. Not sure what this variety this is. 

This corner was dry for the past few years, but now the iris will benefit from supplemental water provided for the nearby howea forsteriana.

I planted "Finger Pointing" ..I think, lol  since Joseph Ghio apparently released several sibling look-alikes of that cross, and another un-named cross in the hell strip in front of a house my mom was renting years ago ( 2011 or 12 in San Jose ) Have survived on what little water they, some Hot Lips Sage, and a Handroanthus impetiginosus  would get.

All are still growing, as is the stuff i brought back from AZ to plant in her neighbor's hell strip.( " Cimarron " TX. Sage, CA. Fairyduster, and one of the Aussie Cassias ).  Planted a Pink Trumpet Tree on their side of the hellstrip too, but since no one watered it much for the first couple years, can see how much less it has grown compared to the one i planted and watered correctly to get it going.

[Silas_Sancona]

Yep, "2023 Palo Verde Season" is starting... 2 if not all 3 specimens pictured are Blue P.V. , Parkinsonia florida









Though i posted pictures of both in the "Cactus Season" thread yesterday, posting a few shots taken today here.. Was able to catch the first Opuntia w/ both flower color phases on it, and the other w/ flowers that weren't as closed up as they were yesterday.

Opuntia X " Pina Colada " w/ both the pink and yellow flower phase on it.







O. macrocentra ..showing off the insides of the flowers better than yesterday.







One of the Trial Perennials i'd been planning on working with here, Senna hirsuta var. glalaberrima ( Slimpod Senna )  rocky areas in lower mid elevations native to S. AZ. Have had one in a pot but it wasn't in the best condition when purchased so not an ideal candidate to plant out. Survived the heat here through the summer though  so when i found some newer, much more vigorous plants several weeks ago, grabbed a couple to try out where i have the Torch Glows.  Main answer i'm seeking is: ..While reasonably drought tolerant, just how much  lower desert heat can they tolerate..  with the same amount of water the Torch Glows / other stuff in the same bed get,  hopefully these will perform well -despite the extra heat they'll experience here,  compared to areas down south/ slightly higher in elevation which don't get quite as hot through the Pre- Monsoon part of summer.



A taller growing, greener, and fairly tropical looking Senna sp. which flowers a bit more than S. covesii  through Monsoon Season and Autumn.  Flower color is more orange-y yellow as well. Host for Sulphurs, inc. the big tropical sp. that stray north from Mexico, esp. during wet summer / fall seasons  in the Genus Phoebis ( Orange Barred, Large Orange, Cloudless, etc )

If it works out, that will be 3 native Senna in the yard here.. Each exhibiting similar drought / heat resistance, but offering a different look / main flowering season.

[Silas_Sancona]

Stuff from another nearby Park.. A little surprised to see the Waterlilies in the pond there already in full flower.. With the cooler start to spring, would have figured it might take the water another week or two to warm up enough to stimulate flowering..  Brittlebush and Calliandra californica  in the background of shot #5.

As noted last year, specific Waterlily hybrid might be Nymphaea X " Colorado "..















Giant and near perfect Honey Mesquite showing off the value of this tree for dappled shade creation and standout, fresh green foliage this time of year. Note the Aloe below.. Not sure which sp. so i'll have to get better shots of them later. 







Erythrostemon gilliesii







Nearby Hong Kong Orchid Tree..

[Tom in Tucson]

Those are most likely Aloe maculata. They are one of the most common Aloes planted here and in the Valley of the Sun.

Hi 95˚, Lo 52˚

[Silas_Sancona]

24 minutes ago, Tom in Tucson said:

Those are most likely Aloe maculata. They are one of the most common Aloes planted here and in the Valley of the Sun.

Hi 95˚, Lo 52˚

You're probably right, though there are a couple other red flowerd Aloe i've seen planted in city / commercial landscapes around town lately..  I'll be back over there soon to get a closer look.

[Silas_Sancona]

16 hours ago, Silas_Sancona said:

You're probably right, though there are a couple other red flowerd Aloe i've seen planted in city / commercial landscapes around town lately..  I'll be back over there soon to get a closer look.

@Tom in Tucson Definitely A. maculata, and some striata? ..as well.  Agave lecheguilla in picture #3..











Other Aloe there..  Thinking the last is A. vera, but my " Aloe Brain " isn't working properly lately, lol.  There were a few trunking Aloe sp. sprinkled in this garden as well but appears they were removed or croaked..

[BillAndy]

Adenium Obesum has been in bloom for a few weeks and is still going at it. 
 

One of my Veitchia Arencina seeds is starting to show some life. 

[Silas_Sancona]

Brunfelsia ..Pretty sure it is B. plicata  deciding to flower this year. While not full of flowers, even a few open adds plenty of fragrance to the back patio at night. Had this plant since 2011 ( Bought in FL ).





Aristiolochia fimbrata. Been awaiting this plant to get large enough to start flowering.  Silver / Green veining pattern on the leaves is an attention-getter also.









'Punkins getting closer to being ready to plant out. Vague, but noticeable mottling on the leaves too.



Alamo Vine, already flowering, and full of flowers to come.





**Not pictured** With the weather now within the optimal warmth range, decided to was time to get more stuff going.. This round includes seed of Erythrina flabelliformis collected in S. AZ last year,  and both Delonix pumila, and decaryi  i've had tucked in a box for a few years.  Saplings, 1 of each, i germinated a few years ago have done fine here. Outside, all year.  They're just starting to wake up / leaf out.

 

[Tracy]

Some wildflowers in bloom at work a couple of weeks ago.  I don't know what species or whether any are native or invasive, would have to ask one of my biologist friends about that.  Pretty exceptional amount of stuff growing on the dikes this year as a result of the rain.

[Silas_Sancona]

4 hours ago, Tracy said:

Some wildflowers in bloom at work a couple of weeks ago.  I don't know what species or whether any are native or invasive, would have to ask one of my biologist friends about that.  Pretty exceptional amount of stuff growing on the dikes this year as a result of the rain.

5 minute iNat search:  Garland Daisy, Glebionis coronaria..  Introduced Annual from the Mediterranean. Supposedly cultivated as a leaf veggie ( AKA: Turtle food )

iNat link:
https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/59904-Glebionis-coronaria

SD. Co. observation map:

[Rivera]

Polystichum munitum (western sword fern) showing a flush of new growth.

Spores galore on Woodwardia fimbriata (giant chain fern).

Sphaeropteris/Cyathea cooperi (Australian/scaly tree fern) unfurls new frond amid older fronds blackened by a cold winter.

[Silas_Sancona]

..And alas, ..the end of " Poppy Season " has arrived..  Chop, Drop, and let 'em pop ( Seed pods )..  Another week or so and i'll turn the soil / get the area ready to plant summer stuff.



Penstemon  are just about done ..except for one..  Gila / Sand Penstemon, P. ambiguus.. Like P. palmeri, and another sp. i'm trying,  this sp. is less commonly seen in low desert gardens. Over time it will form a woody base, similar to many native, shrubby Buckwheat sp.



Two tough " Daisies "

Blackfoot Daisy.. As delicate as these look, these can tolerate low desert heat, and quite a bit of cold. If they look a little ragged at the end of the year, give em a light trim..





Chocolate Flower / Lyre-leaf Greeneyes, Berlandaria lyrata.. Tough S.W native that will fill the air w/ the scent of fresh baked cookies / Sweet Chocolate on warm spring / summer mornings.  Rocky / Gritty / well drained soil.  Like Blackfoot Daisies, if they look beat up after the winter? trim back. Stamens can be plucked like Saffron and have a Chocolate flavor.







Nacapule Jasmine,  " Assumed version #1 "..As mentioned in the past,  convinced there are two forms of this plant.. this one came from a nursery in Tucson whose " mother " specimen has smaller flowers / leaves that look slightly different than plants growing at a garden down there, and some specimens i've seen up here ( bigger leaves / flowers ) Have seedlings off the garden's plants to compare later. Extremely fragrant, esp. at night.



Shell Flowers ( Tigridia pavonia ) soon..



Guaiacum coulteri  starting to wake up ..Will this one flower this year??



Galactia wrightii waking up too..