Skywatching

 

Keeping an eye on the sky at sunset is entertaining when there are a few clouds overhead.  On Thursday evening I saw some clouds gathering and wondered if there might be some good light.  This one was about as intense as it got that evening.  Not a brilliant sunset but a nice one nonetheless. 

I liked this little wispy cloud with just a touch of pink in it so I snapped a photo.  I didn't know I captured a plane passing overhead at the same time.  

Then after capturing the pretty sun-tinged clouds, it rained!  Not a rain that would register with any of you who see rain more often.  Frankly, it was just a few drops here and there.  Still, it was a totally unexpected event.  

Search for Shade

 

I had an appointment with the eye doctor yesterday and when I arrived at the parking lot, I was hoping I'd find a spot in the shade.  We Arizonans are good at finding a little sliver of shade anywhere we can.  I lucked out and found a spot under this huge, old tree.

I took the top photo from my car window.  When I got out and walked around the row of cars, I spotted an agave plant with a tall bloom stock growing under the tree.

It looked sort of out of place hiding under the shade of that big tree.  But I bet it was happy to be out of the sun.  

Tree Trimming Time

I was driving out of my complex when I noticed the tree trimmers were at work.  This group was using a bucket lift to get to those tall palm trees.  That 'bucket' is way up in there among those shaggy palm fronds.  

Out in front, the trees are much shorter so this fellow just climbed up to get to work.  

These fellows arrived early so they could get the job done before it got too hot.

 

Chaste Trees Are Blooming

 

I've seen several Chaste Trees around town lately and all of them are bursting with these pretty, lavender blooms.  This one is a small tree that I saw in the Scottsdale Civic Center Park.  

This one is the size of a bush right now but there is one closer to my house that is a full sized tree.  I posted a photo of it five years ago.

Seeing Yellow

 

It's the time of year when the palo verde trees bloom. Since those trees are all over the Phoenix area, we are seeing yellow everywhere we look. It's an impressive display.

These two shots were at the Desert Botanical Garden.  

A Natural Desert Landscape

 

The second house we visited on last Sunday's home garden tour had mastered the perfect desert landscape.  Everything around this Spanish hacienda house was natural to our Sonoran desert.

Two important features were these two trees.  Above, a salvaged ancient ironwood tree dominated a spot fit for contemplative meditation.

On another side of the yard was this kumquat tree filled with tempting fruit.  

I loved the welcoming patio complete with a wood burning fireplace.  This spot was perfect for entertaining or just relaxing.

Let's not forget the pool.  This is Arizona and a pool seems to be an important feature for any desert home.  

Loud Noises and Other Distractions

 

I was busy working on Monday but I kept hearing a grinding kind of noise somewhere outside. I finally went out around 3:00 to see what that noise was all about.  That's when I saw that the pool here at my complex was getting some kind of refresh treatment.  It looks like they were sanding it down all day long.

While I'm talking about things that drew my attention, take a look at this tree.

It's just a small tree but it caught my eye as I was passing by and I decided to turn around and see why it stood out. It was located in an empty parking area but it was dusk and there was a light shinning above it making those leaves glow red.  It's just a little tree but it grabbed my attention.  

First Signs of Fall

 

I'm starting to see some color showing up on some of the trees around here.  

The leaves on the crepe myrtle trees around my complex are starting to blush.

I'll be keeping my eyes open to see if any other trees start to change colors.

I titled this post "First Signs of Fall" but actually, the first signs arrived several weeks ago when we went from 100+ temperatures down to the 60's almost over night.  It was a shock for most of us.  I'm still adjusting to the cooler temperatures.  

Pointing My Camera at Plants

 

I have a few more photos pulled from my archives today.  Above is a date palm laden with fruit in the khalal-stage of maturity.  I learned that the fruit of date palms go through four phases of maturity, Kimri, Khalal, Rutab and Tamar.  This photo was taken in Tucson several years ago.

I photographed the big patch of black-eyed Susans when I was in Oregon in 2022.  I can't help but smile when I come across a sunny group of flowers like this.

I took this photo when I was in Santa Fe last year.  I think this might be a flowering plum tree.  It was too pretty to pass up.

This one was taken in Oklahoma City just two months ago.  I saw hydrangea plants blooming all over the city center.  Since I never see them here, they were a treat for my eyes.

It was ten years ago when I was in San Jose California to go to the Egyptian Museum there.  That's where I saw an abundance of papyrus plants growing all over the grounds of the museum.  They fit perfectly into the Egyptian atmosphere.

Lot's of Clouds

 

We had a very cloudy weekend but unfortunately, no rain.  We had some hopes of rain and maybe some of the outlying areas got a few sprinkles but none in the city.

The clouds gave us some interesting skies and it kept the severe heat at bay.  I think the high on Saturday was 102 and on Sunday 103.  I know that sounds awful but here in the desert, that is way better than 114. 

Update:  Yesterday it reached 112 but a monsoon storm gathered in the evening.  Later on,  we got some rain.  It was wonderful.  I stood out on the balcony watching it come down.

Desert Fern Tree

 

The Desert Fern Tree is one I hadn't paid much attention to in the past but all those fuzzy balls on it caught my eye.  They look sort of like tiny cotton balls.

It's sometimes called a feather bush because of its feathery leaves.  It grows tall enough to produce some shade and it blooms with those fuzzy flowers in the late spring.

I'm not sure how the bees get to any nectar in such a 'hairy' bloom but they must have their ways.  There were plenty of bees buzzing around this one when I saw it.

I'm flying off to Oklahoma City today.  It's a short trip, only one night returning late Saturday.  I'm not taking my computer with me for this short trip so I've posted ahead.  I'll fill you in on this short trip next week.

Turning the Garden Yellow

 

I had pictures last Tuesday of lots of blooming palo verde trees around town.  The Desert Botanical Garden has a lot of them too and when those yellow blooms start to fall, they cover the garden in a carpet of yellow. 

You can see here how the petals have covered the ground.  They are clinging to the cactus too.  Everything in this section of the garden had a warm yellow glow.

Yellow Everywhere I Look

 

It's a sea of yellow here in the Phoenix area these days.  It's the time of year when the palo verde trees bloom and they are currently in full force.

Three in a row in a nearby parking lot.

This isn't the prettiest shaped tree but I couldn't resist a shot with the yellow wall in the background.

This one appears to be exploding with color.

An up close look at one of the blooms.  They are so pretty!

That Bottle Brush Tree

 

I drove past that bottle brush tree that I like to photograph every year and was happy to find it full of those wonderful brush-like blooms.  

I took all these photos with the telephoto lens from across the street so I was surprised to see that I had captured a bee on that one bloom.

However, the tree was looking a bit shaggy these days.  It looks like it might have lost some branches toward the top.

I have a new post on Sharon's Sojourns.  Have you ever heard of the Fourth Plinth?

Orchid Tree

 

I saw this orchid tree as I was driving past and decided to stop and snap a few photos.  I love these trees especially when they are blooming and full of their beautiful flowers.

Spring has been making a colorful showing this year in the desert southwest.  I'll keep my eyes open for more flowering signs of spring.

I have a new post on Sharon's Sojourns today.  Public art is abundant in London.

Snowy Trees

 

It's that time of year when the flowering pear trees are full of white blooms that look like snow.  This one was looking especially heavy with pretty, white booms.

While nearby, these two rows of trees are still waiting for their spring buds to appear. These deciduous trees look attractive in their own barren way.  

Brilliant Tree

 

When I saw this tree yesterday, I had to stop for a photo.  It was a bit of a challenge because this parking lot is always full and it has the narrowest parking spaces I've ever seen.

I ended up parking in a red zone.  I figured I'd only be less than 2 minutes.  It was just enough time.

We see lots of trees that turn a golden yellow at this time of year but finding one such a brilliant red is a rarity.