May 2013
My First Saguaro Flower
The landscape crew replaced our old saguaro last August. Finally, now that we’re halfway through May, the flowers are starting to bloom on the transplanted cactus. I took this image from our driveway of the first flower to open. Notice there are pollinators already working on the flower. Click on the image to enlarge.
First Red Birds of Paradise
We were in the Northwest Phoenix Metro Valley today. A lot of the Red Bird of Paradise shrubs were in bloom. We stopped at a little shop that had these in their landscape plot, so I took several photos of flowers on my favorite desert shrub. Click on the image to enlarge.
The valley gets their flowers about a month before we do in Wickenburg due to the elevation and temperature difference, I guess. My three shrubs in the courtyard have already started their spring comeback with sprouts from two inches to a foot. They grow really fast, so it won’t be long before we have these flowers in our courtyard.
Happy Mothers Day
Happy Mothers Day to all the Moms, especially to my 93 year old Mom. “Kate” moved to Wickenburg in March to become the newest resident of our local retirement ranch.
We were worried about how she would take to assisted living having been in her own house until just this year. The good news is she LOVES it here. The food is very good, the people are very nice and everything is done for her. The staff keeps the seniors busy with activities and games. The best news (for my sister and me) is her 24/7 care is quite affordable under our budget.
Mom has made a lot of new friends and seems to enjoy being with the other retirees in the assisted care program. She is always happy when Damsel and I come to visit, although she misses seeing my sister who still lives in California. The sister is planning to come to town next month sometime. Mom is anxious to show the sis her new, beautiful accommodations.