For several weeks now, these bright California Poppies have been growing in our garden. This is the state flower of California. They and grow in gardens, planters and in the wild. Click on the image below to see the large version.
California
First Spring Iris
My Bearded Iris just produced this beautiful, delicate flower today. There are more on the way, hopefully in many colors. Click on the image to enlarge.
A Real Artichoke Farm
I blogged a few days ago about our so-called Artichoke Farm. I was joking, of course, about Damsel’s first backyard garden artichoke crop ever. Today, while we were running several errands, some road construction caused me to detour through a residential area where we found a house with artichokes growing in a planter along the sidewalk.
I counted at least 20 artichokes in Damsel’s photo (click image to see the entire photo) of just part of the artichoke patch in front of the house. It made me laugh to see this mature artichoke patch growing literally dozens of pods.
Artichoke Farm
As of a few days ago, there were two artichokes growing in the garden after all. I didn’t spot the second, smaller pod because it was hiding under one of the large leaves the plant grows. The two pods are currently softball and tennis ball sizes. I was hoping that we would get a second one since we decided to let the first one become an artichoke thistle flower.
Yesterday, I discovered a third ‘choke growing on the second artichoke plant. We haven’t decided on it’s fate yet, but there is a better than 50% chance that it will also become a flower. Today, I found a forth ‘choke in the third plant. The jury is out on the fate of that one.
This means we can have our ‘choke and eat it too! Click on the image to enlarge.
Neoporteria Senilis Flowers
The bright pink flowers of this small round cactus are about ¾ inches in diameter. I bought this cactus at the cactus and succulent show and sale held at the botanic gardens. It started blooming as we were out in the desert taking pictures of the flowers there. I’m glad that these were still so pretty when we got home. Click on the image to enlarge.
More information from Desert Tropicals:
Origin: Chile (Rio Choapa)
Growth Habits: Solitary, globose to short columnar, 7.2 inches tall (18 cm), 3.2 inches in diameter (8 cm); 13 to 21 ribs, obscured by the spines; blond to white, curly spines with darker tips; 4 to 20 centrals; 15 to 40 radials.
Watering Needs: Extremely root prone, needs good drainage.
Bladderpod Wildflower
Found in sandy washes, open flats and roadsides in Joshua Tree National Park and other desert regions in California. I spotted this one growing in the Colorado Desert region of the park. Click image for big.
Desert Senna Flowers
Wooo Saaah – time out from the anger and frustration over health care to stop and look at the flowers. This is a picture of the flowers on the desert senna. I took this photo near the visitors center at Joshua Tree National Park today. Click on the image for a closer look.
Digital Desert has this information on the shrub that grows these flowers.
Seeds of many desert plants do not sprout easily. Some need to be passed through the digestive tracts of animals before they grow. Some, like the Desert Senna, need to be soaked by a heavy rainfall and the scoured clean of its coated resin by the rocks in a wash.
If conditions are right, golden flowers will bloom in April and May but the plant will be leafless most of the year. The Desert Senna relies on green chlorophyll in its stems to manufacture food.