I bought six stems of stargazers yesterday at the flower concession at the supermarket. I am not disappointed in the first of the flowers to emerge last night. Click on the image to enlarge.
Flowers
Crassula Falcata
Sadly, I can’t seem to get this to grow in Arizona, although “they” say it is possible. On this trip to California, the timing was right to enjoy this beautiful cluster of flowers with a nice delicate fragrance. Click on the image to enlarge.
Crassula falcata, known by the common names airplane plant and propeller plant, is a succulent plant endemic to South Africa, from the Cape of Good Hope. The foliage is gray-green with striking texture, on plants that grow to 2 feet tall. The flowers are tiny and scarlet red, that rise in dense clusters above the foliage for a month in summer. Crassula falcata is cultivated for use in drought tolerant and succulent gardens, and in container gardens.
Cimarron Sage
While we were still living in California we often visited the desert. We had a condo timeshare in Palm Desert years ago and would have it to ourselves in the summertime because none of our partners could stand the heat. We also took vacations which would bring us to most of the southwestern desert states. We always enjoyed the desert vegetation, especially the flowering shrubs and sage.
We tried growing the Red Bird of Paradise and purple sage (aka Texas Ranger Sage, Cimarron sage) at our California house near the coastline, but to no avail. Now that we’re here in our Arizona retirement home, all of the above and more thrive here and provide us with colorful and, in some cases, fragrant flowers. The Cimarron Sage along the driveway have erupted with glorious and fragrant purple flowers.
Click on the image to enlarge.
High Magic Roses
The vase in the great room is decorated with these “High Magic” roses. What beautiful colors! Click on the image to enlarge.
Wildflower or Weed?
We took a walk over by the Casandro Dam, about a quarter mile south of the house, after the rain last Wednesday. There were several plants along the road that had these wild flowers. I don’t know what it is, but it sure is a delicate and interesting-looking cluster of little blossoms. Click on the image to enlarge.
Little Orange Cactus Flower
This little orange flower opened up today on my little opuntia in the patio. The little blossom is barely a half-inch across. Click on the image to enlarge.
Bishop’s Cap Cactus Flowers
I have lost track of how many times this spring and summer that this Bishop’s Cap Cactus has had a cluster of flowers, let alone how many flowers per cluster. All I can say is that the cactus likes it here and we like his flowers. 🙂 Click on the image to enlarge.