Cap'n Bob & the Damsel

Home & Garden

Trimming the Landscape

rosemary-trim.jpg

I spent most of the morning trimming the rosemary shrubs that line the back slope of the RV drive. The landscapers put the one-gallon shrubs in a year ago and they have grown nicely – in fact so well that the bottom row were starting to cover the river rocks stacked along the bottom 30 inches of the slope.

I was lucky today, since the sky was overcast (monsoons in progress) and the temperature only got up to about 92 with 40 percent relative humidity – mandatory perspiration while working. In all, there were 26 shrubs that needed attention. I trimmed several earlier in the week, but quit after a while – it was around 105 the other day.

The composite photo above (taken after the work) shows the magnitude of the effort. Click on the image to enlarge.

13 Jul 2012 by Arizona Home & Garden Photography Retirement

Fish Hook Cactus Flowers

Fish Hook Cactus Flowers

Last year, We rescued this tiny fish hook cactus when the landscape crew had to remove it to install irrigation lines. It lived in a pot until early this year, when we transplanted it to the rock and cactus garden beside the RV drive. Today, it is showing these four flowers with two more buds to open. Click on the image to enlarge.

11 Jul 2012 by Arizona Flowers Home & Garden Photography

Déjà Vu Roses

dejavu-rose.jpg

Bob and I went shopping for our 4th of July holiday barbecue today. I picked up a dozen to these gorgeous “Déjà Vu Roses” at the flower concession in the supermarket. These probably will only last a couple of days since they’re already opening and we live in the desert. 😉 Click on the image to enlarge.

02 Jul 2012 by Flowers Home & Garden Photography

Courtyard Bird Feeder

feedbag.jpgWe brought one of the garden crook stands back from the California house last week. Bob installed it just outside of the courtyard in front of the house where we can see it from the great room.

The other feeders are on the hill behind the house on the far side of the RV drive. You have to be on the patio or look out the kitchen window to see those. With the warmer summer temperatures, we decided that we could do some bird watching from inside where it’s a lot cooler.

Image: Nijer seed feeder on the crook. Click to enlarge.

I had not known about Nijer seed feeders until my last dentist appointment. His office had one of these feeders outside the exam room window and it was covered with little goldfinches chowing down.

I looked up Nijer seed on the internet today. The seeds are grown in Asia and Africa and have to be imported. Because of “parasite seeds” from destructive weeds and such can accompany the Nijer seeds, the product must be heat and pressure treated before importation. I guess that’s why Nijer seed is a bit more expensive compared to other bird seed.

We have seen several goldfinches helping themselves in the morning and afternoon. We don’t see any at midday because of the warm temperatures. It was 108° here today (again).

27 Jun 2012 by Arizona Critters Environment Home & Garden

Voodoo Roses

voodoo-roses.jpg

This bunch of “Voodoo” roses, consisting of orange and yellow hues, is in the vase today after we finished our trip to the supermarket. I don’t know how they got the “Voodoo” name, but they sure are pretty with the baby’s breath accent flowers. Click on the image to enlarge.

24 Jun 2012 by Flowers Home & Garden Photography

White Epiphyllum “Cactus Orchid” Flower

white-epiphyllum.jpgThe timing for travel to the California house was just perfect for us to enjoy the blooming of the white epiphyllum flower in the planter on the side of the house. I went out of the gate near the flowerbed and took this image of the flower this afternoon. By tomorrow, the flower will have wilted and the plant it grows on will go dormant until about the same time next June.

Image: White epiphyllum flower. Click on the image to enlarge.

We went the Botanic Garden a couple of years ago to a showing of epiphyllum flowering plants and were astounded by the many, many varieties and hybrids. There are virtually all colors of the rainbow. There were hundreds of flowers at the show and all quite beautiful.

21 Jun 2012 by California Flowers Home & Garden Photography

Golden Poppy

poppy.jpg

This poppy was growing out of a crack in the patio sidewalk of the California house. No kidding! Just before we left here in April, Bob sprayed Roundup® all over the backyard to kill the weeds that grow out there. Somehow, the poppy seeds managed to find the cracks in the sidewalk where this pretty flower is growing today. There are several places where poppies are growing, literally, like weeds, out of the cracks. Click on the image to enlarge.

20 Jun 2012 by California Flowers Home & Garden Photography

Categories

Archives