Before yesterday, my experience with the desert was largely limited to 1960s and 70s television episodes of Big Valley, Ponderosa and Wild, Wild West. The desert was bleak, lifeless and, most of all, BROWN.
So here in Phoenix, I had no idea what to expect at the Desert Botanical Garden.
I had focus groups last night, so I decided to get an early start to the day and arrived there at 8 a.m. It turned out to be a smart move because by the time I left at noon, the temperature was 96 degrees!
I am still toying with the idea of posting a photo of myself from the trip. I cut quite a fine figure.
I’ll start at the bottom and work my way up with a quick description. Sneakers. Waders (cropped pants). Brown tank top. Binoculars. Bird guide. Desert guide. Camera. Floppy hat. I was a sight to behold and no doubt looked like the photos you see of avid birders. In fact, the birders I encountered at the garden seemed to take me as one of their own with little insider chit chat. I, of course, just nodded knowingly at whatever the were saying.
There is so much to report I can’t spill it all right now. But I will say that I was in awe the whole time I was there. I was amazed at the variety and the beauty. There were so many FLOWERS everywhere. And the plants are so very clever at surviving in a hostile environment!
I took 100 photos. No, I don’t intend to post them all. But I will be posting more into the photo gallery as I figure out what they all are.
A few I’ll post here include a Gila Woodpecker I found nesting in the hollow of an old saguaro cactus and an octupus cactus.
I head to Memphis next where I plant to visit Graceland and some other historic points of interest. Oh, and I have work to do. Drat.
Robin
I head to Phoenix this afternoon and after that to Memphis (Graceland, here I come!), so there is too much to do. But before I launch into my day, here are some notes from the garden and bird report.
**New birds to add to the list of those visiting the feeders include the Common Grackle, Rose Breasted Grosbeak and Blue Grosbeak. I suspect the Grosbeaks were attracted by the new seed I picked up at PetCo. It looks like party nut mix. I didn’t realize until I was at the checkout that it also costs the same as nutty party mix–$10 for a small bag! I also bought the bluebirds some bluebird nuggets that really look quite tasty. I also splurged and got them some REAL LIVE mealworms. They’re in the refrigerator right now. I hope Ben and Harry don’t mistake them for a snack while I’m gone!
**Ben’s garbage can potatoes have taken off. The plan is to continue to cover them with dirt as they grow. At the end of the summer, we just up-end the can and we’ll have Ben’s much-longed-for garbage can potatoes. (We hope.) The photo is Sarah helping out with the planting.
**I managed to get the windowboxes planted as well as the flowering quince, the azalea and the deuzias in the new shade garden I’m working on by the turnaround. I’m looking for foam flowers and some other groundcover to fill in the space and provide some color in the shade. I’m also searching for just the right garden bench for that area to provide another shady spot to rest.
**The lurid-colored rose topiary fell over in the strong winds in the past couple of days. I’m not sure I’ve staked it properly, but I also have mixed feelings about it surviving. (Is that harsh?) I have made the big decision to move all the violets from around the baby boxwoods when I return from my travels.
The weather is supposed to be PERFECT this week, but I’m going to miss it. Lucia, our housekeeper, dog nanny and personal shopper (she is always bringing us BAGS AND BAGS of produce, cheese and supplies), will be holding down the fort so the animals and men all survive.
Off I go. Au revoir!
Robin
I was working in the garden this morning when I saw the bluebird in house #4 fly out. So I thought I would just take a quick look to see if there were, indeed, eggs–since I’m going out of town for a week and all and can’t check for a few days.
And there she was again!!!! I had my camera in-hand this time. Wowee!
Robin
