The Palo Verde and Mesquite trees are coming to an end of their yellow blooms. The Ironwood and Saguaro's are still going strong...You can feel the heat is on  its way.  It has been a pretty gentle May for Arizona.  I hope you had a chance to get out there and enjoy it.

Another beauty

Tucson cacti picture

Snow on the Superstitions - Sunday April 10th Storm

            This is a prickly pear cactus, I love the rich color of the flowers.

Palo Verde (Cercidium) - Its name translates to "green stick" and with one glance you can see the green color on its trunk and leafless branches.  In early Spring it bursts into bloom with bright yellow blossoms and for a short while has tiny leaves.  Good screening tree or for light shade. Very drought tolerant so plant in a dry area.

 The Saguaro grows very slowly -- perhaps an inch a year -- but to a great height, 15 to 50 feet. The largest plants, with more than 5 arms, are estimated to be 200 years old. An average old Saguaro would have 5 arms and be about 30 feet tall. This is my favorite Saguaro in our neighborhood.

Ocotillo and Cholla Cactus

The Ocotillo is abundant in the Southwest because the soil is well drained on rocky slopes, mesas, out washed plains and desert grasslands. The ocotillo is deciduous, drought tolerant shrub. From its root crown it grows stems that can be any where from 9 to 30 feet tall.  The stems are covered with spines that can be 1.5 inches long. The leaves of the shrub are thick and leather like and grow several times in the growing season depending on the amount of rainwater available. The leaves are narrow 2-inch ovals, which can sprout within 3 day of a rainfall. The leaves turn brown and fall off when water is scarce.