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| Texas Mountain Laurel and a Black Carpenter Bee |
Spring started early for us here in the Old Pueblo. Here is another photo shoot taken on February 23 in the desert focusing on our beautiful spring show. How do you know it's officially spring? The
Texas Mountain Laurel sets forth the early signs with purple fragrant blooms. This Carpenter Bee(so named because it can burrow in wood) enjoys the nectar. The purple flowers smell like Grape Kool Aide!! I miss my Lilacs from home, but this plant replaced that need with it's similiarly looking purple blooms and fragrance.
We also know spring has arrived when summer hummers join in with our nesting Anna's and Costa's Hummers. I really looked stupid waiting for this above shot. But I got the darn thing:)
Bugs also indicate that summer is just around the corner. I found this Pipevine Swallowtail hiding. It appeared to have just come out of hibernation as the wings looked freshly unfolded. The color is off because it was in the shade. These rare beauties shimmer blue in the hot summer sun. Count yourself lucky if you find one:)
And ohhh.....let's not forget our cacti friends. The first signs of the cacti blooms happened this year to show up on the Pincushion Cactus. Small delicate flowers on this personal favorite of mine:) I'll have more cacti flowers for you coming up....
And then there are the wildflowers. First the African Daisies, then the California Poppies, followed by the Globe Mallow, then the Desert Lupine....and so on and so forth. The yellows and oranges appear first followed by the pinks of Parry's Penstemon, the whites of the desert Primrose and the dark blues of the California Bluebells.
The yellows of sunset as a bee gets a fill to bring back to the hive.....
And for my birding friends....well, check out this Sparrow calling from the Saguaro Cactus. It's nesting time for a lot of desert birds.....several of which use the Saguaro cactus as their home and nest:)
So long you days of winter. Your darkness lifts and the days become longer, warmer, and signal a change. Welcome!
Posts
Hello! Wonderful photos!
ReplyDeleteButterflies, wasps and the flowers to feed upon, you can't beat 'em Chris.
ReplyDeleteYour photos are stunning today! So many beautiful colors! The grass is greening up here bit nothing else so far. Thanks for sharing your lovlies.
ReplyDeleteNice and colorful pictures Chris.
ReplyDeleteGreetings, Joop
Gorgeous photos Chris - love all the colour and great to see the insects, butterflies and humming bird. What a wonderful time of year!
ReplyDeleteLovely photos of all the pollinators. You also captured the vivid colors of the flowers extremely well.
ReplyDeleteflat-out gorgeousness. :)
ReplyDeleteStunning; magnificent.
ReplyDeleteI miss spring bloom in the low desert. The ornamentals are blooming here. Nice close up shots of the birds, bees and bugs.
ReplyDeleteYour shots of spring flowers and wee little thing are simply gorgeous. Nicely done.
ReplyDeleteCheers.
So envious of your hummers Chris!
ReplyDeleteGosh you're right, Nature is waking up! It is the same here in Western Europe, there are been high pressures for a week now and everything is shooting like mad and i keep rescuing bumble bees who take my conservatory for a garden! They know how to get in, but not to get out! Silly bugs! Lovely colourful photos, it's so good to see that, make sme feel good, thanks! :)
ReplyDeleteWonderful shots all, Chris. I love the Mountain Laurels for the same reason you do. I miss my lilacs.
ReplyDeleteThose bluebells are in life that intense blue? Like an Alpine gentian?
ReplyDeleteThey almost look fake, don't they? They have a very intense blue coloring out in the wild and make a bold statement during our wildflower season. They seem to be some of the first that develop flowers.
DeleteSpring looks very beautiful in your photos. I especially like the desert flowers and cacti but am puzzled by the sparrow. How did such a little bird make a hole among those spikes? I am guessing it made use of some other creatures work.
ReplyDeleteHi Mick, the sparrow likely made the hole his nest after another bird abandoned it:)
ReplyDeleteGorgeous photos of the birds, blooms and the butterfly. The mountain laurel is beautiful. Happy Spring!
ReplyDeleteGreat Spring pictures, Chris... Love the little birdie one (you knew I'd love that one) nesting in the cactus.... AND --the butterfly and the bee ones are great too... OH--how I love spring.
ReplyDeleteBetsy
Lovely Springtime photos, Chris and lots of cheerful colour. It must be amazing to see huge Cacti, the only ones we see here are small ones grown indoors in pots. I love the photo of the little Sparrow peeping out of one, that conveys just how big they are! As for the Hummingbird, they are so beautiful....if only we had them here!!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful pictures, wonderful bright flowers and the birds, bees and butterflies. I visited the Tuscon a few years ago and was amazed at the diversity of flowers and wildlife.
ReplyDeleteNice to see all the wildlife getting into spring. But that last photo of the paloverde (?) primed for spring...yowza!
ReplyDeleteSuch beautifully brilliant images of spring!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous photos of spring, love all of them!
ReplyDeleteFantastic photos, Chris! You are becoming quite the photographer. It's been fun watching you grow into it.
ReplyDelete