Flutter Me Bad

Brown Clipper

And so the Tucson Botanical Gardens begin another year of Butterfly Magic. On this day I was astounded by the new additions to the greenhouse!  It was fun getting back to the docent work.

Great Mormon Butterfly

We've had some new additions like the Great Mormon and Julia butterfly, but there were certainly more:)  The best part this year is that the Butterfly Magic is included as part of the entrance fee at the gardens. So if you've never been to one of these events, it's worth checking out.

Julia Butterfly

The butterflies of Southern Arizona are quite different from their tropical siblings. In essence, I sit studying charts and names to help me ID these beauties.  I can point out our butterflies here in the desert but I still have a hard time with the tropicals.  So today I studied the Great Mormon butterfly with great interest.

Birdwing Butterfly

Of course some of the popular regulars include the Atlas Moth.  I believe as of this write a Lunar Moth also went into the greenhouse.  Another beauty in the moth world.

Atlas Moth

So while things will hopefully cool off soon, this place will be warm and humid all year round.  As a docent, we rotate out in 3 shifts over 3 hours.  Entrance, educator, and Exit.  This year I have several students volunteering from the high school and I hope they enjoy it as much I do.

If you live in Tucson and are interested in becoming a docent at the Tucson Botanical Gardens, contact (520)326-9686, Ext. 39 or email education1@tucsonbotanical.org for more information. And as always, more tomorrow......

Lacewing Butterfly

Aloe Groundcover

Aloe vanbalenni

Desert gardens and shade.  Sometimes it can be difficult to find a balance between the sun loving plants receiving too much shade from the canopy of trees. So I had this idea.  I love how people from Wisconsin place Hostas around the base of their trees for a little eye candy punch.

Hosta love at the Green Bay Botanical Garden entrance

So I shot this pic from the Green Bay Botanical Gardens in June to spice it up with some desert garden thinking.  We do have plants here that can resemble this pattern and shape.  For new people who move to the desert from the East coast, they miss their Hostas and other shade loving plants that act as low shrubs or groundcover. Instead of wasting your money on something that will need constant watering and shade, why not think about planting something from the Aloe family?  You could plant a billion types of Hostas back home and you can plant the same amount from the Aloe group here in Tucson:) So I took off for the Tucson Botanical Gardens in the heat of the summer to show you examples of what I'm writing about today.  If you're looking to achieve a similiar feel(but not exactly the same), might I suggest this wonderful plant.  Here are a few samples of this "clumping" plant beneath your desert trees.

Aloe brevifolia

Many people who first arrive to the desert confuse Aloe and Agave (and I do admit I was one of them back in the 90's....so don't be embarrassed, we all do it:) Botanical gurus still have nerdy discussions about Sotol and Agave. But that's a whole other topic.  You just need to know that both make nice alcoholic drinks:)   Landscaping between WI and AZ is quite different.  Many of the plants were alien to me.  The differences between Aloe and Agave?  Well there are quite a few actually.  Agave are mainly quite large and take a lot of sun with little water once established.  Some Aloes, on the other hand, need a bit more shade.  There are a few varieties that can handle full sun, but most like shade out of the direct sunlight.  And they can handle a tad more water but NEVER let them sit in water.  Most Aloe varieties are smaller in size and make great plants for groundcover.  Put some rock mulch around the space and you've got a snazzy desert look.  Check out how the blue rocks were used with this Aloe variety below.  Incredible!  I have Aloe growing around the property at El Presidio.  Someone apparently figured this out because I will find occassional leaves cut off around the base.  The sap from most Aloe plants acts as a very soothing treatment for sunburn(which during this time of year we have plenty of:)

Aloe fosteri

Or maybe they were attacked by one of our huge lizards here.

However, I couldn't find a body nor would I stay around long enough to do more investigation;) For more great ideas on gardening or landscaping in your own areas, visit your local botanical gardens.  More tomorrow....

Tucson Housing Market

Here's something different and a first for this blog.  I thought this would be a fun little game to play:) You have to use your imagination.  Pics are supplied and just your opinion is needed:) A wizard captured you and turned you into a bird. You are forced to choose a home. Which one would it be? Remember that the option description goes with the pic above it.

Option 1.  It's sci fi and something I'd imagine in Sweden, Finland, or Holland.  I don't know why I think this but I just do:)

Option 2.  A homemade gourd.  Very hobbit like.

Option 3.  You moved to England:)  Maybe Harry Potter lives here.

Option 4.  This house doesn't hang and is wheelchair accessible:)

Option 5.  It screams, "Heeeeey!!"

Option 6.  The Starbucks of birdhomes.

Option 7.  You're an animal!!!  Well no you're not......because you're a BIRD!!! Get used to it:)

Option 8.  I think they smoke something here.

Option 9.  "OMG!  Becky, would you look at that bird's butt!  It's like....so big!"

Option 10.  I sense there is beer drinking, some smoking with a table of friends...and a card game going on:)

Option 11.  African love!

Option 12.  Hoarders anonymous.

Option 13.  Muy mexicano.

Option 14.   Say your prayers every night.

Option 15.  Very Tucsonan.

Option 16.  A gardener lives here.  Maybe a Gardener on Sherlock Street or A Garden Wench:)

Just one of many birdhouses at the Tucson Botanical Gardens

So what's your verdict?  I'll share mine at the end of the day.  Do you love bird houses? If you're in Tucson, check out the Tucson Botanical Gardens birdhouse display!  Very cool homes all over the place AND there's many more I haven't shown you.  But until that time, what's your pick?:) Oh and since you were forced to be a bird, what bird would you be?:)

Terra

 Spring is a mighty colorful time in the desert....or it can be with some helpful plant choices.  Today the theme is orange.  If you're a fan, which I am, you'll love some of these colorful spring plants for our Tucson climate.  Our first plant today is the "common" Ice Plant Orange Bush variety.  Place this beauty in full sun and plant sporadically in repetition with the jagged aloe for some kick. Water more as it gets hotter, but be careful not to overwater. Protect from winter freezes. 

 Add rock mulch around the plants for a nice clean look.  It's an excellent choice for pots as well.  Used as a groundcover.

 The second plant that sticks out this time of year is the Clivia Miniata.  Normally this plant is grown as a houseplant, but here in Tucson, it can be planted in almost full shade during the summer with some filtered light in the morning.  It reminds me of an Amaryllis bulb growing outside.  You'll have the flower in winter or spring but during the rest of the year, it just blends in with the other plants and adds a nice green foliage to the mix.  Moderate watering as it gets warmer.  NO direct sun.  Excellent in plantings along homes near entrance ways.   Protect from freezing.

 And how about something that is native here.  Check out my favorite pic from this series today.  It's of the Coral Aloe which is low maintenance.  This hot number is popular with bees and hummers and adds some wonderful color in spring.   Likes sun and is found around the Tucson area in almost every yard:)  When this plant blooms, people, bees, and hummers notice:)

 Why is the shot so "cool"?  Well, in my mind, this bee is flying in "perfection".  Imagine the world through the bee's vision.  What does it see?  What does it sense? If you were that small, what would the world look like through your eyes?

And this last shot is to inspire.  Surprisingly, Tucson has lots of trees that set off pink, white, and purple flowers around the landscape.  Look into the Mexican Buckeye or a fruit tree like peaches or apricots to plant in your landscape. They love our Tucson climate, and honestly, there's nothing better than a fresh peach off the tree in July after a hot day in the garden.  After spring, the yellow and pink will be replaced with green and to be honest.....that's okay.   Create your own masterpiece with agave, aloe, yucca, or other xeric friendly plants.   If you like that desert rain smell, consider a Creosote bush.  When rain drops touch the resin on the small leaves, the "smell" is released into the air and people everywhere go, "Hell yeah, I love desert rain!" One last item.  If you're a high school teacher, you're probably sick to death of hearing about "420".  "Hey Profe!!!  It's 420!"  Yeah...that's great child now go sit down.  "420" is code for pot, marijuana, Mary Jane, etc etc etc.  Every year it's the same thing and it DOES get old.  Don't they know that smoking is bad for your health...let alone your lungs!  Gross.  Thought I'd share. Well  I hope your "420" is great, and I'd stay away from the brownies...if anyone offers:) Now you know and knowing is half the battle:)  More tomorrow.....

Why Color Was Created

Ornamental Kale

 Who says your garden in Tucson has to look drab over the winter?  Here are some colorful ideas to inspire while you wait for Mother Nature to get going.    My posts have been all over the place from hiking to birding to a lot of other things.  But I have been working at El Presidio on the gardens and prepping for this spring season.  During the months of January and February, Tucson gardeners can plant some things like bareroot roses or fruit trees.  Maybe work on some cool vegetable gardening.  I usually clean up palms, trees, etc before new leaf growth.  But remember..March 15th is when you can really start thinking about your dream garden.  I would just plan right now and save your money for the big spring sales around town. For now, here are some interesting winter ideas for your Tucson garden......

Think color contrast.  I love the purple on this Ornamental Kale.  Use it in repetition and then combine it with other flowers.  Look below.....

I enjoy this design because it uses garden art in a cool way.  Your eye is drawn to the pomegranates on the leafless tree, the bench, Ornamental Kale, and the flowers in the basket.  Some excellent choices are Zinnias or even bulbs!!  But the key here is to be creative and mix color up with repetition and plant combinations. I think that is one sexy setup.

For more on the gardening journals for our Tucson landscape, head over to January 2011 where you'll find a lot of information on plants at the El Presidio Gardens. Right now several of the hot topics are fruit trees and their chill hours.   My place is slowly achieving balance but the gardens are still incomplete.  I'll have more updates as we go plus I'll be taking you to some key locations around town where I think the landscaping is dynamite!  The biggest challenge for me in the garden is the maintenance which include our old Oak trees that drop acorns, leaves and pollen around spring which should be a time for renewal.  Thankfully the homeowners come together and help clean this mess up:)  More tomorrow.....

Work It!

Recently I headed over to the Tucson Botanical Gardens to sign up for some volunteer work and this lizard was hanging out on the cement.  He looked over at me and waited for me to snap his pic.....and so I did.  It was almost comical and reminded me of my cats. 

Do you ever have days like this?  When you just want to chill and shut your curtains, turn off your phones, lock your doors, and just not do anything?  That's me this time of year. Sometimes I'd love to live the life of a hermit:)

Wicked Fun!

This post is a very special one for me.  I have just come off the high from meeting Amy Stewart, author of Wicked , a book about poisonous plants and human interactions with these plants. It was a great day because not only did I get to have lunch with Amy, but I also got to chat with Scott Calhoun who is a locally famous landscaper/writer in the Tucson area.  I'm not sure what the word is to describe the feeling from being around these expert plant people, but I think "overwhelmed" is a term that comes to mind.  There was some really great plant discussion going on and I just listened to it all not wanting it to stop. It was almost surreal.  I had my tablet and pen and took notes. It was really enjoyable to be around such wonderful energy and passion in what these people do in their own lives.  I have to be honest.....I have done the field studies, the historical studies, and the crazy adventures.......but in a different area with language, education, and indigenous peoples.  We are all connected, but I am at a crossroads in my life finding out that I wish I had gone further with my studies in botany like my friend Dr. Heidi did back in our tree hugging society days. Public school education isn't what it used to be and unfortuneatly a lot of good people are leaving the profession in search of a better job that treats people with respect.  Many of you would be shocked by how parents treat our teachers today.   I do enjoy teaching my high school and university students along with my love for the Spanish language (and all the field work I get to do during my summer "vacations")......but there is no denying that the fire that burns within me lies elsewhere these days and in a different direction. Today's meeting and lecture are indications that changes may be coming down the road. There was a quote someone once told me....."Education is a life long process."  I totally agree with that saying today but when I was younger, I didn't want to believe it.  Every 6 years teachers have to recertify in their content area, but the issue I have with this is......what if you want to study something else because we all change after time?  The answer is "No.  It has to be in your content area." Then I ask, "What about those month long trips I take to Spanish speaking countries?"  "No.  Vacations don't count".  People who travel with me KNOW that I don't take a vacation and some of them refuse to go with me(like my other half Pat:) If you're going to spend all that money on a plane ticket, why would you sit at a beach the entire time? My parents recently remarked to my sister who came out to visit that I would keep them busy busy busy.  I do research on language variations, indigenous attitudes vs. the national culture, plant studies, and historical/cuisine(my favorite) visits.  Spanish fluency comes from travel and study.  Knowledge comes from the source. To be authentic in your field, you MUST work and get experiences from these invaluable sources. No district or university can offer that experience to me.  So while I am studying plants on my own time, it's on my own time. :)

Amy Stewart, author of  Wicked and Dr. Ergot Ratbane of the Wicked Plant Display at the Tucson Botanical Gardens.  This picture sums it all up for me and just shows what happens when great ideas come together. Ms. Stewart found a great angle on plants that interested people worldwide and the Botanical Gardens found a way to bring that excitement into the gardens here. PS. Dr. Ergot Ratbane is hilarious both in person and in character and makes me laugh.  There were a lot of kids today coming through his office and it can be overwhelming....but he was ready with crayons and paper:)

I first "met" Amy Stewart through Austin's PBS program, Central Texas Gardening which can be found on YouTube.  She's a very kind and knowledgeable person who, like all of us, has to find time in their day to balance busy schedules.  From our chat, I understood that there were several major things that an author must go through....1)Research for your book 2) Travel time for the research on your book 3)Writing your book 4) Trying out the things that you are writing about(like Amy's poisonous plants) in your own garden  5)Editing and Publishing your book and 6)The book tours that follow while still trying to write your next book....and somewhere in there..... family. Amy was really friendly and great to get to know. 

So let me list what was so "wicked" about  Ms Stewart's lecture....

1.  Alnwick Castle has a Poison Garden on deadly plants and is also where Harry Potter was filmed.

http://www.alnwickgarden.com/home/welcome

                                             2. Around 68,000 people are poisoned every year

3.  Hemlock killed Socrates

4. There is a poisonous research plant in Logan, Utah

5. White Snakeroot killed Lincoln's Mother from Milk Sickness.  The cows had eaten the snakeroot weed and the people drank their milk which was also poisoned and hence, Lincoln's mother was a victim from this poisoness plant.

6. Pallagra is a vitamin defiency of B3 or niacin giving people in the early days the appearance of being a vampire.  This happened because corn was utilized by early American settlers as their primary source of food.

7. The most painful plant may be the Giant Stinging Tree or Dendrocnide Moroides.  If "stung" by this tree, the pain can last up to a year or reignite on the skin from heat or sunlight.

8. There is an animal poison control center for beloved pets....ASPCA

http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/poison-control/

PS.  Lilies are toxic for cats and will give a cat kidney failure....think about this plant before buying a bouquet for your table....especially if you have a nibbling kitty. 

9.  Teenagers are finding other ways to smoke things besides weed. If you hear them using latin, be aware.  Diviner's sage is hard to get; but can be ordered on Ebay type sites. It can also kill.

10. Finally, what do you think is the most dangerous plant in the world?  It's the one that has killed the most people worldwide at around 90 million people.....what do you think it is?  Answer on the very bottom.

On a personal note, I had an amazing day at the Tucson Botanical Gardens and I'd like to thank them for inviting Ms. Stewart.  Her website is:

http://www.amystewart.com/

There are two people I'd love to sit down with here in Tucson and meet during another time....Scott Calhoun of ZonaGardens Landscape Design and David Yetman from the PBS KUAT series “The Deserts Speaks”

Scott Calhoun's website is http://www.zonagardens.com/

The answer to the question above is tobacco

Stay tuned for more.......

Butterfly Magic at the Gardens

Frosty.  Rainy. Cold morning.  Until I got to the butterfly exhibit and then it was....hot, humid, and steamy.  I don't know what both extremes will do to a body, but I'll find out tonight. Hopefully I won't get sick. On this gray and cloudy day, a moment of sunshine and color presented itself in the gardens!  Today I went to volunteer at the gardens in the butterfly exhibit and it was a wonderful contrast to what was really going on outside.  I love conservatories and greenhouses because you can grow things inside that you normally wouldn't be able to plant outside....for example, you'll see tillandsias(or air plants) all around the tropical garden.  Here are pics and a vid from today's outings.

The Morphos Butterfly(wings closed)

                                                                 Morphos with wings open.

The exhibit will be open until April 30th, 2011. 

The Glass Wing Butterfly

Birdwing Butterfly

The video contains several shots from the exhibit before visitors arrived plus you'll get to see how they move about the greenhouse.

The Atlas Moth

Tomorrow I'll show what we did to prepare for the super freeze that is happening tonight and throughout the weekend.