El Presidio Spring 2012

This year I lost 2 plum trees and a barrel cactus.  However the garden is looking great.  Like every gardener, we experiment some with different plants, place what we know to perform, and put in a couple that need a little extra care:)  But El Presidio is on year 3 and we're on track.  There are lots of things that are working and it's making a difference.   A special thank you to everyone for coming and helping out around the property.  It helps both Donnie and myself focus on watering and jump start our hot summer.  The oak trees really get me down with the acorns, leaves, and pollen.  I love these trees but when most gardeners are prepping up their yards for spring and summer, we're going through fall here!  It can be frustrating.  And the pollen gets everywhere and makes my eyes itchy.

Bougainvillea

Sitting out during our HOA meeting, I really LOVED what was going on around our gardens.  The plants looked great and this year, we've added birds....lots of them!  Just by adding the sounds of birds chirping to our property has created a very unique atmosphere.....and an oasis. I want color, sound, and purpose.  I've written this before but I'll write it again.  The goal is to have our gardens provide shade, fruit, and fun while being xeric and wildlife friendly.  Just no mice. 

Aloe Bloom

I sat back and really loved watching the birds nesting and flying from tree to tree.   My focus will be side planters yet again.....the citrus garden on the east side and the bamboo on the south side.  The north side is nearly complete with the Nandina and Cacti Gardens placed.

House Finches get crazy

These are the beginnings of spring.  While a lot is flowering, there are more trees and bushes that will begin next month.

Mexican Bird of Paradise(the yellow variety)

So as temps warm up, stop and smell a rose from the CC Rose Garden near the palm tree.  Check the Mulberry tree for fruit.  The fig tree may have some treats hiding under the leaves.  We will have lots of peaches in July and plenty of persimmons in November.  And the citrus trees have lots of flowers:)

Lantana

But for now, enjoy the reds, yellows, purples and oranges around our place. It has taken us 3 years to get here and I have much more planned.  The fountain will have to wait for a bit until all the rotten wood is replaced around our homes.  Wood is fine for some things but shouldn't be used as a main feature in the desert.  The beams we have now are full of termites and dry rot.

Red Oleander

Hopefully the plants will distract:)

While pruning near the west wall, we were noticing the palo verdes from our neighbors property encroaching upon the parking area......and then we noticed something else......

...this little hummingbird nest on one of the branches.  I knew we had two families for sure, but I didn't know where the second nest was.  Now I do:)  Love natures best kept secrets.  They are such intelligent little birds who have lately been doing some serious drinking.  Maybe it's the 100 degree weather we've been having!

Again thank you all for your help around our gardens at El Presidio.

Chestnut Sided Warbler

Chestnut-sided Warbler

 Mother of pearls are some birds hard to film!  Today I went to the Sweetwater Wetlands in Tucson to practice using my new scope lense for tomorrow's adventure into Willcox.  Once I figured that out, I did some birding.....

 ......and the challenge was on!  My eyes and ears are good at hearing little things.  It must be from all that teaching I do with kids.  Well it comes in hand with birding as well:)

 This bird was by far the most difficult to film and my hands had to be quick with the shots or I'd miss the opportunity.  It is rainy and overcast today so I thought I'd challenge myself to still look and see if I could find anything.

 There were several birders on the grounds and it was a lot of fun being around them.  We noticed certain areas that were higher in unusual bird sightings than others which included the bridge near the parking lot.  And this is where I discovered this rare to find bird in Tucson. 

 But the two of them would make me work for my money while doing the photoshoot. What these little birds were doing in Tucson is beyond me?  And of course, I start thinking about how this all happens and how interesting it is that birds migrate from state to state.

So there you have it....the Chestnut Side Warbler...non-breeding adult:)

Mexican Fencepost Cactus

This is one of my favorite pics that I've taken so far this year up in Phoenix.  I absolutely love the look of this cactus.  There is only ONE growing on the El Presidio property, but I will remedy that situation down the road.  This particular cactus can be expensive, but it is worth the investment.  It survived the winter and LOVES sun and heat.  It definitely makes a statement around people's yards.  As the title of this cactus suggests, it is used by many as a "natural" fence...especially in the Phoenix area.  While it does well here in Tucson, it does even better in Phoenix. Like most cacti, don't overwater in winter, but during the summer, a weekly watering doesn't hurt.  Of the cacti, this one can take a little more water than the others.  It is one of my favorites along with the Night Blooming Cereus and I highly recommend trying it out for your Tucson garden.

As you can see in this pic taken up in Phoenix, they can be grown close together to create that "fence" look. It can grow up to 20 feet tall and doesn't have that thorny dangerous part about it like other cacti so it is safe to plant in areas full of pedestrians.  While it usually does well in our winter, I like to put stryofoam cups on the tip of the cactus below 25 degrees.  Fantastic cactus and one for the Tucson garden!  Until next time.....