Blooming this Week

A lot going on this week - blooms galore and as you will see at the end.... a little news.

The Golden Saguaro, Neobuxbaumia polylopha, earlier in the morning.
The bloom is opened up more. This is such a beautiful bloom in person.  The cactus is about 4 1/2 feet tall so it is hard to see the tops of it but it is stunning, they are stunning.  

The Caesalpinia, Pride of Barbados are blooming like crazy.  We have two large clumps along the fence lines that are in full bloom and beautiful. 

The Salvia 'Silke's Dream' are vibrant red and very popular with the hummingbirds this week.

The Cassia corymbosa have busted into full bloom and are beautiful.  These are great little trees.  

 

The Monarchs are all over the Milkweed.  I love watching them- there are butterflies all over the place but I am partial to the Monarchs.

And here we have, well, he doesn't have a name yet.  I pick him up tomorrow.  I can't wait.  Name to follow soon.  It took me a while to be ready for another dog but I am and he is precious.  

Look Who Came Out to Play!

I love this time of year when the butterflies and the bees come around. We have so many different plants that attract a variety of different bees, butterflies and even hummingbirds. I have been successful in capturing the bees and several different types of butterflies, though the hummingbirds have proven a bigger challenge for me. Today I had so much fun following this Swallowtail. He was obviously very happy going between the different Milkweed plants. I had so much fun capturing him. While I was watching him and letting him pose for the camera I saw a Monarch. I wasn't able to capture him but I thought it was too early for those but I know it was one. Hopefully he will come back today and I can capture his photo as well. Hope you enjoy the photos half as much as I did taking them.