Well, my plans of posting for Six on Saturday (thanks to Jim for hosting at Garden Ruminations) had to give way to issues with a hot water heater. I now have a Sunday post…
The most exciting thing this week has been the arrival of what appears to be a broad-billed hummingbird. Please do pardon my photos; they’re the best I’ve been able to get so far, taken more for the record and to simply begin photographing the small arrivals. The telltale gleam of blue-green back and notched tail are just visible in these two images.
Broad-billed hummingbirds, in theory, aren’t generally seen here; but they’ve been moving north into Tucson as the city has expanded. Whether this one has arrived via the city or through the San Pedro River corridor, I certainly don’t know. But it has been a tremendous thrill to discover and watch this flying gem, who is also rather talkative!
His peacock colors of blue and green are accented by a bright, pinkish red bill, not visible in my photos.
Other hummers have been very much present as well. I think this is a male Anna’s hummingbird. If the light were to catch his throat, it would flash brilliant magenta-pink.
All these pictures were taken as the birds were feeding on Salvia greggi.
Other residents of the garden have also been active. I’ve enjoyed watching the bees on the mandarin orange blossoms.
The bud watch on the ocotillo (Fouquieria splendens) continues apace.
The stems on this ocotillo had been ruthlessly headed back before we moved in—never an appropriate pruning technique for these plants and wholly unnecessary in its location in the yard. I’ve been waiting to see how long it would take for the stems to regenerate their flowering tips. This is the only bloom stalk this year, but now I have hopes for future springs also!
I’ve been moving more wild seedlings—this time Sphaeralcea laxa, the local globemallow species, with its translucent orange blooms and fuzzy silver foliage.
Rose “Paradise” has had a wonderful first flush of bloom this year. The increasing sunlight only intensifies the magenta edges which are its hallmark. I’ve been very happy with how robust this variety is.
And finally another iris has begun to flower. This is “Deep Velvet”, developed by Carl Salbach and introduced in 1939. My photos hardly do justice to the glow from the lighter, warmer hued centers of the blooms. With the gold beards in the throat, the combination truly creates the rainbow effect from which the name “iris” derives, but which tends to be lacking in the more recent introductions (to my eyes at least).
With bud stalks rising on Mary Geddes and Casa Morena, the tall bearded iris season looks set to continue well.
A happy new week to all of you!
It must be a joy to see the hummingbirds - I know how excited we get when a bird we have not had in the garden before, or not for a long time, shows up. And I am so pleased you have roses again!
I think you did very well with the hummingbird photos, Amy. They're always moving! Your garden looks like it's developing very nicely.