The winter-long El Niño rains have brought a bumper crop of spectacular flowers. The rain’s about over now, and now we have the stiff winds that, each spring, blow in the summer’s 110-degree heat and blow out the blooms. But for a few days yet, we can enjoy air perfumed with orange blossoms and spectacular sights in our yards (click for larger images):
The bougainvillea have run amok. One in the courtyard is a mound of magenta.
One of the hundreds of rose blossoms.
This one is a deep velvety red, darker than the photo suggests.
The freesia is in bloom.
Yellow: desert’s favorite color.
Those low clumping mounds look like this up close.
The verbena I planted on the mound covering the dead tree stump is thriving.
Verbena up close
Morning glory’s illegal in Arizona, but this little outlaw doesn’t care.
Mountain laurel in bloom
The Home Depot iris came back this spring.
The neighbor’s yard is awash in orange & gold African daisies.
I love the sculptural shape of the agave.
Here’s another one.
These lovely, lacey creatures are afloat in the air.
Funny–I’ve always loved visiting Arizona–especially in the spring with all the beautiful cactus flowers.
I love these pictures you’ve taken. They’re absolutely beautiful!!