All in a Day of Spring

As we reach the middle of April, the weather has shifted closer to its usual patterns and temperatures. The heatwave has ended, giving us pleasantly cool days (by desert standards) and nights with a bit of actual chill to them. What the second half of the month will bring to the garden I really don’t know.

But at present the native Sonoran thornscrub is a wealth of bloom. Since some of these trees and shrubs are part of the garden, they certainly must feature in an April version of “Five Favorites” with Cathy at Words and Herbs.

My first favorite for this April is the pale yellow and white blooming of the littleleaf palo verde trees, Parkinsonia microphylla. I don’t think I have ever seen them bloom so heavily. The rains we received in late winter must have done their work well, along with the early warmth.

Imagine a small tree with thousands of these delicate flowers hovering above green-barked stems. This is the magic of Parkinsonia microphylla in bloom.

There are two small thickets of mixed thornscrub growing against the rickety fencing that currently forms the official edges of the garden, clusters of little trees and large shrubs. Probably half are palo verdes. The hum of the bees in all these flowers carries across the garden.

In the garden’s center grows a large mesquite, Prosopis velutina. Its flowers are quieter in color: a soft golden-brown.

Thirdly there is the ocotillo, Fouquieria splendens. The clump in the garden is finally growing out, which makes me very happy. It had been hacked back before we moved in. Although individual canes can safely be removed at ground level, ocotillo is not made to be pruned! It carries its flaming scarlet blooms only at the tips of the long canes. It took these plants several years to regrow their blooming tips.

It’s a special time of year when these vibrant vermilion spires glow across the desert at heights of ten to thirty feet. These in the garden are at least higher than my head now, and growing well. That color is always breathtaking.

My fourth pick for April is a lavender. Lavandula x “Goodwin Creek Grey” has finally settled in and has just begun to flower. Its deep, midnight purple blooms stand out against the very soft, very pale gray foliage.

I love this variety; and former experience tells me that hummingbirds and butterflies do also, so it is an important addition to the garden. When happy, it can flower nearly year-round, taking a break only during the hottest and coldest weeks.

And finally, of course, a rose.

It’s a struggle growing roses here. I have had my losses to weather, deer, and rabbits elsewhere; but this garden takes the attempt to a new level of difficulty, adding a very coarse, rapidly draining soil, salty well water, and a new pest, leaf-cutter ants. Let’s just say that I am exceedingly grateful to have any roses that continue to live and even to bloom!

But the lovely “Nastarana” has put out a big cluster of its semi-double, soft white flowers. Very special!

And to end this post, here is a special mention for a very unexpected April flowering. The so-called Barometer Bush, Leucophyllum frutescens “Green Cloud”, decided that the temperatures and humidity were both high enough to bring out a happy showing of its pink-purple trumpets with their spotted throats.

Happy April!