Queen Caterpillar

Munching on Jumete, Asclepias subulata.

Quail Exploring

It is nesting season for California Quail and all seem to be paired and looking for nest sites. I've never seen one come up to the house like this one. Recently, I saw my first Quail family of the season, crossing the road with a column of tiny fluffballs struggling to keep up with the parents.

Caesalpinia pulcherrima

Bloom with warmer weather.

Guaicum

Guaicum

I don't know the common name, but it's a small tree, always blooming in late May or June. They have gnarly, old trunks, and I've never seen any seedlings.

Gulf Fritillary Caterpillar on Passionfruit

Passionfruit Tendrils

Starfish Flower

AKA Stapelia. These amazing flowers stink to high heaven and use the stench to attract flies which pollinate them. They bloom with warm weather. I used to have lots of plants, but decided that it was a bit gross to have all of those flies buzzing about, and decided to thin my collection. The flowers are about 6" across.

Echinopis Oriole

Echinopsis Oriole

Gray Thrasher

Girly-girl

Stamens from one of my favorite Echinopsis, E. Oracle.

Zamia

New Zamia Leaves

We're excited to see these leaves--it hadn't grown any new ones for a couple of years. I've been giving it more water and it is responding!

Hungry Rabbits

So far I feel lucky since the rabbits haven't eaten any of my favorite plants. You can't blame them since there is so little to eat out in the wild. We've had only 1.5 inches of rain in almost two years so there's little green. Yesterday I sawed off some pads of a large spineless prickly pear and put it on the ground next to this one as an offering.

Tunas

Tunas are the name for prickly pear fruits.

Dove Baby

They left the nest for good a few days later.

Dove Family

Opuntia linguiformae

AKA Cow's Tongue Opuntia. This one is putting on the best flower show ever.

Dove Mom and Baby

She has another baby on her other side.

Soft and Spiky

Aloe Flowers

I call this Aloe Superior since I snatched a tiny plant from a big clump at a motel in Superior, Arizona, home to the fabulous Boyce Thompson Arboretum. I like it because it blooms several times a year. Usually, more water, more flowers. I've tried to find out its real name, but it is probably a hybrid of unknown parentage.

Abutilon aurantiacum

This is a native shrub I've come to admire. I'm giving a little water to several and letting them grow to see what happens. Looks quite promising....

Pencil Euphorbia

Euphorbia tirucalli--beware! If you touch this plant, then touch your eye, you will immediately
suffer agonizing pain in your eye for about 45 minutes. I speak from experience. Otherwise, it's a great plant. Very tough. I love tough plants.