Friends for Juan Angel

We went to Guadalajara to shop for the new house we're building. We were thrilled to find more junk mariachi sculpture. Juan Angel is our original mariachi fiddler. I'll post more photos of the other friends later. We got a little carried away....

Kalanchoe

Blooms in December and January. The spent flowers look interesting too.

Winter Garden

It doesn't get much better than this!

White Crowned Sparrow

They migrate down here for the winter.

More Drama!

After watching the hawk, we saw bird feathers on the ground, then noticed this quail hiding in the corner under the window. I took the photo and we went in. About 10 minutes later we heard a ruckus when the hawk swooped in and snatched the quail. The hawk must have dropped the quail when it first hit the window.

Another View

More Desert Drama

We first became aware of this hawk (maybe Cooper's juvenile?) when we heard a big thwonk on the north window. When we went out to investigate, we found this hawk in a nearby tree. We thought it must have been the hawk hitting the window since the thwonk was louder then when doves hit it. It seemed rattled hung around in the tree recovering.

Another Fave Book

You might think that since it is written by a Brit that it wouldn't be relevant to desert gardeners--Wrong! Full of inspirational photos and good design ideas.

True Bug on Jumete

Beautiful bugs.

Tarantula Hawk on Jumete Flowers

???

Found this guy in the kitchen on a tile.

Aloe Flowerbuds

Goldfinch/Housefinch Party

Barrel Cactus

These Ferocactus latispinus bloom every January.

Milkweed

Asclepias curasavica. Butterflies like the nectar of this perennial.

Northern Mockingbird

Prickly Pear Seedlings

A tuna (prickly pear fruit) must have dropped near the base of this plant and the seeds germinated.

Aloe thraskii

I'm crazy about this beauty from South Africa. It is supposed to grow into a tree!

Transitional Iguana

This Spineytail Iguana still has a bit of juvenile green and is exploring our woodpile, looking for hiding places.

New Aloe

I don't know the name of this one, but I sure like the flowers. It is producing some seed. I think I'll collect it and try and grow some more. The tip is deformed a bit because a caterpillar was munching on it when the buds were young. Luckily I caught it in the act and saved most of the buds.

Aloe vera

This is a form of Aloe vera and it's a reliable bloomer every December. Great for cut flowers as well as for burns, etc. A workhorse type of plant here. It will survive here without any extra water. Gotta love that!

Starfish Flowers

Also known as Stapelia--these flowers attract flies to pollinate them with their distinctive odor and colors resembling carrion.