Friday, March 29, 2013

Happy Easter

...the wide-spreading branches...
Spring is in the air!

The Coolabah (eucalyptus) Tree.

The smooth bark...
                              
...and the long narrow leaves. 

 A few days ago, we met Joan and Steve at the Ethel M Chocolate Factory and Botanical Cactus Gardens. There wasn't much to the factory tour, except we did get a free sample! But, the gardens were quite pretty!






Mescal Bean...or Texas Mountain Laurel is an evergreen. It has large purple flowers and rich green leaves.


An interesting aloe plant...





Can you guess the name of this cactus?






 
The Twisted Acacia Tree has small yellow, fragrant flowers along the branches.


The leaves are small and fern like with a straight reddish thorn.



                      







        



It's amazing to me the birds build their nests in the cactus. Isn't nature just amazing?
If you look closely, you can see the making for the nest in the bird's mouth.

An Ocotillo blooming.


A busy day for the birds! Wish I had Judy's skills!
                                                                                
     

We enjoyed the day. The gardens were very well maintained with lots of variety. We headed to Olive Garden for lunch. Here's to new friends and the hope that our paths cross again.
                                                                  
                                                                                   
                                             
                                                         Happy Easter to all.


9 comments:

  1. I love the blooming desert. Your header with the busy little bee is beautiful. Happy Easter to you too. The weather man just said it will be 75 here in the Portland Oregon area Tomorrow. Yipee.

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  2. We may get some spring air here this weekend too. I'm looking forward to it.

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  3. I think your bird pictures are really good. And that rabbit, so cute. The cactus how about "Prickley." LOL I have no idea.
    Happy Easter to you too.

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  4. Thanks for the wonderful spring photos! I love flowering anything. Your photo journal told the perfect spring story.

    Happy Easter!

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  5. Lovely spring time pictures, thanks for sharing!

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  6. Seeing all those healthy cactus and succulents makes me wish for spring. All of my sun-loving plants have been indoors for far too long under lights and they are suffering. We need some sunshiny hot weather and soon!

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  7. Beautiful pictures! I so enjoy seeing the beauty of our country through your eyes, and I am learning so much!! Never too old to learn. Happy Easter to you and Joe also!!

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  8. What a fitting tribute to Easter with nature's springtime show in the desert. The bumblebee photo is exquisite!

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  9. Ronnie Bledsoe- Desert wild flowers should be awsome!!

    Hope you all are doing GREAT.

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