Thursday, April 30, 2009

April bouquet

Our April has been on the cool side, which is A-OK by the pansies, who do not like Arizona hot, even the milder mountain version. So they continue to put out. I especially like the little purple and whites below, perhaps because of the goatee.

The California poppies are in full bloom -- and, for once, I managed to hit the button while a bee was visiting a flower. For some reason, my flower pictures seldom feature a bee or other insect, in great contrast to my LH's photos, which invariably included fauna. However, that's a neat seed pod.

I always scatter red flax seeds in my pot garden; this fellow overwintered and so is blooming early.

The one evening primrose managed to produce several blossoms before it was devoured by the voracious pigs. The flowers are open only through the early morning, at which point they wilt, turn pink, and look like abandoned Kleenex.

Ah, yes -- my favorite ferocious duo, the semi-red Calif. poppy and the man-eating red paintbrush. This is the best close-up I've managed of the paintbrush.

However, the prettiest flower of all is my bleeding heart. Too bad the plant blooms once and is done for the year.

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

Gorgeous!

I'd never seen the bleeding heart before. Amazing creation.

~Anon in AV.

Granny J said...

anon av -- I suspect that's because your are a Californian, through and through, while bleeding heart, which is an old-fashioned favorite is from the east (and maybe even Europe). Plants from the East do quite well here in the mountains if you are careful about the water...

Anonymous said...

GJ, nice photos.

Antipodean Curmudgeon said...

You look to be experiencing a very springy spring.

The bleeding heart looks a bit like a fuchia.

Very dry here this year. I will bring the rain though as I've teed up painters to do up the externals of the homestead.

Hermano

Linda G. said...

Your spring flowers are lovely GJ! Ee has a bleeding heart, but I lost mine years ago..maybe I'll try again....

Granny J said...

steve -- thanks & enjoy!

bro -- a little like fuchia, but much more old-fashioned in appearance. Hah! I just consulted The Google & was sent to WebIndia where I discovered that bleeding heart originated in Japan. Should have guessed, considering the lovely form it takes.

Granny J said...

lindaG -- your post snuck in while I was writing mine! I haven't figured out how to take your comment...

Anonymous said...

I love bleeding heart but I imagine they require a lot of water

azlaydey said...

What great photos as always....I've never seen bleeding hearts in AZ! I only get to photograph them when I'm in OR or WA!

Granny J said...

pas-ad -- they do -- but I have mine in a big pot, so it's no big deal.

lady -- I bought the plant here, probably at WalMart, in one of those boxed perennial dealies. The plant appears to be happy here -- I've had it at least three years.

pb said...

I am envious that you could shoot a honey bee. I have not seen one this year, and I don't think I saw one last year, either.

Your flowers are amazing, as always.

 
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