Visit to Boyce Thompson Arboretum

 We try to get out once a week to see something, just to be outdoors.  We visited Boyce, located about an hour northeast of us, about 6 weeks ago, nothing in bloom.  This past Friday we went again to see what has changed.  Pretty day, a little bit too hot for this time of year (90) but nice to be in a garden. Nicely maintained, not many people.   By June 1 they will be open from 6am to noon.  Gets way too hot for people to be hiking/walking in the high desert.

These are pictures from last Friday's time.  We were disappointed that more cacti were blooming - we missed the full bloom by 2 weeks.  Who knew?  Such strange weather, global warming is really taking a toll on all.

Enjoy the pics - we will go back later this fall.  

Fascinating Boojum Tree (from S Mexico)

Very small budding flowers on Saguaro

Trying to get our Golden Barrel Cacti to grow like this

Love these Golden Barrels!

Eucalyptus Tree - a big 'un!

We bought a small Argentine giant cactus while there

Flowers of Springtime Arizona

 Many cacti and flowering bushes are in bloom right now, some a tidge way too early, others kind of duds.  Due to the draught going on now and very little rain over the winter, you can see how things are stunted.  Weird thing, our indoor Christmas cactus has continually bloomed since November.  Asked around and it isn't just us, others are also blooming non stop, too.  Everyone very worried about the potential of wild fires this year, already the Greer Fire, a small town we visited a couple of years ago is evacuated and raging out of control as we speak.  So sad.

This blog is pictures of what we see in the spring - for those who don't know about the vegetation of the desert southwest.  Yes, we do get flowers, and it smells pretty.  These pictures were taken as I ride my bike every morning around the area.  Some are from our back yard too.  Enjoy.