I spent a week in Nevada/Arizona and just got back yesterday.  Temperatures there saw highs in the 80’s and lows in the 50’s–very mild/warm.   Parker, Arizona was my home base for most of that time.  There had been significant rains over the weeks prior, and the desert was starting to green up and bloom.

At a visit to Springs Preserve outside of Las Vegas, I saw a bunch of interesting plants.  The above agave was about to bloom, looking like a huge, blue asparagus.

The amazing agave above had bloomed earlier and the top of the flower stalk was covered with dozens of new plants!

One of my favorite plant families–Bauhinia, the orchid trees.  The leaves are wonderful and the flowers just add to the beauty.  Sadly, I’ve yet to find one that is hardy/happy in Seattle.  But seeing the beautiful leaves above will keep me looking!

I got seeds off this legume–didn’t get the name, so it will be a surprise.  It had typical pea-family leaves, but the new ones had a  blue/gray bloom to them.  The seeds are big and super hard, so I’ll need to boil them or something to get them started.

The structure of agaves is irresistible, and yet I need to resist it.  Christopher Lloyd put this in perspective in one of his books.  He warned against adopting plants that require too much effort for your region–he felt the work involved is rarely worthwhile and the effect is less than natural or effective.  I tend to agree.  While I would love an arid looking xeric garden with agaves, yuccas and cactus, it likely would be impossible and not worth the failed efforts.

Palms are a similar story–delectable color and form, and yet there are only a few that thrive in Seattle and they are tough to work effectively into a landscape.  I have grown palms from seed for the house and greenhouse.  Talk about slow growing!  I have a seven year old seedling of a similar looking palm to the above, and it is only a foot tall and has only a few strap-like leaves and no hint of a trunk.  The poor thing probably just wants some sun and warmth.

I am assuming this is a salvia, but I didn’t see a nametag.  The bees were out and loving it, and the color was the perfect foil for all the yellow flowers that seem to predominate the desert flora.

Close up of the same salvia showing interesting flower form and brilliant blue color.

Here is an Ocotillo near Parker, growing with a gray Brittlebush.  These are amazing shrubs–the Ocotillo with striking, vase-shaped form and loads of spines, while the Brittlebush is bright gray and displays prolific yellow daisies.  The Ocotillos were just leafing out while I was there and I’m told the flowers are brilliant hummingbird magnets.  I look forward to seeing that some day.

I golfed on a gorgeous county course in Parker and the scenery was inspiring.  These palms caught my eye in the morning light.  Often palms are manicured to the point of obsession, so it was nice to see some that still held their ruff of old leaves.

The friends who live there and who generously hosted us are trying to grow native plants on a very steep slope at the back of their property.  I gathered Palo Verde seeds for them and ordered seeds online of Brittlebush and Honey Mesquite.  I’ll try to start some in the greenhouse and I’ll pass the rest of the seeds on to them to direct sow.  I’m also going to try some evening primrose seeds and sand verbena to share with them.  Pictures below of these found blooming in the desert in one special place.