Desert is all about textures...

Part of the transition and acclimation from Northwest "webfoot" to Southwest "lizard lips" (my mom used to call me that - yes she did!!) is the incredible difference in plant life.  From fog-shrouded scented cedar and blue-green spruce forests to miles and MILES of seemingly barren terrain hosting stickery, prickly, pokey, leafless things that claim to be plants. 

On the flip side - if you are really really tired of endless lawn mowing - this is the place for you!  NO GRASS (unless you want to bankroll the irrigation districts - water comes all the way from the Colorado River in a series of canals and ditches).  

At first the sandy, gravely yard scaping was rather shocking.  Then I began to get interested in the plants that were dotted here and there in those yards.  No English cottage gardens here - sorry, Anne - but an infinately varied amount of textures and color, nevertheless.

Here are just a few of my favorites, so far...

The Prickley Pear fruit is favored by desert tortoise - there happens to be one living in the Wright's house (tortoise, not cactus...).  We are going to see if the owner will donate one or two for Tuff's Christmas dinner.

I am totally in love with Purple Prickley Pear!!

This Compass Cactus (above) is intriguing - it grows more quickly on the "sunny south side", causing it to twist and actually lean to the south as the weight increases on that side!  They only get about 4 -5' tall before they fall on their face - the south face, of course...

The Strawberry Cactus is considered the most beautiful of the cacti, having brilliant magenta flowers you may often see on calenders. 

Unfortunately, we will have to wait until spring for that event.

 The Teddy Bear, or Jumping Cholla - cute and fuzzy looking - NOT!!  It is very brittle, breaking off amazingly easy to cling with nasty hooks to whatever is close - your pants or shoes, or the dogs nose...eh, Duchess?

More to come - I have a book on the way, for tree identification - you won't believe how many types of palms there are!!

Pool boys...

When one chooses to live in a climate such as the Arizona desert, having a pool is beyond a mere want - it's a NEED, especially with a tribe of energetic boys and their many friends!

When one lives with a swimming pool, you accept that the pool requires weekly tending.  Two choices: you do it yourself - or you hire a pool company and have a POOL BOY. 

This is little luxury is worth every penny.  Saves nagging the husband, buying additives, vacuuming (yes, pools are vacuumed), skimming, and other mundane by necessary chores in order to enjoy the pristine water that cools, soothes, and provides hours of entertainment.

So yes, a pool boy comes every Monday morning at 5 a.m., does all the necessary chores, leaving behind a lovely oasis for the week. 

What he DOESN'T do, is fish out the various and sundry items that mysteriously "fall" into the pool every day! (Recently it was a visiting dog, who had never heard about the "dog paddle" and promptly sank vertically towards the bottom - thank goodness Carrie is quick on her feet, she grabbed and hauled and didn't even get her shoes wet!  Dog was traumatized...)

The following sequence of photos show the OTHER pool boys.  They help out as needed - such as retrieving Happy's toy - a heavy rubber "Kong" chew item; the only thing Carrie has been able to find that the chew-happy mutt doesn't devour right away...

Max and Jayden tag team the Kong...

 ...while Lee enlists the patio broom!

Happy LOVES his Kong!

Arizona patio garden

Eureka!  A closeout sale on pots, got them for 50-cents each!  Max helped pick out the flowers, I chose the herbs and tomato (Sugar Sun - the sweetest yellow "cherry" variety I've ever had).

The watering pot was a garage sale find, another 50-cents!

 This wonderful tuned wind chime has been with me for many years, many moves.  Thank you, dear Marilyn!

Makes a pretty patio!  And just the right size for quick and easy watering. I have breakfast out here every morning - what a way to start a day! 

 I also spend a fair amount of time here reading, bird watching, and enjoying sunsets, along with my little garden.  Can I just say - SPOILED?