Yeah for Spring !

Corona de Tucson

March 27, 2022 

Isn't it amazing how the seasons come and go?  Do you have a favorite season?  When it is spring, spring is my favorite and when it is fall, fall is my favorite.  It is also amazing to me that when I look at the calendar, I see this is the last blog post for March.  Where does the time go?  

We had a yummy lunch in Green Valley this week with Randy.  Tuesday's choice was El Rodeo Mexican and their mouth-watering chicken quesadillas and guacamole.  After lunch, we walked next door to Desert Bloom Garden Center.  They offer a very nice selection of native trees, cacti, and other plants as well as beautiful pots.  No major purchases made...except a  formula they developed to be mixed with water to fertilize succulents.  My collection of succulents is growing.    

On the way back to Randy's home, he stopped at Native Gardens of Green Valley.  It's another home and garden center and one we had not been to.  

This shop also features a Southwest Gallery with unique handcrafted items.  

The owners (who are local residents) provide information on artists from all over the world.  There are laws requiring authentication on products sold in the United States.   

I did leave with a "bread basket" crafted by the artist, pictured to the left, and a hand painted pot for flowers for our patio.     

We headed out early one morning with Jack.  He prefers to go to the spa to get his nails done.  He and Cynthia have a special relationship and he refuses to let us use the grinder on him.  It takes her all of five minutes, but Jack is happy and so are we.  I think he knows the way ! 

It's always a great morning when we go to the desert to walk.   

Cactus Forest Trail (Saguaro National Park East) was calling our names this week and we wanted to show Randy the old lime kilns we had discovered back in February.  So off we went early Thursday morning for some needed exercise and photographs.  There were a few blooms...

...but yellow stole the show.

Sally had her two week check-up.  All is good with her. 

 

Joe and I made a stop at Civano Nursery yesterday on our way to the grocery store.  It is my favorite local nursery. The majority of  plants they sell are are grown at their 70 acre Sahuarita farm.  In fact, Civano originals can be found in garden centers in Arizona, California, Nevada, New Mexico and Texas.  

It's not just the plants that are fun...the selection of yard things is huge with lots of variety.  I tell Joe whenever we go there, "I want one of everything."  He thinks I am kidding...

We purchased a few things to brighten up the patio.

Dover sticks her nose in everything we bring home...she approves!

The rest of the week, we have enjoyed home and a few visitors.

A male Broad-billed Hummingbird...

The hummingbird feeder has been especially busy.  I am thinking we need to have two.

A male Lucifer Hummingbird

I haven't quite captured the glow on the outward flare of his gorget feathers.    

We have decided (at least for now) to not put out the big feeder full of black oiled sunflower seeds.  The dove just rake them out and scatter them all over the ground.  So far, the next best thing we found is a bar with seeds.  The Cactus Wrens, Gila Woodpeckers and Cardinals seem to like it.  Time will tell I guess.

 

When the pups are not sleeping in the sun, they enjoy puppy television.  

So, that wraps up yet another week at the oasis.   And spring is just beginning...yippee !

 And while some birds come and go...

...others just hang around all the time.

Until next time,

HAPPY TRAILS !