Winter in CV, AZ

Our winter in AZ has been cooler than usual. We often have a freeze sometime around the end of December. This year it happened in mid-January when we were back in SD. I had put the potted plants in the shed so they were OK. Usually you think of cacti surviving the freeze, but that is where we had a little problem.

January 17th, 2013

the pencil cholla or fire stick in the back yard

January 17th, 2013

the fire stick in the front of the house

it should be bright green with orange tips

some of the plant underneath was protected enough 

not all of it was affected by the freezes

as we had several

and even though the hibuscus was in the shed

it did suffer from the extended cold temps

it lost lots of leaves

So here is the update on the plants...

on Monday hubby and I took the pruning shears to all

the desert plants, taking off the dead leaves on the agave

and trimming the pencil cholla

and digging out the two dead desert plants

February 22, 2013

we tried trimming it to a bush shape

the fire stick in the back yard is gone

it did not survive

this one grew like a weed over the summer so it will be 

interesting to see how big it gets this summer

February 22, 2013

the hibiscus is slowly coming back

warmer temps would help a lot

it is now in the sunshine for most of the day

and getting fertilizer every week

temps are ranging from the 50s & 60s

no 70s until mid week

BUT

it is weather like this that makes me say 

WINTER IN CV, AZ

February 20, 2013

we woke up to a snow covered Superstition Mts.

from the top peaks (5400') to the base

there has been snow in the past

but this is the first time in our 8 years

when the snow was down to 1700'

at the mountain base

a very overcast sky

rain off and on, some snowflakes throughout Wednesday

there was more than half an inch of moisture

a pretty sight, but not all that welcome

this is the desert after all, not the midwest!

oh, and the lupine are blooming along the roadside

some of the hikers saw Mexican poppies blooming today

The bright spot to all this is there should be LOTS of flowers

this spring from all the moisture

Another bright spot...

is the new deck stone I got, Hubby bought,

painted by the very talented, creative...

Mary Johnson of SD

the resort had a craft show on Wednesday featuring

Quilters, Carvers, and Creative Crafters

Mary was just one of many displaying their talents