Gerber Daisy Update

In case you weren’t around on March 9th, the day of the demise of the hot pink Gerber daisy, please go back and read that blog.  Today, March 28th…. I am STILL patiently awaiting the second bloom on the hot pink Gerber daisy plant.   In the past 19 days, it has come this far:

I predict another two weeks.  These flowers are the S L O W E S T…. ever!  But do not be dismayed.  Here is what else is blooming in the backyard at present:

Bougainvillea!  The lame gardener’s sure bet in the desert.  You can hardly kill these vines!  They provide such a delicious burst of color on the block wall.  Phoenicians have taken fences to a new level…. six foot block walls around every blinkin’ yard in new housing developments.   It’s quite private, but ugly without flowers.  And the next flower is nameless…. at least in my head at this moment.  Mom?

And I saved the best for last.  We planted sunflowers!  I love their sunny faces!  We planted them in a huge pot, and with Murphy’s Law, they opened facing the wall and not the house.  So I had to go turn the massive pot…. almost pulled something in my back.  Good grief.  Only one is blooming but there are six more to follow.  They are so happy!

Enjoy the lovely weather!

Weather Report from AZ

We were getting a bit concerned here in Phoenix last week when the Spring Break temperatures passed 90*F.  Yikes.  Those are not March numbers!  I tried not to think ahead to the summer of sweltering days and stuffy nights.  All five of us got sunburned in one area or another while fishing at the river.  We all put on sunscreen… but obviously not very effectively. I have distinct red triangles on the tops of my feet.  Larisa was wearing water shoes, so she is only burnt in little circles around her ankles.  Keeve put on sunscreen and then changed shirts to one with a larger neck hole… so he has a crimson necklace.  Austin’s shoulders and neck got kissed by the sun.  And I’m not sure Rick ever used sunscreen, but his skin tans so quickly, he never turned red… before the lovely bronze color emerged.

Good news appeared outside this morning on our thermometer… 55*F… oh, thank you, Jesus.  It’s actually chilly in our house.  While I read to the boys, one curled up in a blanket and the other went and changed from shorts to pants.  Yes, it’s sunny, and yes, summer is still going to burn our bare feet, but for today… it’s a lovely March crisp day outside.  It’s 1:00 now and we’ve only made it to 65*F.  Perfect outside activity weather.  LOVE THIS!