Flower and sunset pictures dominate many photo blogs, I try keep them to a minimum here. They are some of the most vibrant colors we have in the desert. But those two types of photos are over used on a lot of sites.

Therefore, I post a weather shot. Not very professionally shot. I didn’t grab the D300 or tripod, instead I pulled out the Panasonic held my breath and lodged it tight against the stucco column on the front porch.

When we see these kind of high ripple clouds over the desert, it means a turn in the weather. Cooler weather, and after 69 days over 100 degrees this summer we are all ready for some cooler weather.

We stopped at Joe’s Crab Shack for Friday night supper. What a wonderfully noisy place. Everyone was having a great time. The view is wonderful. The food is great and you can get valet parking for $4.

Did a mention the food was wonderful. Try the crab stuffed shrimp.

I know, so what’s special about a bunch of pink flowers in the middle of some grass. If you live in many parts of the country there’s nothing special about it at all.

But here in the middle of the desert.  It’s a very special site.  There are not many flowers that can survive the summer heat of Tucson.  We have already had 39 days over 100 degrees this summer.  But one little flower that seems to thrive in the heat is the Vinca.

The hotter it is the better they seem to like it.

One thing I’ve noticed about these hearty little flowers, if they get to dried out, they will curl up their leaves and you think they are goners for sure.  Most plants that get dehydrated in the desert turn black or dark brown in a matter of hours.  But the Vinca can look dead as a door knob, but add some water it they will come right back to full green in a matter of minutes.  Unwrapping their leaves like a sponge dropped into water.

If you want some beautiful flowers for your Tucson yard, you can’t go wrong with Vincas.

In Tucson it is a constant challenge to find flowering plants that will tolerate the “Broil” of summer.  Many flowering plants do well in the spring, only to wither and die as soon as it gets in the 90′s.  The hundreds, forget it.  They turn black and shrivel up in a matter of hours.  But not this prolific beauty.  It produces flowers all summer and chides the sun to “Bring on the Heat”.

Better yet.  It is a perennial.  It goes dormant in the winter and in spring pick right up where it left of.

I’ve got new ones coming up in the front yard from last years seeds.  It a couple more years that whole section is going to be dancing with these Ballerinas.

Open to possibilities

a Very Buzzy Bee Morning

Even with my poor hearing I could hear the buzz in the air.  The bees were up early and gathering pollen before the heat of the day.  I don’t know how much the heat bothers them.  I’ve never seen a bee sweat, but I think they get irritable when it gets really hot.

Up close and not so personal

Petite and Purple Desert Blush

I was in Globe, AZ this week.  These are in bloom. Most of the wildflowers are gone now because of the heat.  Globe is higher than Tucson and a bit cooler.  This day it was 89 in Globe and 105 in Tucson.

Great View From Five Guys Patio

They are still in bloom at night

Last night I headed up to Arizona City to get on the road to Kanab, Utah.  As I left town I stopped at the bank and saw the palo verde in bloom in the parking lot.  It was about 8 pm and there were a lot of people and cars around.  The trip got delayed until today.  I did get my trailer hitch and lights connected up.  I headed back to Tucson about 10:20 pm.  At 11 pm I pulled back in the parking lot.  It was pretty easy to shoot and have the place to myself.