A High Desert Garden

[John P Weiser]

Hi Guys and Gals.
I'm back and it's time to start the show. The early show will be of some desert spring ethereal bulbs and perennials that work well as companions for cactus. These are the earliest to bloom in the High Desert. They start to bloom by mid March and are dormant by early June. It is prudent to mark their resting places.
This survival strategy to "beat the heat" is a common adaptation found in dry climates across the world.

Ranunculus andersonii

Ranunculus glaberrimus var. glaberrimus

Ranunculus glaberrimus var. ellipticus

Lomatium nevadense var nevadense

Iris reticulata

Allium parvum

[John P Weiser]

A continuation of early spring ethereals

Viola beckwithii

Hesperochiron californicus

Fritillaria pudica


This is just the start of the spring show. There will be many more to follow.

[RayC]

Looking good John, as always.

[peterb]

woohoo! Looking forward to another great season of amazing plants and flowers.

peterb

[daiv]

Hey John, glad to see you pulled through the winter! I will be in your area at the last of the month and then again in June. Maybe between the two times I could finagle a visit?

[Jens]

Very delicate flowers and photos, thanks a lot for sharing John.
Jens

[CoronaCactus]

And so the high desert season begins

[John P Weiser]

Thank you all for the encouragement!

Dave my door is always open! I'm sure Charles would welcome you also.
If anyone else is ever in the area look me up. It would be a pleasure to meet you.

[Peterthecactusguy]

John,
Hey I am going up to Utah in the winter time. I doubt you will be around and there would be nothing to see then, so maybe another time...

Those plants look great, lots neat flowers!

BTW the plants you gave me last year are all doing great. Everyone of them is still alive and some of them are blooming, and a few have lost a pad or two and have multiplied!

I look forward to the rest of your posts from your neck of the woods!

[John P Weiser]

The early spring ethereals are not alone when it comes to early blooms. There are also a few dry-land perennials putting on a show along side them. These plants use modified leaf surfaces to combat water loss. One of the modifications involves the use of fine hairs to shade the surface and dissipate air movement. This helps trap extra humidity, slowing evaporation. You will notice that a gray cast to the leaves in these desert perennials. The gray hues stand out in stark contrast, to the greens found in most plants, enhancing their year round appeal.

Astragalus gilviflorus


Astragalus purshii var. lectulus


Physaria saximontana


Draba hispanica

[daiv]

Dave my door is always open! I'm sure Charles would welcome you also.

Great! I think probably the time in June will afford me more time. The schedule is always a challenge. Seeing Charles is also a must!

[John P Weiser]

Well things are slow around here. just when I think we may get a few days in the 70F range, it cools off again.
I do have a few in bloom.
Thought you guys and gals would like to see my latest photos of Delosperma sphalmanthoides. It is in full bloom right now.





And one shot of a Pedio.

[peterb]

Beautiful! Great color on the Pedio flowers.

peterb

[Peterthecactusguy]

John,
Nice. Those are some nice flowers you got. I might try and grow some of those iceplants in my yard to stem erosion. I don't know how well they will do there or not. Do those require lots of shade?

Those Pedios are wonderful too!

[Harriet]

Pictures like those of your Delosperma are what made me try to grow some. The lesson learned is that Delosperma does NOT like Florida. I really wish it did!