spring Archives - Southwest Desert GardeningSouthwest Desert Gardening

Clematis Developing

Clematis is one of the earlier flowers to bloom in my garden. I grow it with the rose, ‘Mermaid.’ This vine blooms first, and almost as soon as it has finished its first bloom, ‘Mermaid’ begins to bloom.

It is truly a sign of the arrival of spring when the vine begins to leaf out and form buds. Spring has definitely arrived in my yard! (That does not mean that we could not still have freezing temperatures at night. But hopefully the temperatures would not go much below freezing and would not last long enough to damage tender growth on established plants.)

Clematis leafing out in early spring

Bud beginning to develop

Pear Blossoms, Another Sign of Spring

Pear blossoms are another sign that spring has arrived. Many of the Bradford pears around Albuquerque have been blooming for a week or so. This is a different pear, one which produces delicious pears for eating. I do not know the name. It was at the house when I bought it. Also at the house is a pollinator pear, necessary for the production of the pear fruit. The tree from which this image comes produces “people” pears, which the birds really do not like. The pollinator pear produces “bird” pears, which this person really does not like. All the way around, it works out very well.