One of the biggest benefits to living in the mountains in the summer is the ability to have flowers. I tried for years to grow flowers and plants in Mohave Valley but they all died….the heat and dryness defeated me. Now my Mohave Valley flowers are all metal!! But I am please to say summer flowers are back in my life.
![DSC04927 DSC04927](//lh3.googleusercontent.com/-_vtdGfVywjE/VgRTka-qDMI/AAAAAAAAZ54/0QiHHMh7-w0/DSC04927_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800)
This beautiful orange flower is a dahlia and they grow from bulbs. Hopefully it will come back on it’s own next year.
![DSC04929 DSC04929](//lh3.googleusercontent.com/-txMU6GeUvlY/VgRTmCZBbFI/AAAAAAAAZ6M/YPh8kudFXXk/DSC04929_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800)
Another perennial called sedum. I used to have these in La Crosse, the flowers start out as a very pale pink and gradually darken to burgundy. They are also easily divided so I will be having more every year!
Some annuals that I got this year….I have decided that I will NEVER buy petunias again. They look pretty good here but most of the summer they looked horrible. Next year I will be on to something new.
This is a coleus, doesn’t flower but has spectacular leaves. There are several varieties and they all have very colorful leaves.
Another variety of coleus, love them they have such beautiful leaves. Next year I intend to have several varieties, planted in the ground to create a border along the back of the yard. Cannot wait, it will be impressive!!
![DSC04967 DSC04967](//lh3.googleusercontent.com/-uZSxSzEEz9E/VgRTr8Ro54I/AAAAAAAAZ7I/sE_aXxtYqCU/DSC04967_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800)
It’s not fall without mums…..aren’t they pretty??
Pyracantha, a perennial that was here when we moved here. They have these pretty orange berries (not edible) on them. The ones we have are pretty leggy so starting next year I will be pruning them to try and get them under control. A lot of places here have this plant as a hedge. Really pretty but they have prickers and can bite you….
![DSC04971 DSC04971](//lh3.googleusercontent.com/-x91HIt02l_s/VgRTuqbTxyI/AAAAAAAAZ7o/Op_CCO7YdXU/DSC04971_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800)
Ah….the lovely fuchsia, This had an open flower when I bought it and one other, otherwise nothing. Now when we are getting ready to leave, it has all of these buds on it. I wish one was open because the outer petals are this hot pink color but the inside is a deep purple. They are gorgeous!!
Hopefully next summer, this blog will be full of even more beautiful flowers and plants!!