Heat lovers

This week, not only did it continue in the triple digits but it ramped it up into the triple teen digits. Yes, it's a "dry" heat but it's still hot. I decided that it was time to highlight some of our heat loving perennials. They provide the color in our garden during our very warm summers.

Bougainvillea comes in many colors. We think that the color is worth the pruning while watching for thorns. Many do not. We are constantly told, "I will never plant bougainvillea." Glen loves his bougainvillea. The above picture is what is left of the "trees" that he had nurtured for years until our big winds last summer. This was followed by a couple of very hard freezes this winter. All above ground growth froze. Thank goodness for hardy root systems just waiting to send up new growth once it got warm enough.

The Mexican Bird of Paradise is pruned all the way back during the winter and makes its way back for a splash of color on the corner after the sunflowers have come and gone.

It's showy and the hotter it is, the more it blooms.

The plumbago sits back and waits for the sun and warmth again in a shady winter spot.

More bougainvillea grows on the back wall by the pool.

These two colors are planted together for a real splash of color.

I've always thought I had a lilac vine, but a neighbor told me it must have been mislabeled at the nursery. Does anyone know the correct name for this lovely plant? I know that it loves the heat and that I love it.

The hibiscus love the heat. They also froze back this winter and had to be heavily pruned.

I especially love this ruffled variety.

This morning brought a lovely surprise. Clouds in the sky! There may be some of you who may have clouds in the sky everyday and are wondering why this is such a big deal. Well, it has been weeks since there were clouds in the sky. Weeks! Hopefully this is a sign that our weather pattern is changing and that moist air is making its way up from the Gulf of Mexico signaling what we call "the monsoon." We often receive much of our average 7 inches of rain during July and August.

We will also be blessed with amazing thunder storms. Hopefully, there is rain and not just lightening. The last thing Arizona needs is lightening caused wildfires. There have been more than enough of the other kind (mostly man caused) during the month of June.

Just for the record, I am not a heat lover! But I do love to swim. There are positives and negatives to every season.