Ocotillo

When we were visiting Big Bend, I saw a beautiful desert plant called the Ocotillo, (Fouquieria splendens).  It grows whip like canes and they have bright beautiful flowers on them.  I figured I may get one to last a season here. I kill almost everything I try to grow. The plant is native to the Sonoron and Chihuahuan deserts. Now they are much hotter than the high desert I live in, but I wanted to try. They are not a cactus.  It is a protected plant so you can’t bring them from the desert, you must buy them at a nursery.

I bought a rather large one because I thought it might live longer.  I managed to keep it alive to watch it bloom. Shortly after that the weather was too cold and wet for the plant. I honest don’t know why every once in awhile I give it a try. I really do have a black thumb and not much luck with plants.

Thankfully for a price they will deliver fresh cut flowers to my home once a week and I do enjoy those.  It is one of those simple pleasures that make me smile.