One of my favorite ubiquitous desert plants is the creosote bush. Larrea tridentata is a long living bush, found in most of the deserts of the American southwest. We have lots and lots of creosote near our house. It rarely grows above 4 feet in height, although I have seen taller ones. They fight aggressively for water, which is how they survive the desert climates. Right now, many of them are in bloom. Once they are done blooming, fuzzy little red fruit turns into seed pods. These seed pods have a remarkable way of attaching themselves to fuzzy Pono dogs. I am planning to attempt to germinate some this fall. I tried last year, but failed because of poor planning.
After a rain fall, this bush has a strong scent, one which I have grown to love. Rain is such a rare and treasured thing, that I am always happy to smell wet creosote. This shrub is evergreen, although during times of extreme drought, it will drop many of its leaves. For more reading about this hardy desert shrub, click here.
The lizards are so abundant this year, but they have so far managed to elude my camera lens. Dang, but they are quick! I don't plan to give up, and hope to have some wonderful lizard shots soon. Until then, you will have to enjoy a lizard monotype.
2 comments:
You need Maisie to help catch those lizards for ya! Beautiful monotype, Karine.
It's so great to see all the life in the desert through your blog. Even if we visit these places, it would only be for one season, so it's great to see how life there changes through the year.
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