The cacti are still wearing their styrofoam “hats,” and will continue to do so for several days, as winter has made a big comeback. We’re at the beginning of a five-day hard freeze, nearly unprecedented in this area. The last such, though it didn’t last as long, was two years ago. This is possibly the result of global warming.
Tohono Chul Park was very cold but beautiful today. There were plenty of birds, among them: phainopeplas, white-crowned sparrows, mourning doves, goldfinches, Abert’s towhees, Gila woodpeckers, curve-billed thrasher, pyrrhuloxia, house finch, house wren, cardinal and Gambel’s quails. But we saw no hummingbirds; this weather is hard on them. It kills the nectar flowers and small insects they subsist on. I hope that this year at least a few survive, because two years ago very few did. The biggest surprise today was this ice sculpture in the riparian area:
Beautiful! Amazing! Brrrr!
ReplyDeleteThanks! It's even colder this morning! I'm afraid to go outside, but must do so when the sun comes up to put thawed hummingbird nectar out.
DeleteI have styrofoam on my cactus too. And I just turned on the water to drip for the night. I am glad the A/C guy was here and taught me how to use my heater though. Apparently I had it set on emergency heat. This is much better. My poinsettias froze though. I didn't get them inside in time I guess. Only one of three left.
ReplyDeleteGlad you learned how to use your heater! I left a lot of stuff uncovered. Last time, two years ago, it did no good at all. Only a few things--the shade plants on my porch--are under wraps, with a lightbulb. Also the lemon tree out back that almost died last time and lost 95% of its limbs and leaves.
DeleteWow! Nice picture of the icicles!
ReplyDeleteI hope some hummers survive too. There's a male at my feeder that won't let anyone else near, even though there are 6 ports! Dang! The others are just wasting energy trying to get to it.
If it isn't too late, you might add one or two other feeders. I have some extras I could give you.
DeleteLovely photo.
ReplyDeleteThank you! It was a lovely and bizarre sight!
DeleteI hope the worst is over for you. Nice photo though!
ReplyDeleteThanks. Unfortunately, we have two more really cold days and freezes, but by Wednesday afternoon we should be heading back toward normal. I hope.
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