Friday, September 2, 2011

Dusting the Desert


This feathery beauty, photographed at the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix, is commonly known as a Fairy Duster. Fairy dusters belong to the Calliandra genus, and this particular species is C. eriophylla, also known as False Mesquite.There are two other types of fairy dusters that have red blooms.

The plant's delicate looks belie its hardiness. It is especially suited for the desert because it thrives on heat and is quite resistant to drought. It blooms year-round in some areas, but is most commonly seen in the spring in the Phoenix area.

You can learn more about the Desert Botanical Garden here. It's a living encyclopedia of desert plants and well-worth a visit (but not in the summer!) You can find out more about fairy dusters here and here. You can buy Fairy Duster seeds from Amazon.

I'm linking to How Sweet the Sound for:


9 comments:

My name is Riet said...

That is a lovely plant. I have never seen it.
Happy pink Saturday

Montanagirl said...

Oh, that's beautiful - and aptly named!

Castles Crowns and Cottages said...

HOW GORGEOUS are those flowers! Happy PINK SATURDAY! Come to visit me and see PINK (at least my first photo....)

Welcome to blogland! Anita

Marianne C. said...

Nice to meet another Marianne - good name, indeed! Thank you for visiting my blog.

The fairy duster is lovely among the desert harshness. Oh, and by the way, your moon photos are wonderful.

I live in SE Texas, so here also, by nature, summer will try to hang on. My poem reflects my desires, as I grew up in northern New Jersey. So in my opinion as soon as September rolls around - it's Autumn! Actually the morning today was much cooler than it has been. Yea!

Have a gloriously pink day,
Marianne

Anonymous said...

Hi Marianne and it's so nice to meet you! Oh, what a beautiful plant and it's hard to imagine it growing out in the wild and heat like that. It looks so delicate!
Thanks for popping in to see me and welcome to Blogland and I hope you'll come back for a visit.
be a sweetie,
Shelia ;)

Decor To Adore said...

Oh the DBG is one of my favorite spots to visit!

Ann said...

Thanks for coming by Tin and Sparkle, my title refers to anything tin - mainly tin from the Tin Man from Wizard of OZ. And sparkle-I love anything that sparkles. I love your fairy dust pink flower-it is so lovely. I'm your newest follower
Ann

LV said...

That is exactly the kind of plant I need if it stands heat. It would really thrive in Texas.

Jackie said...

Very pretty, but I don't think it would thrive in my soggy, boggy, and sometimes frost bitten garden.