The color of these Esperanza blossoms is breathtaking.

This is my baby Lindheimer's Senna. It is the volunteer offspring of the big one that my buddy gave me when I first became a Master Naturalist. There were about 15 babies last year. Only this one survived the freeze.

This is Indian Mallow. It grows wild in my WildZone. I sprinkle a little water on the sennas, and a few of the mallows take advantage.

There are two very healthy plants and about 100 that are dried up and shriveled.

I LOVE this windmill. I always wanted one.

This is a sage of some kind. It is blooming out nicely right now.

Those miserable, rotten, despicable, vicious, horrible, and destructive squirrels are eating the bark off my favorite tree.

I bought some burlap wraps that will cover the damage and hopefully protect the tree while it heals.

Now, these guys are terrifying! I read last night that they can remember someone who tries to knock down their nest for several days, and will come back to get them. The are perfectly harmless when they are out on their own foraging. But mess with a nest and they will swarm you and sting you with a vengeance. Unlike bees, they can sting you over and over. So, just leave them alone, unless they build their nest in a place that blocks your door or something. They are valuable pollinators.

Okay... The first article I read about deterring squirrels said to use Sriracha sauce. The squirrels didn't notice. The squirrel spray I purchased online was about as effective. I don't mind sharing bird seed, but I'll be damned if I will let the little creeps destroy my tree.

This was supposed to be a beautiful shot of a hummingbird. So where the heck is he???? I know I saw him when I was taking the picture.

This looks like a two-armed creature with claws. See its little alien head in the center.

See what I mean?

There is a family of these guys in the front landscaping. Rachel has counted 11. They are from this size to little tiny ones. I see a few in the back, but not as many.

I watched him eat a few bugs right off the plant. I was hoping he would stick his dewlap out.

I don't know what these are, but I like them. Rachel has other colors, too.

The turk's cap has spread nicely. It is one of my favorite natives.

These are the only surviving blackfoot daisies from about twenty plants. The BIG FREEZE got most of them.

Nice to see bees in the front. I don't get many in the back, this time of year.

Rachel's plumbagos are darker than mine in the back.

I used to know what these are called. For a second, I thought they might be periwinkles, but I think that's a sea creature. Yep... I asked Siri. He says they are small edible sea snails in the whelk family. Oh well. Rachel will tell me when she sees this.