This was the shadow that a mesquite tree in our front yard cast on the stucco wall several days ago in late afternoon. It looks like a stark winter scene, doesn't it? But I had a pleasant surprise this week.
Our weather in El Paso has been unseasonably warm, with daytime highs in the 70's. I have been strolling around the yard every few days, dreaming of springtime and making plans for planting season. Several days ago, I was idly examining a mesquite branch that was hanging over our upstairs balcony, when I saw it.- a tiny touch of green on a small branch. I rushed downstairs and out into the front yard to check the other three mesquite trees. Yes! The mesquites were out! Hallelujah!
My husband Wayne and I have a serious bet ($100 from our respective clothes budgets) on whether the budding out of the mesquite trees in late February is significant. He says that this year the mesquites may have it wrong in predicting the last frost date. She says that the mesquites have never failed her. When the first bit of green appears on a mesquite branch, I firmly believe that winter is over.
Over the next few days, I discovered more flora around our house that was willing to risk an early appearance. There was the yellow cassia in a desert area near the pool. Two years ago in February, when we were experiencing a severe freeze, the cassia froze to the ground. Now it was luxuriating in the warm weather and had covered itself in small fragrant yellow blooms. Another name for the bush is the Golden Shower Tree. Take a look at this picture and you will see why.
The agarita bushes in the front yard were also awake Wayne would like to recreate memories of his youth in Del Rio, Texas (down the Rio Grand River from El Paso) by landscaping with plants from that area. Some plants thrive in our very dry El Paso climate, and some don't, but we have two agarita bushes that are growing in a western exposure with a little extra watering. The agaritas have gray-green foliage and are prickly to the touch, but they make up for their unfriendliness by producing small extremely sweet smelling yellow flowers. The flowers become tiny red berries that some industrious cooks make into agarita jelly.
The struggling dwarf nectarine tree in our garden was putting on a show with pink blossoms, beloved by small bees. I should cull the small fruit that will appear later on this season, but I hate to destroy anything that dares to grow in our challenging climate.
My gardening friends are making dire predictions that the brave plants that are putting on new growth will be set back or destroyed by a late frost. I'll admit that we can have some wild weather in El Paso in March or even early April. But I put my faith in those little green mesquite leaves. I may not win the lottery, but I may have an extra C- note to spend on a new spring wardrobe!
