Desert color on the cool side

Palm oasis, shady and cool

Everything in the desert isn't hot, and I'm proving it by showing you some plants on the cool green-blue-purple side of the color wheel (and maybe a little pink). I found them all last week on a lazy stroll through Tohono Chul Gardens in Tucson.

I don't know the names of all of the plants, but I'll label what I'm sure of.

Velvet pod mimosa tree, 

which was new to me

Desert willow tree

The saguaros are starting to put out their creamy white flowers! I spotted this white winged dove on top of a tall saguaro.

I also watched this little hummingbird fly over my head and settle into her tiny nest! I was sitting in a stream side chair when I noticed her. The nest wasn't more than six feet above me and she seemed totally unperturbed when people stopped to marvel at her!

A worker there told me that hummingbirds build their nests from spider webs (and sometimes they eat the spiders). This makes the nests very elastic, so they fit snuggly around the babies and expand as needed. I had no idea!

Tohono Chul is dotted with cool, shady spots like this shelter made of branches from the surrounding desert where you can relax and listen to the birds. One of my favorite sound spots is in the video below, where water trickles from hanging pots. It's always a peaceful respite.

Have a colorful day