Rejoice, spring is on the way

February 15, 2017
Rejoice, spring is on the way
Growing Native with Petey Mesquitey
Rejoice, spring is on the way

Feb 15 2017 |

/

Show Notes

IMG_33361

I suspect I talk about point-leaf manzantia ( Arctostaphylos pungens) every February, as it is the time of year when I’m feeling florally deprived and seeing it blooming in the hills above our home is a remedy. There are two species of manzanita found in the borderlands and four total in Arizona. When I worked in a nursey in northern New Mexico we grew Arctostaphylos uva ursi, a low ground hugging species that shows up in herbal remedies under the name Uva ursi which, by the way, translates as “bear’s grape” making the whole botanical name mean “bear grapes bear’s grape”. Goodness!

A couple notes: the photos are mine and show a large plant in bloom and then some close up photos of the pointy leaves and the beautiful porcelain looking flowers. You can see where the flowers have been pierced by a nectar robbing insect. The flowers have small openings and not everyone can get in. Pretty cool. The melody I steal for my song is from O Come, O Come, Immanuel, a very old Christmas song.  Now you know.

IMG_33331 IMG_33401

Other Episodes

Episode

July 14, 2015
Episode Cover

Molothrus ater

Petey talks about brown headed cowbirds and their parasitic and intrusive ways.

Listen

Episode

October 09, 2019 00:04:59
Episode Cover

MaLin the Hen and Salvia too

Salvia officinalis is known as cooking sage or garden sage. It is a sage and I say that because folks seem to apply the...

Listen

Episode 0

August 24, 2021 00:04:59
Episode Cover

Mud Daubers in the Barn

Chalybion californicum is the name of the metallic blue black wasp. Both male and female feed on nectar and they are easily spotted on...

Listen