Petey is very excited about spring, but avocados are on his mind. Please stay out of the produce section Petey!
It is very exciting to think that avocados come from a plant native to the Americas. A wild native in the Laurel family, Lauraceae. A family that includes other interesting species like cinnamon, and bay laurel. And though we can’t grow an avocado tree (Persea americana), here in southeastern Arizona we can sure enjoy the pulpy fruit and spicy leaves of this very cool plant.
Simmondsia chinensisis is now in its own family, Simmondsiaceae, and not in the boxwood family, Buxaceae. Yay! The foliage and stems of jojoba are...
There are three species of Acourtia found in Arizona. If you are a desert rat of sorts, say you walk around, poke around in...
A spring wildflower in the primrose family Onagraceae, Oenothera primiveris is always a delightful surprise in our yard. And thank you Carl Linnaeus for...
