Yesterday and today recorded record high temperatures - 106, 109 respectively. The roses are not so fond of this. Blossoms get brown on the edges, and the leaves begin to show stress.

However, the desert plants seem in their glory. Today I noticed the first blossoms on the jumping cholla. This is not a generally attractive plant, but the purple flowers are pretty, especially against the backdrop of the yellow fruit still on the plant from last year.

The spectacle about to begin is the desert spoon. On eplant has 2 flower stalks emerging. These grow at a rapid rate to 8 or 9 feet. I will track the plant and post progress to show. It is a phenomenon.

Well today was one of those where my priorities get mixed up, and what seemed good in the morning left me a bit upset at night.

This morning I inspected my roses, and there were the aphids. I considered getting some lady bugs at the nursery, but, well, they always fly off. And, I worry about black spot on Double Delight. It seems that plant is the most prone of any rose in my garden.

So, my husband, who loves the roses as much as I do, fired up the sprayer. We did a good job - undersides of leaves and all, and left the plants dripping with noxious chemicals.

Later today I was out doors, and a mother desert quail with her brood of 10 pretty newly hatched babies, came in under the gate and scurried into my garden. It must look nice and safe to them. I will upload a photo of the birds in my courtyard.

I feel awful. If the poisons hurt the baby birds, it will be terrible. From now on, my roses are going to have to deal with a little few aphids. They are, after all, sturdy plants!

Roses are simply beautiful now. I have had fresh bouquets in the house for the whole month, and single stems in my bud vase. This wonderful rose season is short in the desert, but it is worth the wait!

Insects can get started now, and when I spot them I spray. I try not to spray too much, and this year, there has not been much problem.

I am now fertilizing with chemical fertilizer -- Miracle Gro for Roses - once/month.

The rose "schedule" here is that in January, the roses are cut to 1/2 height, and all the leaves are pulled off to force the plants into dormancy.

In February I give them a topping that includes a lot of Cottonseed meal, Bone Meal, Sulfur to acidify the soil because the soil here is so alkalin, and a bunch of Epsom Salts so they have magnesium.

They start to get leaves in February, and by April they are magnificent.

Then it gets HOT, and the roses suffer. The flowers are small and not too attractive, and the leaves get brittle and brown on the edges.

In September, I cut back 1/3 or so, and remove the most damaged looking leave. The plants start to grow and flower, and I have roses right through Christmas!