Lovely Rain & White Out On Mount Hopkins

Your Sunday Garden News and weather conditions in the Sonoran Desert. Yesterday's wind blown sand and microscopic grit has given way to lovely rain today. It is alternating between a slow, gentle rain that has a chance to soak in and wild, wind driven squall lines.

The Texas Mountain Laurel in the picture is as close to wisteria as you will find in Sonora. It's picky. It blooms on last year's wood. You can not water it or it's roots will rot. It won't bloom without rain. Last week's less than half an inch has given us gorgeous blossoms. Lovely, pendulous, lavender flowers that remind you of the scent of Juicy Fruit® gum.

The rain at 2800 feet means snow on the mountain. Snow plows will begin running at daybreak so that the astronomers can get from the Observatory down to their dormitories at the bowl. Work all night and sleep all day.