A little bit of paradise in the desert (Las Vegas)
Last year I took a $20 gamble in hopes to bringing the beautiful plumerias that I’ve seen in California, Florida and Hawaii to my backyard. I know it’s going to sound crazy, but I’ve desperately tried to make my backyard into a tropical oasis. One with shade, beautiful flowers, and a sanctuary to both humming birds and bees.
What sucks about Vegas is the scorching sun, the bitter winter cold, and the wicked combination of heat and 0 humidity that kills off all but the hardiest of plants. So when I planted my plumeria in late September last year, I didn’t have much faith.
My palm tree, yellow bells, Mexican bird of paradise and Pygmy palm provide the necessary shade for my little addition. I’ve kept the soil cooler by planting mint, which although invasive I don’t mind as it keeps the weeds down and soil cooler. All of these things allowed the plumeria tree I planted, a chance to grow.
My wife was teasing me calling it my little stick, as it wasn’t until recently the little stick sprouted leaves. And it’s grown about 3inches since I planted it. I’m looking forward to my little stick growing into the beautiful tree I know it will be.