old world plants in a new world desert garden

during our cooler months, here in our New World Sonoran desert, we can add other low water use plants from the deserts and arid lands of the Old World.












I have a few aloe species that start to bloom in the Fall. I also have a large aloe specie
that is just now sending up it's inflorescence.









I also have brought a beautiful little bulb into my garden for it's winter bloom - Moraea polystachya. The plant has a nice grassy leaf yet needs to be placed in an area that does not receive too much water because the bulb can become spread rapidly and become invasive - a flower box or smaller area will contain it as well. The seeds disperse but not very far. My bulbs are planted in part shade, rocky sandy soil in areas that get mostly just rain water. I think in rich soil and with water this bulb could be a pest.

after the rains

13 years later, the desert park by my home is recovering from the drought with a full complement of green seedlings.

Since the rains came later in the Fall and now early in the new year, there might be a different mix of wildflowers this spring - can't wait to find out.

I love it when the ferns start to surface - ferns in the desert? I have yet to become familiar with them but here is a photo of one and if you recognize it let me know...

Thanks to Lorena, I now know that the plant is Astrolepis cochisensis ssp. arizonica. She has an excellent website - Southern Arizona Rare Plants .