My garden tour this Saturday included visiting Mrs. Cardinal, who is still sitting in her nest and checking out the flowers on my Desert Roses. Having grown up gardening in the Deep South, a bastion of summer humidity, I have never grown real roses as fungus and I just don’t get along. In South Florida, Desert Roses (Adenium obesum) can be easily grown in containers and thrive on benign neglect. At long last, I have roses.
Mrs. Cardinal in position:
![](https://theshrubqueen.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/pxl_20240405_1225060392.jpg)
Desert Rose in pink:
![](https://theshrubqueen.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/pxl_20240406_123009372.portrait2.jpg)
Desert Rose in red:
![](https://theshrubqueen.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/pxl_20240406_123355674.portrait2.jpg)
These plants are from the desert of the Arabian peninsula and are considered succulents. The trunks can take unusual forms. They prefer dry conditions and rarely need water. I have enjoyed these plants in containers, they are evergreen, have interesting forms and flower regularly. They are available in many colors and some people collect them. I prune mine occasionally and water and fertilize if it crosses my mind. Mostly they sit in the blazing full sun and bask.
![](https://theshrubqueen.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/pxl_20240406_123850980.portrait.jpg)
![](https://theshrubqueen.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/pxl_20240406_123320340.portrait2.jpg)
![](https://theshrubqueen.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/pxl_20240406_123809792.portrait.jpg)
That’s it from South Florida this week. We are enjoying a cool, dry spell of spring weather and it is a beautiful day. I need to get outside!
To see more SOS posts, visit Jim’s blog, Garden Ruminations and follow the links in the comments section.