Texas Ranger

My Texas Ranger (Leucophyllum laevigatum), which is a stand alone bush, is so big that I can't get it into an entire frame without it looking puny.  So I took this close up of a section so that you could get a sense of the beauty of the color when it is in bloom.

It's a scrawny thing most of the year, with leaves scattered loosely throughout the bare branches, especially during the winter.

It seems every winter I tell my neighbor, the gardener, "I think it's dead."  She always reassures me that "it bloomed last summer and it will bloom again, have faith, Laurie."

It also blooms sporadically throughout the summer, based on the humidity, during the monsoon.  A big wind or hard rain will come and blow off all the blooms, then the process will have to begin over later when the humidity peaks again after a decent rain.

The beautiful purple bushes can be seen all around town this time of year.  They are simply gorgeous.