Ocotillo

April is the time when the ocotillos around here bloom. The blossom makes a tea somewhat like hibiscus. Boil water, turn off the heat and steep the blossoms. Turns a dark red.

[flickr_set id=”72157627233903733″] Ocotillo is also great for a “living fence”. Pull a couple of branches off a plant (never take too many from the same plant, so that it will not suffer), put it in the ground (attached to others or a fence) and it will grow. Don’t over water it though, as that can kill it.

We have an ocotillo just over the hill from us that is larger than any we’ve ever seen. The photo shows Leo at its base.