An Orange Monday Morning….

Orange Jubilee

Mondays are usually busy days for most of us.  I know that for me, when the weekend ends, there is a list of things for me to accomplish, including writing my first blog post of the week.

This week promises to be busier then usual for our family.  As I have mentioned before, my son is going in for surgery later this week.  He will be getting another bone graft onto his hip.  Kai, is no stranger to surgery and this one will be his sixth.  The hard part is that he will be confined to a wheelchair and unable to walk for approximately 2 months.  Now that would be hard for most of us to handle, but when it happens to a very active 8 year old boy, it can be even more difficult.  

Due to the upcoming surgery, we celebrated his birthday on Saturday at the park.  It was a beautiful day and we had a great time with family and his friends.  Kai’s real birthday is this Thursday.  I wanted to thank those of you who commented on my last post and wished him a happy birthday 🙂

With all of the upcoming stress of this week, I spent this morning taking a walk in my garden in the morning.  I love to do this after the busyness of the weekend is over and to see what has happened in the garden over the weekend.

I was not disappointed….

Orange trumpet flowers

Orange trumpet flowers

My Orange Jubilee (Tecoma x ‘Orange Jubilee’), is now covered with beautiful sprays of trumpet flowers.

This is one of my very favorite summer flowering shrubs.  I love the rich, green foliage and that this shrub can grow quite large (12 ft. high and 8 ft. wide). 

Orange Jubilee

Orange Jubilee, pruned up from the ground for maximum height.

Another reason that I like this shrub so much is that it is super low-maintenance.  I planted my Orange Jubilee 11 years ago when we built our house.  I have never fertilized this shrub, ever.  It does very well in poor, rocky soil and also thrives in rich, organic soils.

Supplemental water is required in the desert southwest.  The tips can suffer frost damage when temperatures dip into the 20’s and will freeze back to the ground when temperatures hit the teens.  But, it grows back quickly and can achieve heights of 5 – 7 ft. in a single growing season.   It is hardy to zone 7.

Orange Jubilee

Orange Jubilee, pruned from the top, resulting in a fuller and shorter shrub.

It thrives in full sun and in filtered shade.  I like to use it as a background planting along a wall.  I have also recommended it as a screen for a air-conditioning unit and as a less expensive option to hide pool equipment, rather then build a low wall.

Plant smaller shrubs or perennials in front such as Purple Trailing Lantana or Gold Lantana.

Orange trumpet flowers

Oh, by the way, if you like hummingbirds in your garden, they will love your Orange Jubilee.

Favorite Flower Photos: Day 3 – Orange Beauty

Noelle Johnson, aka, 'AZ Plant Lady' is a author, horticulturist, and landscape consultant who helps people learn how to create, grow, and maintain beautiful desert gardens that thrive in a hot, dry climate. She does this through her consulting services, her online class Desert Gardening 101, and her monthly membership club, Through the Garden Gate. As she likes to tell desert-dwellers, "Gardening in the desert isn't hard, but it is different."
19 replies
  1. Antique ART Garden
    Antique ART Garden says:

    Will pray for your little boy to do well with his surgery. Poor little guy having to be confined for two months, I bet you already have some ideas up your sleeve to keep him happy still ! Take care, Gina

  2. Rosie@leavesnbloom
    Rosie@leavesnbloom says:

    So glad that Kai enjoyed his early birthday. I'll remember him in my prayers too.

    I don't think it will be too long before he is doing stunts using his wheelchair.

    The name orange jubilee is so appropriate for this shrub – what a winner in your desert soil.

    🙂 Rosie

  3. sweet bay
    sweet bay says:

    2 months in a wheelchair is a long time! You might need some remote control brakes. You and Kai will be in my thoughts this week.

    Orange Jubilee is gorgeous.

  4. Carol
    Carol says:

    Your Kai must be a special soul… gone through so much surgery. Bless his heart… may this next one go perfectly and maybe he will be out of the wheelchair sooner. I will be thinking of you all Noelle. Happy Birthday Kai!!
    Beautiful Orange Jubilee post… what a great color!

  5. Balisha
    Balisha says:

    Kai's in my prayers.I hope the time goes fast for him. What a little trooper he is. Hugs to him.

    On another note…..there's an award for you at my blog.
    Balisha

  6. Mary-anne
    Mary-anne says:

    Hugs to you and your little man..my son had multiple surgeries until he was 18 – now he is big and strong and gorgeous and those days are just memories…
    on a brighter note – I am coming to Phoenix in October and am looking forward to seeing the desert again. I will look at it differently after discovering your blog

  7. Floridagirl
    Floridagirl says:

    I will remember Kai and your family in my prayers. That is a lot for a boy of eight to have gone through. Hope his surgery goes well and he's up and running around again in no time.

    That orange tecoma is so cheery and bright! I don't know why I haven't added a tecoma to my garden yet.

  8. Curbstone Valley Farm
    Curbstone Valley Farm says:

    Wishing Kai the best for a speedy recovery. I'm sure he'll be back helping in the vegetable gardens in no time.

    I love your Orange Jubilee shrub. It reminds me of a somewhat of our Mimulus growing here, just with more flowers. Lovely!

  9. NellJean
    NellJean says:

    Lovely shrub. We call it Esperanza; Floridata calls the species Yellow Elder. It gets killed to the ground in winter here, so not blooming size yet.

    Love to Kai on his birthday and through his recovery.

  10. Ami
    Ami says:

    Noelle: Kai is the same age as my younger son, who is also very active! I can imagine how hard for Kai to stay on the wheelchair for two months. Best wishes to him, and Happy Birthday to him! Also best wish to you and the whole family.

    Love your organge jubilee shrum. The beautiful flowers real add a bright backdrop to the garden.

  11. gippslandgardener
    gippslandgardener says:

    I'll add my warmest Birthday wishes for Kai to the list too, along with wishes for a very speedy recovery.
    That bright and cheery Orange Jubilee was just what I needed to see on a wet and wintery evening in my part of the world – I feel warmer just looking at it!

  12. Annelie
    Annelie says:

    Oh, gosh, Noelle. I find it hard to read about your son as I have an 8 year old son. I know children don't see the world as adults do, and they sure don't think the way we do. They are often braver, less hesitant and more positive than us. But I always feel that life isn't fair when little children have to go through things like this. I wish him, and you, the best and speedy recovery. Sounds hard and challenging to be confined to a wheelchair for two months.

    On a different note, your orange jubilee is fantastic. Maintenance free – I'm a fan. Humming birds love it? – I'm an even bigger fan. Beautiful flowers – gotta go see if they'd like my zone 6.

    Best,

    Annelie

  13. Rose
    Rose says:

    Gorgeous yellow blooms–I can see why the hummingbirds enjoy this shrub. Thanks for showing the saguaros on your last post–this is the plant I definitely associate with Arizona. But I had no idea they actually flowered; I can't wait to see some of your photos of them in bloom.

    I hope that surgery goes well for Kai; he is a very brave little boy to endure so many of them. I will be thinking of him and keeping you and your family in my prayers this week.

  14. Darla
    Darla says:

    Beautiful Jublilee. Prayers for a successful surgery, and perhaps the stay in the wheelchair will not be as long as anticipated!

  15. Gail
    Gail says:

    I love this plant! The color is so happy and the flower is beautiful. It looks especially nice with your blog's blue background. I add my well wishes for Kai and you; may the surgery be successful and may his recovery speed along. gail

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