Cimarron Dwarf Sage

 Leucophyllum zygophyllum, Blue Ranger, Cimarron Dwarf Sage, Silverleaf

This shrub grows across the street from my apartment, and it's my dog's favorite hangout.  Fritz loves the patch of grass beside this shrub, he comes back here everyday to pee.:p   I have been asking my neighbors what this shrub is called but no one seems to know.  The couple living in the apartment unit where this shrub is, told me it's been there since they moved in almost 10 years ago, and they never paid attention to the plant.  Since my dog pees here regularly, it's my mom who waters the shrub and the surrounding area.   I love the tiny lavender buds and violet flowers, and the silvery/gray, fuzzy foliage looks like it's frosted with snow.  I searched on line and found the name---Cimarron Dwarf Sage.

Leucophyllum is a genus of evergreen shrubs in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae, native to the Sonoran and Chihuahuan Deserts of Arizona and northern Mexico. It is sometimes placed in the family Myoparaceae.   The dozen-odd species are often called "sages", although they have no relationship to the genus Salvia.  The solitary axillary flowers are bell- or funnel-shaped, with five lobes and two lips, and colors ranging from white to magenta to purple. The generic name is derived from the Greek words λευκός (leukos), meaning "white," and φυλλον (phyllos), meaning "leaf", referring to the trichome-covered foliage. These shrubs are found in sandy soils and have a high salt tolerance.  They have become popular for edge and area plantings in warmer areas and in xeriscaping;  they require minimal water, are easily shaped into hedges, and bloom over their entire surface. (Source:  Wiki)

Leucophyllum shrubs are legendary for their ability to "forecast" rain, usually blooming several days prior to a rainstorm, apparently in response to humidity. They are sometimes called "barometer bush" for this reason. It is believed to be a survival trait in the plants' semi-desert habitats.  They bloom intermittently throughout the summer.

Took these photos in a span of 3 days--from buds until the flowers bloomed.  The flowers are not fragrant but bees love them---bees were all over  I almost got stung.  The shrub is quite a looker when the flowers are in full bloom.  From the tip of every branch, a cluster of tiny vibrant violet flowers dance with the cool February breezes.

Love is, above all, the gift of oneself. ~ Jean Anouilh

Only in love are unity and duality not in conflict.  

~ Rabindranath Tagore

If grass can grow through cement, love can find you at every time in your life. ~ Cher

We don't believe in rheumatism and true love until after the first attack. ~ Marie Ebner Von Eschenbach

An old man [woman] in love is like a flower in winter.

Linking to Floral Friday Fotos and Today's Flowers