The Aloe Blossom, the Birds, and the Bees

As spring unfolds in the desert, some of the first plants to bloom in my Phoenix backyard are aloes. I grow several varieties, the largest of which is the aloe vera, a succulent native to the Arabian Peninsula. A few especially big individuals sprout blooms that tower close to five feet in height.

The viscous pulp in the aloe's thick arms is the main ingredient in many ski moisturizers and burn salves, but the scientific evidence on the actual efficacy remains inconclusive. However it's clear that the flowers of the plant sustain a variety of bird and insect life during the yellow blooms' month-long appearance.

The "kwack-kwack-kwack" of Gila woodpeckers and the "tweet-tweet-tweet" of verdins alert me to the presence of the birds in my garden. They are most likely feeding on the nectar of the aloe vera blooms and the insects attracted to the sweet liquid. In fact, I even see Anna hummingbirds that when not imbibing in the nectar also hunt for tiny gnats near the flowers. Meanwhile, the honey bees that visit the blossoms collect not only the nectar but also the pollen.

Many people, including myself, spend a lot of money on bird feeders and the seeds, suet, and sugar water that fill them in our efforts to attract native birds to our homes. Plants proliferating and flowers blooming remind us that there are much less costly ways to attract fauna to our gardens.