Phoenuts

(Even though the post date says Feb 2010, the actual plant -harvest dates were July through October 2009).
What can be better in the heat of the desert summer than a lush bed of nitrogen-rich peanut plants? The "seeds" were bought at the local natural food store as raw peanuts (in the shell). Planted without the shell but with the red skin intact, they all sprouted quite quickly.

Pretty, pea-like flowers.

The flower sends out (down) a "peg" -a sort of modified root which grows a peanut when it makes contact with the right soil conditions. The red circle indicates the fading flower at the tip of the downward-growing peg.

A bountiful harvest.