I've got the garden blues

[Photo taken May, 2009]

I've been trying to adjust to gardening in the desert, but the cycles are so alien - I keep missing the important plant dates, and feel like I am constantly fighting the climate - oh, wait, I AM constantly fighting the climate. 

I could be savvy and plant only native plants, and take the brown, blown-out look of the summer months as due course.  Others do this, and their gardens are beautiful.  Even in summer.  It's a local look that can be achieved with the right plants and a bit of design work.

But I'm too much the Midwestern garden girl, and I crave the greens of the heartland.  I'm trying to find plants that take the heat and dry and, with some applied water, stay green and lush, but it's a battle. 

I get actively angry when I go in to the local garden centers, and they are showing plants that can only survive here on a constant drip feed of water.  I'm just not going there, and nobody else should be, either.  It's going to be a very rude awakening when the valley finally has to ration water.  Too many people here are just too damn complacent that their water supply won't be threatened.  Huh.  Really? 

Top that with our monsoon season being exceptionally stingy with the rain, and I'm down in the dumps. 

Comments

[marianne]

Been there, Jenn! I've always lived on a farm in various 4 season locations so it took awhile to get rid of that gardening mentality. Documenting desert flora through photography has made me come to love and have great respect for desert plants. I'm fascinated by everything growing in the desert! What I used to think ugly is now beautiful even when dormant. So....give it time.

As for water....unless it's native, you're not going to have luck without water but....have you read anything about harvesting water? Keep an eye out for a great class at the DBG on water harvesting. Also check out: http://ag.arizona.edu/pubs/water/az1052/harvest.html. Something as simple as depressions filled with cardboard are great. The cardboard soaks up the rain (when we get it) and keeps plants happy for a little bit.

Again....give the desert a chance :-)

[Jenn]

This is my third summer, Marianne. I was hoping I'd be a little more in sync with my new seasons by now.

I also think that I will have a better time of it when I am in a property we own instead of lease. I so long to rip out the grass in the front of this place and plant a saguaro, but out landowners LIKE the grass. They told us they ripped out all the 'weedy' stuff before they put the house in the lease market.

Sigh. Bet I could have done something with that palate. Not much anyone can do with square of grass. Mow it and curse a lot.

[danger garden]

I can totally sympathize with you as far as the ownership angle. It makes such a mental difference! If the property is yours you can do what you want, if not then your hands are tied and you feel in limbo and it adds to your discontent. At least it did for me.

As for the part about getting used to the desert and desert plants...well to be honest I long for that. To be able to grow the agaves and cacti that I love in the ground and not worry about the rain killing them! But I also realize that I can dream and I only get the good parts. You are living it "in real life." You've made me realize I should be thankful for what I have. So, thank you for that. And I will be sending you good gardening vibes.

Please forgive me for suggesting this if you already have, but have you toured the Desert Botanical Garden? Maybe you could find a little inspiration there? Good luck...

[Marie]

I haven't read your whole blog, so maybe you've already found this but for me Mary Irish's book, Month by Month Gardening in the Desert Southwest, is indispensable. You'll never miss a planting date again. I've been poring over it this week getting excited to get my fall veggies going next week. Once you get used to it, the productivity of a winter vegetable garden is astounding. But I've never had the chance to garden in another climate, so I don't know what I'm "missing." Good luck and happy planting!

[Mo]

Once again I am right with you Jenn on everything you say! I have been here 10 years and still find it difficult to adapt, though I am getting better. This summer non-soon has been really AWFUL though!

[Jenn]

Yesterday's numbers:
High 104°F
Low 78°F
Rainfall 0.18 in.

This was the second rainfall of the season.

[chuck b.]

Have you seen Debra Bowen's book, Designing with Succulents? Might tide you over...