True Dirt

Aloe, I mean agave in the shade

2009-11-19T13:15:00.003-07:00

Hardy zone 9 and up, light shade, any soil

I got this for $4 in very bad shape.

It had a rough summer but made it.

Grapes of Laredo

2009-11-17T11:46:00.004-07:00

Red Flame Seedless

Full Sun to Partial Shade

Hardy Zone 5 and up.

Shrubs

2009-11-15T16:46:00.004-07:00

Asparagus Fern

Bluebeard Dark Knight

Honeysuckle

Veggies

2009-11-12T17:13:00.004-07:00

Tomatoes & Peas

Loofah

Carrots & Cauliflower

Annuals

2009-11-10T09:05:00.002-07:00

Petunias

Nasturtium

Wildflower Mix

Finally

2009-09-11T20:02:00.003-07:00

Da loofah!

Only took 4 months!

Anyone know how long it takes the fruit to mature?

Are these Aphids?

2009-09-02T15:14:00.005-07:00

I have several plants that are under attack by these little guys. They are very small.

This is a watermelon. My pumpkins have been obliterated.

I bought some ladybugs but I'm not sure that is enough. Help!

Hibiscus

2009-08-26T16:11:00.004-07:00

My hibiscus are blooming like crazy right now. They would not hold still so I only got one photo.

A few good plants

2009-08-21T15:34:00.007-07:00

I'm not sure I planted these prickly pears right. They're not leaning over like the other species is. I guess that is a good sign.

No idea what this is. There is a lot of new growth on top.

Again, no idea what this is, but it has doubled in size.

Gourd

2009-08-19T15:42:00.004-07:00

Okay, the gourd planting appears to have been a bit of a bust. I did get this one little guy though. I'll give him another couple of weeks to grow up a bit.

Desert plants

2009-08-15T10:52:00.002-07:00

Does anyone know what these are?

I got them all at once from a friend.

They are very cool, but I've no idea what they are.

Moon Cactus Bloom

2009-08-14T15:23:00.005-07:00

These flowers are very special.

They are the first cactus bloom I've had in my short gardening career.

Summer annuals

2009-08-09T09:41:00.006-07:00

These heat loving annuals are pretty beat up from the Arizona sun.

Although the vinca don't seem to mind much.

This is the only lisianthus flower left. I think it is the best one I've seen all summer.

Second bloom

2009-08-08T13:55:00.005-07:00

This is the second time this loofah vine has bloomed.

The flowers seem a little different then the first time.

Hope we get some loofahs this time.

Veggie Garden

2009-08-06T15:56:00.005-07:00

This pumkin should be ready around the middle of October.

I'm always amazed at the Vinca's ability to take the direct desert sun.

Lily of The Nile

2009-08-04T16:19:00.010-07:00

I bought a Lily of the Nile at Home Depot.

Ever since I started gardening I've wanted one of these.

Now if I can just keep it alive.

Hibotan

2009-08-03T06:00:00.003-07:00

I found these little guys at Home Depot.

I couldn't resist the color.

I put them on the north side of my back wall under a dwarf palm for filtered light.

Desert garden progress

2009-08-02T06:00:00.002-07:00

The gravel is in!

Potting Bench

2009-08-01T06:00:00.001-07:00

10 smackers at a garage sale across the street. It'll do.

Gourds

2009-07-30T06:00:00.004-07:00

My gourd vine is struggling in the intense heat.

As promised

2009-07-29T16:01:00.004-07:00

Here is the watermelon I told you about in this post. And whala! It wasn't too bad. Kinda watery but pretty sweet.

Free plants

2009-07-28T17:05:00.001-07:00

Here are some more of the plants I got from Jonny.

Shade Cloth

2009-07-27T16:37:00.005-07:00

I wrapped my Arizona Ash in shade cloth at the beginning of the summer. The sun has been absolutely relentless this year.

Bamboozld

2009-07-26T08:32:00.003-07:00

I used some bamboo to train this Royal Trumpet Vine.

Contemplation coming along

2009-07-25T09:26:00.003-07:00

The contemplation room is coming along slowly by surely.

Soaker hose

2009-07-20T16:06:00.005-07:00

I have finally made the connection from one side of the garden to the other. Should save water.

Cactus Garden

2009-07-13T15:11:00.008-07:00

I got all of these from my new friend Jonny. Thanks Jonny!

Portulaca

2009-07-13T15:09:00.003-07:00

This is becoming my favorite summer annual. It is completely unfazed by the Arizona sun.

Give...me...shade...please...

2009-07-13T15:08:00.004-07:00

These poor guys are stuck over against the house until August. It's just too darn hot.

Z little gardenaire

2009-07-13T15:07:00.004-07:00

Now that is cute!

Royal Trumpet Vine

2009-07-13T15:06:00.006-07:00

Got this vine on clearance at Lowe's. I know it's not a good time to stick it in the ground but I did it anyway. That's just how I roll.

Lessons learned, hopefully

2009-07-13T15:05:00.006-07:00

The new watermelon plant is in the ground. I planted the same variety so that I can learn from my mistakes. I will water a little less and prune to cultivate four melons. Wish me luck!

Back yard journal

2009-07-13T15:04:00.006-07:00

Here is another angle of the back yard. The vines on the pool fence are gourds. Have a great weekend everybody!

Uno mas

2009-07-13T15:03:00.006-07:00

I managed to salvage the other watermelon. I let you know how it tastes. We're having it for desert tonight. Oh yeah, I'm rocking the Abe Lincoln!

Better luck next time

2009-07-13T15:01:00.007-07:00

My first attempt at growing watermelons was, shall we say...less than successful. Oh, well better luck next time.

Loofahs gone wild

2009-07-13T14:55:00.003-07:00

This loofah was planted by my two oldest daughters. It apparently has it in for the cat claw vine. Down boy!

What is it?

2009-07-12T15:17:00.003-07:00

Corn...Corn...Corn...Not corn...Corn...Wait a second. What is that? I thought I had planted just corn. Does anybody know what this little guy is?

Soaker Hose

2009-07-11T15:17:00.007-07:00

Now you see it. Now you don't. I buried the soaker hose. After only a week in this desert sun, it was starting to spring leaks.

Drip Line

2009-07-10T15:42:00.003-07:00

I may or may not have ran over this drip line with the lawn mower and this may or may not be the 4th one of these I have replaced this summer.

Front Lawn

2009-07-09T15:51:00.009-07:00

This is my front lawn. Pretty boring, but I've got big plans! Big plans I say! You just wait and see! Yes...yes, those are my wife's melons over yonder.

Wildflowers

2009-07-08T15:43:00.002-07:00

I broadcast these wildflowers in the sandy part of my back yard about a month ago. Look what I found today.

The Vegetable Garden

2009-07-07T14:25:00.008-07:00

Here is my vegetable garden. So far I've got corn, tomato and peppers growing.

Back Yard Journal

2009-07-07T14:13:00.005-07:00

In an effort to memorialize the metamorphosis of my back yard, I've started the Back Yard Journal.

Tomato

2009-07-06T16:40:00.008-07:00

The newest edition to the vegetable garden is this tomato plant. I bought it at Lowe's. My wife thinks I put the cage upside down. Oh well!

Full Sun

2009-07-05T15:36:00.011-07:00

I have just learned an important fact about July gardening in Phoenix, AZ. Full sun equals mostly shade. Ouch!