View of my back garden, which includes 'Rio Bravo' Sage in the forefront, Palo Verde tree, Arizona Yellow Bells and Bougainvillea.
I have some confessions to make....
- I am not a neat gardener, my garden has a messy, carefree look to it.
- I like low-maintenance plants that don't need a lot of attention from me, as long as they look beautiful.
- I would rather be inside during a summer day, enjoying the comforts of my air-conditioner, instead of outside in the garden in the heat.
- I don't always prune my plants at the right time of year. I am more of a "Do as I say, not as I do" person.
- I am a horticulturist who sometimes wears nail polish.
- I am a Certified Arborist who does not climb trees, I tell people how to prune them instead.
- I don't have a lot of cactus in my garden.
- I have a floppy hat that I wear when gardening that my daughters wouldn't be caught dead wearing.
-I hate cleaning up after myself when I finish pruning, so I bribe my kids to do it instead.
NOW, after hearing about all of my dirty laundry - if you still want to read on....
Here is the cast of characters who make up my life without whom, my garden and my life would not be what it is today:
My eighteen year-old daughter and the newest addition to our family - my 11 year old daughter.
My two youngest children...they are six months apart in age.
Oldest daughter and Son-in-law
They are very busy with their own lives but are always available to bring their pick-up truck when I need it.
Missy
Okay, so she really doesn't assist me, but she does keep me company in the garden.
Okay, so she really doesn't assist me, but she does keep me company in the garden.
Tobey is from our local animal shelter and he loves dirt.
I never thought I would own a little dog...
Seiko (pronounced 'Psycho').
He came with the name...he makes me feel safe.
Now if only I could keep him away from my shrubs...they don't need to be watered by him.
My biggest supporter(s):
Always there to dig my holes and pick up after me when I have finished pruning...
So, that is all about me and my life as it relates to my life as a horticulturist. My passion for plants makes me happy and I love nothing more then to help people learn how to grow beautiful plants that thrive in our desert climate.
"Gardening in the desert isn't difficult...it is just different from everywhere else."
"Gardening in the desert isn't difficult...it is just different from everywhere else."
4 comments:
Noelle, You do have a nice garden, a happy family and a beautiful home. I can see the joy that radiates from everyone's faces. Your eldest daughter looks very much like you. I like your blog and glad that I got to know you through Blotanical. It's been a pleasure reading your posts and I look forward to many many more. Cheers and long live to Blotanical and our regular virtual meetings and chit-chats!
Hello,
Do you have any more pictures of your yard with any flowers,besides just the one photo of the lovely flowers? My two daughters live near Phoenix and they say its very hard to grow almost anything except cactus's. I visited my daughters in Arizona last year and I was not very impressed at all, I saw mostly gravel yards and cactus's everywhere, I don't recall seeing one yard that was lush with flowers, some did have a few lemon trees and aloe's in the yards. I do know my one daughter could use some help with gardening there. Also I suppose it's because I live in zone 5 where there is lots of greenery and my perennials do fine, It was a shock to me when I saw the landscape in Arizona. I know there are flowers that do bloom there, but they would have to be desert type flowers for the most part that can survive 110 degree heat. There is a company in New Mexico called "High Country Gardens" that has a nice assortment of flowers, trees and shrubs for the desert regions. I would guess their the same zone as you. I've ordered from them before to add perennials for my borders that face the street, or inferno strips as they call it, they are perennials that withstand heat and drought, granted we don't get the heat here Arizona does but the plants are doing very well, with little to no watering.
Good Luck and Happy Gardening!
Soon to be released will be the book "Sustainable Landscape Management" adopted by the Arizona Landscape Contractors Association which promotes exactly what you describe here. http://www.azlca.com/
This is all so cute, so unbelievable cute, I am not coming back.
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