Hi fellow SW Gardeners!

Thought I would stop by to see what is happening with everyone these days. Our January weather has already by a mixed bag of tricks with extreme low temps and a beautiful 60 degrees yesterday! Boy, when Webster's Dictionary defined "desert" as a sway in extreme temps as opposed to just "arid and dry", they were not kidding!!

So, I took full advantage of our beautiful weather and began the first effort for Spring in the main bed. Normally, I would have overwintered plants, but this winter it lay bare as we heavily amended after the fall harvest. One thing about letting a bed lay bare over winter is that you get a really good idea how much water is used... and I was very surprised, indeed! Definitely going to begin using straw or wood chips this year.

We added four trellis sections to the bed this winter. Three in the back and one arch cattle panel to the side. I am hoping this will keep the cucs, beans, and melons a little more tidy. Besides, I really am hoping for a walk-through grow tunnel at some point just because I think they are magical. My snow pea and sweet peas vine seeds are on their way to me, so with a bit of luck I will be able to evaluate the feasibility of the arch this Spring.

I am still working on getting those pine trees in the ground!! I have had them since May '18 and they are still in the hoop house. 2018 was a whirlwind of a year for us. Thankfully, the fence project is complete and I can concentrate more on my own improvements. I did get two holes dug yesterday and expect to dig two more today. The wire surrounds have been built, so once the threat of frost is gone, planting will be swift! I did get one in the ground last fall and it seems to be doing well.

I picked up three Wilson Olive trees this week, four creeping Rosemary, and three yellow barrel cacti. The cacti will be planted near our new arbor with the rosemary (hopefully) cascading over the railroad tie planter beds. I am thinking of braiding the olive trees to form one beautiful focal point, but I am asking the experts in the tree forum for any tips or suggestions beforehand.

Overall, it looks like the majority of last year's projects have carried over to this year. But that is okay as the year is young!

Wishing you all a wonderful 2019!!

Hi Gina, as usual, you're in there planning and doing your projects and encouraging us to get moving. I'm always amazed at how well you do with your gardening!

I have a houseful of plants, and a greenhouse full of plants that I've been caring for. I think I'll do some winter sowing of some veggie seeds just to see if it works for me. I do want at least some tomatoes this year. We missed them last year! Last year I grew some flower seeds and they were so nice, I want to do more of them. We don't have any place near us to buy plants except for Walmart.

Good morning, Karen.

Good to see you, again. Oh, you know, once we start getting beautiful days I must get outside. I don't work as fast as I once did, but the slow and steady method gets the job done, which means I have to start as early as possible.

We recently sold the boat we had on our property, so I have a new space. I think it would be ideal for a little citrus zone. I have a fig on one end and thought a lemon, lime, and orange or pomegranate would complete the row quite nicely. They will have some protection from the Northern winds. Unfortunately, AZ doesn't allow citrus to be shipped in, so I will have to begin looking for them in the nurseries. We have a trip to town planned tomorrow, so hopefully Star or Moon Valley nursery will have what I need.

I can easy get lazy or discouraged, but sheer determination keeps the engine going. We have a new pooch now, Sol, and she seems to keep the rabbits at bay! The population has dramatically decreased.

I am glad you are enjoying your new flowers. It is one of the things I miss the most in the desert. That was my hope for the hoop house: grow flowers, herbs and such, although that hasn't seem to work out the way I had imagined it just yet. It still seems to be a landscaping nursery, so part of my determination is to get those cacti, palms, berries, and trees into the ground so I can begin on building the interior of the hoop house to meet my expectations. I overthink things which paralyses my action. I also double-guess my planting decisions which in turn ends up losing out on optimum planting windows. Hopefully, this year I will be more decisive and just get it done. I guess my mind works in absolutes and I forget that what gets planted can always be unplanted... I seem to forget that often.

I know a gardener's work is never done, but I will be very happy once the major hardscapes are complete. That really is my motivation as father time stops for no one.

Take care, my friend.

You accomplish so much! I am much slower, but I do tend to overthink things too.
Your fruit grove will be wonderful!

My place still looks like a landscape nursery too. Too many pots because planting in the ground is hazardous here. Is your dog out all the time? In AZ we had tons of rabbits. Our dog was in and out all day, but they always managed to eat my plants when he wasn't out or looking. We have fewer rabbits here, but they still sneak in and eat things. I had some new plantings of agave victoria reginae, and they ate them down to nubbins. Very ugly, and I may have to toss them. I doubt they will recover.

Good day, Karen,

Sorry to hear about your agave... we, too, had the same experience. Our Sol does not stay out all the time. She is with us constantly, so if we are inside or outside, she is there. I know those critters are sly and they still come around, but I think her urine and waste are a warning, daytime only, to them. No way they will be completely off the property - everything gets wired... even the paddle cacti has to be wired. The only things that don't require wiring are the native plant species.

Never did make it to the nursery, yesterday. Had our granddaughter's first birthday party. What a joy! However, we did bring home 1.8 tons of bulk planter soil. I dug out the crap soil out of my 10X10 planter last fall, so I am excited to see what that bed will become. It will also finish up my berry bed. I have planted potatoes in that spot once, or twice, before, and they say not to plant after potatoes, but I can't worry about that too much right now. I have the peat moss and limestone on hand to bring down the pH levels and a cheap soil tester to check it. If I have to replace the berry plants in the future, well so be it. I will give them the best head start that I can. And, any leftover soil will be used in the hoop house for herb gardening. I really miss having fresh cilantro on hand. What I won't miss is the shoulder aches I am bound to experience hand shoveling all that soil! Oh, well, no pain - no gain, I suppose.

I saw a YouTube video recently regarding planting three trees in one hole for space saving. The gist is to plant dwarf fruit trees: one early ripening variety, a mid-season, and then late season. Never heard of such a thing, but it peaked my interest. They also recommended using similar types such as all citrus or all pit fruits... I am going to give it some serious consideration. It is a mighty big hole, though! I might even get away with low-chill apples with one being a crab apple as a pollinator?

Once I get the majority done and planted, I will post some photos.

Have a wonderful day!

Well, I got it done.

All the trees are in the ground - 5 pines, 3 olive, and 1 Carolina Allspice. And, with the fig and 5 poplars from last fall... that's 15 new trees on the property. If they all make it, it is bound to make an impact.

The last round of winds put a big tear in the hoop house winter covering, so I just went ahead and planted them all. It seems a tad early, but we are hitting low 60s in the daytime with nights still in mid 30s. Thank goodness I had the presence of mind to dig the holes when the ground was wet from the rains. Once I move the berries to their new bed, the hoop house will be empty for the most part. I transplanted the Mimosas, paddle and barrel cacti, creeping rosemary (4), oregano, and sage into the revived planter beds as well; so outside of my elephant ear and star jasmine sitting in the corners, the table tops are clear. I also seeded the entire veggie garden this week.

It feels good to get it all accomplished. Turning dreams into reality.

You do so well with that, Gina! I'm exhausted just reading about all you've done. Things happen much slower around here. I think about things forever, and then it takes even longer to do them. It sounds like your place is going to be wonderful, and all those trees will be so nice. Shade is something really needed in Zone 9's.

Thanks, Karen. We have numerous nights this week into the high 20's. My radish came up in the bed and I am sure I will need to replant. At this point I am just hoping the new trees don't get too much damage. I suppose the good thing is all the rain we received today. Hoping that will insulate them overnight.

Time will tell. Drives me nuts when a cold comes in after the last frost date.