Howdy SW Friends!

Look like a few weeks have passed since my last post. And, boy howdy, it's been a busy year already. We welcomed a new granddaughter in early January, in the process of helping with a fence building project for family members, and finally got the main bed ready for Spring planting today.

I do love this time of year, as it makes me feel like I, too, will be in bloom soon! Hahahaha. However, it's not for the faint of heart or the weary. Slow and steady wins the race, so be kind to yourself as our days become filled with chores.

Thought I share some photos with you:

Over-wintered carrots




Freshly prepared main bed


Me and Amara Alexandria



May your Spring Days be all that you wish for!

Gina, beautiful new granddaughter congratulations. I was lucky enough to have my first granddaughter last July after all grandsons. Would not take a bent penny for anyone of them. Fine looking garden and your winter carrots look wonderful. Just finished cooking a pot of carrots. Never have luck growing them. Keep up the good work. James

Oh, Omara Alexandria is a beauty, and you're very lucky, Grandma! I have 3 grandsons and love them to pieces, but was really hoping for a grand daughter to spoil. So far, no luck.
Your carrots look wonderful, too. I'm going to try some.

Thank you James & Karen. Grandchildren are the sweetest gifts!

Today I'll put out seed in the main bed and maybe auger out some holes for planting my agaves, crepe myrtles, and Mexican palms that we over-wintered in the hoop house. We started the Sweet Million tomatoes, Karen!

We recently co-invested in a two-man auger for our Son's fence project. It's a Troybilt, with B&S 6.5 hp engine with 8" bit. Holy guacamole, it's a beast! It still requires some care considering the ground we work in, but it's so exciting to finally dig some holes! I see many new plantings, arbors, art structures, and such this year.

It's going to be a banner year!

That's great you got the auger, Gina! Having the proper tools makes work so much easier.

Good morning, Karne!

Yes, indeed! We've already put in about 20 posts in only 3 days of work - one day per week, of course. Not too shabby for a couple of retirees and a couple of young newbies!

I just got in from walking the property. Trying to figure out my agave placements. I've been searching the Internet for some helpful design ideas, but nothing is really helping. Would you happen to have any experience with agaves, Karen? I'm not certain of its species, but I think they are Americanas. I'll have to go snap a photo or two. I know the mama plant they came from was very large. A great specimen plant, but I'm not sure I want them dotting my property. I think I might rather have a grouping. I'm at a loss, really.

I was thinking about heading over to the cacti forum and maybe get some suggestions. It's one of those things that once it's in the ground, there doesn't seem to be too many opportunity to relocate. I'm kind of afraid if I put all six of them in the ground in a linear fashion along my fence line, it'll look too much like an agricultural tequila farm.

I've got the same issue with my Mexican fan palms... I've got, oh, 25 babies. If these are, indeed, full-fledged Mexican fan palms that can grow 75'... Geez, careful planting is going to be needed! I thought I had a spot... With a bit of luck, they may be a different type of palm altogether.

I tend to over-think these things. I'll be back with some photos and maybe start and new thread.

Have a wonderful day, Karen!

Hello Gina,
I have no experience but my family did plant Americanas on their property. They grew way too large, and cost a bundle to remove when they bloomed and then died.
They also had a lot of mexican fan palms and date palms. Once those get too large to trim yourself, they cost a lot to have them trimmed yearly. If you don't do it, they can be very dangerous. My parents and most of their friends had their pams removed.

Thank you, Karen, those were my issues exactly! I don't need the maintenance trouble, or expense, in a decade as that means my hubby and I are a decade older as well.

I think we'd be much better off using the space for my poplar, red birds of paradise, crepe mrytle, butterfly bush, and fig tree - some that I have and some on the way. I also have some Mimosa Trees that, if they make through the transplant, would only be slightly larger than our Russian Sage, dwarf peach, and fig - manageable! Nothing more than and 6/8 ft ladder.

I thank you for your sound advise.

We got the PVC watering system hooked back up in the main bed this morning as well as transplanting my iris and rosemary plants from the hoop house. The wheels on the bus keep turning, my friend.

Gina

I think you'll be happier with plants that stay smaller, and have pretty blooms. Yes, we are at the point where it's getting tougher to maintain our home and plants, and need to make things as easy as possible.

I had two Mexican Fan Palms, for years at last they were about 35 to 40 feet tall. I might add hard to trim at the end. Seven years ago when we had the 500 year five day long deep freeze (high for those five days 18*) it killed both of them. If I recall in the city of El Paso just at the airport removal of all the dead palms was over 100,000.00 dollars. My two were only 450.00 Just a thought for you. Enjoy your day folks

Thanks for your input, James!

I'm certain we aren't interested in towering palms.

May I ask how long it took them to grow that tall? Is there anyway to top the palms to keep them maintained at a given height? Hubby is wondering if we can get a few years of enjoyment before the need to remove at 6-8 feet.

Thank you, James.

As far as I know there is no way to make the palms stay short. Topping them won't work. You can wait to take them out, but the larger they are, the harder they will be to remove. Our neighbors all planted them when we bought our houses in 1974. By the late 80's and early 90's most of them were too tall to trim them by using a ladder.

Gina, I bought these palms in one gallon size. I would estimate the took about 20 years to achieve that high. Last time I trimmed them I had obtained a 40 foot ladder " was not pleasant climb and for sure one I would not attempt now days". That was the last spring trimming they got, were frozen to death fallowing year. As for letting them grow to 6 or 8 ft. you could do that but remember removal of the roots is a job for a back hoe.
Best to you all

Thanks for your input, James!

I'm certain we aren't interested in towering palms.

May I ask how long it took them to grow that tall? Is there anyway to top the palms to keep them maintained at a given height? Hubby is wondering if we can get a few years of enjoyment before the need to remove at 6-8 feet.

Thank you, James.

I'm so blessed to have such wonderful input from you all here in the SW forum!!

Thank you very much! Looks like the agaves and palms will need to find new homes! Case closed!!

You might be able to sell them, and have the buyers come dig them up! Craigslist often has ads like that.