Gardening in the High Desert

The landscaping in the neighborhood is a wild education in what it means to LIVE in the high desert. At 5,000+ feet there are new challenges here we never face in Ohio. Xeriscape is the term to describe the most conservative method of planting here. It means a form of landscaping that employs drought-resistant plants in an effort to conserve resources, especially water.

Many times decorative rocks and various sizes of gravel are used to highlight paths and cut out weeds that hog the water.

It can be quite lovely! The neighbor below is growing grapes along his fence.

This ambitious guy is trying for a fruit orchard. His water usage must be way up there to keep this dwarf trees alive! Remember that without the drip irrigation it will all turn to rabbit, coyotes, sage and tumbleweed .

 

It would take some major seasonal adjustments to live here! I always say I would miss the deciduous trees the most. But then Betty reminds me that they sunshine here 310 days a year. Even on rainy days there is some sun and rarely, if ever, a full days of clouds.