Landscape Project in Sonoita AZ

A few folks asked me to post my plans and progress. So here I go! I am open to comments, advice, & opinions.

Here is a pic of the plans with plants that have been installed. I will do a series of close ups from Left to Right in the horseshoe.
I am in southern AZ in the mountains at 5300' elevation average highs in the 90's extreme lows @15. The soil is alkaline, and sandy/silty. I have been amending the soil in the terraced beds with home made compost of horse & chicken manure mixed with sawdust and oak leaves. It's been cooking for 3 years and is a deep rich black right now.

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Closeup from left to right NW view

NE section

SE section, more south than east

Here are some beginning photos of the area; this is a T-Pee for growing climbers like beans, cantalope, gourds, and cucumbers. Pic #5/11 Full sun exposure

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That scenery would intimidate me. If the pictures are what you have finished, it looks really good to me. Do all the roses and such grow there and where are you planning on moving to? /Sorry, I got you mixed up with another person.

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I'm not planning on moving. The roses were exsisting. Here are some pics from April when I started. Once again Left to Right Pic #1/11 Morning sun, under oak tree, a lot of oak leaf debris

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oooh, Arizona... I might need a trip to AZ! lol!
Okay Sonoita...you have 5 days to get it all done in! lol!
Just kidding!

I would love to see the photos as you progress tho! Just keep that finished photo in your mind as you work :o) it helps keep you going! lol!

Here is the next section #2/11 Full sun exposure, I have had a lot of trouble growing things on the upper tier in this area

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#3/11

#4/11

#6/11 Front steps

#7/11 Area in between front steps and side steps


This message was edited Jun 30, 2008 10:57 AM

#9/11 OK I skipped one pic of the side steps, but your getting the drift, right?

#10/11 SE heavy shaded area, that's AZ heavy shade, not NW or NE region of the country shade!

#11/11 Southern area with blue pot fountain (another work in progress)Full sun exposure

This is exciting to see - thank you for sharing with us. I look forward to really looking at everything better later on, but wanted to let you know how glad I am to have the opportunity to see what you are up to.

Love your blue fountain. Here's a pix of mine. No water though.

Wow Sonoita ~ DH and I moved from the White Mountains to the PNW two years ago. I thought WE had it bad up there! Short growing season, constant high dry wind from March to July, then monsoon and freak hailstorms. But I forget how far south you are and what challenges you face there. I would LOVE to see your garden as it grows and progresses just for inspiration! Thanks for sharing!

Exciting!! So give me a little primer about AZ, if you would. What's your soil like? What are you doing to amend it? Can you get compost delivered or are you doing your own? Looks like you are out of the city.

What are your daytime temps in summer? Nighttime lows in winter? What types of critters are you up against - deer, rabbits, your own (LOL)?

I'm sure you're familiar with www.highcountrygardens.com.

I'm looking forward to seeing what you're doing - the terrain is so much different from my foothills in the rainforest . . .

Katie - I edited my 3rd post with geographical info. you asked for, thanks for making the great pointer! Other than my garden being a very large litter box, I have no garden predators due to the cats and dogs. I do have an abundance of pill bugs where things are moist. Oh, and if I let the horses be out too long they will wander up to the garden for a sampler platter.
Here is a pic from this weekend of far left, NW, area of the garden.

Here is the next photo moving North

The t-pee is starting to get some vertical growth.

Area to theft of side steps, NE exposure.

The southern side of the side steps.

Long shot of east to south beds

Wow Bridgett, this is going to be fun to watch your work in progress. You have a nice plot of land there!! Lucky ;o)

Looking great! I can’t wait to see how things develop over time. I love the tipi…and the sunflowers too, of course :-).

A north view of the southern bed and fountain

South bed next to driveway

I do envy you all that manure compost. I'll bet it's wonderful.

So you live in a place of extremes!! And while I fight acidic clay, you have alkaline sand. Couldn't be much different.

Love to see what you're doing with your place and looking forward to finding out more about what you kinds of plants you use.

Katie, Thanks for the idea, I'll do a plant list and post it....soon ^_^

a) Here is looking from the upper driveway (not shown in the plans, I ran out of paper) north to wards the front of the house.
Next I'll take some pictures from below looking up on the terraced beds

Sonoita - it just occurs to me that some of the Australian heat-loving plants would work well in your area. Grevillea varieties come to mind immediately. I think they are the neatest plants.

Here's a thread from the Pacific NW forum that has posts from several people in Oregon. Shokami or Rebeccacane might have ideas about new and different plants you can use.

http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/814673/

Katie - Thanks I'll check it out!