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I’ve decided that any annuals in the garden have to be able to survive on water no more than once a week. Here’s the one’s that can take the heat.

Zinnias

Cosmos

Cosmos

Moonflower

Tithonia –
The seed packet said these do really well with little water. I’m not buying it. I won’t be repeating these guys.

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The first of my passion flowers showed up this morning, along w/ the skullcap blooms. I purchased the skull cap plant at the Wildflower Center sale. It’s been slow growing so far, but I’ve heard that they really take off once fully established. I planted the passion flower vine last year, and with our mild winter it has done really well.

Incense Passion Flower

Heartleaf Skullcap

Butterfly that arrived on the passion flower vine as I was taking pictures.

New Border I put in a few weekends ago. My neighbor was nice enough to give me the free stones from an old fountain she took down several years ago.

Rockrose. These are one of my favorites.

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>Garden Fun with Mom

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My mother-in-law came in for the weekend and the theme of our visit was gardening. She was a master gardener in Indiana, but has lived in Phoenix for the past 7 years. She’s been doing her best to garden in the desert, but misses the gardening she was accustomed to. 
We started out our visit with a trip to the Lady Bird Wildflower Center. It also happened to be the annual plant sale, so we had a great time. 
Bluebonnets
Sculptures from the current exhibit.
Aspen and her Nana atop the tower
View from the tower
Cave on meadow trail
After shopping Friday, Saturday it was time to plant. We started bright and early in the front yard. We increased the size of the bluebonnet and daylily bed and transplanted the coneflowers from the back yard, and planted black-foot daisies, and texas yellow stars.
Then we moved to the back yard. I gave mom a plot of land that had been previously donated to Aspen and then quickly abandoned. Mom had her run of plants and yard art. She planted lamb’s ears, coreopsis (Jethro Tull), pentas (graffiti white), and rock rose.
Nana’s Garden
Welcome Sign
Nana with her Garden
While Nana was working on her garden I planted elsewhere in the back yard. In the corner where I had recently planted a yellow and yellow/purple columbine, I added a turk’s cap and two red/yellow columbines. 
I also planted a dwarf palmetto and two heart-leaf skullcaps along the side fence.
I planted this white honeysuckle right outside the kitchen window. It should make dishes more pleasant in the coming years.
I haven’t taken pictures yet, but we also added some yard art in the form of a ceramic owl, a flamingo w/ a pink gazing ball body, a trellis for the beans, a bright yellow pot for my new manfredo, and of course all of the pieces for Nana’s garden. 
Just when you thought the weekend couldn’t get any better we woke this morning to the sound of rain, just what our transplants needed. Thanks mom for a wonderful visit!

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>Back Yard Before Pics

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Before pictures are usually followed by after pictures. That’s not really going to happen in this case. I took a few pictures of the backyard so my progression will have some place to start from.
Currently the my backyard is a small plot w/ a creek flowing diagonally through the middle. Due to all of the trees in and along the creek bed, the yard is very shaded. This will create a challenge when planting, but makes it a wonderful place to relax. 
I have planted a few trees (kumquat, lemon, lime, fig, banana) and planted a few passion flower vines, but other than that it is a blank slate.
Here’s a few pictures.
Full yard view
Future location of stone patio
Creek view along the fence

View of the creek bed

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I have been so focused on edibles this winter/spring that I really have no flowers. It is a bit depressing, but I walked through the garden today, taking pictures of new growth instead. The green leaves don’t quite have the same visual appeal, but at least it’s progress.

Meyer Lemon Buds

Chile Piquin. 
 This plant was completely smashed last fall when a tree fell on it from across the creek. I am happy to see it recovering so well. Hopefully, we’ll get a good harvest this year. I just discovered these tasty peppers after moving to Austin and now I don’t know how I lived without them.

Dewberry.
 I planted this one just a few weeks ago and it already seems to love it’s new home. 

Fig stick is now officially one year old. 

Strawberries, planted last weekend.

Kumquat Tree. 
The yellow has completely left the leaves and the tree is looking extremely healthy. Now we wait for the buds.

Squash, Okra and Pepper Seedlings.

No blooms, but some beautiful winter color.
I was just heading inside when I turned to the right and saw this bloom peeking out at me. One single rose!

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