[Arid_gardener] Question from Home-Hort WWW page

[Dick]

Shelly, the best way, in my humble opinion, to determine what will thrive in 
the Salt River Valley is to cruise all the retail nurseries in your area and 
note what perennials are on their shelves.  If they don't carry it, odds are 
it won't flourish in your landscape either. There is, however, a wide gap in 
that theory based upon the gardeners skill, soil conditions and other 
factors all over the map. But, if our nurseries were to carry marginal 
stock, their "returns" would be off the map and profits depressed. We can 
appreciate why they would try to avoid that scenario to protect your 
interests as well as their own. There is some value to noting also which 
seasonal species are in stock but  Petunias will grow anywhere in warm 
weather, won't they?

Another rewarding activity is to cruise nieghborhoods old and new and see 
what every one else is growing. You will be surprised to find a wide 
variety. When you see a tree or bush that appeals to you, flatter the 
occupant by ringing her doorbell and asking about it. Ask for a clipping to 
show your nursery proffessional for ID or just match it yourself. Don't take 
cuttings without the owners permission.

State and local governmental properties and colleges are great places to get 
ideas for landscapes usually maintained by professionals many of whom are 
Master Gardeners and college graduates, both.  Cruise their public grounds. 
As a taxpayer, you have that right.

Subscribe to several of the dozens of garden catalogues and be a bit 
adventurous. Pay attenion to zones, however, and avoid buying zone 3 species 
for zone 10 unless you are prepared to fabricate its environment.

Dick Gross, MasterGardenerVolunteer
Maricopa County Cooperative Extension


----- Original Message ----- 
From: <dandsmoser at hotmail.com>
To: <arid_gardener at Ag.arizona.edu>
Sent: Thursday, October 11, 2007 1:10 PM
Subject: [Arid_gardener] Question from Home-Hort WWW page


> Shelly
> 85356
> dandsmoser at hotmail.com
>
> Could you please tell me what plants do well in the southwest desert area 
> year round?
>
> Thank you,
> Shelly Moser
>
>
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