[Arid_gardener] Question from Home-Hort WWW page

[Dick]

Melissa, Mesa is a very mild climate with abundant sunshine and irrigation 
water.

To comply with your wishes would require more time than most of us master 
gardeners have to spend on someone else's behalf even though that very thing 
is what motivates most Master Gardener Volunteers associated with the 
Maricopa County Cooperative Extension.  Further, although your request is 
reasonable, such documents or a collection of them may not, to my knowledge, 
exist as a collection. I suggest, however, that you can educate yourself in 
a more efficient manner and have fun doing it.

The best source around is the commercial nurseries in your area and there 
are several good ones. Go see what is included in their stock. You can be 
assured that plants on their shelves are seasonal and they will grow in your 
area. Their owners would end-up in bankruptcy if not. They spend 
considerable energy getting stock appealing to their clientele and it must 
be species that will survive in our geography with a reasonable amount of 
labor, expense and knowledge. Most nurseries have a return policy that would 
make life rather difficult if a large percentage of their sales ended up in 
their own compost pile after the sale.

Another good way to find out what will flourish in Mesa is to drive slowly, 
fully cognizant of kids and traffic, up and down streets and alleys and 
observe what your neighbors are growing. Take notes and, if you see 
something of real interest, flatter the resident by knocking on the door to 
make inquires. When you find something of interest, ask for a cutting that 
you can take to the nursery for identification or to guide your purchase. 
Many proud home gardeners will insist that you accept as a gift a duplicate 
of their favorite species. Take it.

Another excellent source is the landscapes of public institutions like the 
Capitol building, libraries, city and county offices. Most contract with 
professional gardeners who know their trade and have great inspiration to 
please their clients and the public. Browse the grounds of high scale 
resorts who sport some most interesting landscape schemes. Many businesses 
employ landscapers to attract customers to their front doors.

If you find a specimen flourishing in any part of Mesa, a garden spot of the 
valley, ask for a cutting to root or to show your local nurseryman for 
identification. Never take one, however, without first getting the owner's 
consent.

In the area are a number of garden clubs that propagate a wealth of 
information as well as the plants themselves. In fact, joining a garden club 
is, in my opinion , one of the best ways to learn the local climate and soil 
peculiarities that can make or break your private home garden exercises.

Make yourself aware of the Maricopa County Cooperative Extension that houses 
some of the wisest horticulturists anywhere. Become a master Gardener 
volunteer under their tutelage.

If this raises more questions than it answers, I am always on the carpet for 
my comments. Don't hesitate to respond or dispute--in a friendly manner, of 
course.

Dick Gross, Master Gardener Volunteer
Maricopa County Cooperative Extension
University of Arizona


----- Original Message ----- 
From: <melissa.south at countryfinancial.com>
To: <arid_gardener at Ag.arizona.edu>
Sent: Monday, March 17, 2008 2:30 PM
Subject: [Arid_gardener] Question from Home-Hort WWW page


> MELISSA SOUTH
> 85204
> melissa.south at countryfinancial.com
>
> I would love a complete planting guide for Mesa, Az (all seasons) for 
> Trees, Plants,Flowers, Shrubs, Fruits & Vegetables. I also would like to 
> know what Trees,Shrubs & Flowers do well all year long
>
>
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> Arizona
>