Let's Talk about Gardens

I used to enjoy gardening immensely. When we lived in Seattle, we won yard of the year twice in our local suburb. I also raised tomatoes to put myself through school at Iowa State. As a transplant patient and dealing with immunity issues I am now banned from extensive gardening (fungus, particularly here in Arizona) though the new locale proves challenges in what you can and cannot plant, too. What I miss the most is my fingers in the soil. If I do garden it is with gloves and a mask...and sun protection. Not as much fun as it used to be.

I totally get the "Not as much fun as it used to be." With weakened lungs and having fought off a mycobacteria infection, I too wear gloves and mask - not much fun in the heat either. And my winter Far South Texas gardening a variety of native cacti in pots over the septic field, some native ground cover for the bees and a few native shrubs for the butterflies.
Sue

Hi, @scottij, Wow, twice winning the yard of the year award is impressive! Must say I am green with envy that your expertise with raising tomatoes helped pay your way through college. Must have been beginner's luck and the fact that when I started veggie gardening I removed tons of earth before adding all sorts of composts and amendments. That very first outrageous bumper crop of several varieties of tomatoes which I eagerly shared with neighbors and friends had me thinking of a new "second income" in retirement. smiles Was short lived because never again have I achieved close to the same results. Kudos to you!

I can commensurate with your ban from extensive gardening and need for gloves when you do because the 2 changes I dread most is becoming unable to have my fingers in the dirt and loss of driving privileges. Wind, dust and hot sun require masks and hats for me too now. Due to very weak knees, I do my gardening while sitting on my rump and "scooting". The time will come when getting back up may not be possible. Constructing some very tall, "standing" raised beds may be required in the future.

I agree that while aging and increasing health conditions limit more of what we once took for granted and enjoyed, there are some advantages as well. For example, I no longer make excuses for telling others I stretch out for a "read" and possible nap most days. Smiles

A friend was complaining after moving here from Arkansas about the fact that while we were both 7b locales, things just didn't thrive here like they did in her home state. West TX is a very arid, hot area with clay soil and her home received a great deal more rain with much better loamy soil. I'm also remembering how dismayed I was to see how much better plants grew in my daughter's 7a home area of Austin where wildflowers proliferated and we paid big $$$ to get nursery varieties, only to hold our breath that they'd survive the season.

Hope you continue to chime in here and would like to know what your primary gardening focus is now? I'm moving toward more perennials each year.

I am waiting to see what will happen this year in our garden. I crafted two raised planting areas out of scalloped bricks, in the area between chain link fence and sidewalk. On the inside of chain link, which runs from property line to driveway, are three cherry trees, leafless now. Hubby wants a trailing type groundcover in those two circular pods.

I lost many of my succulents brought up from southern California, this winter. They were under cover, in pots, but did not like the new style of weather. Trying to save the cactus lily. I would bring everything inside the house, if there was a spot to put them!

Many bulbs have broken ground already. Thinking they must be the irises. Primroses are nicely green and appearing. The red hot torch lilies in corner by porch have got to be thinned out this year, as soon as I figure what to do with the cuts. Hmm, maybe into the raised beds in front!
Ginger

@loribmt. Lori, you've painted the most beautiful painting with your WORDS this morning! Like you, I love the flora and fauna of northern climes, and winter can be awesomely gorgeous! Stay warm. Laurie

But the pods need something to draw the eye, too. What about trailing vinca (maybe variegated) surrounding an appropriate perennial (for sun or shade) maybe Amsonia "Butterscotch" or Aralia "Sun King" - both very striking
Sue

Yes and we are alive to complain about it, right? I am in the Tucson area. Never met a plant that did not like water until cacti. LOL

@fiesty76 My specialty in Seattle was hanging baskets and a finely trimmed lawn with absolutely no weeds. The last year we won we had seventeen baskets. I will say it took a lot of time. As for raising tomatoes, there was a large vacant strip of land that ran parallel to a creek and I would plant 350 plants every year. The best variety for resale were Jet Star although I threw in a few Better Boys and Big Boys along with a beefsteak or two. Harvest began in mid July through the end of August. A good plant will produce about a pound to 1.5 lbs a night so I was busy picking and sorting 400+ pounds every evening at peak season. We had old screens and saw horses for the picked tomatoes. People would come and pick tomatoes from the screens and weigh them and pay on an honor system. I took the better looking tomatoes to grocery stores and the rougher ones to restaurants.

I currently reside near Tucson, AZ and my garden focuses on lantana as a very colorful perennial along with a few pots with flowers that rotate throughout the year. No yard of the year award in the future but I find such things to be less important to me nowadays.

Best always,
s!
Scott Jensen

Haha @scottij! I have 2 struggling cacti. Killed the 1st two with overwatering so learned my lesson. These two look like they will bloom soon. So exciting.

Hello Scott, you could teach my Gardner and crew a thing or two, especially with the weeds. I must show them every large weed they miss. I tell them to get their eyes checked the way they miss stuff
Were you a stockbroker?, or motivational speaker?
Going from Seattle to Tucson is a big climate change.
Stay well,
Funcountess .