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Midwinter’s Desert Garden
I have no right to complain; the sun is shining. It’s a strange time in the desert garden. I feel a bit like Therese, from Patricia Highsmith’s novel, The Price of Salt: January. It was all things. And it was one thing, like a solid door…January was a two-faced month. I thought the desert would…
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A Closer Look at a Very Common Tree
Shoestring acacia, Acacia stenophylla, may be planted to excess in Las Vegas, but it is a lovely, useful tree. If you choose this tree for your garden, plant a five-gallon size or smaller. Shoestring acacia (Acacia stenophylla) are common trees in our desert gardens. In fact, they have become so common that they now suffer…
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Field Report from the Edge of the Las Vegas Valley
A stroll through the winter garden, with watering tips for managing our very dry and warm winter It has been nearly six months since rain. The airport measured just .08 inches on July 13. There have been trace amounts since then, but not enough to wet the sidewalks, let alone the fading leaves of the…
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In Praise of Fragile Gardens
Consider, for example, the desert tobacco seedling, Nicotiana obtusifolia, that appeared in my garden earlier this year Fragility is an essential and surprising quality of our world. It’s also a quality that I hope to embrace more in my garden. That was one of the surprising lessons I recently learned from reading Leslie Marmon Silko’s…
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Indigo Dreams
Two plants I’m excited about, plus a new nursery just outside of downtown Las Vegas that is well worth the drive Indigo on the brain. The ‘i’ in Roy G. Biv. The color that blue wishes it were. A color I am now admiring on a potted Psorothamnus arborescens, Mojave indigo, which has decided to…
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Designing Beautiful Gardens with Murphy Agaves
Strongly structural, blue-gray, and not too big; consider adding Agave murpheyi just about anywhere in your garden I grow over a dozen agaves. I took to them immediately when I started gardening in the low desert. I can’t say there haven’t been casualties. I find agaves persnickety among succulent plants. Many like the dry heat,…
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Book Review & Manifesto II: Derek Jarman’s Garden, Modern Nature, and Land of Little Rain
The exploration of garden design draws parallels between England’s Dungeness and the Mojave Desert, highlighting the beauty found in harsh, inhospitable environments. Inspired by Derek Jarman’s Prospect Cottage, the author advocates for innovative gardening approaches in arid climates, celebrating natural aesthetics over conventionality and emphasizing the transformative power of unique landscapes.
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Discovering the Beauty of Fall in the Low Desert
While gardening slows in fall in the Mojave, it doesn’t stop. Only in summer, just before the monsoons come, does it ever halt. Summer exhausts with its forced senescence, but fall invigorates with its slower, gentler rhythms. I allow these slower rhythms to dictate my movements through the garden as I am reminded that the…
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Palm Trees and Poltergeists in the Desert Garden
Palm trees, often criticized for their high water needs, can thrive in desert settings if planted correctly. This post reflects on the author’s experiences with palms, contrasting their natural groves with solitary planting styles. Emphasizing the benefits of dense plantings, the author advocates for reconsidering palm cultivation to enhance local gardens.
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At Least We Can Grow Aloes
The article emphasizes the beauty and adaptability of Aloe plants, particularly in arid regions. It discusses their low water needs, winter bloom, and suitability for desert gardens. The author shares personal experiences with various Aloe types, highlighting their varied appearance and care requirements while suggesting creative planting techniques for optimal growth and flower production.
Mojave Gardener 