Gardening in the desert Southwest is full of challenges and rewards. Although this site will focus mainly on roses (I love them!), most people who grow roses also grow other things: trees, shrubs, annuals, perennials, and bulbs to enhance the landscape. The decision to grow anything in the desert is not without controversy, and some of those controversies will be discussed here. While many of the articles will focus on the area in and around Albuquerque, New Mexico, it is important to understand that gardening here is very different from gardening in Phoenix or Tucson, or in Flagstaff or Santa Fe. Within Greater Albuquerque, growing conditions vary from along the Rio Grande River to the Northeast Heights to the foothills of the Sandias to the North Valley to Corrales to the West Mesa. Within my own very small yard there are several microenvironments, with different planting and care required in each.
Part of the joy of gardening is in sharing information, photos, and horror stories with other people who love to garden. I hope you will visit often and feel free to leave comments for discussion.
Thanks, Gregory!
Subscribe in a reader
Some people think the fall bloom in the desert is even prettier than the spring bloom!
The canna lily provides tropical-appearing foliage and clusters of bright flowers that attract hummingbirds.
Canna lilies also make interesting seed pods.
This Griffith Buck shrub rose is both hardy and rapidly repeating.
© 2008 Susan Brandt Graham. All rights reserved. Photos may not be copied without written permission. Brief quotes are permitted if a link back is provided. Contact admin@swdesertgardening for questions and/or permission to use. | Entries (RSS) and Comments (RSS)
