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Cottage Gardens

Cottage Garden in the High Desert?

16 years ago

Hi, I'm new to this website and am enjoying all the forums. We moved to El Paso, Texas, 2 years ago and I'm really having to relearn anything I knew about gardening. I spent most of my youth (and again the 4 years before we moved here) in Germany. So needless to say, I've had a lot of trial and error in my gardens since coming here.

Has anyone had any luck getting a cottage garden going in this type of climate? It looks like I've finally gotten a grip on what to plant and how here in the desert, and I mainly have a container cottage garden (is there even such a thing??? LOL) so far.

Fellow desertdwellers anyone???

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Comments (11)

jxa44
16 years ago
My dear friend (Lee Sherman) has a wonderful web page of her high desert garden. Enjoy!

Here is a link that might be useful: high desert garden
PRO
Nell Jean
16 years ago
TAMU has lots and lots of information for Texas Gardeners.

Here is a link that might be useful: Texas A&M
Related Discussions
high desert az growing anything! lol
Q
Comments (12)
sharon: That's not a very grower friendly looking climate. Worse than here at 4500ft and we have spring freeze injury most years. Things in Duncan are going to be pushed into bloom by warm spring days and then get frozen at night. My suggestions for fruiting plants would be jujube, pomegranate, and possibly persimmon. You could grow stone fruit but without a shelter February to April freezes would get you most years If there is a grapefruit in Clifton (3500ft elev) it must be up on a hillside. Hillsides or terraces above the valley are the best spots in AZ. At night cold air drains to the low spots. Below is a comparison of Jerome AZ to Duncan. Jerome sets on a mountain at about 5200ft elev over in central AZ. Jerome is colder day and night all year long due to higher elevation. But check out the record lows. Jerome has a two month longer growing season because of it's superb air drainage Personally I'd get out of a drunken town in AZ ASAP. Or at least never drive at night. Rural NM and AZ have a bad drinking issue. Here is a link that might be useful: Ducan vs Jerome AZ climate
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High Desert Gardening Websites and Forums
Q
Comments (5)
Check out your local chapter of the native plant society. Each chapter has a subgroup devoted to gardening. If you can find folks like that (who know about gardening with local native plants), you will be surprised how many more choices you have. I went to Anza-Borrego park this spring and was smitten by indigo bush, chuparosa, ocotillo, desert bluebells, desert dandelion, verbena, smoke tree, ironwood, palo verde, ... Also see Sally & Andy Wasowski's book on Native Landscaping from El Paso to L.A. which includes a lot of material on desert landscaping. Stunning photographs. Here is a link that might be useful: CNPS Chapters
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Dwarf confier for the high desert garden
Q
Comments (1)
Sorry for the atrocious spelling...
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peonies in the high desert southwest ...?
Q
Comments (3)
Look around Albuquerque to see where others have planted them. I have seen blooming plants in full sun but to have the blooms last longer plant in partial shade or on the north and east side of the house. Dark reds should definately be planted where they can be shaded during bloom time. A shade cloth can be used also. My Stepdaughter and her partner live between Taos and Santa Fe and followed the book suggestion rather than mine with no success. I have been told that there are a few plants in Dixon which is I believe at 7,000? Keep the roots well mulched with rocks to cool the soil during your summer.
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ginny12
16 years ago
This month's issue of Horticulture magazine has an amazing cottage garden in Odessa, in West Texas. I wouldn't have believed it was possible--just gorgeous.
nborz
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks everyone for the links and comments!
faltered
16 years ago
I was watching PBS while in Vegas a couple weeks ago. And was very surprised to see a tour of a cottage garden on one of the programs. The man was growing a wonderful variety of roses, not to mention lots of drought-tolerant perennial beauties.

It's definitely possible!

Tracy
tweedbunny
16 years ago
I think in the desert you have to be more creative when it comes to picking flowers that are heat and drought tolerant and 'look like' they come from a cottage garden.

Im trying the same thing in southwestern utah. Im sad not to be able to grow foxglove, but I can grow lots of roses, daylilies, alyssum, larkspur AND I can start them earlier and keep them later than many other climates :)
Theres an advantage you know!
todancewithwolves
16 years ago
It just so happens in this months issue of Country Garden magazine there's a segment on a desert cottage garden. It looks like an oasis.

Here are some great drought tolerate plants for your zone.
Banksain rose
Blanket flower
Hollyhock
Lavender
Coneflower
Verbena
Carpet rose
Spanish broom
Rosemary
Trumpet vine
and yes...some species of Wisteria
Daisies
Moss roses
and there's so many more!

Edna
PRO
Nell Jean
16 years ago
Gaillardia (blanket flower) is one of the most drought tolerant plants I know. Butterflies like it.

{{gwi:677284}}

Nell
tweedbunny
16 years ago
Im going to have to look at that artice!
Thanks for the list todancewithwolves.
I've GOT to get some hollyhock for my garden.
Also that peachy-orange flower called Gaillardia is beautiful - I love peach.
Hmmm time to go shopping.
jakkom
16 years ago
Do check out High Country Gardens, they specialize in high-heat, drought-tolerant perennials.
nborz
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks for all the advice. I'm slowly working on my gardens now, a little here and a little there. Of course its more fun that way, a work in progress. Once I have something decent to shoot a photo of, I'll post some :)

Nicole

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