Bahia - gosh - didn't mean to slight you; hadn't seen your reply while writing mine (must have started mine, taken a phone call and gone back to it). I was so not speaking to your choices. We're our own worst critics and after I linked the daffodils I had the thought that 'gee, everyone's going to think I'm some little old lady gardener - just add some petunias and they'll write me off.' My own judgement - no one elses. Poked fun at myself posting daffs so folks would know I 'get' it (I like em in pots and on hillsides, agree hard to work into a home garden without it looking dated - it's partially why I like that kedron one - easier to work it in). I've been going through old gardening and design books as I plan new hardscape for the front and in looking at them I've been so aware of how quickly gardens can look dated. Modular walls fit my budget, but I know within 6 years they'll be passe and for me (and my budget) this hardscape is once. For the books that aren't that old - seems like we've gone for more space between plants and more large rocks (simplistic definition). Anyhoo, so I'm playing with the dated concept and think a dated look for most of us is about the overall plan of how plants are put together more than the plants themselves. For a green backdrop - I'd use what fits the bill AND do something interesting in a bed in front of it or add a trio of large pots with great interest in front of it - love green privacy walls but I'm not all that fussy about how they're attained. Bahia - you do wonderful work (I'd looked at your site) and I don't doubt folks pay you to do something gorgeous plus contemporary. I'm always sending folks to UCDavis for the veg gardening info - will check out their top ten. Here is a link that might be useful: mists and enchantments my blog

The fountain is a lovely focal point for your yard. I have a friend with a large pond and waterfall and it is wonderful but a huge amount of work. It's always something! They have numerous Koi and goldfish which produce new babies every year. Not long ago the pond attracted a heron or egret who decided it looked like a nice dinner spot. And the leaves need to be fished out and algae needs to be dealt with often. Another time the fish got sick from some parasite. And and and... Yes, a fountain offers all the ambient water sounds with much less trouble.

Several members contributed to this great FAQ for people who are wanting to plant a new yard or one that has hardly any landscaping in it. Thanks to each of you for your input. Figure out what activities you want to be able to do in your yard and then design different elements of your landscape around that. For example, your yard will be very different if your main activities are entertaining, relaxing, and growing a rose garden than if your activities are playing with small children, supplementing your food supply w/ veggies, and exercising your dog. Thinking that through will help you plan your yard much more effectively. If possible, don't rush into anything major too quickly. Take a season or two (or three) to watch the patterns of the sun through your yard, and really figure out the various microclimates. That will have a huge impact on what will do well and not do well in your yard. Trees are the first thing you want to plant as they take the longest to grow. Go to the library and ask to see their book of Gardening Bulletins put out by the Maricopa County Extension Service. I think there are about 70. You can copy any of the bulletins you wish. When you decide on your trees, call the County Extension and ask them for the good and bad points on the trees you have selected. The number is 602-470-8086 - if you call weekdays between 9 and noon you may reach a live person.If you are going to buy a citrus tree be advised that it will be 4 or 5 years after you plant it before you get a good crop of fruit from the tree. It doesn't matter whether the tree is a 5 gallon one or a 50 gallon one, it still takes 4 or 5 years. Also, many people have grapefruit trees and more than willing to give away grapefruit. You might check to make sure your drip system (if you have one) is working correctly. If you plan to add a few trees, it would be great if they were on a separate valve from your shrubs. In March and April there are usually Garden Tours around the valley. Check out your local newspaper garden section. Visiting other people's yards will give you a good idea what they have planted and what a mature yard will look like. Sometimes it is hard to visual what a 1 gallon plant can grow to in a year or two. Go to the Library, check out Sunset Western Garden Book and look up plants you are interested in buying for you yard and see what it says about them. Used Sunset Western Garden books are often available at used book stores. Join a garden club and learn from the experience of the members. For a FREE booklet listing over 200 low-water use plants that will look great in your landscape (most require little to no maintenance) contact your local city water conservation office. Ask for Landscape Plants for the Arizona Desert. Here's a list of steps to take when landscaping a yard from scratch or renovating an existing one. TOP TEN LANDSCAPE TIPS 10. GRADE YARD - Grading your yard gives it a more natural look and creates more dimension and interest in the landscape. It will also capture rainfall better. Dont make mounds greater than 1' in height over grade or it may look unnatural. Make mounds irregular in shape, not perfectly symmetrical and sloped. Create swales (low spots) to capture water, and direct water to your plants not the street. 9. BOULDERS - Use boulders to accent the landscape. A grade of boulders called "surface boulders" look more natural and the color usually matches the natural colored granites. Bury boulders by at least 1/3; place plants close to them to soften them. 8. GRANITE - Use 1/4 or ½ inch minus granite (not screened granite), this provides a more natural desert look, and is easier to walk on. Use natural colors like desert gold or beige. 7. GROUP PLANTS - Place plants in natural plant groupings as you would see in the desert. Dont space plants evenly around the yard. Plant groups in odd numbers. Open space is OK. 6. VIEWS - Block or enhance views. You may want to block an unsightly view, such as the truck you neighbor parks on the street, or enhance a scenic view you have of the mountains, or place plants to provide a view of your landscape looking out of a window. 5. COMMON THEME - Dont plant one of every plant you like in a small landscape, it will tend to look like a botanical garden. Use the same plant in different locations of the yard to unify the look. 4. ENERGY CONSERVATION - Be sure to block southern and western exposures of your home from the summer sun. Use deciduous trees for these exposures so that you can take advantage of the suns warmth in the winter. 3. HARDSCAPE - Hardscape is the inclusion of any non-plant features for the landscape, such as patios, benches, flagstone walkways, sculptures, boulders, bird features, etc. These areas can provide sitting areas, BBQ space and will extend your living space to the outdoors. It is usually best to plan and install these areas before plant installation. 2. FLOWERS Plant wildflowers that will reseed themselves and provide seasonal color and charm to your landscape year round. Some suggested flowers are penstemons, desert marigold, golden dyssodia, tufted evening primrose, poppies, and lupines. 1. NATIVE PLANTS - Use plants that are native to the Sonoran, Mohave or Chihuahuan deserts for best performance. These deserts are all found in the Southwestern U.S. and in Mexico. Plants from deserts from other continents (i.e. Africa or Australia) will usually perform well but the look may not always fit (i.e. large Eucalyptus trees). (list courtesy of Donna DiFrancesco, City of Mesa) Other suggestions include: Take a tour the Phoenix Botonical Gardens. Note the plants, note their names, see what you like. Travel your neighbors yards, see what you like, ask the neighbor the plants name, and what care it takes. This is going to take some research on your part. The other alternative is to hire a reputable landscaper, and have them do all the work for you. ;) Plants that work well here include Desert Museum Palo Verde, Lantana, Ocotillo, Golden Barrel Cactus, Blue Century Plant, Americana Agave, Bismark Nobilis Palm, Saquaro, and some Rain Lilies might look nice too, in a desert landscape. Look up the FAQ on this page regarding watering your plants. Arizona's desert watering is different than any other place you may have lived. Realize that we live in the desert and many things cannot grow here that are common everywhere else. Then again, we have some exceptionally beautiful plants that don't grow just anywhere else! There are several growing seasons here in Arizona. Celebrate the desert!

Yes, and some of them look like evergreen trees, notorious for hogging all the sun and water. Pots of shade loving plants do work. I do mulch under my trees and pots of bright colored impatiens mixed with vinca and begonias. Lobelia is good too. As for your deck, I'm thinking you just got the house? I wouldn't rip out the patio if you need more space, you can add on to it. Start using it and figure out your needs. Things to think about: privacy and views, are there views you'd like to block or privacy you'd like to establish. That can be solved with landscaping. Shade can be provided by trees, there are some fast growing ones that are nice for patio areas like autumn blaze maple or shademaster honey locust, for example. Figure out the path of the sun to figure out where the shade will be cast. Are you going to grill and eat on the patio? You can start with patio umbrellas covering those areas and decide if you want a pergola. I would love one, but umbrellas will work and the nice thing about them is you can move them around as your shade needs change. I'd wait a bit before committing to a pergola to figure out how big and where to place it. How about views? What do you want to look out on from your patio? Do you want a play area for lawn games or the like? A fire pit area. A kitchen or vegetable garden. An area for birdwatching? Three season interest. A place to snooze in a hammock? Just some ideas. Start with some thoughts on how you will use your yard, which will develop as you live there for a year. Decide on a plan for the whole yard and work on it in stages. Start with the things that will make the most difference, like hardscaping and trees.