Do check out the irrigation system -- it would make more sense to irrigate the top of the slope and leave the bottom to live on runoff. I do that with several of my beds on our very sloped property (not only front to back, but side to side!) and it works quite well. I watered in everything once a week for the first few months, and after that let the lower beds survive on their own. They have thrived, even through the recent 2-week heat wave. I did improve the soil in most beds,and I have found that the beds I did NOT do this, the plants have not done as well. The clay has been exhaused by trees, weeds and unwanted shrubs for decades, and is no longer good quality soil unless very heavily amended. Replacement was actually easier than amending, BTW. I mulch heavily. I water (mostly soaker hoses, some hand watering) once every 2-3 weeks. If it's extremely, viciously hot, then once a week. Most of my beds are partial shade beds and it is surprising how much will grow in CA under these conditions. Our light is so bright that even under trees (or at least at the edges of the canopy) one can grow all kinds of things. And you're in a warmer zone than I am; I have had some trouble with winter chill damaging some frost-tender plants. I'm way north of you in the SF Bay Area, but in our sloped and rather shady backyard (a huge walnut and an enthusiastic silver maple that threatens to engulf fully half our large backyard), we still get enough bright shade overall to grow a surprising number of plants that are supposedly full sun. These include: -erysimum -canna -oleander -helichrysum -senecio -lantana -Meyer lemon -variegated euonymus -pelargoniums -shrub roses, rugosas, and miniature roses -New Zealand flax (phormium) I even got snapdragons to flower and return in one of the shadiest spots right at the foot of the silver maple. Although it probably helped to have a soaker hose in the bed -- the maple sucks up so much water that even weeds won't grow next to it. And of course, star jasmine grows like a weed, but it needs so much room I'm thinking of taking both of mine out. They are really uncontrollable! I'm not big on natives. They're nice, but spend half the year dormant or ratty. I want flowers, interesting foliage, and variety - all year round, even in January. OK, I'm a cottage gardener, I admit, LOL. Anyway, here's some pix of our backyard, and also the narrow north-facing sideyard, which is divided into two parts: the top half irrigated with soaker, the bottom lives on runoff. Looking upwards towards the house from the very bottom of our lot, from the backyard. Walnut to the right, silver maple dead ahead. Date: May 2006 for these pix Looking sideways at the bed around the walnut, towards my neighbor's yard Looking at the bottom of that bed, with the fence marking our lot boundary on your RH side. This side gets east-facing sun for about three hours before the walnut shades it all. Now the north-facing side yard: Top (Front) of the bed looking downwards - this is irrigated with soaker hose. The 'Emperor One' Japanese maple is a new variety and vastly superior to the old 'Bloodgood'. It grows in sun or shade; even windy conditions don't bother it. The bottom of the top bed, looking upwards (reverse of the photo above) The lower bed that lives on runoff. Contains star jasmine growing up a pillar, variegated aucuba, hellebores, bearded iris, liriope, and ferns.

Jeff, Yes, there are a number of dwarf bronze flaxes, although I'm not sure how many are available outside of New Zealand, and they generally larger than 18". Try these Phormium cultivars to start with - they are meant to grow no more than 1 m in height (about 40") (although in my experience, they nearly always grow double what is on the growers labels, unless restrained in pots!): 'Bronze Baby' 'Chocolate Fingers' 'Jack Spratt' 'Thumbelina' 'Tom Thumb'(not entirely bronze - green with a bronze edge) As for other suggestions, (if you want a N.Z native) try some of the Carexs, or even Arthropodium candidum - it forms small clumps, with leaves growing to about 30 cm long and looks fantastic, especially with its white flowers. Unfortunately, slugs and snails love it too! Not sure if the Arthropodium would grow in your climate, but Carex should though - it's a tough plant once established.

Last year I tried out a new plant called Rasberrie Fuzzies, Acalypha monostachya that I just love. It has an overall bronzy red look to it and it handled our heat and sparse watering fine. It is small, basically like ground cover size and it goes away in the winter but popped back up this spring and is blooming away right now. My only problem is where can I find more of these great plants! Maria

I'd recommend going to see a garden center/nursery that specializes in native plants. Yes, I know some are a bit weedy looking, but there are a number of plants that thrive on fierce sun and heat (in N. TX) and are quite good-looking! Although we have a sprinkler system, I really don't plan on using it except to get plants established or to help the plants out in extended droughts. We received a number of excellent suggestions for our area that's in full sun all day long around the pool; many of them houseful already suggested...lantana, verbena, salvia greggii, etc. Be sure to take a look, and maybe post your question, over in another Garden Web forum just for those of you in AZ. Here is a link that might be useful: Arizona gardening