Lecture: Introduction To Edible Landscaping In The Desert! There Is An Edible For That!

Dear Folks,

I have two lectures scheduled in the East Valley.  If you already have the information you need to garden successfully with edibles in the desert, pass this on to friends and family.

-- Catherine, The Herb Lady

Introduction To Edible Landscaping In The Desert!  There Is An Edible
For That!


Form and Function:  Edible Landscaping is a blending of a garden which is both beautiful and functional.  Whether you like a free spirit garden or something more formal there is an edible plant for form,
fragrance, texture, and color -- and you get to eat it too. Catherine, The Herb Lady, a valley Edible Landscaping Expert will explain what is needed to achieve the garden of your dreams in this 2
hour lecture.  She will explain what snowsuits in July and Swimsuits in December means.  Why you do not need to shade plants in the summer, and what kind of watering works best and what to plant now and later.


Two Dates Available:  October 19th and November 2nd,  10 a.m. to Noon

Smiling Dog Learning Center
Gold Canyon

Fee:  $15
Register by contacting Dori Lewis:
480 -288-8749
dori@smilingdoglandscapes.com
. . .

Are you interested in growing your own stone fruit?  The peaches, apricots and apples we all love?  Do you know what a chill hour is? Chill hours vary all across the valley from as little a 200+ to 900 hours, and it makes a difference in your neighborhood as to what trees will merely bloom and what trees will actually set fruit. My booklet "What A Chill Hour? Help In Choosing Fruit Trees In The Desert Southwest" contains information and charted chill hour history for various cities in the valley.  Available as a download or print (I think the print version is pricey because of the shipping charge), if you have tried to grow and been unsuccessful or you want to start and begin with the right trees, this booklet will help.

http://www.lulu.com/product/file-download/whats-a-chill-hour-help-in-choosing-fruit-trees-in-the-desert-southwest/2519906?productTrackingContext=author_spotlight_37238_

Solid Gold - A New Definition - Apricots -- and Around The Garden

Dear Folks,

I decided while biting into one of our ripe apricots that eating these luscious morsels is like eating solid gold!  You really need to get to your local farmers market to get them ripe, OR, grow you own.  The season is short for apricots usually only about a month per variety.  We have Katy and Gold Kiss.  The Gold Kiss was planted in 1998 and still (we are happy to say) going strong.  It is getting a bit long in the tooth, but so far Deane has had to take only the occasional dead wood from it in addition to an annual pruning.

Check out my booklet "What's A Chill Hour..." to learn how to choose stone-fruit trees, including apricots, for the desert garden.  Available as print or PDF download - the download file is only $2.95.

. . .

One of the fun things that happen in our garden, and since I am not a stickler for orderliness - is finding the random pleasant surprise that is always a treat.  Deane is far more interested in keeping a park-like look, but he also enjoys the blazing display of edible flowers and other garden delights.

We have a small patch of summer lawn (bermuda) designed specifically to encompass the dry wells for our septic system should the plumber ever need access.  While walking through the garden the other day, I noticed a yellow violet and figured the birds had dropped a flower on the lawn.  NO, the plant was growing there - serendipity!  It has also given me the idea to over-seed the lawn in the winter with pansies and violets this winter since we do not grow a winter lawn.  I can't wait -- Deane is just rolling his eyes, but I think it will be beautiful!  This technique is generally referred to as 'naturalizing' and is frequently used with spring flowering bulbs like tulips, by the time the winter/spring bloom is faded the summer grass starts to grow and you can mow down the leftover greenery (I, of course, hope the flowers will reseed for the next opportunity of serendipity).

Another 'happenstance' is the random visitors to our gardens.  For several days we have both heard a whistle and the woo, woo of it made it sound like a person, maybe calling a pet.   Well it was not human, or a regular visit to our gardens.  Deane quietly snapped pictures of this beautiful Bob White Quail, named for their surprising "BoooB, Whittteee" call.


Today, May 15th, is the feast day of Saint Isidore Patron Saint of Farmers, Field Hands & Livestock




Have a wonderful Day in the Garden!

-- Catherine, The Herb Lady