Look at the High Country Gardens catalog and web site. They specialize in terrific plants and landscape ideas for your area.

Hi Shari, we live in Las Vegas so there is a lot of desert landscaping here utilizing gravel as a mulch. It does get hot but keeps the soil underneath cooler and keeps moisture in so it serves a very important purpose. You can convert to an organic mulch like bark but the dry air and heat really trash wood products so I'm not sure you'd be happy with it. Things like cactus and agave won't drop leaves and most desert trees have small leaves that would filter down and dissappear.

Right not I've noticed that the desert willow we have is in full bloom and dropping flowers but the wind that seems to come up takes care of business. I think the normal way to clean the gravel is with a blower but if it really bothers you you can convert your plants to those that don't drop leaves. Just please leave some kind of mulch because the plants really appreciate it.

Maria

I'll check it out, thanks.

Any more ideas? I'm thinking maybe things like enlarging patio, etc, to have less "yard" but don't know where to start.