Welcome to Umbrella Town!

9 years ago

What was it -- 2009 when I put up a tent city to shade the roses from 116 temps? Who knew it could get worse ... LOL There are now five umbrellas around the yard until plants get either acclimated or moved ...

Since the very tall and dangerously decrepit Arizona ash had to be removed Bob has been working to remove the grass around the new little cedar elm tree and installing edging and pavers to make for easier mowing of the little patches of grass we have left ...

I'll say this; the Floratam St. Augustine that we plugged in year 2010 has totally taken over and is holding up well in the full sun so far. See Bob working away under the umbrella while Max lolls around in the grass? ...

The shade in the back from the ligustrum trees is valued all the more ...

A pecan tree, as big as they get on rocky caliche, shades the back as well as an arroya sweet wood and almond verbena trees. An umbrella insures there is always a shady spot to sit ...

A young desert willow, mimosa tree, purple vitex tree and a white one too, offer hope for future shade. I'm considering planting another kidney wood and perhaps a golden lead ball tree to help out. The back yard will look like a tree farm! ... LOL, Oh, and we've got mature teneza, smoke, and crape myrtle trees, but no big shade tree for the center of the yard.

I've had to move Richard Poore phlox from the pots and have replaced them with my favorite agave, Americana 'medio-picta alba' ...

More things will be moved, but in the meantime Lord Baltimore hibiscus is showing off ...

We'll just keep plugging away at making the best we can of the new sunny back yard.

When life gives you lemons,
you just go with the flow ...

Or something like that ... ;-)))

This post was edited by roselee on Wed, Jun 11, 14 at 22:48

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Comments (12)

jolanaweb
9 years ago
I think it looks like a wonderful garden party in a beautiful garden
roselee z8b S.W. Texas
Original Author
9 years ago
Jolana, thank you! A "wonderful garden party" is what I want to have after the fall swap!
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castro_gardener
9 years ago
Ragna, where's the desert willow and vitex trees ? I don't remember those. Hmmmm.

patty
roselee z8b S.W. Texas
Original Author
9 years ago
Patty, you didn't notice them because they are young. Well, the "Bubba" desert willow is about 8 or 10 years old, but I've moved it three times (had to cut it back each time) trying to get it in a place where it gets enough sun. It's in the center of the round bed in the back and gets LOTS of sun now ... lol

The vitex trees were planted last fall along the fence and growing fast!

Looking around this morning and noticed I also have 3 varieties of red bud, a plum tree, three youpon hollies, wax myrtle, 2 varieties of white orchid trees, 2 - 20 ft. tall mountain laurels, sweet olive, the new shoestring acacia, and various other small ornamental trees. I love trees! The ornamental trees all do their part in casting shade, but it's not enough with the loss of the Arizona ash. Still considering planting something else.

This post was edited by roselee on Fri, Jun 13, 14 at 14:14
gmatx zone 6
9 years ago
Roselee - you have a really beautiful yard and gardens. Totally enjoyed the pictures. When may I expect you up here to guide me on my gardens? I'll provide room and board!!!...LOL
Mary
roselee z8b S.W. Texas
Original Author
9 years ago
Room and board? Mary, I'm on my way! ;-) Oh, where do you live? ... LOL
wantonamara Z8 CenTex
9 years ago
Hey we can all go and get tanned at Ragna's house.
jolanaweb
9 years ago
Good idea!!! Will there be cabana boys? HAHAHA
roselee z8b S.W. Texas
Original Author
9 years ago
Mara, that's for sure! I'm already about 2 shades darker.

Cabana boys? I had to look up the term on Google ... LOL ... but dunno' nuttin' about dat ... :-)

This post was edited by roselee on Sun, Jun 15, 14 at 21:00
jolanaweb
9 years ago
OMG, LOL yeah....right! LOL
wantonamara Z8 CenTex
9 years ago
You could always install a cabana. You know Build it and they will comeÃ¢ÂÂ¦Ã¢ÂÂ¦ Oh no maybe the enoles.
roselee z8b S.W. Texas
Original Author
9 years ago
Yeah, Mara. Those terribly tempermental territorial anoles would go into attack mode and chase them off for sure.