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Tour: Desert Serenity Garden

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Ironwood Seating Area
Desert Marigold
Globe Mallow Louis Hamilton
Desert Ironwood
Apricot Mallow
Desert Marigold

Common name:Desert Marigold
Botanical name:Baileya multiradiata

Fast growing perennial reaches 1' x 1'. Soft silvery gray leaves. Bright yellow daisy like flowers appear year round. This undemanding plant reseeds easily. Accepts reflected sun. Be careful not to overwater. Native to southwest U.S. and northern Mexico.

Globe Mallow Louis Hamilton

Common name:Globe Mallow Louis Hamilton
Botanical name:Sphaeralcea ambigua 'Louis Hamilton'

This perennial will grow 4' x 3' . It has small, leathery gray leaves with rich, red-orange flowers that bloom in the spring.

Desert Ironwood

Common name:Desert Ironwood
Botanical name:Olneya tesota

Evergreen tree grows slowly to 25' x 25'. It has attractive gray bark and the stems are armed with thorns. In late spring there are masses of dusty lavender pea-like flowers. This handsome tree lends character to the landscape. Native to the Sonoran Desert.

Apricot Mallow

Common name:Apricot Mallow
Botanical name:Sphaeralcea ambigua 'Pink Form'

This native perennial has a relaxed sprawling form. It usually has light orange flowers but this one is the pink form. It starts to look rangy after flowering, so cut to 6" above ground for a fresh start. Leaves are small, grayish green, and 3 lobed. This extremely drought and soil tolerant shrub does best in full sun, even in reflected heat. This is the most drought tolerant of Sphaeralceas and the largest, with up to 100 stems from a single root. Some folks have allergic reaction to the leaves.

Designer: Carol Stuttard, Homeowner

Ironwood Seating Area
Image: 2 of 15

Photographer: GardenSoft

Soils and Compost:

Practice grass-cycling by leaving short grass clippings on lawns after mowing, so that nutrients and organic matter are returned to the soil.

Water Saving Tip:

Remember to check your irrigation systems once a month, especially your valves, sprinkler heads, and drip emitters.

If your controller is not a smart controller, it should be reprogrammed as the weather changes.

Integrated Pest Management:

Attract, or buy beneficial insects such as ladybugs and lacewings to control pest outbreaks in your garden.