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Sonoita
Sonoita, AZ
(Zone 8a)

June 28, 2008 5:08 PM

A few folks asked me to post my plans and progress. So here I go! I am open to comments, advice, & opinions.

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Sonoita
Sonoita, AZ
(Zone 8a)

June 28, 2008 5:10 PM

Here is a pic of the plans with plants that have been installed. I will do a series of close ups from Left to Right in the horseshoe.
I am in southern AZ in the mountains at 5300' elevation average highs in the 90's extreme lows @15. The soil is alkaline, and sandy/silty. I have been amending the soil in the terraced beds with home made compost of horse & chicken manure mixed with sawdust and oak leaves. It's been cooking for 3 years and is a deep rich black right now.

This message was edited Jun 30, 2008 10:56 AM

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Sonoita
Sonoita, AZ
(Zone 8a)

June 28, 2008 5:12 PM

Closeup from left to right NW view

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Sonoita
Sonoita, AZ
(Zone 8a)

June 28, 2008 5:13 PM

NE section

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Sonoita
Sonoita, AZ
(Zone 8a)

June 28, 2008 5:15 PM

SE section, more south than east

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Sonoita
Sonoita, AZ
(Zone 8a)

June 28, 2008 5:28 PM

Here are some beginning photos of the area; this is a T-Pee for growing climbers like beans, cantalope, gourds, and cucumbers. Pic #5/11 Full sun exposure

This message was edited Jun 28, 2008 2:52 PM

This message was edited Jun 28, 2008 3:12 PM

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Willowwind2
Union, WA

June 28, 2008 5:32 PM

That scenery would intimidate me. If the pictures are what you have finished, it looks really good to me. Do all the roses and such grow there and where are you planning on moving to? /Sorry, I got you mixed up with another person.

This message was edited Jun 28, 2008 5:46 PM

This message was edited Jun 28, 2008 5:48 PM

Sonoita
Sonoita, AZ
(Zone 8a)

June 28, 2008 5:36 PM

I'm not planning on moving. The roses were exsisting. Here are some pics from April when I started. Once again Left to Right Pic #1/11 Morning sun, under oak tree, a lot of oak leaf debris

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This message was edited Jun 28, 2008 2:53 PM

This message was edited Jun 28, 2008 3:13 PM

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1AnjL
(AnjL) Fremont, CA
(Zone 9b)

June 28, 2008 5:43 PM

oooh, Arizona... I might need a trip to AZ! lol!
Okay Sonoita...you have 5 days to get it all done in! lol!
Just kidding!

I would love to see the photos as you progress tho! Just keep that finished photo in your mind as you work :o) it helps keep you going! lol!

Sonoita
Sonoita, AZ
(Zone 8a)

June 28, 2008 5:47 PM

Here is the next section #2/11 Full sun exposure, I have had a lot of trouble growing things on the upper tier in this area

This message was edited Jun 28, 2008 2:53 PM

This message was edited Jun 28, 2008 3:15 PM

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Sonoita
Sonoita, AZ
(Zone 8a)

June 28, 2008 5:55 PM

#3/11

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Sonoita
Sonoita, AZ
(Zone 8a)

June 28, 2008 5:57 PM

#4/11

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Sonoita
Sonoita, AZ
(Zone 8a)

June 28, 2008 6:01 PM

#6/11 Front steps

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Sonoita
Sonoita, AZ
(Zone 8a)

June 28, 2008 6:04 PM

#7/11 Area in between front steps and side steps


This message was edited Jun 30, 2008 10:57 AM

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Sonoita
Sonoita, AZ
(Zone 8a)

June 28, 2008 6:06 PM

#9/11 OK I skipped one pic of the side steps, but your getting the drift, right?

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Sonoita
Sonoita, AZ
(Zone 8a)

June 28, 2008 6:09 PM

#10/11 SE heavy shaded area, that's AZ heavy shade, not NW or NE region of the country shade!

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Sonoita
Sonoita, AZ
(Zone 8a)

June 28, 2008 6:11 PM

#11/11 Southern area with blue pot fountain (another work in progress)Full sun exposure

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Murmur
Whidbey Island, WA
(Zone 7a)

June 28, 2008 6:53 PM

This is exciting to see - thank you for sharing with us. I look forward to really looking at everything better later on, but wanted to let you know how glad I am to have the opportunity to see what you are up to.

Willowwind2
Union, WA

June 28, 2008 8:50 PM

Love your blue fountain. Here's a pix of mine. No water though.

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outtamygourd
Port Angeles, WA
(Zone 8b)

June 29, 2008 12:12 AM

Wow Sonoita ~ DH and I moved from the White Mountains to the PNW two years ago. I thought WE had it bad up there! Short growing season, constant high dry wind from March to July, then monsoon and freak hailstorms. But I forget how far south you are and what challenges you face there. I would LOVE to see your garden as it grows and progresses just for inspiration! Thanks for sharing!

katie59
Woodinville, WA
(Zone 8b)

June 29, 2008 1:39 AM

Exciting!! So give me a little primer about AZ, if you would. What's your soil like? What are you doing to amend it? Can you get compost delivered or are you doing your own? Looks like you are out of the city.

What are your daytime temps in summer? Nighttime lows in winter? What types of critters are you up against - deer, rabbits, your own (LOL)?

I'm sure you're familiar with [HYPERLINK@www.highcountrygardens.com.]

I'm looking forward to seeing what you're doing - the terrain is so much different from my foothills in the rainforest . . .

Sonoita
Sonoita, AZ
(Zone 8a)

June 30, 2008 8:40 PM

Katie - I edited my 3rd post with geographical info. you asked for, thanks for making the great pointer! Other than my garden being a very large litter box, I have no garden predators due to the cats and dogs. I do have an abundance of pill bugs where things are moist. Oh, and if I let the horses be out too long they will wander up to the garden for a sampler platter.
Here is a pic from this weekend of far left, NW, area of the garden.

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Sonoita
Sonoita, AZ
(Zone 8a)

June 30, 2008 9:03 PM

Here is the next photo moving North

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Sonoita
Sonoita, AZ
(Zone 8a)

June 30, 2008 11:42 PM

The t-pee is starting to get some vertical growth.

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Sonoita
Sonoita, AZ
(Zone 8a)

June 30, 2008 11:52 PM

Area to theft of side steps, NE exposure.

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Sonoita
Sonoita, AZ
(Zone 8a)

July 1, 2008 12:00 AM

The southern side of the side steps.

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Sonoita
Sonoita, AZ
(Zone 8a)

July 1, 2008 12:08 AM

Long shot of east to south beds

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santeelady
Santee, CA
(Zone 9a)

July 1, 2008 12:39 AM

Wow Bridgett, this is going to be fun to watch your work in progress. You have a nice plot of land there!! Lucky ;o)

sunnyg
San Jose, CA
(Zone 9b)

July 1, 2008 12:44 AM

Looking great! I can’t wait to see how things develop over time. I love the tipi…and the sunflowers too, of course :-).

Sonoita
Sonoita, AZ
(Zone 8a)

July 1, 2008 12:51 AM

A north view of the southern bed and fountain

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Sonoita
Sonoita, AZ
(Zone 8a)

July 1, 2008 12:58 AM

South bed next to driveway

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katie59
Woodinville, WA
(Zone 8b)

July 1, 2008 1:34 AM

I do envy you all that manure compost. I'll bet it's wonderful.

So you live in a place of extremes!! And while I fight acidic clay, you have alkaline sand. Couldn't be much different.

Love to see what you're doing with your place and looking forward to finding out more about what you kinds of plants you use.

Sonoita
Sonoita, AZ
(Zone 8a)

July 1, 2008 2:35 PM

Katie, Thanks for the idea, I'll do a plant list and post it....soon :-)

a) Here is looking from the upper driveway (not shown in the plans, I ran out of paper) north to wards the front of the house.
Next I'll take some pictures from below looking up on the terraced beds


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katie59
Woodinville, WA
(Zone 8b)

July 1, 2008 3:34 PM

Sonoita - it just occurs to me that some of the Australian heat-loving plants would work well in your area. Grevillea varieties come to mind immediately. I think they are the neatest plants.

Here's a thread from the Pacific NW forum that has posts from several people in Oregon. Shokami or Rebeccacane might have ideas about new and different plants you can use.

[HYPERLINK@davesgarden.com]

Sonoita
Sonoita, AZ
(Zone 8a)

July 1, 2008 10:24 PM

Katie - Thanks I'll check it out!
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