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September 23, 2007
Natural By Design
Master Gardener Column 9/22/07
Apache plume, fernbush, three-leaf sumac, serviceberry – these are just a few of the many wonderful native plants that thrive in Northern Arizona. When we use these or any number of other native plants in our gardens, we capture the feeling of the natural surroundings in our landscape and create a landscape that can be identified with our region of country.
Besides being beautiful, native plants are adapted to our high, dry environment. If planted in conditions similar to their natural habitat, native plants form a landscape that is more sustainable because it uses less water and fewer chemicals. Gardens planted with natives provide food and shelter for butterflies, bees, birds and other wildlife. Using native plants also increases our appreciation of our local natural communities.
One of the best ways to gain an understanding of native plants is to visit them in their habitat and take cues from our natural surroundings. Do so by taking a hike and observing where plants prefer to grow and which plants grow together. Take pictures and notes, or sketch what you see. By studying plants in their natural environment you can learn much about their cultural requirements and growth habits.
Judith Phillips, a New Mexican plantswoman, landscape designer, and writer, has done much to promote the use of native plants in the landscape. An expert on arid-adapted native plants, she uses an ecosystem-inspired approach to landscape design. She strives to educate gardeners about native plants in the natural environment so that gardeners can then create landscapes that are water efficient, easy to maintain, and very beautiful.
In her book “Natural by Design: Beauty and Balance in Southwest Gardens”, Phillips teaches us how to apply nature’s patterns to gardens. The book concentrates on several southwestern ecosystems and includes illustrations for several of Phillips’ garden designs as well as plants recommendations for specific plant communities.
Her companion book, “Plants for Natural Gardens”, provides more details about the many plants used in her work, specifically those from elevation ranges between 3,500 and 7,500 feet. She translates their use and care to a garden setting.
Phillips and her husband, Roland, are partners in Bernardo Beach Native Plant Farm, a small nursery devoted to increasing the diversity of native and climate-adapted plants available to high desert gardeners. They have over 25 years' experience growing beautiful, heat-loving, cold-tolerant and drought-tolerant southwestern native plants suited to the gardens of central New Mexico.
High elevation gardeners will have the opportunity to hear Phillips’ at the Eighth Annual Arizona Highlands Garden Conference. She will give a keynote talk titled “Southwestern Highlands Gardening: Love Where You Live”.
The conference is sponsored by Master Gardeners from Coconino, Gila, Navajo and Yavapai counties. The conference location rotates between these four high elevation counties. This year the conference host is Gila County and it will be held Oct. 11-12 at the Apache Gold Casino, just outside of Globe. Phillips’ talk will be on Oct. 12. Besides Phillips, twenty-one presenters will be speaking on a wide range of topics with one thing in common: how to garden successfully in the higher elevations of Arizona -- 3,000 to 7,500 feet elevation.
Pre-registration is required because seating will be limited. Lunches; continental breakfast; coffee, tea and juice at breaks; hand-sewn goody bags; door prizes and more are included in the registration. Registration fees are $65 for one day or $125 for two days. Registration forms, agenda and other details are available on-line at www.cals.arizona.edu/gila/horticulture. Or call the Gila County Cooperative Extension office at 928-402-8585 for more information.
By Hattie Braun
The author is the Master Gardener program coordinator for Coconino County Cooperative Extension. If you have a gardening question, call the Master Gardener hotline at 774-1868 ext. 19 or visit our Web site: highelevationgardening.arizona.edu.
Posted by maxmaddy at September 23, 2007 5:21 AM