Hosta

There are many bulbs to plant in the garden here in Tucson.  Unfortuneatly, with our clay soil, many of those bulbs don't do well without some help from us, the gardener.  Most of these plants need to be in pots or planters.  I have one more post on the million other bulbs I've tried in the garden and it will include many of the favorites people have in their own gardens.  This series is a report on permanent bulbs that will last for a good portion of the year outside. The second to last posting on bulbs is about the mighty hosta.  The pic below was taken at my brother-in-law's house in Wisconsin during fall.

Many of us who are transplants from the Eastern side of the US love this particular plant, but like the lilac, it doesn't do well here in Tucson.  I have a green thumb and can get it to leaf out, but it doesn't grow to its' full potential.  This plant disappoints here in the desert even if you have placed it into a pot with the required soil.  I've place this plant around different areas in the garden to test lighting and soil conditions and it failed all of them.  However, Wal-Mart sure had a lot of hostas to sell last year.  But while looking at their collections of bulbs this year, I noticed they don't offer anymore of these plants. Could it have been a mistake on their part placing them in wrong region?  Maybe you have had a different experience with these plants in your zone 9 garden, but I have a green thumb and couldn't get this plant to grow for me.  The plants I've posted in this bulb series are the ones that will thrive in your garden, but I know many Tucsonans will try out the hosta because they miss their collections back home.....so I added this one specific plant into the bulb series as a plant NOT to put in your garden.  In my opinion, the hosta is too much effort to keep alive and I don't recommend putting this in your garden at all as it will most likely disappoint.  If you miss growing hostas, I recommend heading over to the blog titled Cheesehead Gardening in Wisconsin which has a lot of info on hostas and here, you'll be able to get your hosta fix via the computer:)  Plus the author is really funny while informative. I'd pass these bulbs if you see them at the store.  The last posting on bulbs will be a little more uplifting on the fun bulbs we put into pots for that little punch here and there.  Until next time.........

Sweat

Today, like everyday in June, is hot. This month for gardeners is fairly easy, BUT we need to make sure our plants are getting enough water and sometimes protection from the sun. It is quite common to see leaf scald on many plants and it can be frustrating to watch happen, but the leaves on the older plants always come back again by the end of the summer or beginning of fall. I hate losing plants....this is the month that tells you what needs more water, less water....and what just won't grow. My surprise this year has been the caladiums. They have done super well and I am definitely going to purchase more of them for next year. However, with every success comes failure....here are my latest failures and why.....

At the ramada, I planted several Algerian Ivies. However they are in an area that is regularly watered and placed with tropicals that are doing very well. Verdict. It is a vine that cannot be overwatered nor placed in bright sun. While it didn't get the bright sun and did well in the shade; the water for the tropicals is what has made this vine collapse. The Algerian Ivy will be replaced with a Confederate Jasmin or Carolina Jasmin....vines which can take a bit more water.

The planting wells. I have noticed that again because of watering and in this case...lack of sunlight....the following will be replaced with more shade resistant plants that can tolerate wet soil. Colocasia esculenta, the greek urn plant, and fatsia needed more light. They were taken out of the planters and put into pots in hopes of saving them. I have several of the same specimens around on the grounds and they are doing well, but I have realized that they need more light and drier soil. I have transferred the hostas to the planter soil in hopes that perhaps they will do better in the wet and shady spot. They haven't bushed out into a healthy plant. Another planter has the same issue and the castor, elephant ears and canna plants are not doing well due to the sunlight factor. Finally, a boxwood was moved into a pot after not receiving enough sunlight due to tropicals blocking the light.

As with all things, I have taken several of the same plant and moved them around the property to see if they would do better in one spot or the other. While I am disappointed with several of the areas, I am encouraged that they grow in the other places. Again, this just means one thing...."The right plant for the right spot."

During these hot days, we begin to see the moisture creep in and everyone starts to feel the humidity. The plants will perk up again once the summer rains or monsoon begin. It appears to be about 2 weeks away. During these next several months, Mother Nature will provide our thirsty desert with the water needed to keep our Sonoran desert green and beautiful. While June is hot and the gardner must water, July and August will provide dangerous weather conditions that challenge us in different ways.....wind, torrential downpour, and lightening cause trees to lose their limbs, catch fire, or tip over which can be very dangerous causing hundreds to thousands of dollars worth of damage. That is why pruning in early Spring is so important....and why proper pruning is a must....there is nothing worse than a beautiful tree blown down to the ground.

For now, I go out at night or the early morning to water. And I currently am putting in more palms and catsclaw vine....but that's it. It takes a lot to establish a tree....and dig a hole:) Until next time....happy gardening from Tucson.