Any amature landscape designers out there? **UPDATE - PICS ADDED**

[the-bird-man]

if its not too much trouble i would take up the curbing. have you thought about doing a dry creek bed? i know you said color but a plant i would suggest is mountain mahogany. i will have more ideas later

 

[SparksNV]

We have a dry creek bed that goes around the edge of our patio but our yard is big enough that I could possibly incorporate more.

 

[jennh]

Quote:
X 2!!! I LOVE

agastaches also. I have about 5 different ones. The hummers absolutely love it also. Another plant that is good and is also xeric is Salvia greggii. I have a couple of those. They take the cold very well also. At least SOME of them do. I'm not sure if they all do. Penstemons is another one I love. Also dianthus. i have gotten alot of plants from High Country Gardens, and I'm from Pa.

Jen

 

[NevadaRon]

Carol - the Mountain Mahogany is an excellent plant for this environment. It is more of a shrub/tree but it will grow well. Russian Olive is another good tree for this area. Another plant that does extremely well here and is colorful (especially if you like purple!) is Russian Sage. As for grasses, there are several varieties of crested wheat grass, all of which do well here. Some are very ornamental, others more utilitarian. They are perennials and will come back on their own - best time to plant is fall, but it's really not too late now. None of the plants I just mentioned would require much, if any, extra water in this environment.

There is a state nursery in Washoe Valley that has lots of native and non-native plants that are suitable for this environment and the prices are very reasonable! I plan to go there and stock up myself for this spring!

Mostly trees but shrubs, too.

ETA: Another tree that believe it or not will do well here is the Giant Sequoia! I plan to get a few, also quite reasonably priced.

 

[SunnyDawn]

Quote:

Quote:
Salvias do really well here. They are also a non-allergen plant so are great even if someone in your family has allergies!

Ron, I've been meaning to check out that nursery myself! Thanks for that link! I think this thread is going to be very helpful to a lot of folks.

 

[SparksNV]

Thanks!!! I will do some research on the websites and plants suggested!

Now, how about some suggestions on a design?

Carol

 

[HorseFeatherz NV]

I have some russian sage - love them - but do not be like me and give them no water

they did not die, but growth was super, super slow - they like the gallon dripper on the drip line we have.

We also have a sequoia - small right now but is doing well. Austrian pines are great, if you are looking for more pine trees.


Course - more chickens - I know just

me

 

[Lesa]

I am on the other end of the country, so my ideas for your climate, are limited. However, I love that curbing. I would certainly keep it, if that was my yard. It gives each area definition and design. I like it! If you wanted to soften the edges of it a little, plant something that will spread and crawl over the edge, a little...like thyme. Looking forward to seeing what you choose! Happy Gardening!

 

[mom'sfolly]

I live in Central Texas but I think some of the plants might translate. I like the autumn sage (Salvia greggii) suggestion. It comes in tons of colors, and is drought tolerant. Here it blooms constantly. Another great plant for well drained areas is the black foot daisy, perennial and blooms from April to October. I also like Greg's Mistflower, which has small purple blooms, but the butterflys love it. Pavonia or rock rose is a nice pink perennial.

Gardener's are usually more than happy to talk about their gardens, so if there are any garden tours in your area you should take one. They will let you see what other people have done, and ask lots of questions.

This place is wonderful. Here are links to the plants I mentioned, and the have plant lists for each area. The final link is a list of native species for your area.

http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=mele2

http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=cogr10

http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=SAGR4

http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=PALA13

http://www.wildflower.org/collectio...rt=0&collection=NV&pagecount=10&pagecount=100

 

[6chickens in St. Charles]

Hey, I have similar berm-scaping. Here's an idea which is something I'll never have the money or time for, but what do you think?

I always wondered if we could have a little waterscape built into the berm, to homegrow tilapia or red mullet while also providing aquaculture vegetable gardening with maybe a pet duck or goose. The side of the aquascape could be see-through in the berm, even at eye-level; heavy duty acrylic fishtank wall. A few otter and turtle displays at our local Brookfield Zoo gave me the idea. People have tanks built into walls of their homes; I wonder if anybody has done that outdoors?

I think your landscape aims to use Very Little Water, I know. But its just an idea and I saw your berm with the pretty retaining wall............... turtles, colorful amphibians, butterflies and fish would add a little shock of color!