One of the things that attracted us to this area of Tucson was the rocks. How can you possibly go wrong when the desert scene is offset by rocks. You can't. The area is stunningly beautiful with tall graceful saguaros taking center stage and with smaller cactus and other desert dwellers interspersed among the towering piles of rocks.
Although I can enjoy this scene from most rooms in the house the tight spaces in my garden do not have these spectacular rocks. It was cleared for the building of the houses. The package of information from the builder specifies 10 boulders from onsite stockpile. I counted and we have exactly 10. Whomever was responsible for their placement clearly had no thought as to the best way to place them. He dotted them around the landscape, one here one there and lucky for us 2 in one place. Far better to have used them all at the front to make a really big statement.
I was lamenting this and what the possibility might be of getting more! I can't imagine the cost of getting someone to just bring in a few boulders and placing them, with me standing over them telling them which way they should go.
Now as it happens 2 of the 10 original boulders are serving no visual function at all. They are along the edge of the driveway, mostly hidden by overgrown bushes. How about relocating them, I suggest? And so using pieces of cardboard David moved the first rock end over end to finally get it into the place where I had dug the hole.
Although it is not the perfect shape but I will tuck in cactus and other low growing plants to soften the angles. I think it will work well. Plus we will try to procure another one to make it 3.
That is what we did this week. But we could only manage rocks that would fit in the car. They are not super big so I will have to use my thinking cap as to how to manage and plant them for their best visual appeal. My plan is to tuck cactus in among the rocks as well as low growing desert bloomers.
But there are more rocks provided both as drainage and cover. 2-8" Coronado brown rock for drainage and 1/4" minus desert gold gravel. In fact we have everything they specified. The 2-8" rip rap in abundance. Every scupper that drains from the roof must have an area of this rock to get water away from the house.
The owners of dry creeks know that they eventually fill up with debris and blowing soil and must be cleaned out. We have 5 years worth. So I have begun to work on some areas pulling out all the rocks as well as some rather tired bushes.
Maybe they would have surprised me come spring but honestly there was gross over planting followed by hacking. Out came two Baja ruellia, Ruellia pensularis, and after a lot of thought I cut the Cape honeysuckle, Tecomaria capensis, down to the ground. It took me two weeks to make the decision on the Tecomaria because I think it might bloom on old wood. We'll see what happens and if it survives.
There are 3 more, planted beneath a Texas Olive, Cordia boissieri. David does not like the look of the tree, which is not at its best in winter. I remember this tree, outside the auditorium at the Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center, which sadly was killed by last winter's freeze and removed. I also saw it down at the coast blooming with gorgeous white flowers. We shall see.
When all was cleaned up and irrigation lines were marked the rocks were returned leaving a few planting places. I happen to have a couple of Agave demettiana, which may prefer this sheltered location as well as as a A. Joe Hoak (as yet still in a pot). I am eyeing up this space for some smaller agave like Confederate rose, which is currently in a pot. We do get a little colder than down in the city so I am not sure if they would survive winter.
Among the rocks I placed a few fossils I had had for many years but never quite had the right place for.
And who could resist a few spring bulbs. Every year Walmart sells 4" pots of these for a dollar.
I have begun a small collection of the rocks that show traces of copper. They will be used as a mulch in my hypertufa trough which house the paddle plants. They are not looking to attractive at present having been out of soil for some time.
The bird bath came from Texas with us and is holding a spot for something more colorful as is the A.weberi which I have left for structure for the time being. I feel sure it won't be there for too much longer.
Behind the agave are three crowded bushes one of which is to go and the others cut to the ground. I might then have a view of my neighbor's beautiful whale's tongue agave, Agave ovatifolia. I have not been able to find one here so a trip to Austin may be necessary.