Palo Verde Beauty

It's official - I am in love with my Palo Verde trees.  We have three of them in our front yard, my favorite being the one that sits directly outside the arch to my front patio.  Its canopy is quite large so it feels like my whole front yard is under a bright yellow umbrella.  Take a look:

Gorgeous!  Palo Verde trees make a huge mess but it is worth the clean-up.  I love pulling into the driveway and laying my eyes on this beauty.  The limbs and branches are all twisted and gnarled - adding even more charm.

View from below

If you don't have one of these in your yard, go get one!  Desert adapted, low water use and stunning!

Sunday Mornings

Today is my first lazy Sunday in many weeks and you can guess how I'll be spending it - in the garden.   My list of work to do is long, but it can wait while I check the progress of my summer veggies.   I've been using a seaweed fertilizer from Sweet Garden Organics and it seems to be creating happy plants.  Take a look:

Cucumbers for Jack

Anaheim peppers 

Grapes!! 

Artichoke

Zucchini

Green Zebra Tomato

Bush Snap Bean

It's not too late to sow seeds for summer.  You can still plant black eyed peas, yardlong beans, Armenian cucumbers, jicama, okra, summer squash, tomatillos and watermelon.  Gotta love gardening in Arizona - you can plant and harvest almost every day of the year

Support Local Seed Companies

I have discovered a new seed company, Sweet Garden Organics!  Their store is in Show Low, AZ but you can order seeds online at www.sweetgardenorganics.com.   Here are some packets I bought on a recent garden tour:

Lavender:  I have never tried lavender from seed, and haven't had much success with it as a transplant.  I planted the seeds and am anxiously waiting for a bud.

Edamame:  Edamame are replacing my row of snap peas I finally retired to the compost.  They are alternated with a Bush Snap Pea from Seeds of Change.

Squash:  Crookneck Squash is a favorite of mine.  See the trellis I made for it below:

I took two trellises, turned them upside down and tied the top with wire.  This made a night upright growing space in the middle of a bed for my squash.  I don't have much vertical space in my garden so I have to be creative!

I typically never fertilize my plants with anything but my own compost, but am trying this seaweed fertilizer.  You water it in, once per week.  It is supposed to help the plants hold moisture - a bonus during our hot summers.