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Once Upon a Time & Happily Ever After

Rediscovering Life after Retirement

Categories: Life Style

TBB Spring Time Fun Series: Desert Gardening, 5.15.2017

Desert gardening, 5.15.2017

 

Welcome to our garden party!

If you are here after a visit to The Blended Blog, thank you for following our “Spring Time Fun” series blog hop.  Today we are talking about gardening in different parts of our blogging community.  Going to share how my Prince Charming and I try to garden on the Chihuahuan Desert in our far west corner of Texas.  From here, hope you will visit Sheila at Making the Most of Every Day, the flora of her Florida home.  And then head northwest to check out Lana’s green thumb at My New Happy in the evergreen state of Washington.

Grab a glass of sweet tea and join me out back.

Cement Pond

El Paso would truly be the perfect place to live if there was just some body of water within the county lines.  We do have a man-made pond-like-lake at Ascarate park where PC plays baseball.  Often full of algae and trash.  There’s the Rio Grande meandering along the border. But this rio is anything but grande.  Little more than a trickle.

So we had to take matters into our own hands.  This spring we put in a cement pond, as Jed Clampett from “The Beverly Hillbillies” TV show would say.  Here’s a look at how far we’ve come since we broke ground on February 18.

We took our inaugural soak in the hot tub last Friday night and our first swim Saturday.  As the pool neared completion, we researched the best kinds of plants for around a pool in Zone 8.  Have a look at what we’ve planted.

Desert Gardening: Can You Say C-A-C-T-U-S?

Why fight it?  We live in a desert where the annual rainfall is less than 10 inches.  However, for years I have longed to have pots of pansies, petunias and posies.  Which looked lovely at Lowe’s but lasted less than a week once I got them home.  So when we started talking about what to put around our pool, PC impressed upon me the need to use plants that are naturally found in this area.

Desert gardening, 5.15.2017

We (OK, PC mostly but I helped) edged the pool deck with river rock ‘flower’ beds.  Spent one weekend visiting different nurseries trying to decide which plants to buy for our gardens.   Came home with four kinds of cactus.  Those in the graphic above.  Low water, low maintenance, low color, low fragrance.   Kind of an acquired taste.  Not exactly roses.  But prickly, still.

Never Promised You a Rose Garden

PC may not have promised me a rose garden but I feel like I’m living a fairy tale life over here.  And a quartet of cacti does not a garden make.  To go along with them we do have one rose bush.  And a butterfly bush.

Desert gardening, 5.15.2017
Desert gardening, 5.15.2017

 

Desert gardening, 5.15.2017

A Spanish lavender, a magnolia and a hibiscus, japonica, bougainvillea, tiger lilies, lilac, sweet broom, Indian hawthorn, lantana, and rose of Sharon.  But many of our plants are struggling after having been replanted.  I talk to each of them everyday and softy their branches.  If they all take off again, our garden could potentially look something like this.

Desert gardening, 5.15.2017
Desert gardening, 5.15.2017
Desert gardening, 5.15.2017
Desert gardening, 5.15.2017
Desert gardening, 5.15.2017
Desert gardening, 5.15.2017
Desert gardening, 5.15.2017
Desert gardening, 5.15.2017
Desert gardening, 5.15.2017
Desert gardening, 5.15.2017

Not too shabby for a desert…oasis.

As far as trees go we have two Japanese cherry, a peach, Mexican elder and a Texas ash.  Which, with the exception of one cherry, are all doing well.  Knock on wood…get it?

Your Turn

So that’s my desert gardening…or what my garden could potentially look like once it recovers from the pool construction.  While we hold our breath and wait for everything to bloom, our hot tub and pool lights add lots of color to backyard.

Desert Gardening, 5.15.2017
Desert Gardening, 5.15.2017
Desert Gardening, 5.15.2017
Desert Gardening, 5.15.2017

So tell me true, how does your garden grow?  Do you have a green thumb or one that is brown and prickly, kind of like mine?  Will you think a good thought for my yard?  I’ll keep you posted on how my plants survive the heat of summer.

Hope you will hop from here over to Sheila’s at Making the Most of Every Day for a look at her tropical paradise.  I bet both of her thumbs are green.  Let’s go see.

Hugs and kisses,

leslie

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About Leslie Roberts Clingan

I am an aspiring blogger and children's author, wife, mother, daughter, sister, - in-law, responsible pet owner and recently retired elementary school librarian. I hope to figure out the next chapter of my life as I transition from crazy, busy work world onto totally idle retirement and now to something in-between.

Comments

  1. Sheila @ Making the Most of Every Day

    May 15, 2017 at 4:01 am

    I love the slide show showing the progress on your pool! We’ve always wanted to put one in but could never afford it. How exciting! I didn’t realize El Paso was Zone 8! So is Jacksonville! Hope your garden makes it!

    Reply
    • Leslie Roberts Clingan

      May 15, 2017 at 4:38 am

      Ha! I would never have guessed that you guys and we are similar climates. We have zero humidity and not much more rain. How can that be? Heading over to your blog to find out what you are able to grow!! Thanks for stopping by.

      Reply
  2. jodie filogomo

    May 15, 2017 at 7:38 am

    It is much easier to have the plants that work for our environment, right, Leslie??
    I can’t believe how great your pool turned out!! I’ll be over for a swim!!
    Jodie
    http://www.jtouchofstyle.com

    Reply
    • Leslie Roberts Clingan

      May 18, 2017 at 12:25 pm

      Come on over…the water is fine…and heated! Do you drink beer or wine?

      Reply
  3. Natalie

    May 15, 2017 at 8:46 am

    Congrats, Leslie, for completing your pool and gardening projects! All look very nice in your dry climate. It’s fair weather in Toronto now but still on the cool side (We the North!). I like gardening but only do it if I know we’ll be home to take care of our garden. Many summers we’re away and there is no point to start a garden when we’re not there to take care of it nor to enjoy “the fruits of our labour”. I’ve rescued a few plants so I think I have one green thumb 🙂

    Reply
    • Leslie Roberts Clingan

      May 18, 2017 at 12:27 pm

      I have felt the same way about gardening then leaving for vacation just as I get the yard where I want it. We do have a sprinkler system but haven’t figured out how to get it to weed and mow, too!! If you are a plant rescuer, I believe you must have at least one green thumb. I have been whispering to our struggling Japanese cherry and our sickly lilac. Hope they respond.

      Reply
  4. curlycraftymom

    May 15, 2017 at 9:27 am

    I would love a magnolia. It must be hard to know what to plant in the desert. There are so many cute succulents, though! I love your pool, just love it!

    Carrie
    curlycraftymom.com

    Reply
    • Leslie Roberts Clingan

      May 18, 2017 at 12:31 pm

      I thought about planting succulents but was afraid our heat would do them in. I need to learn more about them. If this batch of plants doesn’t make it, maybe I will go that route!

      Reply
  5. Nancy

    May 15, 2017 at 9:56 am

    Wow! What a fabulous pool! I would love to have one like that!

    Reply
    • Leslie Roberts Clingan

      May 18, 2017 at 12:33 pm

      Thank you, sugar! This has been the windiest, coolest spring! Ready for it to get hot so we can really enjoy the water. Thank you so much for coming by AND for leaving a comment.

      Reply
  6. Whitney a la mode

    May 15, 2017 at 10:10 am

    Your pool and hot tub look amazing! I’m so jealous! Can I come down and take a soak?? Haha.

    Reply
    • Leslie Roberts Clingan

      May 18, 2017 at 12:34 pm

      Finish up your trip to Toronto, then come on down to EP for a dip in the pool! Hope you gals have a wonderful time together.

      Reply
  7. Carol ("Mimi")

    May 15, 2017 at 10:49 am

    Your pool and your garden look fabulous! We have a pool here in coastal GA, and we love it — we use it almost year-round. Thank you for sharing at #BloggingGrandmothersLinkParty. I’m sharing your post on social media.

    Reply
    • Leslie Roberts Clingan

      May 18, 2017 at 12:36 pm

      Do you have a cover on your pool? I used a bubble wrap type cover on my old pool years ago. But my daughter was reminding me last night what a mess we had with it. Would blow in the wind and dump stuff into the pool from on top of the cover. We are definitely going to need one because of the wind but want to get one that is a help not a hindrance.

      Reply
  8. Danielle

    May 15, 2017 at 12:16 pm

    Oh that pool and hot tub. I love it. So amazing. Especially for the crazy hot climate. I can’t even fathom that kind of heat. I love the “warm” Sk summers and all the thunder storms that come with them. It would be so strange to not have that. The plants look great. The only cactus I had was one that was in a pot in a bathroom. And the bull cactus that grows in my dads pastures.

    Reply
    • Leslie Roberts Clingan

      May 18, 2017 at 12:39 pm

      As they like to say in El Paso, it’s a dry heat. Never heard of a bull cactus but going to look that up!

      Reply
  9. Donna

    May 15, 2017 at 12:26 pm

    I love how you have worked with the environment that you have instead of fighting with it. Great hot tub (we would be lost without ours)!
    #BloggingGrandmothersLinkParty#15

    Reply
  10. Deena - Shoes to Shiraz (Dee)

    May 15, 2017 at 3:06 pm

    Super intrigued by the type of plants around your area and I LOVE LOVE LOVE your pool! Especially seeing it come together.

    Reply
  11. Christie Hawkes

    May 15, 2017 at 3:41 pm

    What beautiful photos! Definitely an oasis. Thanks for linking up at #BloggingGrandmothersLinkParty. I’ve shared your post on social media.

    Reply
  12. Carrie

    May 15, 2017 at 4:29 pm

    Look at you with your beauty in the desert. Love your pool and if I’m ever in West Texas I think I’ll stop by!

    Reply
  13. Grammy Dee

    May 15, 2017 at 8:40 pm

    Everything looks great! I do not have a green thumb when it comes to plants and flowers but have a slightly green thumb as far as growing veggies 🙂 Thank you Leslie for linking up at the #BloggingGrandmothersLinkParty. I shared this post.

    Reply
  14. Lana

    May 15, 2017 at 10:46 pm

    I’ve always wanted to have a pool! Love what you planted around it – cacti are so fun.

    Reply
  15. Sue from Sizzling Towards 60 & Beyond

    May 16, 2017 at 1:02 am

    Hi Leslie I love this series especially the Desert Gardening! Thanks for sharing with us at #blogginggrandmotherslinkparty. I’ve pinned and shared.

    Reply
    • Leslie Roberts Clingan

      May 21, 2017 at 7:54 pm

      Thank you for coming by.

      Reply
  16. Lori Hill-Smith

    May 16, 2017 at 3:09 pm

    Love gardening and cacti. I killed mine a couple of years ago. Time to get some more! Thank you for sharing at #BloggingGrandmothersLinkParty

    Reply
  17. Clearissa Coward

    May 16, 2017 at 7:29 pm

    Your garden is beautiful. Thank you for linking up at the #BloggingGrandmothersLinkParty. I shared this post.

    Reply
  18. Teresa

    May 17, 2017 at 11:10 am

    Your pool and garden look so inviting; makes me wish I could join you! I hope your flowers take off and you have a beautiful oasis in the dessert! Thank you for sharing at #BloggingGrandmothersLinkParty.

    Reply
  19. Amy Johnson

    May 20, 2017 at 3:13 pm

    Your pool is absolutely amazing! I live in Zone 4 and yes, I’m a gardener, big time. I’m the opposite of you, we get so much rain in the spring I can’t even get outside to work in the garden and the weeds are out of control because of it. I wish often I lived in a warmer zone so I could grow more different types of flowers.

    Reply
    • Leslie Roberts Clingan

      May 21, 2017 at 7:53 pm

      Thank you. Enjoyed a full day in the pool yesterday with granddaughter Lucia. HEAVEN!

      I guess the grass is always greener, huh? We have weeds, too, that pop up without rain, in the tiniest little plot of wind-blown sand and dirt. Still talking to and praying over my struggling Japanese cherry and my lilac. Keep your fingers crossed for me!

      Reply

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In what felt like the blink of an eye, I have gone from full-time wife to my sweet husband, hands-on mom to my two beautiful daughters and elementary school librarian to a retired, empty nester with lots of time on my hands. Join me on my journey to rediscover who I am. Glad you are here...
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