Gardening on the Moon ( GOTM )

Written by Jeff

A wonderful thing about living in the Sonoran desert for gardeners is that there are so many “seasons” with which to work. OK, the summer really isn’t too workable since we are busy trying to get our plants to survive. As a matter of fact, the people are trying to “survive” the heat as well.

We do have two distinct planting seasons however and this provides much opportunity for renewal and new-plant exploration. As part of the November 4, 2009 Master Gardener Update, Carolyn Hills (a master herb gardener and chicken-raising expert) gave attendees a tour of the demonstration herb garden. As the tour progressed, she provided hints about each of the plants and their possible uses.

Of course there were some plants that weren’t herbs that had to be admired as well. As you will note from the following photos, there are numerous plants growing and rejuvenating themselves in the fall growing season in the Sonoran Desert garden.

There were several varieties of basil. After all, what would an herb garden be without basil? Below is one basil plant that has been held over several growing seasons and has very woody stems.

Unkown basil variety with woody stem

Of course there was plenty of basil to go around and it was a good thing as the bees were extremely busy.

Basil in bloom with pollinators hard at work!

I was unfamiliar with Hibiscus sabdariffa, but I was immediately taken in by the beautiful seed pods. This particular plant is used in various cultures to make tea with “special properties”.

More information about Hibiscus sabdariffa can be found here.

The datura grows freely in the Sonoran desert and it’s “protected” because it is poisonous to most animals. This naturally showy native has been hybridized and the garden had a mature purple datura in full bloom. Below are two pictures of this beauty!

Close up of the Purple datura flower

More information about the native datura can be found here.

There was another purple stunner in the garden this day as well. It was a purple pepper plant (variety unknown). I am glad Peter Piper didn’t have to pick a purple pepper or we would all be speaking with twisted tongues!

This purple pepper is as pretty as many flowers

Also putting on a showy display were several pockets of garlic chives; good to eat and pretty to look at!

Garlic chives a dainty contrast to the rest of the garden

If you are in the Phoenix area and you care to visit the desert demonstration garden, it is located at 4341 E. Broadway Road, Phoenix, AZ 85040. You may contact the Maricopa County Cooperative Extension at (602) 827-8200.

Gardening on the Moon, www.gardeningonthemoon.com, originally published this post