Caliche Dreams

The latest rains in Texas put my dry creek drainage to the test. No washouts!!

Dry creek coming along

Dry creek is coming along. We are getting upwards of 4” of rain in Texas this week. Let’s see how she does…
Arizona Gardener Central Texas Gardeners

Early stages of a desert garden

Pic 1:
Yucca’s the focal point (assuming the cutting takes root and thrives). The
Agave is in front supporting the scene. There are two smaller agave
against and behind the stone.
Stone for is for structure.
The channel will be creek bed. Work in progress..

Pic 2:
Cholla out front, which I’ll try to keep full and low.
Cow’s tongue settling in behind it.
There’s an agave hiding in back. It gets great sun there.

Picked this little honey up at a swap..

Now to figure out where to put it and begin praying it roots..

I know I’m a little late this season, but what can be done with this grass to make it more full next year? There’s a lot of bare space..

This cholla will get a well deserved trim after this bloom. It has earned it..

Found this one in a cul-de-sac across town—part of an old, established cluster. I leave the main group alone and only take the outliers.

Came out easier than expected. Mattock under one side, little leverage, and it popped loose with minimal root damage.

No rot, but some soft, tired growth at the base. Hosed the roots off and now it’ll sit for a few days to dry out before going back in the ground.

It’ll look worse before it looks better. That part seems to bother people more than it should.

Most of these don’t die because they’re fragile—they die because they get planted wrong.

Notes from the Caliche.

Look who decided to finally produce some growth!! I’ve been patiently waiting for this cholla to do something for six months.

Like most of my plants, which are generally opportunistic finds/rehabs, this one was found at a trailhead in Ocotillo, CA. Transported home via coffee cup.

Do you have stories about your plants?