Some of us in hotter, dryer climates do xeriscape gardening, others don't need to. But everyone who putters in the garden makes choices about what to plant, how to prepare the soil, how much maintenance they want to perform to maintain this plant, this garden, this look in general.

I wish I could grow all of my beloved Puget Sound plants down here, but the cost in time and money and bed prep (to say nothing of water) would make it an absurd proposition. When I moved into this house it had minimum landscaping--an ugly hedge against the front and a beautiful but vicious wild rose at the back. I ended up killing off both (the hedge on purpose).

I've studied Texas native plants, I keep in mind how large they are supposed to get, and I really like texture and contrast in the yard. I have one bed with a variety of evergreen plants, all sorts of different shades of green. Few flowers over there (the Silverado Sage does this wonderful lavender bloom every so often, and the rosemary perks up after a heavy rain). I don't typically add extra water to that bed.

Other parts of the yard are for different kinds of plantings, and there are a few zones where more tender stuff goes (where there is enough light or shade, where they need more water and get it because of my foundation soaker hoses, etc.)

Whatever I do, I want this yard to be friendly to the large array of wildlife that I find here. So I have permanent zones for nests and tarantula holes and bunny nests in thickets, etc. I'm also working on creating some shady areas. We're only beginning to get to the point where understory plants might survive.

I'm about to take on an ambitious new project. I've identified two sections of the yard that are completely surrounded by concrete borders. One is fairly large. In theory I can dig out the Bermuda and after a mighty struggle, keep it out. The plan is to lay soaker hoses in parts of this area for some tender things (not all identified yet, some annuals, some perennials) to maintain them without the waste of sprinkling.

What are you doing in your part of the world to garden in sync with your climate? And how far will you go to keep some favorite, but perhaps inappropriate, plant in place in your garden? What wildlife lives or visit your yard? Do you plant to attract animals and insects, do you put out baths or feeders for birds?

I'm asking now because my first irises opened this morning and we have a new iris bed I put in last year.

I hope you'll post photo links and offer web or book citations and there are a few folks who share seeds and cuttings.

Oh, shit. The tornado siren. Spring in Texas.

SRS