We went to Arizona the first week of March '04. We visited a nursery & well these things just sort of followed me home. Actually they were shipped by "Pony Express".

Now they live up on the deck on the west side of the house. Some come in for winter. Some might stay out.

Also see Cacti.

The new additions up on the shelf are babies Ron's mom brought me home from AZ this spring. They stayed alive long enough to make it outdoors for the summer. I don't know what winter will bring for them.

Look how my babies from 04 have grown!

The spineless prickly pear amazes me. I never thought I would be able to keep it alive when that nice guy working at the AZ nursery gave it to me to try. He cut it off the mother plant, wrapped it up in thick newspaper, & told me to just stick it in sandy soil when I got home. It not only lived but grew a new paddle almost right away. And it survived living in our bedroom under the south windows all winter then grew another segment this summer. I wonder if it will ever bloom.

The agaves are doing nicely too. When I got them (from the parking area at the condos where we stayed on our vacation) I never thought they would do so well. But it is hot as the dessert up on our west deck in the summer. During winter they live in our bedroom under the south windows with the cacti. How long before they get too big for that, I don't know. But I'm hoping they will help me convince Ron that WE need that sunroom addition on the house.

www.desertusa.com/flora.html
www.succulent-plant.com/agave.html

Things have changed up on the deck.

I got an idea for an ornamental herb garden this spring. I found an old metal patio table at a garage sale. They gave it to me. Ron threw a fit when I came dragging it home but now he understands & likes it. Or so he says.

There's several varieties of little pepper plants. The little peppers are all so pretty and so different from each other. Not only am I having fun but I'm learning too.

I have atleast 3 types of sage growing, scented geraniums too. The geraniums are starts from the plant I bought for my mom last year for Mother's Day. She kept them over blooming in pots by her east patio sliders all winter.

I used salvia 'Lady in Red' in the big pot as the center of attention. I love that plant. Lavender plants add cool blue color & fun texture. My 2 new ornamental onions (alliums) added fun height & spherical design. Purple basil is beautiful contrast color & so easy to grow.

They're all happy in their hot little homes next to my cacti / agaves garden pots.

Marlys' Cacti 2007

See the Cacti page for more pictures from 2007.

Curly Alliums - Lemon Grass - Lavender - Geranium start

Marlys' little herb garden

Salvia 'Lady in Red'/purple basil/vaiegated sage/pineapple sage

Cacti & Herb Garden