Xeriscaping is beautiful

Yarrow and pentemon

I wish I could remember the name of this shrub.
It requires almost no water and the spring blooms look like tiny flames.

My Waterwise Garden
I am so excited about my plant choices in my new garden. Even though I have researched this type of gardening for years I thought that I would be giving up some of the color that I loved in my English garden but I was pleasantly surprised this spring. I couldn't believe how much growth came in just one year, especially the penstemon next to the three yarrow plants that have been there since we moved in 2 years ago. Even Mike's tiny rock rose doubled in size.
I was able to turn down the drip volume in late summer and really save a lot of water compared to my conventional sprinkler heads in Highland.

The lavender and pincushion flowers are next to bloom along with other Rocky Mountain wildflowers so I should have something all summer long.


I regretted not saving a place for tomatoes and peppers so I shoveled out bark and ripped out weed guard and Mike brought in some beautiful dirt full of organic matter so I now have a vegetable garden in the back flower bed. I wasn't very good at raising tomatoes in pots last year.

I do miss my 4th generation peonies but Mom had beautiful blooms for Memorial Day. I also bought some from Pam Ostermiller's florist shop Tri.Fec.Ta in Sugarhouse. The starts that I transplanted from Highland to Jessica's house finally bloomed this year...the pink ones survived!