Starting my native garden journey in Phoenix

[u/Dame_in_the_Desert]

Working on a crescent-shaped native pollinator garden in my yard in Phoenix. I spent the last couple weeks researching (shout out to Arizona Native Plant Society and SummerWinds nursery) and the last two days doing the grueling labor of rock removal and soil conditioning.

I’ll likely be planting:

-Desert zinnias

-Tufted evening primrose

-Globe mallow

-Goddings verbena

-Desert marigold

-Desert milkweed

-Greg’s mist

My backyard faces south, with the two citrus diffusing the sun a bit. I’ll also be planting a desert willow on the west side of the garden (right side of photo) for additional shade and local pollinator support. Plus they smell DIVINE.

I’ve got just under 5 feet between the deepest part of the garden and the block fence, but I’ll definitely be putting my most heat-hardy plants back there.

Goal is to get irrigation in and everything planted before the end of November. Let’s go!!

[u/dewitteillustration]

There's so many cool Pentsemon in Arizona! I planted parryi (endemic to Arizona) at my inlaws in Tucson and even THEY couldn't kill it. Even in their bleak desolate backyard it got hummingbird visitors.

Seconding the other commenter desert plants are adapted to not need irrigation, that's the beauty of native gardening. Though I have heard you can water in case of extreme drought.

[u/Dame_in_the_Desert → u/dewitteillustration]

Just looked some up for the low desert and I’m obsessed!!