Today, as it was a day off for me, we took a trip up to Tucson and visited an amazing nursery called Civano Nursery. It’s on the easternmost side of Tucson in a relatively newly developed area. It was an amazing nursery. Sue and I agreed that we like it much more than Anderson’s back home. I know~! Sacrilege! But it’s true. We were even able to get some of our Christmas shopping completed! We went to purchase some large trees or bushes with the great gift given to us last week. Sue did some research and we found this nursery on-line that has a wonderful section of native plants that are perfect for our hedge row/wind break. Read on for what info on what we purchased.
Ok, before I go into the litany of what we purchased, I just want to say that one of the most wonderful things about this nursery is that there were butterflies everywhere! We do get our fair share of them in the area, but they were simply flocking to this nursery. I wondered if they ordered them and let them loose in the nursery, so I asked. No, the lady that was helping said that they come every year because the nursery has an abundance of all the plants that they really like. It was just so cool to see them there in such abundance. They made the place seem almost magical! I just really liked it 🙂 On to the litany…
We purchased the following, all of which do quite well in our area and will survive the wind and both the high and low temperature ranges. Most of the descriptions I’m using are from the U. S. Department of Agriculture or the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, and the links to the pages are located on the plant name.
Fourwing Saltbush: Its grayish or whitish green color has possibilities as an ornamental or screening plant in picnic or camping areas in low rainfall sites. The plant has excellent potential for plantings to promote native species. It is used on mine spoils, cut banks and other disturbed areas to blend into natural vegetation. Erosion control: Due to its extensive and deep root system (20 to 40 feet deep) this plant has an adaptation for erosion control, especially where associated native plants have not been disturbed. Livestock: This is a nutritious plant. It has a good rating for sheep and goats, fair for cattle, and poor for horses, except in winter when its rating would be fair to good. The seed crop is extremely nutritious and eaten so extensively by livestock as to be detrimental to the continued reproduction of the plant. Wildlife: Deer relish this plant, especially during the winter. Quail use this species for shady cover, roosting, and food. It has been observed to be used by porcupine, ground squirrel, and jack rabbit.
Jojo Bush : This attractive, gray-green shrub is often considered evergreen but technically is deciduous with persistent leaves. Inconspicuous flowers occur on short axillary stems and are followed by green, acorn-like fruits on female plants. Stiff branched for a low mound shape; jojoba grows 4 1/2-6 ft. tall. Bluish-green, medium-size shrub with low, broad appearance and leathery leaves. Very widely spreading. Jojoba is emerging as a potentially important desert crop species. Its fruit is about 50 percent oil, of a quality similar to that of sperm whale oil. Unlike many other oils, it does not degrade by bacterial activity. It can be used in cosmetics, lubricants, in cooking, and as a wax for cars, while the pulp remaining after oil extraction can be fed to animals.
Desert Hackberry: A member of the Elm Family. One of the few shrubs in the Celtis genus, this deciduous plant rarely reaches 10 ft. in height. Its numerous spiny branches are whitish gray. The bark is smooth and gray. Leaves are small, roundish, and somewhat rough. Clusters of small, fairly inconspicuous, white flowers are followed by shiny red, orange and yellow fruit ripening in fall but persisting long after leaf-fall. The edible berries are sweet to man and birds. The plant also plays host to a couple of neat butterfles; the Leilia Hackberry Butterfly and the Snout Butterfly.
Lastly, Green Hop Bush: A Tried and true plant. The fibrous spreading root system, rapid growth, and spreading canopy make Hopseed an effective soil stabilizer which is particularly useful in controlling gully erosion. It is drought tolerant and has the ability to withstand wildfires. They are also very wind hardy and useful as an in-field windbreak system. Hopseed is an aesthetically pleasing plant. It has lush green foliage and deep red capsules that make it pleasing to the eye. It may be used as a hedge, specimen plant, or maybe a small patio tree. It is ideal for xeriscape gardens.
That’s it! They are going to be GREAT for wind break, for encouraging native wild life, and to help in stablizing the soil. Thank you again for the contribution. Wonderful return on the gift that was given. Once we have things plotted out, maybe I can share the sketches here. Until then, as always~
Thanks for reading!
Today’s Weather: Well, we’re on the tale end of a blow that started yesterday. Had incredibly strong winds through out the night and morning we were still gusting quite high. I’m still hoping to find a weather station that I can afford so we can keep more accurate track of the weather conditions.
Egg report: We had an ok weekend egg wise. Saturday we had 17 chicken eggs and 3 duck eggs, Sunday 17 chicken eggs and 3 ducks, today we had 22 chicken eggs and – somehow – 4 duck eggs.
Wing and a Prayer 