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The Tucson Gardener |
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In the Garden Calendar
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In the Landscape Groupings of plants occur in nature all by themselves. Seeds from the parent plant fall off and sprout near by. Root systems can spread the parent plant. A portion of a plant, such as a prickly pear pad can break off and root itself under the right conditions. Groupings of plants work in nature and they work in the desert front or back yard landscape. Where one mesquite is a tree, three planted together becomes a grove. One red bird of paradise in the garden can add color; three together produce a massive summer show. One grape vine is a feeding ground for grape leaf skeletonizers and birds, a bunch of grape vines planted together might be considered a vineyard. A sightseeing drive on some of Tucson's main thoroughfares will give the observer a chance to see how effective groupings can or can't be. You'll see cassias planted in twos and threes, yuccas in groups, mounding prostrate acacias, and groups of palo verdes and mesquite. Those drought tolerant plants are quite a change from the grass and palm trees that once landscaped many of Tucson's medians. Although groupings can be very effective in the young and growing state once the plants become fully mature they can look crowded and unkempt. What once had definition takes on the appearance of a single, massive plant. At that point the Tucson gardener will have to decide whether to remove plants from the group to regain definition or start over with new plants. So, next time you plan on a new landscape or adding to the landscape you might want to think of a party because it's the group that makes the party a success. (1998) |
