Nancy Larsen and Pam Butler learn about Lantana from Eric Clark.
Janice Pell
As is often the case with desert gardening, it’s all about the water. That fact was continually stressed by Eric Clark during his talk for TWOQC’s May meeting. Eric, the horticulturist and landscape designer for Civano Nursery, entertained and educated TWOQC with numerous tips on how to have a beautiful garden during monsoon. The ladies learned proper watering techniques to make sure plants and trees flourish throughout the stormy season.
In addition to water, the right plants can enhance gardens. Want to attract beautiful butterflies? Plant Lantanas, Catclaw Acacia or Eupatorium. Hummingbirds are very happy when gardens are filled with brightly colored tubular shaped flowers full of nectar. Popular varieties include Salvia greggii (Autumn Sage), Penstemon eatonii and Russelia (Coral Fountain Plant). With a number of similar plants in the garden, there is no need to use hummingbird feeders. The birds will get proper nourishment and return again and again.
The women learned that the historical date for the beginning of monsoon was June 24, St. John the Baptist Day. St. John is the patron saint of water. The story goes that in 1540 during a drought a Franciscan father offered up a prayer to the saint and the skies opened up with rain, bringing the monsoon to the Americas. Ever after the native populations used that date to plant for the upcoming rainy season.
Eric imparted a wealth of information during his talk, lacing his remarks with humorous comments that elicited a great deal of laughter. Five lucky door prize winners went home with plants from the nursery sure to attract those beautiful butterflies and hummingbirds.