Turns out this is one of the thirstiest plants in my garden (
Zauschneria garrettii). Had I not been watering it regularly, it would surely be dead (R. Nold asserts it has no place in the dryland garden). Being that it is providing some of the only vibrant color in front right now (there is no shortage of greys, blues, and washed out greens!), I figure I'll continue to oblige it by dousing it daily. Maybe next year it will graduate from being puny and fill more of the space in the center bed. I'm interested in its angles, and plan to sketch it for a watercolor study.
Opuntia gilvescens (Oklahoma Pancake Cactus). Figured I better acquire a cactus with serious spines, lest I look like a neophyte (the other Opuntia in my garden is a bright green spineless number). The trick with this one, which just went in over the weekend, will be to water it enough to support root establishment while at the same time simulating the drought that cacti endure in the wild in August and September. I'll be keeping a close eye on it.
2 comments:
Z. garrettii is adapted to a summer-rainfall regime since it grows in Utah and Wyoming; doesn't do so well unless it gets some water or rain.
Try some of the Californians; Las Pilitas Nursery sometimes has a wide range of these, with accurate descriptions of the summer-water requirements. Some zauscherias like cool, moist summers, others will take it quite dry and bloom because of day length, though a good soaking rain does wonders too, like it does for anything.
Plant the Californians in spring.
Bob
Bob,
Thanks for the tips! A wise person once said that these should be disqualified as serious candidates for the dry garden. I will have to look into alternatives. There is no replacement for the color they provide this time of year, at least not that I have found.
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