WELCOME TO OUR OCTOBER THREAD.

I wish it would just cool down during the days for good. My AC rarely kicks on after midnight which is wonderful and I'm pulling the blankets up during the night. Happy dance.

Well Becky, fall has left Tucson for now ! Supposed to hit 100 or more today. Love your pumpkins !!!

According to our forecast, next week is going to be *really* nice. Sorry it's still hot for you Linda. Hopefully sooooonnnn...!

Next week it may be in the 80's F all week. Heading in the right direction finally !

Actually worked in the garden a bit today. Trimming roses, raking leaves, trimming back some vinca, planted some 'tunias. I need to have some shrubs, palms and trees trimmed... my guy hasn't called me back yet... which means I can't do the winter lawn. Oh well. Might not happen this year.

My Arizona Sweet orange tree is pretty loaded. The Oct 5 2010 hail storm took a lot out of that big old tree. This is the first descent crop since and no where near the normal 1000+ oranges (not kidding).

The morning here was fantastic Susie ! In the 60's with a good breeze, I just loved it. So over this long humid hot summer !

1000 + oranges is incredible ! Do they taste really good ?

They are the BEST oranges! So sweet and juicy. I may have about 200 this year. Better than the 20 I had last year. The hail episode really took a lot out of that tree. Hit my Key Lime too. No limes 2011. This year it was loaded. Probably filled a 5 gallon bucket!

I will keep that variety in mind if I ever find the room for another tree ! Good harvest !

Mmm - I'm digging hard in my memory, but I seem to remember that limes were too frost sensitive for Tucson.... maybe near a brick wall or something?

I was thinking more about the oranges, Sheryl. If limes are sensitive to frost this probably is not a good place for them, remembering the 18 F we had two winters ago.

I would think a lime could handle a south facing patio what with the sun/heat radiation to stay warm. I have some plumies in 5 gal plastic pots on the south patio and so far they seem to be fine after a couple years. Not sure I'll risk putting them in the ground any time soon.

My AZ Sweet orange is in a protected area. Sort of a very large alcove created by the wall between my neighbor and me... my west facing house wall. Thrives.

Susie, are you far enough north that you're afraid your plumies would get frosted? I know there's some in the ground both at the extension office and near my old 'hood at like.... 7th and Bethany home or something.

Sheryl. I'm at 7th Ave and Greenway just a couple miles north of where I was at the Pointe Tapatio (concrete mirror day). I get frost 3-7 days in winter. I use the plumies at Royal Palms as a teacher. Groundskeeper has them planted in the ground, near the walls of the hotel and the pathways on the south side of the buildings. I think Dete pointed out that the southern radiation from the buildings keeps the roots warm enough in winter.

I guess I just don't have a place that conducive, that perfect. Very small backyard that is pretty well over planted (not like Barb's, because I do have grass). Also, I want to be able to control the water to the roots. If I plant near the neighbor's walls who knows what will happen! My water bill is $45 per month.... their's is $145. I'm sure I'm getting some of their water

LOL - now *that's* a good water conserving strategy!

It will be interesting to find out how much I get frosted up here - I think my prior experience with an irrigated lot and more centrally located mitigated a lot of the cold. Now I'm strictly desert, up above Deer Valley @ 19th and Happy Valley. Should be cooler, I think.

Sheryl that is a really cool new avatar, what plant is it?

Sheryl - Yep... should be cooler... maybe. Depending on if you're near lots of concrete...like a Walmart Superstore. Or if you're surrounded by paddocks it might be colder, longer. Radiant heat helps. Or not. Frankly I'd rather not live near a Walmart Superstore Mickey in North Cave Creek has issues with freeze.

Hey Margaret, it's an orchid - a Dendrobium spectabile. One I haven't tried to kill yet....

Yeah, I'm near a Wally world - but not too near, thankfully. I'm probably half way between you and Mickey. With the mountain preserve so close, we probably have lower temps.

Sheryl

Why, thank you, Marg!