@MissCue.

Gardening is definitely different in our heat and dryness.

Patti! Gardening in AZ is very different, but still a lot of fun and a lot of beauty. We have an AZ place, but our daughter is living there right now, and we are full time in NM.

Hey there, friends! Hello from Bisbee, Arizona! My name is Faeryn. (It's of Pagan origins, means 'of the faeries'...)

I was born and raised in the Great and Powerful Pacific Northwest. So the 1,638.1 mile move was a big change in some major ways. I got a sunburn in January for starters, I was also stung by a scorpion my first week here. Ahhh, adjustments.

My biggest curiosity has been about gardening. In Washington, we have to put our gardens in the absolute sunniest spots, to soak up every ray! I'm of the understanding that in Arizona, the sunniest space in the yard will burn your plants, for the most part. So I'm readjusting in some major ways. Anyone with any advice for a desert newbie would be welcome and appreciated.

I look forward to networking with other greenthumbs out here.

Love & Respect,

Faeryn The Fox

p.s. We just bought this great new house in Bisbee, with a great new yard and a built-in gray water irrigation system! Whoo hoo! However, I'm looking anxiously at planning my new garden, so anyone with companion-planting or permaculture on the brain that wants to help a newbie out... Please!!!

Hi Faeryn



My husband delivered to homes in Bisbee for UPS many years ago and loved the area! I am in Tucson with a lower altitude then you so gardening might be a bit different. Here growing in filtered sun seems to work the best.

Yes you can get a sunburn in January as you found out and scorpions are not your friends. Be careful turning over rocks.

Hi Faeryn,

Welcome to the great state of Arizona! I am at 3500' elevation in the Mohave desert about an hour south of LV. We might have different growing zones, As Linda mentioned, but we all still battling many of the same foes here in the SW.

One of my biggest concerns for landscape gardening is the rampant cottontail and jackrabbits. I'm finding they only leave a handful of plants alone during the drought months. If this isn't an issue for you then you're already leaps and bounds ahead of your rural Arizonan neighbors!! Count those blessings! The Sun is relentless here. Anything left out in the sun over summer (fabric, plastics, etc.) will be seriously damaged.

Are you planning a veggie garden? We have a 500 sq ft raised bed which provides us with the typical garden veggies: carrot, lettuce, peas, beans, etc.

Again, welcome aboard! I'm sure you'll love your new home.

Gina

Don't forget Packrats, Gina. At least in Tucson, they are a problem. They eat my plants and also had a skunk one year digging under the fence coming in and eating plants. Always something.

Yes, Linda, you are 100% correct!! Those pack rats are terrible! They will eat wiring on unattended vehicles and steal anything not nailed down. They are a real issue out here, no doubt about it. There are a slew of critter issue, Linda!

It takes real grit to be an Arizonian!