Formerly from Chicago area. Here in CA by way of 5 years in Houston. Try to keep a classic perennial garden in a high dessert region. "lots of luck" - and lots of water. Specialty in iris, old roses. I like to grow them from cuttings ( with some success). Grow various other dry region shrubs from Africa, Australia, among other places. I also indulge myself in unnamed varieties of African Violets for my winter month thrills - mostly from the grocery store, which I nurse from year to year and split when necessary. Had fantastic luck with these in Houston with an oak shaded east window. I loved hibiscus there, too, but they just don't do really well here.
