Organ Mountain Vista Garden 3

Common name:Dwarf Orange Bulbine
Botanical name:Bulbine frutescens 'Hallmark'

Compact variation of yellow bulbine. Plant grows to about 1' tall by 1-2' wide. Orange flowers bloom almost all year long. Plants stay evergreen, but will freeze to the ground in the event of serious frost. Frost-damaged plants will regrow in spring. Delicate coppery orange flowers with fluffy yellow centers are on tall spikes that rise above the foliage.

Common name:Santa Rita Prickly Pear
Botanical name:Opuntia violacea 'Santa Rita'

Shrublike cactus grows at a moderate rate to 4' x 5'. Pads are green-purple turning more purple with cold or dry weather. Small tan spines line the pads. Striking yellow flowers appear on the tips of pads in the spring. Accepts reflected heat. Native to the Sonoran and Chihuahuan deserts.

Soils and Compost:

Practice grass-cycling by leaving short grass clippings on lawns after mowing, so that nutrients and organic matter are returned to the soil.

Water Saving Tip:

As the weather gets hotter avoid the temptation to increase run times.

Instead, schedule more start times with one to two hours in between to allow the water from the previous session to soak in before watering again.

Integrated Pest Management:

Develop healthy soil for plants that are vigorous and naturally pest-resistant.