Southwestern Deserts
September, 2011
Regional Report
Books
Grasses
The Encyclopedia of Grasses for Living Landscapes (Timber Press, 2007, $59.95) offers comprehensive coverage of grasses extending far beyond the arid Southwest%%%s plant palette. However, author and photographer Rick Darke%%%s stunning images (over 1000) provide readers with artful ideas for incorporating grasses wherever they live. The chapters entitled %%%The Beauty of Grasses%%% and %%%Design with Grasses%%% in particular offer a wealth of fresh looks. Discussions of plant provenance, cool- and warm-season grasses, soil fertility and other topics in %%%Cultivation and Maintenance%%% will also be helpful when considering plants suitable for your specific microclimates. Finally, the Encyclopedia section covers detailed descriptions of hundreds of grasses, sedges, rushes, restios, and cattails.
Clever Gardening Technique
Siting Grasses for Special Effects
Site ornamental grasses where their flower heads/seed heads will be backlit by the sun%%%s low morning or late afternoon rays, creating a luminous glowing effect. If you%%%re unsure where to plant to achieve this effect, set pots in different areas and move them around as needed to find the best locale before digging holes. Remember that the angle of the sun will change through the seasons!
