September 9, 2012

Whacking back the desert

I never thought it would come to this. At least not in the next 50 years. When we moved into our dream house, the house site was razed. I was dismayed to say the least as I had envisioned living in a natural desert environment.



There was nothing for it but to reintroduce it, and I spent a couple of years planting mostly native Chihuahuan desert vegetation. Now, eight years later, some plants survived, some died, some thrived and tried to take over the place. Most of the time I did not interfere as they would reseed in a more suitable place, but today it was time to tackle the mariola. It is in bloom right now, smells great, but it is invasive and overruns desirables.




This was just one of many carts taken to the brush pile. We now have some of our view back and plants can breathe again. I decided it is not so much creating a well-maintained yard as it is keeping it in controlled mayhem. After all, we do live out in the desert.

3 comments:

webb said...

I love "controlled mayhem" it's so apt. Several years ago when it appeared to Mitchell that i had "finished" planting, he asked me what are you going to do now? Move stuff around, i said. But more often, i,'m ripping out somethig prstty that has become invasive... just like you're doing. It does look nice, tho.

The Equestrian Vagabond said...

here in our desert if you remove the native plants you get a sea of tumbleweeds - russian thistle - that you just can't get rid of. glad you got some native GREEN back!
- The Equestrian Vagabond

Anneke said...

Trust me, Merri, we have had the same Russian Thistle problem. I have been after it for years, and have succeeded in removing it, or at least keeping it at bay. You have to be tenacious, here especially after rain, but it can be conquered.