SPECIAL 4-PAGE SECTION Wednesday, May 6, 2020
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A PUBLICATION OF THE GREEN VALLEY NEWS & SAHUARITA SUN
Finding solace in the soil! Four gardening adventures By Kitty Bottemiller For the GVNews & Sahuarita Sun
W
hen the going gets tough, the tough get dirty. Their gardening hands, anyway, and they couldn’t be more pleased. In these trying times of daily Covid updates, shutdowns and shelter-in protocols, many in Green Valley are finding solace in soil. Four gardening couples share their stories from the tension-reducing respites of their outdoor retreats.
LESSONS LEARNED
Leslie Campbell’s focus as a fledgling retiree, new to Arizona in 2007, was to delve into the desert, literally. In two years, she completed Master Gardener coursework, became a docent at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum and, with husband Gary, joined Green Valley Gardeners. The club promotes gardening knowledge and related environmental issues through educational and charitable efforts. Little did they know what joys they’d reap. This couple from Georgia found success in arid-climate gardening by honing in on native plant species, but they also like trying non-natives from similar
climates, such as Indian Hawthorne shrubs. They’ve learned a lot from GV Gardener seminars, forged friendships with fellow gardeners, and relish an ever-growing wealth of knowledge about life in a sometimes-hostile climate. Pandemic? Desert dwellers know pests, all right. Roughly 11 years in as Arizona transplants, the Campbells returned to the East Coast for several months before recently coming back to the desert, intent on downsizing to a more manageable yard than past ones, and have one ripe for an update. “As we deal with the coronavirus issues, it’s great to begin planning our new garden spaces,” Leslie said. While the garden club has scaled back on public activities due to coronavirusrelated cautions, the Campbells find just stepping into their own yard makes them feel less housebound. They’re eagerly awaiting visiting nurseries again, shopping possibilities and designing planting combos,
See SOLACE, H&G 2 Photo by Gary Campbell
Leslie Campbell digs in
to keep the yard looking pristine. No two yards are alike, with varying lot size, elevation and other factors, she says. She and husband Gary recently removed much outsized growth and plantings no longer viable, and added an orange tree, which they’re eager to see produce fruit.
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Home & Garden
GVNEWS.COM
WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2020
Gail Brown photo
Bob Brown with the yard’s newest addition, a raised
bed for veggies and herbs, off Placita Salubre. No bending required! Favorite? Too hard to choose. “We love them all,” Kathy said. “Toothpick” Continued from H&G 1 because they’re hardy, “Curiosity,” a fast-growing, columnar type, for its looks. as soon as businesses are “We did learn one interallowed to reopen, Leslie esting fact about saguaros said. — they will go up in flames if you get too close with a HOT DESERT TIMES propane torch while burnLike the Campbells, ing weeds! Big mistake.” Curt and Kathy Haug are Despite its prickly naalso desert transplants. Lifelong Minnesotans, they ture, their captivating were immediately drawn to collection has softened the sting of stay-home restrica lushly landscaped Quail Creek home — a perfect fit tion. “During this time of for the couple who, in 2005, social distancing, we have came from a 5-acre farm thoroughly enjoyed our full of trees, flowers and yard — both keeping up vegetables. Their new yard featured with yard chores or just relaxing and enjoying the citrus trees, roses, oleanders, olive trees, and palms. view,” Kathy said. (The Haugs’ yard was “We were pretty naïve,” among five chosen for the but caught on, Kathy said. Green Valley Gardeners’ “We grew tired of all Spring Garden Tour this the extra water the plants year, which got cancelled were needing (and) coverdue to virus threat. Here’s ing the fruit trees during hoping this gem and others some cold winter nights. Our neighbor used to tease lined up will be featured in a coming year.) us that our place looked like 'Hobo Village' on these nights!” DEAL SEALED For the next several Ruth and George Tamyears, they stuck it out minga were similarly with the high-maintenance smitten with Arizona after mix, eventually working relocating from Culver, toward cactus and a more Indiana. carefree landscape. They’d previous lived on They enlisted help from a 34-acre spread in Illinois, R & A Landscaping, added so upon finding a near-acre boulders, rip-rap and a homesite adjacent to Santa copious variety of cactus, Cruz River, “we both knew some of which started instantly it was the one,” out as cactus gardens Ruth said. “George espepurchased from a big-box cially needs to be outside store. every day, so the space was “We just kept transperfect.” planting them as they got However, they soon larger,” Kathy said. discovered that running a Others were cuttings nursery/landscaping comfrom various cacti in the pany back home was little yard. Most, though, came preparation for growing from cactus nurseries in here. Tucson, difficult places “We made a lot of misto escape without leaving takes to begin with and I with something. They’ve am sure will make many also relied on “Cactus Joe” more,” Ruth said. at Green Valley’s Desert Once they got savvy Bloom Botanical Center for about soil, it started makplants and advice. ing sense, Ruth noted.
SOLACE
Curt Haug chills out on the back patio with this inviting view and refreshing pool. Coming from an area of heavy clay, they assumed sandy desert soil would soak up water instead of running off of it. Their proximity to the river bed presents problems in winter, a stretch typically 3 to 4 degrees colder than neighboring areas. They hit 18 degrees last winter. Their lemon tree got wrapped with oldfashioned Christmas lights and covered with frost cloth, Ruth said. Nevertheless, they love the place, that rosemary is a perennial here, and that spring wildflowers are riotously colorful. The learning curve for cactus care and fending off wildlife has been challenging, but the Tammingas are now stocked with tongs, tweezers and new fencing to ward off javelinas. Just after the couple moved in, a pack tore up a large bed of new ice plants, “a quick, expensive lesson in the culinary tastes of ‘pigs,’” Ruth said. In the next breath, though, she’s back to marveling. “I am amazed at the plant diversity and the wonderful light; at times just before dark it is almost magical. We both love it here and are so happy to have found our little slice of paradise.”
SHADE AFORETHOUGHT
Timing was everything, although months ago, no one could’ve anticipated coronavirus. Somehow the stars aligned, though, for Bob and Gail Brown, who live off Placita Salubre. Their yard redo was completed not long before Covid hit,
Courtesy of Curt & Cathy Haug
Patty Stenz photo
Their large backyard keeps George and Ruth Tamminga busy nurturing desert
growth. The place came with five mature saguaros and as many Joshua trees. They have fun experimenting to see what else they can cultivate.
and normally by about now they’d be packing for summer travel. With extended social distancing a possibility, instead they may be taking a staycation. No biggie; they basically have their own resort right here, thanks to expertise from local help. While they have 1.5-plus acres, the original patio enclosure was narrow, confining and lacked space for their border collie, Watson, to run and play, Gail said. They also sought more color, diversity and to attract birds and butterflies, all in a “relaxing, outdoor entertaining space for friends to enjoy a good bottle of wine while watching our glorious sunsets,” Gail said. Westgate Garden Design
spearheaded the overall project, fine-tuning every request. TLC Landscape oversaw installation; Felix Landscaping built a new garden wall. Since it would need paint, they decided to refresh the house color to match, choosing a deep yellow popular in Tubac. “We love it,” Kathy said. “When I have my first cup of coffee in the morning, the color makes me smile. It is uplifting and in these trying times it is nice to have a pick-me-up to start the day. We spend lots of time on our new patio, since we are sheltering at home, and feel fortunate that we have such a restful spot to be in (and) were able to complete our project before the pandemic. “I believe that Green Valley will be our on-site
vacation for now. Thank goodness we added an expansive pergola for shade!” Years ago, they joined Green Valley Gardeners, “the smartest thing we did” to learn the ropes of raising desert plants, Gail said, crediting seminar speakers and leads on finding quality help. Their newest addition: a raised bed for planting tomatoes, spinach, cucumbers and herbs, some of which she’s already using in cooking, Kathy said. “I have another bed that I will be expanding to now that our project is done.” So guys, what time does the patio party start?
Kitty Bottemiller is a freelance writer for the Green Valley News and Sahuarita Sun.
Home & Garden
WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2020
GVNEWS.COM
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Enjoy sophisticated purple in the garden of stress. Another silverygray plant, these grow from 1 to 4 feet tall, with graceful stalks of tiny purple flowers. • Verbena is a vigorous Mary Kidnocker grower in the desert, totally tolerant to hot, sunny locations. The Arizona efined, luxurious, romantic, whimsical, native is prolific in the garden as well as along regal … all descriproadsides and arroyos. tive words for the gardenAvailable in a range of perfect color purple. Let’s colors besides purple, the look at just a few plant opflowers appear throughout tions among this group of the year until the first majestic flowers that can heavy frost. succeed in the desert. • Mexican Purple Sage • Campanula, also has herbaceous stems called Bellflower, is availthat will freeze back in able as annual or perennial, both varieties produc- winter, but returns with a ing graceful blossoms from vengeance in spring. Its velvety-soft rich purple late spring into summer. flowers attract hummingWith deep purple flowers birds and cameras alike. shaped like cups or bells, With afternoon shade, it these old-fashioned favorites make great cut flowers. will add a profusion of dazzling color to the late sum• Catmint, with softmer garden. gray aromatic leaves and Every garden needs at 2-feet-tall flower stalks, is least some plants with consistently covered with small lavender flowers over purple blooms to shoot for a long bloom season. Good a brand of sophistication. for cascading over walls or Why not try one of the above? bordering raised beds, its fragrance delights the gardener and cats alike. Mary Kidnocker is a Uni• Lavender plants are versity of Arizona Master not just beautiful but have Gardener who lives in the a powerful scent that can Green Valley area. Her arhelp to alleviate feelings ticles are featured weekly.
Green Valley Gardeners
R
Mary Kidnocker photos for the GV News & Sahuarita Sun Verbena often pops up in the landscape wherever it With flowers much like purple velvet spikes, the chooses, and provides a bit of deep purple to contrast
Mexican Purple Sage bush is a late-summer favorite of with its bright green fern-like foliage. hummingbirds.
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Home & Garden
GVNEWS.COM
WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2020
Power washing your home's outdoor surfaces Rosie on the house Rosie Romero By Rosie Romero Radio Host
C
leaning up the outside surfaces is a great way to freshen up your home. Power washing seems like a simple way to accomplish that task. But potential and pricey damage can be done by a power washer combined with an inexperienced person! Read our precautionary measures before you rent a power washer, crank it up to high pressure, and stick that wand 3 inches from the surface of your house.
WHEN TO USE A POWER WASHER
The first thing to know is what exactly a power washer is good for. A power washer is intended as a cleaning, knock the dustoff kind of tool. It Is not intended to take the place of sanding, scraping or stripping. With that in mind. let’s
the wall. take a look at best practices • To avoid streaking, wash to cleaning the outside the wall from the bottom of your home. Whether up, not from the top down. you have a stucco or brick • In most cases, detergent home, a thorough power is not necessary. If there is washing can do a nice job some kind of buildup, like of knocking the years’ sap from a tree, then deterworth of dust off of the gent may be helpful. wall and out of the nooks and crannies.
PAINT OR BRICK EXTERIOR:
WOOD FACIAS:
• For a brick home: Patch cracks and holes in the brick or mortar and let dry before you wash the wall. • For a stucco home: Fill fine cracks with texturized caulk and let dry first. • Cover nearby furniture and plants before spraying. Avoid spraying windows. • Set the pressure washer to 1000 psi or less and use a 40-degree fan tip nozzle. • Hold the wand 15 to 18 inches from the surface. Holding the wand closer is NOT better! • Test the pressure on a small area of the house that’s hidden behind a bush or other feature. • Watch closely as you test. Do you see any flying chunks of plaster or mortar? If so, STOP! Reset pressure to lower setting and increase the distance between your wand and
Wood facias or other wood surfaces should not be power washed. Use a garden hose with a nozzle and give a quick spray to knock off dust *If you are power washing before painting, be sure to allow all surfaces to dry completely before painting.
SCREENS:
Exterior window screens and pulldown exterior shades loose visibility when the screen cloth gets clogged after one of our infamous dust storms. To clean: Remove and secure window screens. Tie down exterior screens. Set the power washer at psi 1000 or lower. Holding the wand about 15 inches away, move the wand up and down and then follow up with a back and forth movement
Let screens dry and then wipe them down with a good UV protectant. We like Aerospace Protectant 303. *Always test new products on a small area to make sure you like the results.
PAVERS:
It is a common mistake to assume that a good power washing of pavers couldn’t hurt. But, Nathan Angel of Oldcastle Superlite says, “We really only like power washing in the hands of professionals on pavers since people could still etch the surface with the wand.” Angel recommends against using soap on the pavers as well. He says, “A good professional power washing with hot water should eliminate the need for soap and chemicals.” Shutterfly For homeowners use, he Be sure to keep the wand 15 to 18 inches from the likes the Whisper Wand surface you are trying to clean. as it works in a circular motion and does not etch pressure setting. It is poscom. An Arizona home buildthe pavers. The Whisper sible to spray the top layer ing and remodeling industry Washer base covers more right off of your concrete, expert for 35 years, Rosie ground at a time than the leaving the sand and aggre- Romero is the host of the wand of a power washer gate exposed and vulnersyndicated Saturday mornand it minimizes overspray. able to disintegration. And, ing Rosie on the House radio as with other surfaces, the program, heard locally from 8 wand of a power washer to 11 a.m. on KNST-AM (790) CONCRETE: can leave streaks. in Tucson and from 7 to 10 Start with the 1000 psi seta.m. on KGVY-AM (1080) and ting. It might seem that -FM (100.7) in Green Valley. concrete is strong enough For more do-it-yourself to stand up to a higher tips, go to rosieonthehouse. Call 888-767-4348.
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