Preparing your Xeriscape for Winter

you'd feel if you were inside and someone broke the ice open with a hammer. I discussed this with a fish pond owner in California, although I'll use it in Tucumcari with a whiskey barrel full of fish: It's better to pour boiling water into a pan.

And when you're finished doing that, go inside and enjoy that Christmas tree again. It will be down soon, except for those of you who bought a living piñon pine this year. In that case, remember: Piñon pines prefer the outdoors. You probably should wait until February to transplant it, but you shouldn't make it wait that long before taking it outdoors.

Happy 2000!

There are a number of books on yearly garden schedules, and newspaper garden columns frequently give detail appropriate to your local area. I'll be reviewing a few of the books in future columns. Back to Top

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The Undaunted Garden, by Lauren Springer

I wanted a five star book for the first review on this site, so I contacted Fulcrum Press, the publisher of the contest book before I contacted a few of the other publishers. They have a good reputation among xeriscapers, and the managing editor of this site recommends the contest book highly.

As some overly literate people know, however, best plans oft go aglee or some such. The contest book didn't arrive in time for a review, but THE UNDAUNTED GARDEN did.

Lauren Springer is a horticulturalist, and judging from this book she has a child and a cat as well as wonderful gardens. She designed the Water Smart Garden at Denver Botanical Gardens and this book shows you why she was chosen for the job. The subtitle is PLANTING FOR WEATHER-RESILIENT BEAUTY. You'll find plants listed that aren't for xeric landscapes. You'll also find plants that are, and the author lets you know which are drought resistant.

Where I come from we planted Bermuda grass to save water, but we certainly didn't deprive our roses. As I'll tell you about this spring, there are some miserable looking roses in Tucumcari. Roses aren't meant to be miserable, and I'm glad Lauren lists a number of drought resistant roses for me to try. Roses meant a lot to my mother and to my grandmother; I'd like to have a couple if I can keep them looking good.

I got a few ideas for some shade plants that do well with little water. Lauren also

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