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Desert landscaping, sometimes called Xeriscaping, is not always desolate and bleak.On our recent visit to Tucson, there was great desert landscaping at the resort where we stayed. As a result there was a great abundance of natural wildlife in close proximity to our little "casa".
On the first morning, upon awakening, I opened the blinds to let in the sunlight. Near the patio I noticed several quail scurrying for cover. They had been foraging for seeds from the plants nearby. The desert landscaping included a great variety of desert shrubs and grasses that dropped seeds. I also noticed hummingbirds visiting the tiny salmon-colored flowers on one shrub.
My first reaction was to look for something to feed the cute little runners. (Quail rarely fly, preferring to run most places unless startled.) I found some cheerios, and decided since they were made of whole grain, they might be good bird food. I placed some outside on the terrace and was soon rewarded with a few cautious stragglers. They found the cereal to their liking and invited the family to breakfast.
After half a box of cheerios had been devoured, I decided bird seed might be a nice idea, so I went shopping. I found a cubic seed block about a foot in each direction. It was rather heavy, and large, so the quail were rather cautious at first. But soon the little guys were happily scratching around and pecking the seeds off the block. Of course we had things to do, so we left the block for our visitors. When we came home, there had been quite a bit of activity and there was a fist-sized chunk missing from the block.
The next morning, true to form I awoke and opened the blinds to view our visitors again. To my
surprise, we had a new visitor! A javelina was calmly chowing down on my bird seed! Javelina are
generally peaceful unless cornered or frightened, but they are certainly fearful looking creatures. I've
included a photo of our friend so you can judge for yourself.
Over a period of a half hour he managed to devour almost half the block of seeds. The next day, it was simply gone. Every single seed had been vacuumed up from the terrace by that greedy creature. I found a bag of seed after that so I could dish it out in smaller portions for the birds.
Our feathered and furry friends helped me to come to a decision about the desert landscaping I wanted for my Southwestern Dream Home. My intention is to search for similar grasses, cacti and shrubs that will be a friendly environment for the native creatures near my home. My choice is to encourage visits from wildlife by making my desert landscaping friendly to them with various desert plants and trees. I'll want to plant wildflowers to provide beauty for humans as well as seeds, nectar and cover for my animal visitors. I'll also use Landscaping Rocks to enhance the atmosphere of home for my friends. There are many choices of items to add to your Desert Landscaping. A soothing and interesting focal point would be to add Garden Statues and Concrete Water Fountains. to your landscape to add interest and movement. New!!Learn how a Dry Creek Bed can help with erosion control and create a focal point for an otherwise problem area. See how to jazz up the walls of your Southwestern Dream home and give that desert landscaping a boost with
House Jewelry.
New! Learn about Curb Appeal and how it will help you to increase the value of your home, as well as make it more appealing to your visitors and family. Visit my Desert Landscaping lens to see even more cool photos and ideas for your desert backyard. If you've never seen one, a lens is simply one person's view on a subject. Here's mine!
In my sojourn on the web, I've found many helpful sites that will be very useful in designing the desert landscaping I'm envisioning. A few are included here so you can begin to plan your desert landscaping as well. Punch Software has one of the best Landscaping Softwares on the market. Try them out.
Visit Repair-Home for decorating and planning ideas:
Find the advice you need to do simple home repairs yourself. Get tips on easy ways to spruce up your home décor quickly and on a budget.
 
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This activity entertained me for a day or two, and we watched cactus wrens, woodpeckers,
sparrows, cardinals, roadrunners and a half-dozen other species of desert birds visit our porch. There
were also a rabbit, some chipmunks and even a hawk.
