What You See
By Ken Lain, The Garden Guy

Many of you have given me grief over last week's fish story and photo. Now, I know that I can tell a whale of a tale, but my fish stories are all true, honestly. So, this week, to prove even more what I've been telling you, here's a picture from another fishing episode with the guys in Loreto, Mexico. Like the yellowtail in last week's picture, most of the big fish we found were at a depth of 300-500 feet. That's where we caught the two sharks in this week's snapshot. These two were real fighters. There was a lot of thrashing before we landed them and a lot of care was taken to keep away from their mouths. It was hard work but they make really good eating. Honestly.

Now, for a look at what's been happening on dry land. Several of you have commented on the way I've put up my new greenhouses. You say that they are backwards and that the peaks don't match up. Let me explain a new technology of greenhouse design. These two new houses, in what's known as a saw-tooth design, have never been seen in Arizona. The angle of the roof draws more air into the the structure when positioned correctly with our prevailing winds. This eliminates the need for cooling units in summer and reduces heating costs in winter. Not only does the design reduce operating costs, but makes the structures very environmentally friendly. These really are 'green' greenhouses.

There are several other innovations incorporated in these structures. For instance, the side walls roll up or down to control heating and cooling, a really cost effective means of maintaining a desired inside temperature. In summer, automated shade covers the entire structure, greatly reducing the amount of solar gain. This results in lower water needs for plants, increased plant health, and a more comfortable shopping area for customers. It's exciting that in just a couple of weeks we'll see completion of a pair of greenhouses that will be a real showpiece in Arizona.

The official stamp of spring is when forsythia come into bloom. At the Gateway Mall you will find an extensive, exciting show of this bright yellow blooming shrub. This flowering perennial grows exceptionally well at this altitude, naturalizing well with only moderate amounts of water.

If you are considering a forsythia for your landscape, check out the Magic Gold Forsythia. It is a brand new variety with much larger blooms than older varieties. The first Magic Gold crop was harvested last year and, at that time, I only could get limited supplies. This year's availability is much better, but I expect the crop will sell out quickly. If you plant this forsythia where it can get at least six hours of sun, this 5-6 foot high shrub will explode with yellow flowers that are bright as an Arizona afternoon.

I notice that the numerous purple leaf plum trees are blooming in the Stoneridge community. The trees, covered in pastel pink blossoms, really are a beautiful sight. Purple leaf plums are strictly ornamental, meaning that they rarely set fruit. They are planted for their showy spring flowers and the royal purple leaves of summer that hang on through late fall.

The reason Stoneridge uses so many purple plums in its community is because the plant is almost as hardy as the desert willows that grow wild throughout Yavapai County. It grows to its height of 20 feet in a perfect vase shape which enables it to tolerate our area's most brutal winds. It does well on micro-irrigation or drip systems, and the shape and texture of its leaves makes it less thirsty than many other trees. Even in the heat of summer this tree only needs water once a week and even less frequently when established.

This is a great time of year to plant a tree. If you're interested in flowering trees, there is a nice selection that does well in our climate. Flowering pears have prolific white flowers in spring and spectacular red-colored foliage in the fall. Crabapples have the brightest flowers of all our ornamental trees. Try to find a crabapple tree in your neighborhood because its buds are about to burst open with color. Flowering cherry trees have the most sophisticated flowers; they dangle from red-tinged branches. All of these trees are good choices for our area and make grand additions to local yards. Ask for assistance from the folks at your favorite garden center. They will show you all the options that have proven themselves in local gardens.

I would like your input about this column, and, yes, I'd still like to hear some of your fish stories. Submit them to me at Watters Garden Center, 1815 Iron Springs Road, Prescott, AZ 86305. If you prefer, you may go through my website, wattersonline.com.

Until next week, I’ll see you in the garden center.

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