Terraforming High Desert

[Space05us]

what do your neighbors do? IIRC in Tuscon planting native plants was considered the thing to do (and there wasnt much choice before CAP) Really, Im sure there are alot of resources out there on gardening with native plants. Do you really have NOTHING growing out front now?

Its almost as if each person in the neigborhood has a unique lawn. None of them are "natural" though.

I have desert grass, weeds, growing in my front yard.


edit: Che et al, I intend to leave my back yard alone for the most part. After all not much can grow with a steady stream of dog piss going over it.

[MrFun]

Originally posted by mrmitchell
1. Bury Ming in your front yard.

2. His rich supply of BS will provide enough fertilizer for a hundred years.

Are you trying to get banned?

[Japher]

Space do your neighbors have lawns? If not, don't bother. Look into Xeriscaping.

[lord of the mark]

the main advantage of a traditional lawn is that its more pleasant to walk on - esp for kids playing. You dont have kids though, do you? I think a nice landscaping job with desert plants would actually be more attractive to look at then a lawn. Im thinking rock garden, cacti, etc. A real southwest look.


Then Im old enough to remember when "southwest" was the hot style, and New Mexico was the hot cuisine.


"when we were yuppies ....."

[mrmitchell]

Space, I'm thinking pave it and put up a basketball hoop.

[Japher]

Space, I'm thinking pave it and put up a basketball hoop

and sell drugs to all the hoolagins who come and hang out

[Space05us]

Space, I'm thinking pave it and put up a basketball hoop.

Not a bad idea!

Space do your neighbors have lawns?

It varies. Some have lawns, some have rock gardens, some have yards covered in very strange looking weeds, most have grass of some sort though.

the main advantage of a traditional lawn...

...is that its nice to look at.

[chequita guevara]

Lawns are ugly.

[MichaeltheGreat]

Originally posted by Space05us

It's people like you that have caused the Colorado River to be so drained of water that it no longer reaches the sea. If you want a lawn, move someplace green.

Thats ok.

My lawn > Nature

Besides the water is already here, so why not use it?

Because it's continuously scarce in NM.

[lord of the mark]

i dunno. A lawm in front a large english mansion, suitably framed by gardens, rose bushes, and woods can be quite attractive, I think.

But - its much less attractive if its just a patch in front of a small house, and its a pain to maintain. And I think native plants can be very attractive, depending on the region. I just happen to like desert plants - if i lived in New Mexico, this would be an easy choice.

[Space05us]

Originally posted by chegitz guevara
Lawns are ugly.

Only to Communists.

[Dis]

Re: Terraforming High Desert

Originally posted by Space05us
How does one turn high desert into a nice green yard?

water. It works on low desert as well.

[Dis]

Originally posted by chegitz guevara
It's people like you that have caused the Colorado River to be so drained of water that it no longer reaches the sea. If you want a lawn, move someplace green.

the many dams on the river haven't helped either

[DRoseDARs]

Lawns in a desert.

People have been telling Reno city officials for decades that the unmitigated growth here would drain our very limited water supplies. There's only so much water that can legally be removed from the Truckee River and the groundwater is replenished only by the river and whatever moisture we get here in the rainshadow of the Sierra Nevadas during the winter and spring. Lo and behold, we're suddenly and unexpectedly seeing water problems for the past few years. Who'da thunk it?

Space05us being a whiny git

[lord of the mark]

Originally posted by DRoseDARs
Lawns in a desert.

Growing cotton in a desert?
Growing lettuce in a desert?