Sacred datura, a desert native, puts out showy white flowers.

High-Desert Gardening Tips
• If you are looking for a critter-proof plant, try Russian sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia). Although birds and butterflies plunder the flower nectar all summer, ground squirrels, packrats and javelinas show no interest in consuming its pungent foliage.

• For a showy backdrop shrub for hot western exposures, consider Artemisia ‘Powis Castle’. Its lacy silver foliage looks great paired against bright flower colors, and “It’s indestructible,” declares gardener Cheryl Christenson.

• Don’t be afraid to move a plant to a new location if it is not performing well. “Sometimes, plants just don’t thrive where you think they will,” she notes.

• Consider alternative ground cover plants such as germander, rosemary and verbena in place of turf. “Our first Sedona home had grass that the javelinas were always digging in to find
grubs,” Christenson says. Keeping in mind turf’s water consumption, high maintenance and its propensity for attracting grubs, she and her husband decided against grass for their new landscape.

• Container plants like a drink of rainwater, as it is free of chemicals and is highly oxygenated. Christenson collects rain from her roof with rain gutters and barrels for this purpose.
 
• Scented geraniums (Pelargonium sp.), grown for their fragrant foliage, lose aroma if over-fertilized. Twice per year Christenson feeds them with Algoflash® (4-6-8) formulated for geraniums.

• Join a garden club to learn from the experiences of others, as well as to share seeds and plants. Sedona offers groups including the following: High Desert Designers (floral design), Petal Pushers Garden Club, and Sedona Area Garden Club.