Photos by Richard Maack The canopy of an ironwood tree provides filtered light for a variety of plants at this west Phoenix property. Included are basil, petunia, elephant’s food, cacti and aloe. Lady Banks’ roses and ‘Lisbon’ lemon trees cover the back fence and enclose the space with greenery.

Antje and Morrie Schneider ADAPT TO LOW-DESERT
GARDENING and relish the diversity of PLANts

Antje and Morrie Schneider pur-
posely downsized when they moved to Surprise, Arizona, from Bethel, Delaware, where they had maintained a large yard. “On this smaller lot, I can handle all of our yardwork, which I enjoy,” says Antje, who has gardened since childhood. “Although I dig the planting holes,” Morrie interjects with a smile.

When the Schneiders moved to the Southwest in 2001, they had no interest in re-creating their Eastern landscape. “I didn’t know anything about desert gardening, but we like to adapt to local conditions wherever we might to be,” Antje comments. “When I first arrived, I thought the plants all seemed greenish-gray, but after visiting Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix and attending Sun City Grand Garden Club meetings, I realized that the Sonoran Desert offers tremendous plant variety.”

Antje began designing the backyard to be an outdoor living space. “I started by adding trees, which establish the backbone of any landscape,” she counsels. She chose trees based upon mature size and sited them to provide shade, especially in summer. “Also consider where you want visible planting areas, because the dappled light beneath tree canopies creates perfect microclimates for aloe, agave, perennials and many cacti,” the gardener adds.

Antje is especially fond of aloes and planted many species beneath tree canopies. “Their blooms are striking and attract hummingbirds,” she notes. “I interspersed other plants to offer color when aloes aren’t in flower, such as golden barrel cacti, angelita daisy—which has a long bloom season—and Manfreda ‘Macho Mocha’, a succulent plant with unusual purplish foliage.”

The patio’s lattice roof and a ‘Sonoran Emerald’ palo verde tree offer filtered light that is ideal for many plants, including several aloe species.

The couple transplanted 15-gallon desert willow, ironwood and ‘Sonoran Emerald’ palo verde trees in the backyard. Although the trees appeared spindly at first, they grew quickly. The backyard also has three semi-dwarf citrus trees: a ‘Lisbon’ lemon, ‘Trovita’ sweet orange and red grapefruit. Semi-dwarf trees grow about 12 to 18 feet tall and wide, a manageable choice for smaller yards.

The homeowners’ backyard is adjacent to a public walking path. To maintain privacy, Antje planted Lady Banks’ climbing roses along a wrought-iron fence, weaving the young, pliable canes through the bars. The roses produce a dense barrier of foliage covered with masses of white blossoms in spring. Side walls also are covered with plants, creating a serene retreat that is a haven for contemplation and renewal.

“The climate here is perfect for being outdoors,” Morrie says. To enjoy the sights and fragrances offered by Antje’s diverse plant choices, the couple eats lunch on the patio and reads or sits outside daily with Beau the cat and Schatzie the dog.

In 2006, Antje completed the Master Gardener course offered by University of Arizona Maricopa County Cooperative Extension. She volunteers at its West Valley satellite office, answering questions and maintaining the insect collection. “People bring insects in for identification, and I preserve them for our demonstration cases, including a traveling collection to take to events. Kids like to look at the insects, but adults not so much,” jokes Antje. Although people often assign “good” or “bad” labels to insects, such judgments seldom explain a bug’s complete role in the ecosystem, she observes. “I suggest that people stop spraying pesticides in their yards so that birds, lizards and even other insects will create a healthy balance among populations,” she adds.

“My desert garden is as good as any I’ve ever had,” the gardener admits. “My advice to new residents is to leave your previous climate zone behind and work with native and desert-adapted plants.”


Ideas For Enhancing Small Spaces
• Use circular paths to give the illusion of more space. Antje Schneider devised a path that winds through a “secret garden” created by her citrus trees’ lush foliage. “I don’t prune the branches unless they are in the way,” she says. “Leave as much foliage on citrus trees as possible to protect the bark from sunburn.”

• Small yards are ideal for inhaling the sweet scents of nearby plants. The Schneiders enjoy fragrant citrus, desert willow, freesia bulbs, lilac vine (Hardenbergia violacea), lemon grass, scented geranium, Texas ebony, Texas mountain laurel and yellow oleander (Thevetia peruviana).

• Add color with containers filled with succulents, bulbs, herbs or vegetables. Move them around as needed to take advantage of sun exposure.

• Choose plants in appropriate sizes for the site. Antje replaced Lady Banks’ roses that had overwhelmed the entry courtyard with less aggressive purple lilac vine and yellow jessamine vine.

• Combine plants that have appealing shapes and textures to provide interest year-round. For example, Antje planted a spiky agave (Agave angustifolia ‘Variegata’), chenille prickly pear (Opuntia aciculata) with its rounded pads, and tall-stemmed desert milkweed (Asclepias subulata) in a space that can be viewed from a front window.

These vibrant aloe vera flower stalks are a big draw for hummingbirds.

This naturalistic desert setting didn’t happen by chance, but was carefully planned out by the homeowners.

Berries on heavenly bamboo (Nandina domestica) provide a vivid splash of color near the front door.