WATER-WISE When Spanish settlers brought the ancient practice of clay pot irrigation to the American Southwest years ago, they were on to something “green” well before the movement became fashionable. Water-filled earthen jars called ollas were buried neck-deep in the ground, and the water was allowed to seep into the soil. This method not only reduced watering frequency but also delivered water directly to plant roots. Ollas are still utilized by gardeners today. Find them at Southwest Gardener, (602) 279-9510, or highcountrygardens.com.

SOME LIKE IT HOT With little rainfall, warm winters and hot summers, the Arizona climate can be daunting, especially for home gardeners. In The Hot Garden: Landscape Design for the Desert Southwest (Rio Nuevo Publishers), Tucson author Scott Calhoun offers tips on designing gardens for such an environment. Several chapters embrace desert challenges and focus on ways to expand Southwestern plant palettes, create alfresco spaces and conserve water. Easy-to-use charts for growing plants and differentiating climate zones within the region are included, along with little-known plant lore. For instance, chuparosa—a winter-blooming favorite of hummingbirds—produces blossoms that taste like cucumber and make an excellent salad garnish.  —Mary Modney

YUCCADO.com

If you’re looking for a wide range of drought- and heat-tolerant plants, Texas-based Yucca Do Nursery Inc. offers hundres of choices at yuccado.com. From bromeliads to cycads, subtropicals to succulents, and palms to perennials, the selection comprises myriad plants from around the world.










GARDEN TIP

Some of the most cost-effective herbs you can grow—compared with buying them—are basil, chives, cilantro, dill, mint, oregano, parsley, rosemary, sage, tarragon and thyme.
—The Dirt Cheap Green Thumb (Storey Publishing)