Welcome to the High Desert Demonstration Garden Webpage
 The High Desert Demonstration Garden is located on ¾ of an acre at the High Desert Park on Academy. The Park is maintained by the City of Albuquerque, but the long-neglected Demonstration Garden has been finally reclaimed by High Desert volunteers working under High Desert homeowner Ray Berg (shown in photo at right). The city pays for water and has donated about two dozen small plant identification signs.  The original irrigation lines and pathways were built by High Desert’s developer to highlight low-water use, native and other permitted plants for High Desert homeowners in 2001. The park was then turned over to the city but, due to budget restrictions, it was neglected. The garden rapidly became heavily overgrown with Apache plume and chamisa over the next decade, obscuring the paths and choking out plants. In August of 2010, Ray discovered blueprints of the garden and he and other residents became determined to resurrect the area as a place for residents to see living examples of plants found on the High Desert Permitted Plants list. Most of the original irrigation remained in place despite neglect, and the city agreed to begin watering the area again once the lines were repaired.  The Association, through the Board, allocated limited funds in 2011 for repairing the irrigation lines and purchasing plants and fencing. But all the labor involved in clearing and removing brush, restoring paths, pruning, repairing irrigation lines and putting up fencing has come from High Desert volunteers working weekends and evenings over the past two years. Ray estimates that High Desert volunteers have put in more than 400 hours of work since August 2010. The High Desert Demonstration Garden is located just south of the High Desert Park parking lot. The white fence highlights the garden’s east boundary and points the way to the main paths. An ongoing project at the Demonstration Garden involves accurate identification of existing plants in order that signs (see photo at left) can be provided by the city. Volunteers will order and install new plants on an on-going basis to provide a well-rounded example of both native specifies and low water plants listed on the Permitted Plants List for High Desert. “The Permitted Plants List is not just made up of native plants,” said Ray. “It also includes a number of plants that are low-water use and that do very well here in a high desert environment.” Homeowners interested in volunteering for any job at the Demonstration Garden should email Ray at rsberg01@comcast.net. He will contact volunteers and arrange for tools, instructions and meeting times. “We don’t require that volunteers help out on every project,” Ray said. “. We need lots of people for lots of different jobs so that we can get this project up and running.” High Desert volunteers Barbara and Dan Balik are shown in the Demonstration Garden above as they work on smoothing paths. |
Learn More About Plants Found In the Demonstration Garden
 For more information on plants found at the Demonstration Garden, refer to the following: 1. The Utah State University Cooperative Extension, http://extension.usu.edu/range 2. Xeriscaping: The Complete How-To Guide, Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority booklet 3. Albuquerque Master Gardeners, http://www.abqmastergardeners.org/ (source of information about growing things in our very different environment) 4. Dirt Doctor, http://www.dirtdoctor.com/ (an organic gardener's website) 5. Ed Gilman Tree Fact Sheets, http://hort.ufl.edu/woody/index.shtml (University of Florida website with the latest tree information including planting and pruning) 6. ISA on Trees, http://www.treesaregood.com/ (International Society of Arboriculture) 7. National Arbor Day Foundation site, http://www.arborday.org/trees/ninethings.cfm (Note: do not use their tree recommendationa because they are written for the eastern United States) 8. Down to Earth: A Gardener’s Guide to the Albuquerque Area, written and published by Albuquerque Extension Area Master Gardeners (the only book written specifically for Albuquerque including a lengthy resource section) 9. New Mexico Gardener’s Guide, Judith Phillips, Cool Springs Press, January 2005. |
Plants With Identification Signs:
The following trees, bushes and flowers can be found in the Demonstration Garden with identification signs. Volunteers familiar with the plants below have identified both pros and cons (if any) of these plants when used in our High Desert environment. Photos of the plants are shown immediately below each descripton. Trees: Rocky Mt Juniper (Juniper Scopulorum ‘Blue Heaven’) Size: 3 to 30 feet at maturity Shape: shrub or small tree Flowering: soft grey-green cones Watering: drought tolerant. They root deep and wide Sun: full sun Pros: Thrives in any soil, evergreen, wildlife feeds on cones. Cons: Pollen in male trees can cause allergies. Below: Rocky Mt. Juniper  Pinon Pine (Pinus Edulis) Size: up to 30 feet at maturity. Shape: tree with low branches Flowering: spherical cones with edible seeds Watering: medium water usage Sun: full sun Pros: edible seeds, evergreen Below: Pinon Pine  Arizona Sycamore (Platanus Wrightii) Size: up to 60 feet Shape: Flowering: messy seed balls Watering: low water use but likes moisture Sun: full sun Pros: deciduous Below: Arizona Sycamore  Lanceleaf Cottonwood (Populus Acuminata) Size: up to 45 feet Shape: tall branchy tree with spear shaped leaves Flowering: no Watering: water deeply to avoid above ground roots Sun: full Pros: deciduous, fast growing. Cons: Suckers and above ground roots. The High Desert Covenants (through the Approved and Prohibited Plant List) do not permit this plant in the residential properties. Below: Lanceleaf Cottonwood  Gambel Oak (Quercus Gambelii) Size: 12 to 20 feete at maturity Shape: shrubby, have to train as a tree Flowering: Watering: low water, can tolerate dry soil Sun: part shade Pros: fall color Below: Gambel Oak  NM Locust (Neomexicana) Size: up to 25 feet Shape: Flowering: white, purple, pink racemes that hang from the tree in spring and early summer Watering: Sun: sun to part shade Pros: deciduous, leaves change in autumn Cons: messy seed pods in autumn, brittle, seeds are toxic, have ground suckers Below: NM Locust  Shrubs: False Indigo (Amorpha Fruticosa) Size: 6 to 10 feed shrub, fast growing Shape: leggy shrub Flowering: clustered purple flowers Watering: low water but like moist soil Sun: sun to part shade Cons: Below: False Indigo  Threadleaf (Sand) Sage (Artemisia Filifolia) Size: up to 4 feet Shape: freely branched shrub with rounded crown Flowering: small flowers in August and September Watering: can live on rain water only Sun: full Pros: likes sandy soil Cons: not spectacular Below: Threadleaf (Sand) Sage  Turpentine Bush (Ericameria Laricifolia) Size: 1 to 4 feet tall shrub Shape: Flowering: small yellow flowers Watering: low water, thrives in dry soil Sun: sun to part shade Pros: heat and cold tolerant Cons: lemony – turpentine scent Below: Turpentine Bush  Apache Plume (Fllugia Paradoxa) Size: 2 to 6 feet tall Shape: straggly, somewhat unkept look Flowering: white flowers with silver pink puffs of seed Watering: dry to low water Sun: sun to part shade Pros: deciduous to semi-evergreen; heat and cold tolerant Cons: Below: Apache Plume  Red Yucca (Hesperaloe Parviflora ‘Red’) Size: low bush with 3 to 4 foot bloom stalks Shape: Flowering: tall stalks with reddish flowers in summer Watering: low water Sun: full sun to part shade Pros: thrives in hot, dry locations, evergreen plant; attracts hummingbirds Cons: Below: Red Yucca  Sand Cherry (Prunus Besseyi) Size: 4 to 6 feet Shape: rounded shrub Flowering: small white flowers in late spring followed by edible dark purple fruit Watering: moist well drained soil Sun: full sun Pros: silver green foliage turns red in fall; drought, heat, and cold tolerant Cons: suckers Below: Sand Cherry  Threeleaf Sumac (Rhus Trilobata) Aliases: skunkbush Size: 2 to 8 feet tall Shape: leaves are three lobed clusters Flowering: tiny flowers followed by red berries Watering: low Sun: sun to part shade Pros: leaves are red and orange in fall; likes wide range of soils Cons: Below: Threeleaf Sumac  Austrian Copper Rose (Rosa Foetida Bicolor) Size: 6 to 7 feet Shape: wild appearance, tall lanky canes Flowering: bright red-orange with yellow reverse side spring bloom Watering: low Sun: full sun Pros: winter hardy and vigorous grower Cons: many suckers, will take over an area Below: Austrian Copper Rose  Spanish Dagger (Yucca Baccata) Aliases: Datil Size: 3 feet Shape: low to ground with sharp pointed leaves Flowering: candlabras of creamy white flowers produce edible fruit Watering: low, can survive on rainwater Sun: full Pros: blooms yearly Below: Spanish Dagger  Yucca (Yucca Glauca) Size: 3 feet Shape: low to ground Flowering: bell shaped waxy white candelabra-like flowers on short stems Watering: can survive on rainwater only Sun: full Pro: drought and heat resistant Below: Yucca  Perennials/Grasses: English Lavender (Lavandula Angustifolia) Aliases: Hidcote, munstead and Nana Size: 1 to 3 feet tall by 2 to 3 feet wide Shape: rounded, compact Flowering: purple-blue blooms in spring and summer Watering: 1x per week when hot, then less when below 90 degrees Sun: full sun or light shade Pros: likes decomposed granite, pest resistant Cons: should trim finished flowers Below: English Lavender  Rosmary ‘Tuscan Blue’ (Rosmarinus Officianalis ‘Tuscan Blue’) Size: up to 4 by 4 feet Shape: prune to control shape or gets wild looking Flowering: purple bloom in Feb – March and October Watering: every 2 weeks when hot, less rest of year Sun: full sun or light shade Pros: scented, can use as herb; likes well drained, infertile, alkaline soil; disease and pest resistant Cons: can freeze at high altitude and get die-back Below: Rosemary 'Tuscan Blue'  Flowers: Chocolate Flower (Berlandiera Lyrata) Size: 1 to 2 feet Shape: flowers on tall stems, can get leggy; blooms late spring through summer Flowering: daisy like yellow blooms; bluck petals and it smells like chocolate Watering: low Sun: sun to part shade Pros: attracts bees and butterflies Cons: self-seeds freely Below: Chocolate Flower  |
Plants Without Identification Signs:
| The plants listed below can be found in the Demonstration Garden but have not yet been marked with identification signs. Volunteers are currently working to identify all the plants and order signs. Trees: New Mexico Olive (Forestiera Neomexicana) Alias: Privet Size: 15 to 18 feet at maturity Shape: natural shape is large bush. May be pruned to the shape of a small tree. Flowering: small yellow flowers in springtime. Female plants produce fruit (olives) that attracts many birds and small animals. Watering: drought tolerant, but prefers deep soaking 1-2 times per month. Prefers some water year round. Sun: plant in full sun to part shade Pros: Disease and pest resistant Shrubs: Four Wing Saltbush (Atriplex Canescens) Size: up to 7 feet Shape: erect, stout, multi-branched shrub Flowering: Watering: dry; can survive on rainwater only Sun: full sun Cons: spreads by seeds blowing in the wind; can be invasive Chamisa (Chrysothamnus Nauseosus, renamed Ericamerica Nauseosa in 1993) Alias: Rabbitbush Size: 1 to 5 ft Shape: shrubby, woody, nondescript shape Flowering: pungent smelling yellow flower in late summer, early fall Watering: very low Sun: full sun Pros: lives in alkaline soil, cold hardy Cons: rapidly spreads by seed and root Below: Chamisa  Cliffrose (Cowania Mexicana) Size: up to 15 feet, but usually 5 – 6 feet Shape: Flowering: small cream white in April - May Watering: drought resistant, needs well-drained soil Sun: full sun Cons: wild appearance, brittle branches Cholla (Opuntia or Cylindropuntia Imbricata) Size: 4 to 6 feet Shape: shrubby treelike plant Flowering: blooms late spring to early summer; dark magenta bloom followed by yellow fruit Watering: can survive on rainfall but tolerates moist soil Sun: full sun Pros: will grow in cooler regions, hardy Cons: barbed spines; can be hard to control Golden Current (Ribes Aureum) Size: 4 to 8 feet at maturity Shape: can be used for hedges and borders Flowering: yellow flowers in spring Watering: moderate to ample Sun: full sun Pros: red fall color, edible fruit Serviceberry (Amelanchier utahensis) Size: up to 15 feet Shape: large shrub to small tree Flowering: white clustered flower from April to June Watering: low water Sun: full Pros: tolerates drought when established Perennials/Grasses: Russian Sage (Perovskia Atriplicifolia) Size: can be 5 by 4 feet, gets large and grows quickly Shape: upright large shrub Flowering: lavender-blue flowers on branched stems Watering: low Sun: full sun for best bloom Pro: cold hardy, heat and drought tolerant; disease and pest resistant Cons: self sows avidly, spreads everywhere |