THREE GARDENS

There are three garden areas planned on the property. The west side that receives the most brutal sun exposure will have several shade trees planted first. Succulents and perhaps a cactus or two will be initially positioned along a rock wall that will terrace a small slope at the entrance to the property. As the shade trees mature, other desert hardy plants will be added. The south side of the property is currently planted with olive trees, and a Mediterranean garden will fill the spaces between the trees and along the pathway. This garden path already supplies shade in shifting locations, and camp chairs and a small table follow the shade over the course of the workday, providing a cool breeze for coffee breaks and lunch. The remaining garden area on the east side of the property will hold a courtyard garden that will eventually be a lush oasis in the middle of property. It will feature more shade trees, a few fruit trees, shrubs, vines and ground cover plantings. A water feature is planned, as well as an outdoor shower, a fire pit and several areas to just sit and watch the wildlife and insects that I hope to attract to the garden. 

This is elephant bush, portulacaria afra. It came to me a decade ago from a riad that was being redone, and it thrived through two moves and ten years of irregular watering. The original mother plant was destroyed in the September 2023 Morocco earthquake, but I have propagated it numerous times and have many pots to transplant in the Mediterranean garden.

 The lids to small tajines are placed along rocks that line the pathway. They are temporarily stored there until I find a use for them in the gardens. In the background, various plants including a lot of grocery store bean sprouts are filling the garden beds that the ants did not disseminate in their rampage a few weeks ago.