Planting Projects in So AZ	My planting projects don't always succeed. I am learning to mulch/sheet compost, mostly from a great book, Gaia's Garden. I also took notes from a book called How to Grow World Record Tomatoes by Charles H Wilber who has specific ideas about compost and mulch. The plants below are ones I am hoping will succeed in my zone. I am getting very choosy about providing morning, midday, and or afternoon shade in my suuny southern location.The plant tag or gardening book might say "full sun" but here a whole day of sun can be brutal.
HERB_PERRENIAL SHRUB Cleveland Sage Salvia officinalis Medical uses are quite ancient. Used as an antibacterial tea for colds and other problems, it's also a mouthwash. It heals infected gums and mouth ulcers. It also stops sweating, and helps with female problems. You can plant sage near cabbage to deter cabbage moths. It's supposed to repel a bunch of flying insects, and it smells wonderful when it's growing. The bees seem to enjoy it; the little purple flowers and round pom-pom tufty-like seedheads last a long time. It doesn't mind full sun and prefers well-drained soil. Herbs often survive when the tender vegetables are getting eaten up during the summer.
One on each side of my driveway About 5' when planted a year ago, they are maybe 7' now. Native Tree Alligator Juniper Juniperus deppeana pachyphlaea My juniper trees look nothing like these yet but they will be beautiful native arizona alligator junipers 40- 60'high someday I hope. With blue-grey foliage, they are famous for checked bark like alligator hide. I didn't try to "tickle the roots" of these on planting as the rootlets looked dry and fragile; the less disturbance of these the better. The trees still look robust and green, and I have espaliered them because they were used to being tied to a fence where they grew up. They are hardy and tolerant of soil types. Don't water-log the roots.
HERB_TENDER PERRENIAL GRASS Lemon Grass (see recipe) Cymbopogon citratus (Gramineae) HISTORY and USES Native from Sri Lanka and South India, lemon grass is now widely cultivated in the tropical areas of America and Asia. Its oil is used as a culinary flavoring, a scent and medicine. Use as a tea to remedy digestive problems diarrhea and stomach ache. It relaxes the muscles of the stomach and gut, relieves cramping pains and flatulence and is particularly suitable for children. In the Caribbean, lemon grass is primarily regarded as a fever-reducing herb. It is applied externally as a poultice or as diluted essential oil to ease pain and arthritis. MAIN PROPERTIES: Digestive, antispasmodic, analgesic. GREAT TASTE! I blend the white part and the first few inches of green, maybe 7 stalks in a cup and a third of water and handful of ice [to keep it cool while blending]. I strain with a fine plastic strainer and enjoy the juice in some of my teas, maybe a tablespoon of juice to a pint of tea. For soup and cooked dishes, stick a few stalks in like bay leaves, and take them out later. Thai people make soups with it, lime juice, and coconut milk.

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