bookreview


Southwest Gardening Made Simple


Hot Pots: Container Gardening in the Arid Southwest By Scott Calhoun & Lynn Hassler. Tucson: Rio Nuevo Publishers, 2009. 260 pp. $19.95.


ISBN: 978-1-933855-39-4. by Debra Urken


mer, I felt discouraged and frustrated. I had wanted to create a small, wel- coming, low-maintenance container garden but did not have the know- how to make it happen. I knew that to grow a healthy garden outdoors I needed to pick plants well-adapted to the climate and environment of the Southwest, but I wanted some options other than cacti. Luckily, I stumbled upon Hot


W


Pots, by Tucson gardeners Scott Cal- houn and Lynn Hassler. After reading a few pages I realized that with the help of these clear and expert guides I could easily build a garden that I would enjoy. There are many, many choices to


make when beginning or maintaining a container garden, but authors Cal- houn and Hassler manage to lay out the options in a concise, organized way. In the fi rst part of the book the authors categorize all the different varieties of plants that grow well in the Southwest, and by highlighting several examples of each type make the territory more familiar and invit- ing. The accompanying photographs demonstrate the tremendous diversity of plant shapes and colors that South- west gardeners can play with. Contrary to popular opinion, not all plants that grow well in the South- west are sharp, pointy and uninviting. For instance, some Southwest plants


hen the ivy and basil plants on my patio in Tucson with- ered and died this past sum-


have delicate, draping branches and bloom with bright fl owers, like the Baja fairy duster (Calliandra califor- nica), a plant that Hassler says “never fails to give… [her] joy”. Calhoun’s current favorites are plants in the Astrophytum group, which have no leaves or spines and look quite Zen. To determine which plants are most practical for your environment and lifestyle, turn to Calhoun and Hassler’s handy plant charts. Once you select the plants that


will work for you, the authors take you step-by-step through the process of choosing the optimal container material (terra cotta, ceramic, plastic, etc.), container size, container shape, and potting mix for your selections. They also explain where you’ll want to place your plants and how much and how often you’ll need to water them. The authors’ tips for incorporat- ing natural and recycled materials into container gardens provide inspiration for adding a bit of pizzazz while keep- ing your plants cool and comfortable. The appendix lists a variety of local merchants who can sell you the plants and supplies you need. Although people who have lived in the Southwest a long time may


tell you this region has four or fi ve seasons just like the rest of the coun- try, Hot Pots authors say vegetables, herbs, annuals and “perennials/bien- nials that are treated as annuals” have only two seasons: a cold season and a warm season. For those gardeners who are looking for some cool season color, the authors suggest a variety of hardy, frost-resistant annuals, peren- nials, and biennials including Calen- dula, Hollyhock and Johnny-Jump-Up. If growing your own vegetables strikes your fancy, the authors suggest cool season crops like spinach, broccoli, lettuce, kale and carrots. Add some dill, one of the cool season herbs, to your garden to attract butterfl ies. If you’re like Hassler, watching


the interaction between your plants and the butterfl ies, birds and insects will bring you great satisfaction. If your stars are aligned more with Cal- houn’s, it is the interaction between you and the plants that will interest you and spur you on. Whatever type of Southwest gardener you are, you’ll likely never be bored. Even after many years of gardening, both Calhoun and Hassler enjoy renewing acquaintances with old plant friends.


Debra Urken, a Tucson expressive arts facilitator and writer, holds a B.A. in Psychology and Brain and Behavioral Science from Cornell University. Con- tact: debbyurken@hotmail.com.


November 2010 19


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