No true gardener will let a dry climate and concrete-like soil stymie him.
Take the case of the P. H. Sanfords who moved, some years ago, to Tucson, Arizona, where the soil is as near like concrete as any substance I know.
It is called caliche, and practically nothing but cactus will grow in it.
Edna Sanford had gardened all her life and was determined to raise her beloved iris in her new garden, even though the caliche was so hard water wouldn’t penetrate it.
After many years of work, the Sanfords have a large iris collection (400 varieties) that attracts fanciers from all over.
Bedding For Irises
Edna brings home many blue ribbons from flower shows— the last for Grecian Robe, a variety she exhibited in April at the Phoenix Iris and Daylily Show.
The Sanfords grow the irises in beds built on top of the caliche. Concrete blocks surround them.
The beds contain a soil mixture of bottom river silt, manure, sawdust, and compost made from grass clippings, potato peels, and other vegetable matter.
The Sanfords haul the makings for their soil manure from the dairy, sawdust from the lumber yard, and lawn clippings from the nearby university campus and their yard.
Other gardeners in the area have raised beds but their investment in peat moss and prepared soils has run their costs up beyond what the Sanfords feel they can afford.
Besides, as Edna says, “We get a tremendous kick out of beating the caliche by our efforts.”
Soil Mixture
Their soil mixture is not made haphazardly. Instead, she adds both sawdust and compost to improve its structure.
Her compost pile behind the garage is constantly at work and consists of a frame covered with chicken wire and raised above the ground so that air can get at the pile from all sides.
The drainage is perfect, so there is no souring. Instead, a pan under the pile collects the water, which seeps through and is poured over the compost to keep the material moist.
Iris Favorite Varieties
To get back to iris—among the Sanfords’ favorite varieties are the following:
- With A Sunny Body And A White Apron, Montecito
- Brown-Black, Black Joppa
- Coral Happy Birthday
- Pale Blue Mourning Dove
Bearded Iris Bloom
Bearded iris bloom for many weeks in their collection, and there are enough flowers to enjoy indoors and to give to friends.
Some varieties flower twice a year, and the Sanfords find Joseph’s Mantel to be a true remnant or repeat bloomer, sending forth flowers four times yearly.
Their hobby has grown to a spectacular size, and with it has come to the satisfaction of meeting a real challenge and coming out on top.
44659 by Louise Price Bell