Xeriscape Afforestation Part 2

Definition: Afforestation [af·for·es·ta·tion] The act or process of establishing a forest especially on land or areas not previously forested. Xeriscape pronounced [zer-i-scape] afforestation incorporates seven basic principles which lead to saving water: 1) Planning and design, 2) Soil analysis, 3) Practical open space turf areas, 4) Plant and Tree selection, 5) Efficient irrigation, 6)Use of mulches, 7] Natural maintenance.

The contractor Baldi Gardens, Arlington, Texas, completed the work. Several years later we now have an afforestated area that works well. The plantings provide food for the local bugs, birds and animals. Trail and walkways only need to be cleared in the early spring. We did lose a couple of plantings due to natural causes. The old growth blends well with the new, as designed. This panorama shows an overlook of the lake. Squirrels and birds enjoy looking over the stone to see what's happening in the water below. During the hot 104°F (40°C) months we have water stations on the ground specially for them.

All in all our afforested area provides reds, blues, yellows, oranges and greens colors all year around. Different plantings have various textures. Doves and mockingbirds make nests in the trees, humming birds visit the low stand of Texas Autumn Sage, Red and White Yuccas. Large green-leafed Cast-Iron Plants and yellow-flowered Lantana provide shade and hiding places for critters.

Butterflies and dragonflies dart about over the lake and the planted areas. Squirrels enjoy digging holes in the ground to store nuts for the winter. It's a real zoo out there some days.

If annual growth means the new trees and bushes are happy.. we have done our job. Once a year we invite the folks from Baldi Gardens to visit, provide advice on our "New Forest"'s future. Sometimes I think that they grow too aggressively but that is a good thing.

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USA-Canada / USA-Texas

Lat: 32° 39' 37.83" N
Long: 98° 23' 17.19" W

Elevation: 770 feet elevation above Mean Sea Level

→ maps.google.com [EXT]

Precision is: High. Pinpoints the exact spot.

Canon 5D, Sigma 8 f/3.5, ground-based mount plate, Fanotec Nodal Ninja Ultimate R1 Ring Mount Pano Head, 4 Raw images at +5 deg tilt, Adobe Raw Converter 6.4.1.145, Adobe Photoshop CS5.5, PTGui Pro 9.0.4, Pano2VR 3.0 Panoramic Image Converter (Rev 1685/4.7.1 March 23,2011)