Drought Tolerant?

Nandina domestica 'Nana"
in Arkansas

Nandina domestica 'Nana'
in Barstow

I have just returned from spending the Christmas holiday  at my son's farm in Arkansas.  The climate there is about the same as the climate in Barstow temperature-wise, but usually it is a lot wetter.  Fortunately it only rained one day during the ten days I was there, but you can tell the difference by appearance of the plants, even plants that grow in our dry climate.

What I have learned from this is that "drought tolerant" means exactly what it says -- that the plant will not die if it doesn't get enough water. But it won't thrive either!

Burford Holly
in Arkansas

Just a few berries on Burford Holly in Barstow

And a few pictures of the farm and farm animals.  The ground in this part of Arkansas is a yellow clay which is not good for crops.  Rice is grown in the river bottoms, but this time of year the fields are just fields of mud.  So most farmers raise animals and have only a kitchen garden.  Even with just one day of rain, the ground was very mucky.

Farm Pond
The bare ground has been sown with a winter grass.

A Variety of Animals

Friends

Crowding to See What is Going On

Lambs born in December
So the shepherds really could have been
in the field at night this time of year

And a puppy too!

For more pictures of Nathaniel's animals, see his blog at www.goatsrabbitsdonkeys.blogspot.com.