Faced with the mid-summer heat, it doesn't hurt to think "desert landscaping," even if you don't literally live in the desert. Remember, when you go away on vacation, your landscape may not receive any water -- unless you have a lawn irrigation system or convince someone else to water for you in your absence. So even if you live far away from desert sands, drought-tolerant plants such as Scotch broom (see picture at right) can be important allies in summer landscaping. I discuss some examples in this resource.



_{Photo ©2006 David Beaulieu (licensed to About, Inc.)}