It is a slow process trying to identify the plants around here, especially in the front garden.  Over time, I have added to the diversity of plant Species growing in the garden area and have identified many of the species already present, but several species have eluded my attempts at identification.  Well, I was finally able to generate a tentative identification of one of the hardier species that grows in the front garden.  A wildlife (deer) resistant species that likes full sun, little water, it is a perennial that produces volunteer seedlings easily.  Producing stems small yellow flowers along a spike like raceme, it attracts bees and butterflies before producing elongated seed pods.  The velvet leafed senna, Senna lindheimeriana, is particularly rugged and well adapted growing about 6' in height and should make a nice addition to the other areas of the estate.

Since it meets the standards established for planting on the estate I have planted seed and transplanted a number of volunteer seedlings into buckets in hopes of growing specimens along the curve in the driveway where topsoil barriers have been in place for several years.  This area was originally all hard pan clay subsoil but is slowly regaining soil, pants, and biomass.  It is not irrigated and requires plant species that are well adapted to the high desert and little rain.  In addition, I have planted seed for the Desert bird of Paradise, Caesalpinia gilliesii, as well as Sacred Datura, Datura wrightii, for the owners wife.  Commonly known as Jimson weed, sacred datura is hardy perennial species, grows low and produces a fair amount of biomass which should assist in the areas restoration.  While the bird of paradise also requires little water, it should also do well in this restoration area.

The goal is to fill in this area with grass and perennials for guests staying at the Painted Pony Resort.