Nice!! Neal, One thing I've learned is to plant nitrogen fixing ground cover by the tree bases and drippers. Helps get them established and living mulch also. Watching your environment makes me appreciate what I've been calling my desert recently. Wish you Well.
Thanks folks for the well wishes. I have portulaca as a planned groundcover but it's too hot to put in now, so i'm going to have to wait till October. Looking at sweet potato as an option as well--will test it on a limited area first.
Steve, Yes this is true desert--our last substantial rainfall was January 2011.
People are the keystone species of the planet.
And when my army is complete, I will rule the world! But, for now, I'm going to be happy with this tiny ad: