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Hi, Carrie. I live in SantaFe, too. I've been here since 1980. We've seen some intense droughts here but also some very snowy winters and occasional floods. It is sunny, mostly, but not always warm. I found that roses held up better than many other plants in the drought times. A lot depends on what kind of soil they are in, how well established and what kind of exposure they have to sun and wind. I'm glad your father enjoyed the time he spent here!
I've been in NM for 20 years and have gardened in Albuquerque as well as farther north in Abiquiu. I've recently moved to a new house just outside of Santa Fe where we are restricted to watering one day a week so I am installing drip everywhere and using the 1200 gallon cistern and 4 rain barrels quite a bit. I've even started bucketing my bathtub water out to the trees... I love High Country Garden and visit the demo gardens frequently. I hope to start a community garden somehow in my new neighborhood and am working to have a raised bed, rock fenced in veggie garden at my house by the spring... lots of project plus a full time job :-)
One day a week is about minimum. I water twice a week but could have 3 times. Don't need that much because I have a small, shaded, walled garden in town. I have not planted many new plants in a long time. I mostly dig things out. We use rain barrels and sometimes gray water from the washing machine rinse cycle, shower, kitchen rinse water. Sounds like you have a bigger area to contend with! Good Luck, Sailor!
Thank you both for your comments - it is SOOOO different here, I was thinking again today, as I waited in my car for the rain to die down enough so it was safe to plow I mean drive through the gigantic puddles on the road. Some folks in the NE have rainbarrels - I guess it's cheaper than watering with a hose but cheaper still is just not watering, although I admit I water petunias and other annuals. The real way I can feel dry climates is by how much lip balm and hand lotion I need - what a girly thing to say! But seriously, the texture of my skin, hair, the way my contact lenses feel...
