Ocotillo: Privacy Fencing Comes to Life

The beauty of the desert Ocotillo continues to draw my eye with those long spikes, tiny green leaves and brilliant orange flames that drip from the tips.  We often see them spotted in our desert landscapes, but rarely seen as a privacy fence, until now.  In this day and age, we see “re-purposing” many items, and Ocotillo plants to form fencing are just one more step in living green in the Sonoran desert.

History books talk about settlers that used Ocotillo to line the properties of adobes in the 1800’s as a barrier and thier stalks as fencing material to keep predators away from livestock.  Well, now you can add a privacy fence of Ocotillo fairly easily.  I recently stumbled across a Tucson-based nursery that is making pre-wired panels of Ocotillo for fencing – Visit Civano Nursery on line for information and some great information for growing a desert garden.

The recent issue of Sunset Magazine highlights the living fence.  According to the publication, place the panels in a 6” deep trench and secure them with posts and in no time, you’ve got what’s sure to be the talk of the town.  The 5' x 6' panels run about $60.  Now, that's living green! 

Photo from Flickr courtesy of Clinton Steeds.

Living the Dream

We all know someone who, despite it all, just seems to take everything for granted. 

For me, I am blessed – and know it!  As my Mom used to say, I thank my lucky stars everyday!

I have often said that I could live anywhere.  I am the type of person that looks for the good around me and soaks it all up.  I could probably be content in Des Moines or in Casper, although I’ll stick to where I am, thank you very much.  I’m just the kind of person that makes of best of things and my surroundings. 

But it doesn’t get much better than this!  I feel so fortunate to live in such a beautiful place, with clean streets, excellent schools, amazing restaurants, a plethora of cultural attractions, exhibits, events and other exciting things to do nearly every week of the year, plus, access to snowboarding, sailing and sandy beaches just a few hours away.  What a lifestyle!

Well, it seems the word is out.  The February issue of Sunset Magazine has arrived.  The cover boasts a snipe across it with “37 best towns to live your dream”.  As I always do with such a teaser, I immediately flip to the article and low and behold, there we are: Scottsdale, Arizona.  Our town was dubbed the best place to raise your kids! Low crime rates (and decreasing year over year), above state and national averages for standardized test scores, recreation and, of course, outstanding weather helped bump us to the top.   Runners up included Irvine, CA, Spokane and Missoula, MT.

So, if you already live in the Phoenix area, thank your lucky stars! If you’re shoveling the three feet of white stuff off the driveway, get on Orbitz.com and get out here.  I’d love to share our lifestyle with you and help you find your own piece of nirvana. And, if you have kids, even better! After all, I speak from experience: Mine turned out amazing and I couldn't be more proud.

To  check out the complete article and 36 other places that might make a nice getaway, pick up the February issue of Sunset Magazine and see for yourself (it’s too new to even be online!).

©2011 Tom Weiskopf, PLLC. Tom Weiskopf, PLLC is an AZ licensed real estate agent with John Hall & Associates serving the Phoenix area. For more information, Tom can be reached at (602) 953-4000 or via e-mail at phxareahomes@gmail.com.