Phoenix Gardening Reality: Intense Sunlight, Heat & Shade (Day 5)

“The moon shines bright.”

-Shakespeare, “As You Like It”

That may be an exaggeration, but we are definitely talking about a bright place.

Phoenix is hot. When we talk to people from the Northeast anytime between mid-March and October, the question is: “How hot is it out there?”

We all know it’s hot.

From a gardener’s perspective, my issue so far isn’t that Phoenix is hot – it’s that it’s bright. The lower humidity means fewer clouds, and the clear air lets the sun’s UV rays reach the garden more directly than in places with more moisture in the atmosphere.

When it’s 100 deg F in Phoenix, it’s actually pretty comfortable – in the shade. Step into the sun, though, and wow do things change.

Surfaces, especially the concrete pavers that cover much of our outdoor space – heat up through radiation and end up significantly hotter than the air temperature. Your skin understands that without the technical explanation. So do plants.

How hot do these surfaces get?

That’s right – our dogs need shoes. Humphrey is not a fan.

As the year goes on, I expect I’ll pay more attention to where the shade falls at different times of day. But I already know a few things: the backyard gets the afternoon sun, the front yard gets the morning sun, and microclimates are going to matter. When I say micro, I really do mean small.

For example, the outdoor sofa in the backyard has created a full‑shade microclimate behind it. I’m sure there’s a plant just waiting to soak up the heat without burning from the light. Maybe a canna or three.

Shade is currency.

Here’s the thing, though — I used to live in the woods. Short of cutting down all the trees, you can’t add more light. The advantage in Phoenix is that the light is here. It’s much easier to limit it than to create it.

Shade cloth, pergolas, shade sails, umbrellas… the list goes on. I’ll keep you posted on what I try and what turns out to be most effective.

Yes, it’s hot and it’s bright.
For me, that cloudless blue sky is totally worth it.
And we’ll figure things out.

Once more unto the breach,
🌿 Ruby

PS – Cactus flowers don’t form organically to my mind – they look like Lego flowers someone stuck on during the night. But it was a happy surprise to find in the morning!