This area of the garden gets full sun from about 9 AM to 2 pm. The large Acacia tree behind it shades it from the afternoon sun. This is where the Microgardening started. The section to the left is left over from my original plantings. The Stapelia grandiflora was from a seed that took from a nearby pot probably 4 years ago. I take at least a dozen large cuttings from it each year to keep it under control. The Cereus hildmannianus monstrose was planted 12 years ago and cut back to a stump last year. It had grown over 7 feet high and branches were breaking off every time the wind blew. Looks like it's coming back big time! I'll have to keep after it from now on. There'll be plenty of cuttings.
      The section in the middle was my first Microgarden, planted two seasons ago. A few Mammilarias, a Parodia and an Oreocereus. The Oreocereus didn't do much but the others thrived. The potted Aloe nobilis spent last year just where it's at and did well. I'm sure it will outgrow its pot this year. The little Mam at the far left is new.
     The section to the right was planted last year. This section didn't do too well. The only survivers from the original plantings are the Gymnocalycium baldianums and the Mamillaria carmanae. Hopefully the new stuff will do better.
     The flagstone table is the stump from a Juniper tree that served no purpose given the fact there was a giant Acacia right in front of it. It was wasting a lot of space. Taking the tree down was no problem, getting the stump out was another matter. I decided instead to do something interesting with the stump. Worked out well, I can put a lot of plants up there.

     Most of this area is in dappled shade from a large Juniper tree. The cactus plantings are out just past the drip line of the tree and get better light. The area immediately under the tree proved perfect for the more tender succulents and I put benches around the tree to put them on. I also have a number of plants actually hanging from it's branches
     The rock gardens got a complete makeover this year and underwent considerable expansion. Nearly everything I planted last year survived, but now that I know more about the growth habit of these plants I took a few things out and moved some things around. I'm trying to prevent it's becoming overgrown too fast.