That's great progress, Don. Were you able to keep that cut-off from the big patio beam? That's gotta be handy for something.
Art, to add to what Don said about growing stuff in the desert, more and more folks are going with low-water, low-maintenance plants for their yards. (Xeriscaping) They add subtle color (and in some cases bolder colors, too), but it's generally not gonna be lots of big trees or green ground cover. LOML grew up her whole life in SoCal, where there is a lot more green than the desert southwest. When she goes to New Mexico with me to see my family, she's always a bit shocked by how brown things are. It is somewhat of an acquired taste, and even though I grew up in and around deserts, I've gotten real fond of all the greenery here in SoCal.