Time to start seeds where I'm at--past time to start cold stratifier types, but I'm doing it anyhow. I've got almost the opposite conditions from you: A lot of shade and moist, heavy clay with rocks and tree roots. This year I'm doing a lot more herbs. I'm starting more columbines myself, seeds I collected last year from the dark blue/purple ones I grew. I've grown herbs for a long time, but most of the plants I'll be growing this year are either medicinal or used in brewing. I'm really looking forward to it.

Laundry water can be good for a garden IF you use one of the organic laundry soaps/detergents that quickly decompose to harmless. I once had the most beautiful, abundant garden that was watered solely by the laundry water discharge. I wish I had a way of conserving and using grey water here.

actually, here that is kind of illegal too, but only kind of and we are having a heckuva time convincing municipal silly-heads to change their minds about lots of things concerning water. Groovy detergents are finally available and priced not too badly, and we have been slowly switching over to many products, but DG loves the Other Stuff! Now to find a place for that compost........

It all sounds wonderful!

Just want to make a couple of points:

First, the yarrow. Here in the subtropics, I find it really doesn't like the heat. Mine is several years old and it hasn't grown taller than my hand (sideways) in all that time. It does flower though - in autumn and winter. It likes plenty of water.

Second, grey water. If you use it too much and too often, it will 'kill' your soil by making it too alkaline (use laundry detergents that are low in sodium). When this happens, cover the soil surface with sawdust, and add some blood and bone and sheep manure (or other manure) and leave it to rot down. Never use grey water in the edible herb/vege patch because of problems with bacterial contamination. You can use grey water around fruit trees or in the ornamental garden, but go easy on it. I suggest collecting only the final rinsing water from the washing machine, in buckets, and using it immediately - don't leave it sitting around.

Batya- you might want to give planting those wildflower seeds from the states a second thought. Most wildflowers are very successful plants, some are very invasive, and if they were released into the wild where you are they could wreak havoc with the native plants. The ecology of the US is a mess from wildflower seeds that came over in the ballast of boats from Europe. The tumbleweed many think of as a symbol of the West came from Russia, where insects kept it in check, etc. I'm sure you will have plenty of the beautiful native wildflowers you described to enjoy.:-) I've read there are a succession of red flowers with black centers, unrelated family-wise, in the Negev, that host a certain beetle.

As for greywater, we used to take major steps to save water in S. Cal, and we ran the washing machine water into 55 gal. garbage cans, then put it in buckets, and used it to flush the toilets. This way you use the equivalent clean water on the garden and turn the greywater into blackwater. It's a lot of work but that's what makes you strong. I also used to save the water from washing dishes and used it in flushing toilets also. Just pour from a height... Another thing you can do is use the rinse water of the washing machine to put back in the machine and use for the wash water of the next load.

Chai Adonai!

I would love to be somewhere hot enough to grow okra.:-( It's too cool here in summer. But I might try again this year because I have read that the leaves are edible, though I can't picture eating them because I remember them as fuzzy. I'm growing some new Malvaceae this year to try their leaves as they are supposed to all be edible.