I like to use plants in my garden that add a lot of color and the drought-tolerant and beautiful, sandpaper verbena certainly doesn’t disappoint. Its blossoms are a vibrant, deep purple that carpets the ground in a mass of glorious color from spring through fall. The deep green leaves add a visually cooling element to […]
As summer begins to wane, my thoughts start to turn toward fall planting and upcoming holidays. But, before I put summer “to bed”, I thought I’d give you a glimpse of our summer adventures. The highlight of our summer was spending a week in Williams, AZ. Every year we head up to this small Route […]
I am always looking for new ways to make things from what I grow in my garden. Fruit vinegar is an easy and fun way to use the fruit you may have growing in the garden. What can you use fruit vinegar for? I use them to create vinaigrettes, marinades, and glazes, which add delicious […]
Do you have pieces of garden art in your outdoor space? I have a few pieces and am always on the lookout for unique examples of artwork to use in my garden. The past few weeks, I saw some great examples while out and about that I would love to share with you. Unique Garden Art […]
Do you love hummingbirds? If asked, most people would say that these tiny birds are among their favorite bird species. Anna’s Hummingbird whose head and throat are covered in pollen. I always pause whatever I’m doing whenever I see a hummingbird nearby as I marvel at their small size along with their brilliant colors and […]
Have you ever grown pumpkins? The first pumpkin I ever grew. Right now, pumpkins are of three things growing in my summer vegetable garden alongside peppers and basil. In June, I planted 4 different types of pumpkins – Cinderella (an old fashioned looking pumpkin), Lumina (a white pumpkin), Rouge Vif d’Etampes (a French heirloom pumpkin) […]
Do you have oleanders? If so, you might have heard of a fatal bacterial disease called oleander leaf scorch that affects oleander shrubs. This disease is slowly spreading and I have been seeing it more often when I visit clients. I wrote an earlier post about oleander leaf scorch, its signs and how it […]
Do you like the look of ornamental grasses? One of my favorite plants has the appearance of ornamental grass but isn’t. Bear grass (Nolina microcarpa) has lovely, evergreen foliage that mimics the look of grasses. But, my favorite part is the curlicue ends of the leaves. ornamental grass Aren’t they neat? Like the other […]
Apple harvest time starts early in the desert Southwest. In my low desert garden, it arrives precisely in the first half of June. As I mentioned in my earlier post, this year’s apple harvest was to be a special one because for the first time, my own apple trees would provide a sufficient harvest without […]
Do you like flowering perennials? I do. I enjoy their soft texture, flowers, and the pollinators that come to enjoy their flowers. Today, I’d like to share with you one of my favorite perennials that I have growing in my garden. Gaura lindheimeri is a drought-tolerant perennial that produces small, delicate flowers that resemble butterflies […]
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