I absolutely love spring. Some years, spring never arrives. Sometimes spring goes missing and winter turns right into summer. But not this year. We have had beautiful weather and I have enjoyed being outdoors. But, all good things must come to an end. Now don’t get me wrong. I do like the summer, but you […]
Do you like to use fresh herbs when you cook? What if you could just step outside your door and snip some herbs without having to go to the store? Have you seen how expensive fresh herbs are at the supermarket by the way? And, who wants floppy herbs when they can have fresh ones? […]
Many of us are familiar with how over-pruning can take away much of the beauty of flowering shrubs and contribute to their early death. But, have you ever wondered what they look like on the inside? I found this ‘ugly’ example alongside the drive-thru of Taco Bell. Over Pruned Shrubs It isn’t pretty, is it? […]
Pink blooming plant in the desert graden Embracing Spring in the Desert Southwest Springtime in the desert southwest is a glorious time, particularly with pink blooming plants. We say “goodbye” to cold, winter temperatures and delight in the landscape around us and it bursts into bloom. I enjoy spending time outdoors this time of year, […]
A Colorful Yellow April Display: Palo Verde Trees April in the desert garden is, in my humble opinion, the most beautiful time of year for summer blooms. Winter and spring-flowering plants (Damianita, Penstemon, and ‘Valentine’ Emu Bush) are just beginning to fade and summer blooms are beginning to appear (Coral Fountain, Lantana, and Yellow Bells). […]
Spring in the desert Southwest is a busy time of year. While those that live in colder climates countdown the days until March 20th, the spring season often begins a full month earlier in the low to middle desert. As a horticulturist / landscape consultant, my days are quite busy in spring assisting people with their […]
Shopping for Succulents, Desert Botanical Garden Plant Sale I enjoy attending plant sales hosted by botanical gardens. Why? Because you can often find the newest plants (even hard to find ones) at them. Of course, you can also find old favorites as well. Smart Succulent Shopping: Tips to Save on Succulents Succulents, including cacti are […]
Do you ever wish you had flowers to give to a friend or to decorate your table? Garden Blooms: A Personal Touch Instead of heading to the store for a generic bouquet, how about creating a lovely bouquet straight from your garden? Now before you say that you don’t have any flowers suitable for a […]
Last week, as my husband and I, were pulling out of our local Home Depot when I saw what looked like mini Christmas trees throughout the parking lot islands. mini Christmas trees I grabbed my cell phone and took a picture of these funny-shaped plants. Do you want to know what they are? No. They […]
The Pitfalls of Improper Pruning: A Tale of Flowering Shrubs Flowering Shrubs need pruning, but how they are pruned makes such a difference. Aren’t these shrubs beautiful? Texas Sage ‘Green Cloud’ (Leucophyllum frutescens ‘Green Cloud’) Texas Sage ‘Green Cloud’ (Leucophyllum frutescens ‘Green Cloud’) Thunder Cloud Sage (Leucophyllum candidum ‘Thunder Cloud’) Thunder Cloud Sage (Leucophyllum candidum […]
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