… you rejoice when it rains! It sounds crazy, I know, but it is absolutely true.   Our weather is usually sunny and beautiful the majority of the year.  Now don't get me wrong, we do love our sunny days, but sometimes…

This may come as a shock to some of you....but, it does get cold in the desert.  Tonight's temperatures are dropping to the low 30's, which for us desert dwellers is cold.  Below, is a sampling of how winter looks in the desert. I…

Chinese dragons Who would expect to find dragons in the garden?  Well these two Chinese dragons look quite at home in the park gardens. When I first visited China, I fell in love with the beautiful landscaping that I found…

Want beautiful foliage, spectacular flowers all packaged up in a tree that blooms in fall and winter?  Well, let me introduce you to a medium -sized tree with a funny name: Cascalote (Caesalpinia cacalaco).  I love this medium-sized…

 Artichoke Agave (Agave parryi 'truncata') Our society usually doesn't equate beauty with age.  Instead, we celebrate youthful beauty and spend our money on trying to stay looking younger than our years.  Thankfully,…

Unveiling the Mysteries of Cactus Skeletons in the Desert When you think of a desert, you likely picture vast stretches of sand, scorching sun, and towering cacti. These iconic desert plants, such as the saguaro cactus, play a crucial…

Okay, you were probably thinking that I meant the 'other' type of grass.  But the type of grass I am referring to cannot be smoked, (at least I don't think it can).  'Regal Mist' (Muhlenbergia capillaris 'Regal Mist'), is a beautiful…

Sometimes when I am driving around, I see a poorly pruned tree or shrub, and I just cringe.  It never ceases to amaze me the crazy ways that people take care of their plants.  Whenever I see plants like this, I whip out my camera…

As most would expect, water is considered a precious resource in the desert. But, did you know that there are more plant problems caused due to over-watering then under-watering?   Believe it or not, it is true. Most people are…