AZ Plant Lady

10 Shrubs for Full Sun and Reflected Heat

10 Drought-Tolerant Shrubs That Thrive in Full Sun and Reflected Heat in the Southwest One of the most challenging situations in landscaping involves cultivating plants in areas exposed to both full sun and the unforgiving embrace of reflected…
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Gardening With Kids: Painting and Planting a Flower Pot

Did you ever garden when you were a child? I did.  My dad gave my siblings and me, each a small raised bed in the backyard.  We would spend hours leafing through the latest Burpee catalog, deciding what seeds we would buy to plant…
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Beautiful Hop Bush Shrub (Dodonaea viscosa)

An Attractive, Drought-Tolerant Hedge for Southwestern Gardens: Hop Bush

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Beautiful Hop Bush Shrub (Dodonaea viscosa) I am always on the lookout for great examples of plants in the desert landscape. In my work as a landscape consultant, I drive through countless neighborhoods, which allows me to see lots…
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Phoenix Home & Garden Magazine

My Favorite Home and Garden Magazine With a Surprise

Do you enjoy reading magazines about home and gardening?  I do. Often with the busyness of life, I don't have as much time to read magazines as I used to.  But, always make time for my favorite subscription, which is Phoenix Home…
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School Garden Visit

School Garden Visit

One of the many things that I enjoy about my job is when I am asked to visit school gardens. You can read about a previous school garden visit here. Yesterday, I was asked to come to my daughter, Gracie's, class to talk about what…
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torch cactus

Who Needs Jewelry For an Anniversary When You Can Get a Cactus?

Last weekend, my husband and I went away to celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary.  We'd been looking forward to leaving kids and work behind and spending time alone eating great food, sleeping in and long walks enjoying beautiful surroundings.…
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Mexican fence post cactus (Pachycereus marginatus)

A Newly Planted Cactus Cutting – 3 Years Later

Drive through any Southwest neighborhood and you are highly likely to see cacti growing alongside shrubs and groundcovers.   I must admit that I don't have a lot of cactus in my own landscape - there are three to be exact.  But,…
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California Road Trip

California Road Trip: Days 9 & 10 – Wine, Rain, an Innovative Marketplace and Gardens

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Well, another road trip is drawing to a close, but not before two more fun-filled days. California Road Trip After leaving San Francisco, we headed up toward Napa Valley.  Despite it being a rainy day, we were determined…
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Gardens of Alcatraz

California Road Trip: Day 8 – The Gardens of Alcatraz

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San Francisco has been a popular destination for me and my family.  While I was born and grew up in Southern California, both my parents are from the northern part of the state.  As a result, trips to the San Francisco area were frequent…
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Big Basin Redwoods State Park

California Road Trip: Day 7 – Two-Thousand-Year-Old Trees, a Surfer’s Paradise and Finding an Old Family Cabin

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What is the tallest tree that you have seen?   Big Basin Redwoods State Park , See how tiny I am compared to the trees? How about one that is over 250 ft. tall? Our journey took us to a place that I have been to at least…
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