Have you ever had your day take a completely different turn than you anticipated?  Mine certainly did, and it all started with a discovery behind the lilac vine. My day was off to a great start.  I didn't have any appointments…

What do you have growing in your vegetable garden? I have three separate gardens where I grow vegetables, but they aren't the only thing that is growing in the rich, moist soil. Red Poppies There are also red poppies present…

Do you like butterflies? It's hard to find anyone who doesn't.  The sight of a butterfly makes us pause whatever we were doing and take a few moments to observe their fragile beauty. Kids are even more entranced by butterflies.…

Have you ever found yourself driving through a neighborhood past landscapes planted with the commonly planted lantana and oleander shrubs when you see something completely different that catches your attention? A few weeks ago, I was leaving…

Does the idea of attracting hummingbirds to your outdoor space appeal to you? It's hard to find anyone who wouldn't welcome these colorful visitors. The best way to attract hummingbirds is to have a garden filled with their…

Do you visit your local botanical garden? I try to make it to my local garden at least 2 - 3 times a year, which just happens to be the world-renown, Desert Botanical Garden. Last week, I visited twice - once for their spring  plant…

I have a love affair with trees. It's true. I love their beautiful branch architecture, foliage and the dappled shade that they provide. Living in the desert Southwest, shade is a valuable commodity with the relief it offers from the intense…

I recently shared some examples of 'butchered' trees and asked you to try to identify what each tree was. You can take the quiz here, if you like before seeing the answers, below. As promised, here the photos of badly pruned trees and what…

Yesterday, doing several errands, I was driving through the parking lot of our local Walmart when I saw a sight that stopped me dead in my tracks. Now, normally parking lots are prime examples of bad landscape practices with over-planted…