Tecoma stans

Yellow-Flowering, Native Beauty

The back wall along my backyard is covered in yellow blossoms spring through fall. Every year, I find myself pleasantly surprised that such this lovely, yellow-flowering shrub is native to southwestern deserts on into Mexico. Most…
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Tombstone

A Visit to the Wild West and Its Plants…

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Over the weekend, my husband and I went away for the weekend to celebrate our 28th wedding anniversary. We had debated on where to go and decided to make the trip to southeastern Arizona.  Why this area, you may ask?  Well, I have…
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low-maintenance desert landscape

Looking for Inspiration: Low-Maintenance Desert Landscapes

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I have been dreaming of converting our backyard into a beautiful, low-maintenance desert landscape. Right now, it has a large area of grass surrounded by large, flowering shrubs against the wall.  I would have loved to have taken out…
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golf courses

From Grass to a ‘Natural’ Desert Landscape

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Have you ever taken out an area of grass and added plants in its place? I have - numerous times. My past was filled with grass - acres and acres of it, when I worked as a horticulturist for golf courses.  Nothing made me happier…
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Pink Trumpet Vine (Podranea ricasoliana)

Pink Beauty in a Desert Garden…

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As a horticulturist, I have quite a few plants on my list of favorites.  So many in fact, that I cannot grow them all in my own garden. But, this favorite has a prominent place in my home landscape - I have four of them. This…
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sick colds

My Latest Project: Goodbye Grass and Hello Drought-Tolerant Landscaping

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Last week was a busy one for me.  I had several appointments scheduled, and then I got the 'mother' of all colds.   I don't get sick colds very often. So, that is probably why when I do get them every few years - I get a severe…
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New-Vegetable-Garden-Southwest

My First Edible Garden 4 Years Later

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Do you have a vegetable garden or have you thought of maybe starting one? Four years ago, we planted our first vegetable garden. The kids were eager to join in the fun and helped us install our new garden. We created a raised…
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edible-garden-azplantlady

Flowers, Fruit, Veggies, a Few Bugs and Suckers

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Springtime in the garden is my favorite time of year. Cool-season flowers are still in bloom while summer-bloomers are getting started.  The garden is awash in colorful flowers, vegetables, young fruit AND a few bugs and suckers. I…
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Ripening-Peaches-Desert-Garden

Fruit Tree Suckers – How to Identify and Get Rid of Them

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Fruit Tree Suckers The other day, I was walking through my edible garden, admiring the ripening peaches on my tree, which I looked down and saw an unwelcome sight... Suckers! So, what are suckers and why are they bad for…
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Palo_Verde_Flowers_

A Carpet of Fallen Flowers

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Question:  Do you like the way fallen flowers look in the landscape?   Some people describe the layer of spent blossoms of trees or shrubs as a 'colorful carpet' that adds beauty to the landscape. Or do you feel the…
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