So just what is the big deal about an “heirloom?” What is the difference between that and an F1 hybrid? What about GMO? Seed packages often include terms such as “heirloom” or “F1 hybrid.” These terms are quite precise, but may be used incorrectly by gardeners. There are also a number of misconceptions about these terms. Plain Language Seed Package Terms Consider this guide a plain-language “go-to” resource. Seed and […]
November is a wonderful time to get out in the yard for many reasons. But there is not too much work that you “must” do this month. Tidy Up Personally, I like to get everything tidied up and get it looking good for the holiday season ahead. Also, some time spent now can eliminate potential problems from the yard that might add to holiday season stress. Besides, it […]
Colorful flowers! Yes you can easily have them in the desert Southwest. And yes, you can have them ALL WINTER LONG in USDA zones 8 and warmer. This equates to Low Desert, Middle Desert, and High Desert. Sorry Upper Elevations and Mountains – too cold where you live. But you get to play in snow. Kinds of Flowers Botany nerd says, “If you are a plant, you will have flowers.” […]
Annuals are Awesome! (IMHO) Cool season is near and we will wish to sit outside and enjoy our gardens more. Here is a list of cool season annual flowers for your enjoyment. ((how to grow all these will be discussed in the next post)) Annuals Versus Wildflowers These annuals are on a list of annuals because the have a loooong bloom period. Wildflowers on the other hand, don’t bloom for […]
I encouraged you to plant evergreen oaks recently. Now here is some information about which oaks to plant. There are many native oaks to choose from, but let’s start with these eight that you can actually purchase from your local nursery. Be very wary of oaks form big box stores. They are often not from our region and will not survive our lower humidity. I suppose that if you do […]
October is cooling off, and that’s a good thing because there are many many garden tasks you should get to this month across the Southwest. Yes, even in the Upper Elevations. I don’t have room for the tasks all in a blog post. I did write an entire book on yearly garden care and October was the fattest month. About the cover photo – butterflies are very active in autumn. […]
Have you considered an oak tree for your yard? If you can answer yes to any of these questions – an oak tree may be right for you. Looking for a tall, stately tree for your yard? Have a tiny yard – but want a nice tree? A tree that provides good dense shade? One that won’t lose its leaves in winter? Less messy than a mesquite? Low […]
Lycium? Yep – that’s the name for goji berries. Did you know we have native goji berries in the Southwest? Goji is a World Wide Plant Goji, goji berry, or wolfberry is the name applied to the fruit of two Asian plants, Lycium barbarum and Lycium chinense. but the genus is found around the globe, from China to Chile, Southern USA to South Africa. There are […]
Autumn is in the air and it’s a great time to plant some autumn sage – a low water perennial with lovely flowers that will grow in most of the Southwest. Autumn Sage The name says it! The autumn sage (Salvia greggii) blooms in autumn and even beyond – making it great for some low water seasonal color. Yes it is native. From the Chihuahuan Desert, meaning it can stand […]
Rain lilies are charming summer blooming bulbs that will flourish in much of the Southwest – into the USDA Zone 8 and some into zone 7. Rain Lilies are Zephyranthes I said “rain lilies” in the title because I didn’t want to daunt you with the scientific name, Zephyranthes. But if gardeners wrote alphabet books, Z would be for Zephyranthes! Rain Lily Common Names With close to 200 species and […]
