Agave are called century plants because it takes them many years to get big enough to have the energy to flower. It was once believed that it took a century. Not quite. Some can bloom after a mere decade. Especially when several hot dry summers in a row are followed […]
So many of my articles on this site are about using various native plants, and why you should do so. This article is in the nature of a “round up” because those native plant articles are scattered across pages and pages of topic. cover image above is a native milkweed […]
Bugs come in many shapes and sizes, and they change those shapes and sizes in their lifetime. They also change what they eat as they change their bodies. This makes discovering just what bug is bugging you sometimes a bit of a challenge. I recently gave a talk with the […]
Chlorosis in plants is when the leaves turn yellow, but the veins may remain green. All the experts tell you it is due to an iron deficiency – but this is not true for plants in the Southwest USA. Urban Myth Yellow leaves, also called chlorosis, is a simple thing […]
Bonsai are the topic this week for two reasons. First – I saw someone selling some for a Valentine’s Day, but also because the Asian New Year is about to begin, and bonsai are a Japanese tradition that spread throughout many parts of Asia. What is a Bonsai? Bonsai is […]
Roses may remain green in the winter in parts of the Southwest. But that doesn’t mean you can ignore them. They have some very specific needs in the winter. Even the relatively warm winters in much of the Southwest. Rose care during their less active time of year can be […]
Need a few more gifts? How about visiting your local nursery or garden center. Yes, you should Shop Local, and a small family owned store like a garden center or nursery certainly fits the ticket! Garden centers and nurseries have so many lovely gifts, and it doesn’t have to be […]
Rosemary is a rampant grower, and it will need trimming so it doesn’t take over the garden. Feel free to do it now in Thanksgiving week. This way you will have plenty of rosemary for cooking and decorating with! Divide in Fall Fall is time to tidy up and divide […]
What is the difference between “native,” “non-native,” and ”invasive” plants? Not only what is the difference – but why does it matter? Definitions First Let’s start with the ones that are easiest to define. We can work our way up to the ones that are more slippery to define. Invasive […]
In the Southwest, one of the most critical things we can do to help our plants thrive is to create good soil for them to grow in. I call this “Goldilocks” soil. It has to be not to hard, and not too soft – it has to be just right. […]
