Recently I had to cut down a tree. It was a nice tree. I was sorry to cut it down. But it was in the wrong place. Right Tree, Wrong Place Why was this tree in the wrong place? It was damaging the roof of our home. Every year I […]
Goldenbush is an unassuming low perennial plant that most people ignore nine months out of the year, and then comes late summer – when it blooms and is covered in butterflies. Cover image: Isocoma-menziesii is a butterfly attracting plant, but honeybees will stop by as well. Image courtesy J. Schrenk. […]
Fragrance is one of our five most basic senses – but sadly it is often overlooked when creating a landscape or garden.” Who am I quoting? Myself! I said that before in an earlier article on this topic. I have said it in presentations about the topic. No doubt I […]
Paths are a way to get from point A to point B – but they can be so much more than that. A gently curving path in a landscape will offer a destination. This will help make the landscape seem larger than it actually is. A bonus for homes with […]
Arizona native cotton is a lovely shrub to small tree – and a relative of cultivated cotton. It has been brought into the native plant trade in parts of the Southwest as a low water plant. Cover image: Native cotton in bloom. Note the tiny pink spots on the petals. […]
Your front yard landscape has the potential to add to your home security. If you do it correctly. Right now you may feel safe – but are you? Landscaping for security, and beauty, and to please a HOA – it takes some consideration. Cover image: A low-water landscape that is […]
Barrel cactus is a plant that is easy to grow and take care of, and offers a rich edible fruit with no prickers or spines on the fruit. Yes prickly pear is sweet and tasty, but let’s look at a plant never needs pruning, and a plant that you can […]
Mesquite trees can be very fast growing when their roots are not disturbed by the potting and repotting that goes on in the nursery industry. In five years, the mesquites that I have planted from seed are taller than the ones grown from potted plants. Great news – mesquite trees […]
Quoting myself. “Yes, you can have a lush looking yard and use little water in the desert Southwest. Sounds impossible – but it is not. All that is needed is a careful selection of plants that are already adapted to live here” and paperflower is one such plant. Cover image […]
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 […]
