Celebrate Houseplant Appreciation Day – January 10 Houseplants are “in” once more – which is super! But here in the Southwest, where humidity is low, if you want to be successful with houseplants, you need to select your houseplants with some consideration. Look at their Genes When caring for any plant, it helps to look at their “origin story.” Desert plants deal with certain stresses better than forest plants (and […]
January here in the Southwest is blessed in many ways. We have spectacular sunsets in winter, not to mention a most salubrious winter climate. Despite the occasional cold front that touches down, withering tender plants, winters are, on the whole, great for growing everything in our region. Here’s some ideas to get you growing. January Color Grow some winter color. There are a number of annual plants that prefer cooler […]
There are a number of reasons to resolve to keep a garden journal – and we look at some great reasons this week as the New Year approaches. cover image is mourning dove by J. J. Audubon. Journal Your Journey Want to become better at caring for your yard or garden? Keep a garden journal. Want a fun project to do with your kids? Keep a garden journal. Want to […]
Decorate you home for the holidays with some evergreens. Why? Because during the holidays it is too easy to stress out and overspend your budget. One way to save your nerves and your budget is to do some free to low cost decorating with evergreens. Evergreens are Healthy and Cost Cutting There are positive health benefits of filling your home with nature and plants. Plants are “green” decorations in more […]
Cyclamen abound in stores during the holiday season. I love them. They are festive, but in a more refined and delicate way than the boisterous poinsettias. Cyclamen are Captivating I am captivated by cyclamen. Their brightly colored flowers dance over the heart shaped leaves like little fairies, or maybe angels. The petals wing back from the hidden center of the flower, and come in many beautiful colors, and sweetest of […]
Days are getting shorter. Or, more correctly from the viewpoint of an organism that needs sunlight for photosynthesis, nights are getting longer. Either way – it’s a tough time of year for many plants, and for people too. Not Enough Sunlight Long nights mean there is often not enough hours of sunlight to make enough food to grow. Not just grow but to also do all those complex processes to […]
When it comes to Garden Tasks, December is a slow month. That’s a good thing because it’s the holiday season and there are plenty of other tasks to do. December Overview It is too late (or too early) to prune anything. This year the weeds are not too rambunctious, and cool temperatures mean slow growth. Slow growth does not mean no growth. Roots continue to grow, so be sure to […]
Pine trees once covered the Southwest, and they can still grow well here. Pines can be excellent low-water landscape trees – if you select the correct species. Why Grow A Pine? When you plant a tree that grows really big – like a pine tree – you are creating a future home for really big birds – like hawks and owls. You are also creating future shade for your home […]
Amaryllis and other holiday plants are appearing in stores right about now. I encourage you to indulge yourself when it comes to amaryllis because you can enjoy it indoors for the holidays – and then they will survive and re-bloom for YEARS in your garden – or in your low-water desert-type landscape. That is if you live here in the Land of El Sol. If you like the idea of […]
“Fall is such a great time to plant new trees, and there are so many wonderful native and near-native choices to add pollinator and wildlife benefits to your yard!” She got me with that wonderful opening sentence so I asked her if I could use some more of her words. Yes! So today we have a guest post from longtime friend and plants woman extraordinaire, Carianne Sienna Funicelli, or should […]
