The United States of America is celebrating 250 years of Independence this year, and with independence much on my mind I noticed that Greek Independence Day is coming up on March 25 (next week). Since many Greek plants do well in our region, perhaps you might like to plant a […]
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 […]
Summertime is hummer time! Flowers are blooming and hummingbirds are zipping and sipping. Drinking nectar, and consuming a few insects while they are at it. Hummingbirds are Delightful to Watch So many folks love to watch hummingbirds at feeders around their homes. One of my first ever YouTube videos was […]
As I post this, World Wildlife Day was this week = March 3. So let’s talk Southwest wildlife. I confess I have a love / hate relationship with the wildlife in my garden. Yellow Month “Uam Masad” is the Tohono O’odham month that translates as “Yellow Month” since so many […]
February is National Wild Bird Feeding Month. To help us all celebrate, I offer these tips for turning your yard into a welcoming space for our fine feathered friends. Posted this – and then realized I wrote about it before – more bird gardening. Link to my YouTube video on […]
Spring flowers are beginning to bloom and hummingbirds are zipping around, collecting nectar. Nectar yes -but also a few insects while they are at it. Entice the Hummingbirds Hummingbirds need more than just sugar-water feeders. Like most animal life, they need a balanced diet of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. This […]
February is National Bird Feeding Month. The birds are really hoping you will celebrate. It’s really not hard. But Don’t Just Feed the Birds – While it is nice to add bird feeders to your garden, to me it seems like cheating somehow. Plus you may attract the non-native birds […]
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. (More history of pines in the Southwest below.) Why Grow A Pine? When you plant a tree that grows really big – like […]
When it comes to pollinators, the American Southwest is one of the most species diverse habitats in the world, with native species of bees, butterflies, moths, bats, and hummingbirds all busy pollinating our plants. This massive diversity makes sense – because much of the region has plants that bloom in […]
