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. […]
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 […]
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 […]
Is this a plant in my yard a Lysiloma or an Acacia? That was the question from a Substack newsletter reader of mine. Complete with two pictures of the plant in their front yard. Feathery leaves, creamy pale puffball flowers. It could be a Lysiloma or is it an Acacia? […]
Butterflies can add a beautiful grace note to our yards, and it is easy to attract them! Would you like to be able to watch flocks of butterflies flutter by? Now is the time to plant your butterfly garden in the Southwest USA. Butterflies, moths, and skippers are in the […]
Night time is a truly magical time during our Southwestern summers. As the blazing sun sinks below the horizon and the air begins to cool off, it is pleasant to get outside and breathe the night air, and really enjoy your garden. Moon Garden In a previous post, I introduced […]
A moon garden has many names. Some call it a twilight garden, an evening garden, a night garden, a moonlight garden, or even a dream garden. The general idea is that it is a type of garden designed to be enjoyed at dusk and nighttime. Flowers that open at night, […]
Aloysia are attractive to me because they are edible (appetizing!). They are attractive to pollinators as well. But best of all – they are not attractive to javelina and rabbits! This is part of my continuing series of articles that could be titled “Plant Your Yard for Pollinators and People,” […]
A plant nursery or independent garden center is more than just a place to purchase plants. It’s a place to go and see possibilities. It’s a place to go and dream dreams. It’s a place to go and learn new things. Nursery or Garden Center Those smaller places. Not the […]
Celebrate “National Almond Day” – February 16! Plant Almond Trees Yes, almonds grow well in the Southwest. They tolerate alkaline souls, even caliche, low humidity, and even (most) of the heat of summer. Almonds join a number of other plants from the warmer areas of the eastern Mediterranean that grow […]
