Wildlife Resistant Plants

Spring has sprung and wildlife babies abound. Bunnies, ground squirrels, rock squirrels, gophers, javelina, deer – and for some of you reading this – elk, wild horses, and wild burros can wander by to eat your pretty plants. And some birds, like quail eat plants too. More than One is No Fun While a single bunny is cute, it is upsetting when a heard of them show up and decimate … Read more

Ten Tips for Warm Season Vegetable Success

The warm season vegetable gardening season is starting, and many readers are ‘rarin’ to get growing. Here are my top ten tips for success. Number 1 Tip – Plant What You Eat Plant something that you like to eat or will use, like maybe gourds. Want tomatoes?  Tomatoes are the hardest to grow in our hot dry climate – so what’s you next choice? Have you ever had salsa verde … Read more

Hummingbirds Love Spring

Spring flowers are beginning to bloom and hummingbirds are zipping around, collecting nectar and 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 means that they do need some flower nectar. More than Just Food Every living thing on earth needs food, water, and a place … Read more

February 2023

Cover image – Viola, also called heartease – for February, National Heart Month. There is not very much maintenance or tasks the must be done in the Southwest garden in February, just enjoy the season and any flowers you have.  Tidy up some things – especially in Low or Middle Desert.  Upper Elevations – you get to chill (pardon the pun). Speaking of Flowers I will be speaking of flowers! … Read more

November 2022 Garden Calendar

It’s November and that means weather is cooling off. You will need to keep an eye out for frost – depending on your region of the Southwest. Might have already happened for you. Push Your Zone In Carson City, Nevada they already have some snow. But in other areas of the Southwest, I encourage you to live (a little) dangerously. In Middle and Low Desert go ahead and keep planting … Read more

Plant Bulbs in Fall – for Spring Delight

Bulbs produce some of the most beautiful flowers in the garden palate. They can provide brilliant splashes of cheerful color in the winter and spring months. In the Southwest bulbs can be grown in the landscape, in containers on the patio, or indoors. Bulbs Time their Growth Many desert plants appear in a very specific season – like just after a rain in the coldest soils, or in late spring … Read more

Perennials are Perfect for Pollinators

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 every month of the year. Pollinators in the Southwest We have a plethora of pretty pollinators here!  We are the … Read more