The bunnies hop right on past the desert hopbush, also called desert hops, and occasionally called sand cherry. Other common names include arilla (Spanish); and in Seri, casol caacol. I would love to know the O’odham name if someone reading this knows it. The botanical name is Dodonaea viscosa and […]
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? […]
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 […]
Poppies sure pop out in spring! Depending on where you live in the Southwest there can be spectacular displays of blooms! Want some of this beauty in your yard? The time to start is months before the flowers appear. Basically you have to plant in fall for spring display. I […]
cover image (above): Desert tolerant summer blooming queens’ wreath vine (Antigonon leptopus) on an arbor. A good plant for honey in summer. Vines are fun to grow. Since they need very little root space to flourish, they will have ample room to grow, no matter if your yard is […]
The tea industry has declared June “National Iced Tea Month.” If you are trying to live more lightly on this earth and not spend massive amounts of carbon dioxide emitting fossil fuels importing tea made from the Asian tea plant (Camelia sinensis), consider these tasty caffine-free “herbal” teas you can […]
Many of my readers become nostalgic as Autumn progresses. They miss the colorful fall foliage they enjoyed “Back East.” Fear not! You can enjoy brilliant fall foliage right here in the Southwest! Just add some of these plants. Note about the Plant Names The Southwest is large and plant common […]
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 […]
