Hibiscus plants abound in the nurseries now, and no wonder. They are beautiful plants with glossy green leaves, very luxurious looking, reminiscent of tropical jungles. And the flowers are pretty too. Hibiscus Flowers Seriously folks, hibiscus flowers are awesome. The large size of the blooms, combined with their […]
Jujubes are easy to grow, have few known pests, provide a tasty and nutritious fruit, and make a lovely shade trees. And yes, jujubes used to the basis for a candy. The original candy was made from a paste of jujube fruits, but later the recipe changed. Edible Landscaping Edible […]
Lemongrass is a lovely genus of grasses that can be easily grown in much of the Southwest – and into the Southeast as well. It will live outdoors year round in areas that don’t get much below 26F in winter (USDA Zones 8 to 12). Lemongrass Genus Lemongrass, also written […]
The sage we use in cooking is Salvia officinalis. You can grow some of this decorative herb in your yard as part of your multi-purpose landscape. After all – if you have to plant it, water it, and care for it, why not have something you can cook with too?! […]
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 […]
I encouraged you to plant evergreen oaks recently. Now here is some information about which oaks to plant. There are many native oaks to choose from, but let’s start with these eight that you can actually purchase from your local nursery. Be very wary of oaks form big box stores. […]
Have you considered an oak tree for your yard? If you can answer yes to any of these questions – an oak tree may be right for you. Looking for a tall, stately tree for your yard? Have a tiny yard – but want a nice tree? A tree that […]
Want the perfect tree for your yard? There is simply no way give everyone one single answer to this question. Part of the issue is that you are going to purchase a living being. Like any living being, your tree is going to need the right place to […]
May 16 is National Hug a Tree Day! So in honor of this very special day, I am starting this series of articles on how to pick the perfect tree. Perfect Tree for … ? … Factor This: If you want to watch a nursery person cringe, ask them: “What […]
Scent is one of our most basic senses, yet fragrant plants are often neglected when planning a landscape. The Nose Knows! I cherish my desert garden for all the wonderfully scented plants in it. Often I run my fingers along branches or leaves to release heady fragrance. Also, I grew […]
