Has this happened to you? You walk through the nursery, and you spot “the perfect plant.” You can envision it in your yard and know precisely where you will put it. After coming home and planting it, you pat yourself on the back for finding such a great plant. Time passes, and your beautiful […]
I’m sure most of you know how much fun it can be to garden with your kids. I remember my dad building each of us a raised planter where we could grow vegetables and flowers. Today, my kids and I went to the store to buy flowers for their new garden. You will NEVER guess […]
Each year, around the end of August, I walk into the plant section of our local home improvement store just to look at the colorful, flowering annuals While I may be sorely tempted, I don’t buy any; I just like to look. BUT, I know that I am in trouble when the majority of the […]
Baja Fairy Duster is Hummingbird Food in the Native Garden Baja fairy duster (Calliandra californica) is a must-have for the desert garden. There is so much to love about this shrub. My favorite attribute is that it flowers off and on all year. Its red flowers are shaped like miniature feather dusters. Also, this plant […]
Discover Stunning Plant Combinations Do you ever wonder what plants look good together? Below are pictures of some of my favorite plant combinations along with some general guidelines that I follow when designing a garden. Keep in mind that planting similar plants together which require similar water needs makes it easier to maintain a landscape. […]
What comes to mind when you think of cactus? Perhaps the first thing you think of is the spines. If you have ever been unfortunate enough to have been pricked by a cactus, you’ll likely never forget that most of them have needles. *Did I ever tell you about the time I worked on […]
I got asked, what my favorite plant is. Well, asking a horticulturist to tell you what her favorite plant is, is rather like asking a mother to tell you who her favorite child is – it’s impossible. But when pressed, I breakdown and admit to liking one particular plant slightly more than all the others. […]
The time has finally arrived! Summer temperatures are but a memory and fall is here! Every year we wait for the end of summer so we can start adding plants in the garden. The only question is what plants will I add? The possibilities are endless… Purple Lilac Vine (Hardenbergia violaceae) The signs […]
Globe mallow (Sphaeralcea ambigua) brings a unique “cottage-garden” feel to the desert plant palette along with some surprises. In spring a flush of beautiful flowers are produced that will cause people to stop in their tracks. After that, globe mallow will bloom off and on throughout the summer and fall. This shrubby, perennial is native […]
Young saguaro cactus were peeking out from its bursage nurse plant. As you walk through the desert, there are many opportunities to view some of the striking cacti and their unique shapes. What is not initially apparent, are the many examples of plants helping young cacti survive. However, if you look closely, it is all […]
