Let’s face it. Hot summers are not surprising to desert dwellers. In fact, a typical desert garden with native and desert-adapted plants will weather intense heat with little fuss. However, this summer has been one for the books and I’ve seen signs of heat-stress that I’ve never seen before. And yes, within my own garden. […]
I have a shocking confession to make… Believe it or not, I’m relatively new to growing houseplants. Yep, it’s true. As a horticulturist, I’ve focused my career almost solely on outdoor plants with only the occasional foray into growing a houseplant or two. To be honest, I was almost embarrassed to admit that I didn’t […]
Photo: Roses Feeling The Heat , My Abraham Darby shrub rose and my little dog, Tobey. Challenges of Hot Arid Climates for Roses If you live in a hot arid climate, chances are that your roses are feeling the heat and aren’t looking their best right now. While gardeners in cooler climates celebrate summer with […]
Finding the Perfect Plant Nursery Navigating Plant Shopping Options “Where do you recommend I go to buy plants? At a plant nursery?” This is one question that I’m often asked by desert dwellers. The choices that people have for purchasing plants range from a locally owned nursery, a nursery chain, or a big box store. […]
The Joy of Unexpected Bouquets in the Garden A Garden Surprise with Sandpaper Verbena Have you ever had the experience of receiving an unexpected self-planted bouquet? I’ve been blessed to have gotten bouquets throughout my life from my wonderful husband, my children, and in the past – from a boyfriend or two. Blooming Definitions: Exploring […]
Have you ever paused in the shade of a mesquite tree (Prosopis spp.) and noticed that its branches grow every which way? I was reminded of this when I was visiting a client earlier this week and was advising him on how to care for his mesquite tree. I looked up and saw a cluster of […]
Dealing with Aphids on Your Plants: To Act or Not to Act What do you do when you spot aphids on your plants? Do you reach for the nearest bottle of insecticide? Spray them off with a hose or remove them with your fingers? Believe it or not, sometimes the best thing is to […]
Discovering the Beauty of ‘Orange Jubilee’ and ‘Sparky’ Tecoma Shrubs One of my favorite things I do as a landscape consultant is to show my clients newer plant and shrub introductions on the market. Imagine being the first person on your block with the latest plant that all your neighbors will want to add in […]
Container Gardening: Bringing Life to Your Desert Garden Spring Transitions in Container Gardening Spring in the desert brings a flurry of activity out in the garden – much of it involving container gardening. As the season changes, it’s time to rejuvenate your containers and infuse new life into your outdoor space. As they say, in […]
Exploring the Charm of a Hidden Garden Unearthing Beauty in the Encanto District Have you ever discovered a hidden garden in a surprising place? A few years ago, I found myself driving through the historic neighborhoods of the Encanto district in downtown Phoenix. I had finished up a landscape consultation in the area and decided […]
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