A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to take another photo of a landscape I passed by in a neighborhood where I had just finished up a landscape consultation. Sadly, I often see examples of truly 'interesting' or should I say 'bad' pruning.…

'Desert Museum' Palo Verde One of the most popular trees for arid climates is the 'Desert Museum' Palo Verde. Once you see one, it's easy to see why it is present in so many residential, commercial, and community areas. Its medium-green…

Have you ever had a sunburn?  Maybe a better question is, "Who hasn't?"   Well, did you know that many plants get too much as well? I recently made a house call for a client who was worried about her newly planted citrus trees. …

When people think about what a desert garden looks like, what comes to mind? Perhaps, visions of lots of brown with rocks and a cactus or two? While you can settle for rocks and some cacti, BUT the truth is, we can have so much more! Imagine…

Summers in the desert garden are hot. That's no surprise. However, there are periods within these hot months that temperatures climb higher than normal. Because of this, we do need to help protect our gardens from the effects of a heatwave. So,…

Have you ever seen the beauty of cactuses showcased in containers? Adding a cactus to a container helps to set it apart from the rest of the landscape and helps it to stand out so that its unique texture and shape really stand out. However,…

I absolutely love spring.  Some years, spring never arrives.  Sometimes spring goes missing and winter turns right into summer.  But not this year.  We have had beautiful weather and I have enjoyed being outdoors.   But,…

Do you like to use fresh herbs when you cook? What if you could just step outside your door and snip some herbs without having to go to the store?  Have you seen how expensive fresh herbs are at the supermarket by the way? And, who…

Many of us are familiar with how over-pruning can take away much of the beauty of flowering shrubs, in addition to contributing to their early death. But, have you ever wondered what they look on the inside?I found this 'ugly' example alongside…