

“Scary” Pruning Practices and the Unfortunate Results
Arizona garden, DIY, Landscape No-No
Sometimes when I am driving around, I see a poorly pruned tree or shrub, and I just cringe. It never ceases to amaze me the crazy ways that people take care of their plants. Whenever I see plants like this, I whip out my camera…

Can You Over Water Your Plants in the Desert ?
Arizona garden, desert gardening, Drought Tolerant, Irrigation, Southwest garden
As most would expect, water is considered a precious resource in the desert. But, did you know that there are more plant problems caused due to over-watering then under-watering?
Believe it or not, it is true. Most people are…

Visions of Pink – One Pretty, One Amusing and the Other Unique
Arizona, Arizona garden, Flowering Annuals, Landscape Design
I want to share with you three amazing plants that I encountered on Saturday, each with pink flowers, yet each one so different from the other. I spent the afternoon at the Arboretum at Arizona State University (my alma mater). …

Read The Plant Label…Or You Might End Up With Cupcakes
Arizona, Arizona garden, Landscape Design, Landscape No-No
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…

A Children’s Flower Garden in a Kiddie Swimming Pool
az plant lady family, Containers, DIY, Gardening With Kids
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…

When To and When NOT to Plant Flowering Annuals
Compost
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,…

Baja Fairy Duster: Unique and Red
Arizona, Arizona garden, Fertilizer, Irrigation
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…

What Plant Where? Beautiful Plant Combinations
Arizona, Arizona garden, desert gardening, Landscape Design
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.
Sometimes red and pink colors always compliment…

Why Do Cactus Have Spines ?
Cactus/Succulents, desert
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…

Firecracker Penstemon: Orange-Red Spikes of Color
desert gardening
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…