

Fall Rose Tips for the Desert Garden
Arizona, desert, desert gardening, Fall Blooming Plants, Roses in the Desert
Fall Rose, 'Double Delight'
In the Desert Southwest, we are blessed with two different blooming seasons - spring and again in fall.
While two bloom seasons is generally one more than many regions experience, roses…

Yellow Bells for Glorious Color Spring Through Fall
Arizona garden, Drought Tolerant, Noelle Johnson Landscape Consulting, Shrubs
This beautiful plant is one of my favorite shrubs in the garden - so much so, that I have three. Yellow bells produce bell-shaped flowers beginning in spring and lasting through the fall months until the first frost.
Hummingbirds…

How Long Does It Take Before A Saguaro Grows Arms?
Arizona, Cactus/Succulents, desert, Irrigation
In the past, people have asked me how long does a saguaro cactus arm take to grow back. The commonly held belief is that it takes 100 years before they will develop an arm.
However, as with much plant information, this answer is not…

Two Iconic Sonoran Desert Plants: Saguaro and Ocotillo
Arizona, Cactus/Succulents, Drought Tolerant, Shrubs
The saguaro cactus is one of the most iconic plants of Arizona, (Carnegiea gigantea), it is perhaps the most recognizable trademark of the Sonoran desert with their tall arms reaching toward the sky.
Although, saguaros are only in some…

Autumn Sage: A Hummingbird Magnet
Desert Animals, Drought Tolerant, Fuss Free Plant, Perennial, Shrubs
Do you like hummingbirds?
If so, you may want to make sure that you have some autumn sage (Salvia greggii) growing in your garden - it is a hummingbird magnet.
While red is the most common color of this small shrub, it also comes…

Wrong Plant, Wrong Place: Ficus Nitida
Landscape No-No, Landscape Problems, Trees
Ficus Nitida simply the wrong plant, and usually in the wrong place.
I think this photo probably speaks for itself.....
But, I will add to it by saying that it is vital to realize that the little, spindly tree that you plant WILL…

Pruning Flowering Shrubs in Late Summer
Drought Tolerant, Fuss Free Plant, Shrubs
Late August to early September is when I usually lightly prune a few of my summer flowering shrubs.
I just finished pruning my Red Bird-of-Paradise (Caesalpinia pulcherrima), taking off about 1/3 of the height. This helps to promote…

Planting & Care of Cacti & Succulents
Agave, Cactus/Succulents, desert gardening, Drought Tolerant, Succulent Gardening
Agave macroacantha with 'Firesticks'
Succulents are some of my favorite types of plants. I especially like the smaller agave species such as Agave parryi, Agave victoria-reginae, and Agave bovicornuta to name a few.
Let's talk…

Pink Crown of Flowers: Arizona Fishhook Cactus
Arizona garden, Cactus/Succulents, desert gardening, Drought Tolerant
I just had to share this photo of my flowering Arizona fishhook cactus(Mammillaria grahamii) also known as (Mammillaria microcarpa).
While walking outside in the garden this morning, I caught a glimpse of pink off in the distance.…

Drought Tolerant, Year Round Bloom: Angelita Daisy
desert gardening, Drought Tolerant, Fuss Free Plant, Perennial, Southwest garden
Angelita Daisy (Tetraneuris acaulis) syn. Hymenoxys acaulis
Angelita daisy is a beautiful, small perennial that is a reliable producer of yellow daisy-like flowers throughout the year. The heaviest blooms occur in winter…