Lovely clematis flowers Beware the Pretty Face: The Illusion of Clematis Flowers Clematis flowers are so pretty. Do you ever find yourself transfixed by a pretty face flower? I have. In fact, I've rarely seen a flower that I didn't…

Cereus cactus, golden barrel cactus, and firecracker penstemon From Drab to Colorful: A Landscape Transformation Story Is your outdoor space looking rather drab? If so, you aren't alone - many landscapes can appear somewhat dull,…

Javelina stepping out of an arroyo Unwanted Guests: Dealing with Javelina in Your Desert Garden Yesterday, I had a rather unexpected encounter with a javelina while taking pictures of a landscape. I think he was as surprised as…

The Beauty and Challenges of Growing Tropical Bird of Paradise in the Desert Southwest Tropical bird of paradise Nature's Unfairness to Tropical Bird of Paradise Flowers Sometimes, life isn't fair. Especially when nature hasn't…

Understanding Key Pruning Terms for a Beautiful Garden As the garden begins to awaken in spring, our thoughts turn to getting our plants ready for the growing season, which often involves pruning. Pruning your favorite shrubs and…

Exploring the Green Spaces of The Magnolia Silos On a cold February morning, alongside my mother and sisters, I found myself at The Magnolia Silos. These are created and made famous by the much-loved hosts of HGTV's 'Fixer Upper' program.  We…

The Fascinating Process of Flowering Agave Plants can do some spectacular things, and the dramatic process when agave send up their flowering agave stalk, definitely qualifies. Yesterday, I noticed that my octopus agave (Agave vilmoriniana)…

Valentine Bush (Eremophila maculata 'Valentine') The Vibrant Beauty of Valentine Bush A Colorful Gem for Your Landscape How would you like gorgeous red, tubular flowers blooming at Christmas time and lasting past Valentine's…

Exploring the Lone Star State A Road Trip Adventure Awaits My bags are packed for the Lone Star State. I'm ready to head out on another road trip adventure.  I was born with the 'travel gene,' which is present in many people of…