Do you like the look of ornamental grasses? One of my favorite plants has the appearance of ornamental grass but isn't.   Bear grass (Nolina microcarpa) has lovely, evergreen foliage that mimics the look of grasses.  But, my…

Apple harvest time starts early in the desert Southwest.  In my low desert garden, it arrives precisely in the first half of June. As I mentioned in my earlier post, this year's apple harvest was to be a special one because for the…

Do you like flowering perennials?   I do.  I enjoy their soft texture, flowers, and the pollinators that come to enjoy their flowers.   Today, I'd like to share with you one of my favorite perennials that I have growing…

It's hotter than he**  (dare I use the word "hell"?) outside in June and while most desert dwellers can be found hibernating indoors enjoying air-conditioned temperatures in the 70's - you'll find a few of us darting outdoors to pick apples. While…

Whenever I look back on my garden travels, I find that my favorites tend to be the smaller ones with more of a personal feel.  Ones that I can take my time walking through without feeling like I have to hurry in order to see the entire…

Have you ever visited a garden that was not what you expected? I recently had the opportunity to visit a small 2-acre garden run by master gardeners Mount Vernon, WA in conjunction with Washington State University.  Photo: Pink…

Do you grow fruit in your garden?   For those of us who live in warm, southern climates, you'll often see a citrus tree or two in the growing in the backyard.   While I do have a lemon and orange tree growing in my garden,…

Do you have a neat and tidy front landscape?  One where plants are pruned neatly and at the right time of year.  Where drip lines are covered up and where there is never a weed in sight? Or maybe you would describe your front garden…

The last full day of our Northwest road trip began with a ferry ride yesterday. The ferry was to take us from Victoria to Vancouver. When we arrived for the ferry, approximately 60 minutes early, we got in line with our car -…