Desert Gardening 101

Too Many Vegetables….How to Thin Seedlings

Is there such a thing as too many vegetables in your garden?

My radishes are definitely doing well. But, there are too many growing close together.

Why did this happen? Did I plant too many? When you plant small seeds, you scatter them along small furrows. You do plant more seeds then vegetables that will grow to maturity.

The reason for this is that some seeds do not germinate.

After they sprout, and begin to grow – then you have to ‘thin’ them out. This involves removing certain seedlings so that the remaining ones are at a proper distance from each other and have plenty of room to grow.

So, how do you ‘thin’ seedlings?

Simply use a pair of scissors and cut the extra seedlings off at the base.

This works much better then pulling them out because you can disturb the roots of the seedlings that are staying.

So how far apart should your vegetable plants be from each other? Well, it depends. Look at your seed packet, which will tell you how far apart they should be.

I just thinned my radishes (the easiest vegetable to grow, by the way). My carrots aren’t quite ready yet, so I will probably thin them out in a couple of weeks.

I hope your week is off to a great start!

A Box of Seeds and an Impatient Gardener…

Cool-Season Herb Container

Containers, herb gardening

I recently re-planted my herb container for the cool-season.

Last spring, I planted my container with rosemary, green basil, purple basil, sage, thyme and oregano. All of these herbs do well in the warm-season and I enjoyed being able to step outside the kitchen with cut fresh herbs whenever I needed them.

You can read the post here, to see how to grow herbs in containers.I also did a “How-To” video about this too 🙂

Okay, so now that cooler weather is on its way, I wanted to add some different herbs that would do well through the winter in my zone 9 garden.

I planted Dill, Garlic, Lavender, Parsley, another Thyme and kept the Sage the I had originally planted.

My kids added some of their Petunias that their grandma bought them in the container too, which will add some nice color.

Other herbs that can handle cooler weather in USDA zones 9 and above are Cilantro, Chives, Fennel, Lemon Grass and Rosemary.

I highly recommend planting your own herb container. It is very easy and so fun to be able to harvest your own herbs!

Plant Shopping!

vegetables

Guess who went plant shopping!

Not me….

But, my mom did.

She went to buy her fall vegetables at Baker’s Nursery, which is a hugely popular nursery in Phoenix.

Since I knew was going, she kindly offered to buy the remaining plants on my list.

And as another example of how wonderful she is – she took my two youngest kids (Kai and Gracie) with her and treated them to lunch.

So, what did we get?

Dill, Parsley and Thyme, which are herbs that will do well through the winter in my garden.

Green and Purple Leaf Lettuce that I will be growing in pots and in a very unusual place that I will share later.

Lobelia and Alyssum, which are great flowering, low-growing annuals that I will use in a unique container.

Lots of Broccoli, which is my favorite vegetable.

I didn’t get the garlic from Baker’s Nursery. I usually buy my garlic from my local grocery store and it works just fine. Although, you can buy different varieties from online nurseries.

The last thing they bought were Petunias, which weren’t on my list. But, my mother loves to help foster a love for gardening with her grandchildren.

So, she let Kai and Gracie each choose a six-pack of flowering annuals. They choose Petunias, which they planted just after they got home.

Okay, I admit that my son looks less then thrilled. But to be honest, that is how he looks in most of his pictures now. He really was happy – he spent a few hours with me helping me to plant everything.

Why is it that young boys get this ‘fake’ smile once they hit 5 years old and then later – it is almost like pulling teeth to get them to smile at all?

I promise to share with you the few different things we did with our ‘goodies’ from Baker’s Nurseryover the next few posts 🙂

A Fun Landscape

Landscape Design

I love my job…

I get to meet nice people who let me help them with their landscape.

Usually, they want help with plant suggestions, recommended maintenance, and sometimes even which plants should be removed.

Sometimes, I visit a landscape that has some features that I love. I would love to share some pictures of a recent visit…

Her back garden was simply beautiful with date palms and gold lantana.

Along the back fence, she had created a plant shelf using masonry bricks and wooden planks.

She added some colorful pots filled with golden barrel cacti and other plants.

I just loved this idea for masking a bare wall.

In the front courtyard, I found a great example of how to grow a plant next to a palm tree (or any kind of tree). Often, trees have too many roots that make digging next to them almost impossible. So, this homeowner simply planted a creeping fig in a container and placed it next to the tree.

Lastly, there was a container with Lady’s Slipper (Pedilanthus macrocarpus) growing inside, which softened the side of the garage. This plant does well in full sun and likes deep, infrequent water.

In fact, I liked it so much that I went out and bought a Lady’s Slipper plant for myself 🙂

How to Make Your Own Paper Mache Pumpkin

DIY

decorating for fall

Crafting Your Own Paper Mache Pumpkins for Fall: A DIY Guide

Paper Mache pumpkins? Yes please. I love decorating for fall and so I always grow some pumpkins in my garden. But, I must admit that I also use a few ‘faux’ pumpkins as well when I decorate.

Fall is the season for pumpkin decor, both natural and faux, and I relish in embellishing my space with a touch of autumnal charm. While I cultivate pumpkins in my garden, I also embrace the art of crafting ‘faux’ pumpkins for an added flair. This year, I am particularly thrilled to host our family’s annual Halloween party, given our prime neighborhood for trick-or-treating.

I visited our local craft store to buy a few extra ‘faux’ pumpkins and was shocked at how expensive they have become. Even with a coupon, I left the store without buying any. Determined to maintain both my festive spirit and my budget, I embarked on a DIY journey to create paper mache (or papier-mâché) pumpkins. Here’s how:

The Materials You’ll Need to Make a Paper Mache Pumpkin

Before diving into the process, keep in mind that paper mache can be a bit messy, so I recommend wearing an apron and covering your work surface with plastic trash bags.

Gather the following supplies:

Beach balls
Twine
Newspaper strips (approximately 1-inch wide)
Flour and water for the paper-mache mix (1:2 ratio)
Optional: 1 teaspoon cinnamon to mask odor and 1 teaspoon salt to prevent mold
Spray paint (black, orange, or off-white)
A small piece of tree branch
Glue gun

Crafting Your Paper Mache Pumpkins – the How To

Creating the Paper Mache Base

Start by tying twine around a beach ball. Enlist someone’s assistance to hold the knot down as you secure it. This forms the foundation of your pumpkin shape.

Preparing the Paper Mache Mix

Mix flour and water in a 1:2 ratio to create your paper-mache mixture. For a pleasant fragrance and to prevent mold, consider adding a teaspoon of cinnamon and salt respectively. Dip newspaper strips into the mixture, ensuring they’re coated without excess.

Applying the Paper Mache Pumpkin Strips

Layer the coated newspaper strips onto the beach ball, overlapping them to create a sturdy structure. Tear the strips to fit as needed. Allow each layer to dry before applying the next. Depending on humidity levels, drying times may vary. Using a fan can expedite the drying process.

Apply strips to beach ball, overlapping. Tear the strips to whatever size you need.

Allow to dry. This will take longer in more humid areas. I used a fan to help speed up the process.

Adding Depth and Color

Apply a total of four layers of paper mache, allowing ample drying time between each layer. After achieving the desired thickness, paint the pumpkin with black spray paint and let it dry. This step prevents the black and white hues of the newspaper from showing through the final coat of colored spray paint.

Bringing Your Paper Mache Pumpkin to Life

Next, apply two coats of spray paint in your chosen shade – either orange or off-white. The pumpkin’s color sets the tone for your decoration.

Finishing Touches for the Pumpkin

Complete your paper mache pumpkin by gluing a 1-inch piece of a tree branch onto the top using a glue gun. This serves as the stem of your lifelike creation.

Paint with Non-Toxic Paint

Your handmade paper mache pumpkin is ready to grace your fall decor. Although carving isn’t an option, you can paint on a ‘jack-o-lantern’ face or leave it unadorned. While the crafting process may span a couple of days due to drying times, the end result is truly satisfying.

A Budget Friendly Craft

Crafting your own paper mache pumpkins is not only a budget-friendly alternative but also a creative endeavor that allows you to infuse your space with your unique style. Whether you’re hosting a Halloween gathering or simply seeking to embrace the fall spirit, this DIY project offers a delightful way to celebrate the season. Give it a try and relish in the artistic satisfaction of crafting something truly special. I am so happy with my paper mache pumpkin results!

Feel free to ‘Pin’ the image above to your Pinterest!

What’s Happened to My Shrubs? Identifying and Treating Caterpillar Damage

desert gardening, Landscape Problems

Last week, as I walked out into the back garden, I noticed something that didn’t look right with my a few of my yellow bell shrubs (Tecoma stans stans).

The photo, above, shows how they should normally look, however, last week, they looked like this….

Definitely not normal looking and manyM of the outer leaves were skeletonized, and it got worse. All four of my yellow bell shrubs had the same symptoms. So, did my orange jubilee shrubs, which are closely related.

To be honest, I was a bit stunned to see the damage. You see, I had grown these beautiful shrubs for over 14 years and have never seen this before – not even in landscapes I managed or when consulting.

What was interesting is that other shrubs right next to my yellow bells and orange jubilee weren’t in the least bit affected. So, what is eating my leaves?

I looked at the symptoms – the skeletonized leaves, the fact that many of my leaves were ‘rolled’ and little black dots (insect poop) told me that my shrubs were suffering from ‘looper caterpillars’ which are tiny caterpillars that roll the leaf around them while they eat. It is hard to spot the caterpillars themselves, but the damage they cause, usually makes it easy to diagnose.

If your Tecoma or Bougainvillea shrubs show significant leaf damage, here are a few different options on how to treat it:

1. Prune off the affected growth and dispose of the leave in the trash can (not in your compost pile).

2. Treat your shrub using a biological pesticide that contains BT (Bacillus thuringiensis), which is ingested by the caterpillars. BT basically ‘eats’ its way from the caterpillar’s stomach outward. I use a ready-to-use-product.

**Whenever using any pesticide – follow directions carefully. For my shrubs, I will prune back the damaged growth and not apply pesticides. However, if the caterpillars continue to attack, then I may decide to use a product with BT.

So, if you have yellow bells or orange jubilee shrubs – check them to see if they are being affected by caterpillars.

**If your bougainvillea leaves are showing signs of being chewed – they may have been visited by ‘bougainvillea looper caterpillars.’ For more information on how to recognize and treat these caterpillars, click here.

Thankfully, the rest of my garden is looking healthy 🙂

Are Caterpillars Eating Your Shrubs? How to Recognize and Treat Them

Why I Haven’t Planted My Vegetable Garden Yet…

Vegetable Gardening

I have two vegetable gardens, just sitting there, ready to plant.

my newest vegetable garden

This was my newest vegetable garden, last February, just before I planted it.

Just a couple of months later, it was full of growing bush beans, cucumbers, corn and much more….

The flowers not only made the garden look pretty, but they also helped to repel bad bugs and attract pollinators.

So why haven’t I planted it yet?

Well, I had all good intentions to get it done last weekend. BUT, my kids, specifically my youngest daughter, had other plans….

1. On Sunday morning as we were getting ready for church – she decided that she wanted to run away and live in the desert with the coyotes. She has this idealized view of the desert from one of her favorite tv shows.

Thankfully, she only made it to the next door neighbor’s house before she reconsidered.

2. Monday was a crazy, busy day and I was happy that I was able to keep my head above water.

3. Tuesday, as I was making my toast for breakfast, I noticed teeth marks in the butter. From the distinctive shape of the teeth marks – I knew that my youngest daughter was the culprit, eating our butter.

My husband then told me that he caught her eating flour.

*Have any of you ever had your kids eat some strange things?

4. Finally, last night, she started crying and it turned out that she had stuck a plastic fork up her nose and one of the tines had broken off. We used a flashlight and we could see it, but it was too far up her nose for us to get it.

So, we made a trip to urgent care. Thankfully, they were able to get it out easily with long tweezers.

Tomorrow, I have 2 consults. BUT, come Friday morning – I will be out in my garden planting seeds (by myself, without my kids who will be in school).

I must admit that I am looking forward to the break from being a mom and just enjoying working out in the garden.

***************************************

How about you?

Do you have any fun stories of things that your kids have done, ate or stuck up their nose?

I’d love to hear about them 🙂

‘Friendly’ Plants in the Vegetable Garden

Is It Fall Yet?

Arizona, Fall Blooming Plants

My favorite season is fall. What do I love about fall, you may ask?

It’s not the colorful leaves….

Autumn color in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina

Now before you think I am crazy, let me explain…

Fall foliage begins to make it’s appearance in Williamsburg, VA.

I have never lived anywhere that had lots of trees turn color.

I grew up in Southern California and I now live in Arizona.

I do love visiting areas with lovely fall foliage, but I don’t connect fall with leaves turning color.

Fall signifies for me, the beginning of holidays AND cooler weather after a hot summer.

This year, we are hosting the entire family’s Halloween celebration at our house because we have the best neighborhood for trick-or-treating.

I have been hand-making some new Halloween decorations – some of which have turned out pretty good.

Monday, my mother is coming out and we are going to try making paper-mache pumpkins.

I’m not sure how they will turn out….but it will be fun to try. I promise I’ll share our results 🙂

Slowly, but Surely….

AZ Plant Lady

I must admit that it has taken me longer then I thought to get over the flu. It must be my age, but it seems like getting over being sick just sucks out any energy I have.

The other day, I walked by my son’s room and noticed that he was being really quiet….

He had fallen asleep on the floor, playing with the little plastic weapons from his Star Wars figurines.

Please disregard the messy room – but Saturday is room cleaning day and I took this photo on Thursday 😉

Sometimes, I feel like falling asleep on the floor.

I have been getting busy with consults because the weather is cooling off and people are starting to venture outside again.

I have found time to do a little light pruning of my roses.

Okay, I know that my roses look rather ugly – but all roses that grow in our area go through an ‘ugly’ stage in summer.

While we are very lucky that we have two growing seasons for roses (spring and fall) – roses are not fans of our hot, dry summers.

Their leaves get sunburned and if any roses form, they are small and dry out quickly. This is normal. Roses go somewhat dormant during summer and just exist until the cooler weather of fall arrives.

So once September arrives, it’s time to prune your roses back by 1/4 of their total size. Then add the rose fertilizer of your choice, mixed with compost. I make 6 – 8 holes around each of my roses, about 6″ deep and pour the fertilizer/compost mixture into them and then water deeply.

I only have three roses bushes, so this only took about 15 minutes to do it all.

A couple of weeks ago, as I was driving home from a consult, I noticed a home that had raised vegetable garden beds in their front yard.

cool-season vegetables

I can only imagine how much they grow. I have two vegetable gardens in the back garden. Our HOA won’t allow me to put any in the front 😉

Last year at this time, I had all my vegetable seeds planted by September 5th.

This yearI have done nothing yet.

Thankfully, there is a window for planting that extends from September through October for most cool-season vegetables.

My plan is to get it all done by next weekend. I made sure that my husband had time in his schedule to help me add the compost and manure and then I’ll get my seeds planted.

How about you? Have you planted your vegetables yet?

A Box of Seeds and an Impatient Gardener…

A Deluge of Water…

azplantlady

I like the word ‘deluge’. I think that it accurately describes what happened at our house a couple of weeks ago.

So, why am I just now writing about it?

Well, I must admit that I am keeping my head above water, so to speak 😉 I am still recovering my strength after suffering from the flu (I have been needing a nap everyday).

I have also been busy with consults now that the weather is cooling again and people actually want to go out in their gardens.

Okay, so back to our ‘deluge’.

We get periods of torrential rain during our summer monsoon season. But, what happened on this Friday morning was quite impressive.

torrential rain during our summer monsoon season

The Lantana in the front entry were absolutely drenched.

Homes don’t have gutters where I live, so the rain drips from the eaves.

Our new flagstone pathway channeled the water into the street.

Our newly re-landscaped front garden enjoyed the rainfall. I was happy to see how the rain also pooled around our new Desert Museum Palo Verde tree, watering it deeply.

I wish I could say that our back garden weathered the ‘deluge’ as well as the front garden.

But, we definitely need to work on channeling the water away from the patio….

Thankfully, my 20-year old daughter, Rachele, and my teenage nephew were on hand to scoop the excess water with buckets out onto the grass.

(The water got too close to the back doors for comfort).

We will be making a shallow channel along the front of the patio and toward the side gardens, where the excess water will drain out to the front.

********************

I have had the pleasure of meeting a few readers of my blog when I came to do a landscape consult for them.

I enjoy meeting you in person and seeing your gardens for myself.

Have a great week everyone!

Wet Weather and Two Races…

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