Did you all have a good weekend? It was way too fast for me 😉
Last Friday, I had to head a couple hours north of town to do a consult in Sedona, AZ. Now, north of where I live is always cooler, which is a good thing during the summer.
On my way there, I started to look for the tiny hillside town of Jerome, which is visible from the highway. Known as the “largest ghost town”, Jerome is one of my favorite places to visit.
My family and I did visit there last month and I was pleasantly surprised to find beautiful, perennial gardens, window boxes, a garden made up of glass and junk and so much more….
I would like to share my visit with you if I may….
Largest ghost town
As you can see, Jerome sits on the side of a mountain.
Largest ghost town
Although many of the historic buildings have been restored and play host to artists, stores and visiting tourists – there are those buildings that have definitely seen better days.
When I saw this building where grass and trees were now growing inside one old rooms, I could just imagine what was housed inside during the 1800’s.
The town sits on a steep 30% slope. So, over the years, some of the older buildings have started to slide down the mountainside, including the old town jail.
In fact, when our two oldest daughters were very young, we would visit Jerome and they would have fun crawling around the ruins of the old jail. Now the jail is completely ruined and our youngest kids can’t get near it.
Now, although I love the town itself and the shopping, I must confess that I was determined to take pictures on this visit. My goal was to find some gardens and I must say that I was very happy with what I was able to capture with my camera.
I can’t wait to share them with you….
I first came upon a garden that was full of flowering perennials, including this hollyhock (which is technically a biennial, but I’m not going to be technical today).
The garden was also host to roses in addition to the hollyhocks.
There were quite a few bees at work collecting pollen. Interestingly, I didn’t see any honey bees, just bumble bees.
Okay, I realize that I am focusing a lot on hollyhocks, but they are just so pretty, aren’t they?
Once I was able to tear myself away from the hollyhocks, I did notice some of the other pretty perennials…
Isn’t this Heart-Leafed Golden Alexander wildflower pretty?
I really don’t like extra long common names like this one 😉
It grows in zones 3a – 8b, which means that it won’t grow in my low desert garden, but it is very pretty. It can be grown from seed and does best in sunny locations.
I just loved tiered gardens, don’t you?
There were so many beautiful plants to see, but this Red Valerian caught my eye.
Now I have grown Red Valerian (Centhranthus ruber), which is also known as ‘Jupiter’s Beard’.
I grew this in my first desert garden when we lived in a small house in Phoenix.
It grows in zones 5-10 and can be started from seed.
Eager to see what else there was to discover, I left this beautiful garden and pressed on…
I saw this Trumpet Vine growing on the side of this stone wall. I have always liked Trumpet Vine, but haven’t grown it myself because it is deciduous in winter (loses its leaves) and I prefer using an evergreen vine such Purple Lilac Vine.
As I was walking, my husband and kids decided to take a break and play at the little park in the center of town. Now, I only had about 20 minutes until we were to meet, so I hurried to see what else I could discover.
First, I stopped to enjoy the breathtaking view across the valley. I could see the red mountains of Sedona in the distance…
Then I started walking towards one of the most interesting gardens that I have ever seen.
You know, I’m not sure that you could even call it a garden…
There are plants, but they are arranged around a bunch of ‘artistic junk’.
I’m not sure why I am drawn to this unique garden, but I find it irresistible.
There are lots of old glass bottles, a steer skull hanging inside of a broken door, and so much more odd things that are hard to describe.
On my way back to meet up with my husband and kids, I spotted some pretty planters along the sidewalk.
I like how this restaurant filler their planter with quite a few herbs. I think the flowering Verbena looks great alongside the herbs too, don’t you?
I spotted a beautiful Swallowtail butterfly and waited until it landed upon a Dianthus so I could take its picture…
Okay, so my time was up and I was going to be late to meet up with my husband and kids. So I walked (I really don’t run all that well), back as fast as I could. I was happy that my husband wasn’t upset at my lateness. It’s probably because he knows me so well that he adds 10 minutes to the time that I say I will be back 😉
On our way to the car, I noticed a doorway in the side of a wall / staircase.
Now I’m not sure what this doorway was exactly. But my kids knew what to do with it….
Go inside and explore!
That is until they realized how dark it was inside…..
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Thank you so much for coming along with me on our day trip to Jerome. I have been wanting to share my visit with you for some time.
If you get a chance, check out this link to find out more about this fun ghost town.
Gardening at Night?
CompostI must confess that I have avoided going out into my garden.
Now, I love my garden and spending time outside tending my plants. But, not when we have had record-breaking heat. I normally don’t have a problem with the summer heat and I don’t like to complain about it.
It’s not so much the heat itself, but when it is coupled with bright sunlight, it can be hard to bear if you are working out in the garden for an extended length of time.
So, I have been waiting impatiently for the temps to get back down to normal so that I can get out and get my vegetable garden ready for fall planting. It is almost too late for me to plant my fall sweet corn.
Well, since the weather was not going to cooperate and I refused to be overcome by the heat, I had to take matters into my own hands.
I asked my husband to hang a light outdoors by the garden so that we could work out there at night.
My daughter, Ruthie, loves to work in the vegetable garden and was helping us to rip out some of the old summer vegetable plants that had stopped producing.
Believe it or not, gardening at night is not all that hard as long as you have some light source. We made quick work of cleaning out the vegetable garden, adding compost, manure, blood meal and bone meal.
Now it was still hot outside, but the sun was down, which really makes a big difference.
As we were working in the garden, we had a little visitor who came out to see what we were doing….
Gardening at Night, He was actually hanging upside down, but I like how he looks ‘right side up’.
This praying mantis was fascinated by what we were doing. I was very happy to see him because he helps to eat the harmful insects that would normally bother my vegetables.
He was soon joined by his friend or maybe it was his wife?
Gardening at Night
We were soon finished with our work and I could hardly wait to see the fruits of our labor in the morning….
I just love a blank canvas to add plants to, don’t you?
The step stones provide easy access for me to step out into the garden to harvest vegetables without crushing them with my feet.
(Once I took out the step stones, thinking I wanted the extra space for vegetables, but I had an awful time getting into and out of the garden without stepping on vegetables.)
We did leave the basil plant in the back, oregano on the side and a single cucumber plant, which will continue to produce once the temperatures cool down (I’m not sure it will ever cool down again).
I have wonderful plans for my vegetable garden….
I can hardly wait to harvest fresh corn, carrots, green snap beans, garlic, green onions, leaf lettuce and spinach.
You may wonder why I have a fence around the garden. Well, the reason is that I have a little dog named Tobey that would love nothing better then to get inside and dig around in all the wonderful smelling compost and aged steer manure.
Now, I was bound and determined to get one thing planted in the garden, even if it was hot outside and I would probably start to sweat 😉
I got my corn seeds planted!
It only took me about 15 minutes to plant 3 rows of corn.
(It is important to plant corn in more then one row, which helps with pollination and helps all of the corn kernels to develop).
As you can see, I didn’t bring out any fancy tools to plant them. I only needed a ruler to make sure that I planted them 1 ft.
apart and I borrowed a spoon from my kitchen.
Thankfully, I can wait until later this month to plant some of my other seeds when the weather is cooler.
Some people may think I am crazy to work in the garden at night and there are some things that you do have to have daylight for. But I have pruned my shrubs at night to avoid the excess heat of the day.
I wouldn’t advise doing any gardening tasks that require any detail work, such as planting vegetable seeds.
But, you never know….if it doesn’t cool off on time, I may be planting seeds at night with a flashlight 😉
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So, how about you?
Do you have any strategies for dealing with the summer heat when you garden?
Vegetable Garden Gone Crazy…
Ficus Trees….Too Much Hassle?
Landscape Problems, Southwest garden, TreesFor quite some time, I’ve been considering writing this post. I’ve hesitated due to the overwhelming affection people have for ficus trees (Ficus nitida). While the benefits of planting ficus trees are apparent. They have lush beauty and dense shade that are particularly valuable in desert environments. There are a few considerations to bear in mind before incorporating them into your landscape.
At first, the benefits of planting a Ficus tree are obvious. They are lush, beautiful and provide dense shade, which is sometimes scarce in the desert.
The Pros and Cons of Ficus Nitida Trees: What You Need to Know
So what’s the problem with having a Ficus tree? Well, there are a couple of things that you should be aware of before you plant a Ficus tree.
One of the primary challenges with Ficus trees is their vulnerability to frost damage. This is especially concerning in low desert regions when temperatures drop below freezing. This concern becomes even more pronounced during stretches of consecutive freezing days.
Photo: Frost-Damaged Ficus nitida
This past winter, we experienced a three-day period of temperatures in the low 20s. The impact on local Ficus trees was unmistakable. A mere drive through any neighborhood allowed me to distinguish, even from a distance, who had Ficus trees and who did not. The extensive presence of ‘brown’ trees gave it away.
After the return of warmer weather, many Ficus trees sported trimmed branches. This results in a shorter appearance due to frost damage mitigation (see image below).
Photo:Ficus tree that had frost damaged branches removed.
Growth Size and Control
The second challenge stems from insufficient research regarding the potential size of Ficus trees. Individuals often find themselves ill-prepared when the charming shade tree they planted rapidly becomes an overwhelming presence. Trees often seem to engulf their homes.
Photo: Young Ficus Tree
They are soon caught unprepared when the pretty, shade tree that they planted soon grows so large that it almost seems like it is ‘eating’ up the house….
Photo: Mature Ficus Tree
What to Consider When Planting Ficus Trees
If your heart is set on having a Ficus tree grace your garden, go ahead and acquire one. Just remember that some winters might result in frost damage, temporarily affecting the tree’s appearance until new branches emerge. To ensure a successful experience with Ficus trees, keep the following points in mind:
Sissoo Trees as an Alternative
Sissoo trees, resembling Ficus trees in appearance, exhibit greater frost tolerance. Despite their appealing features, it’s crucial to exercise caution when integrating sissoo trees into your landscape.
Some people look to sissoo trees as an alternative to ficus – BUT, this isn’t advisable either.
Photo: Sissoo Tree
The sissoo tree (Dalbergia sissoo) is similar in appearance to the ficus tree. They do however have greater tolerance to frost.
Like ficus trees, sissoo trees do grow quite large but I no longer recommend them for average size residential landscapes. The photo of the tree above was taken four years after it was planted from a 15-gallon container. It rapidly grew even larger. This tree made it’s debut in the Phoenix area about 15 years ago. It has become quite popular for its lush green beauty.
While sissoo trees flourish in larger outdoor areas such as parks due to their enhanced frost resilience, they present potential challenges for average-sized residential landscapes. Despite their initial popularity for their lush green beauty, their invasive root systems can wreak havoc on sidewalks, patios, pools, and block walls. Moreover, their eventual size can dwarf the landscapes they were intended to enhance.
Photo: 3 Sissoo Trees
Careful Planning is the Best Approach for Ficus or Sissoo Tree Placement
The allure of Ficus nitida trees is undeniable, but careful planning and consideration are necessary to ensure a harmonious coexistence between these magnificent trees and your landscape. Understanding their susceptibility to frost damage and their potential for significant growth is vital for making informed decisions.
While sissoo trees can be a reasonable alternative, they too come with their own set of challenges that need to be weighed carefully. Ultimately, choosing the right tree for your outdoor space involves a blend of appreciation for aesthetics and awareness of practicality.
A Beautiful Garden in the Middle of a Ghost Town
ArizonaDid you all have a good weekend? It was way too fast for me 😉
Last Friday, I had to head a couple hours north of town to do a consult in Sedona, AZ. Now, north of where I live is always cooler, which is a good thing during the summer.
On my way there, I started to look for the tiny hillside town of Jerome, which is visible from the highway. Known as the “largest ghost town”, Jerome is one of my favorite places to visit.
My family and I did visit there last month and I was pleasantly surprised to find beautiful, perennial gardens, window boxes, a garden made up of glass and junk and so much more….
I would like to share my visit with you if I may….
Largest ghost town
As you can see, Jerome sits on the side of a mountain.
Largest ghost town
Although many of the historic buildings have been restored and play host to artists, stores and visiting tourists – there are those buildings that have definitely seen better days.
When I saw this building where grass and trees were now growing inside one old rooms, I could just imagine what was housed inside during the 1800’s.
The town sits on a steep 30% slope. So, over the years, some of the older buildings have started to slide down the mountainside, including the old town jail.
In fact, when our two oldest daughters were very young, we would visit Jerome and they would have fun crawling around the ruins of the old jail. Now the jail is completely ruined and our youngest kids can’t get near it.
Now, although I love the town itself and the shopping, I must confess that I was determined to take pictures on this visit. My goal was to find some gardens and I must say that I was very happy with what I was able to capture with my camera.
I can’t wait to share them with you….
I first came upon a garden that was full of flowering perennials, including this hollyhock (which is technically a biennial, but I’m not going to be technical today).
The garden was also host to roses in addition to the hollyhocks.
There were quite a few bees at work collecting pollen. Interestingly, I didn’t see any honey bees, just bumble bees.
Okay, I realize that I am focusing a lot on hollyhocks, but they are just so pretty, aren’t they?
Once I was able to tear myself away from the hollyhocks, I did notice some of the other pretty perennials…
Isn’t this Heart-Leafed Golden Alexander wildflower pretty?
I really don’t like extra long common names like this one 😉
It grows in zones 3a – 8b, which means that it won’t grow in my low desert garden, but it is very pretty. It can be grown from seed and does best in sunny locations.
I just loved tiered gardens, don’t you?
There were so many beautiful plants to see, but this Red Valerian caught my eye.
Now I have grown Red Valerian (Centhranthus ruber), which is also known as ‘Jupiter’s Beard’.
I grew this in my first desert garden when we lived in a small house in Phoenix.
It grows in zones 5-10 and can be started from seed.
Eager to see what else there was to discover, I left this beautiful garden and pressed on…
I saw this Trumpet Vine growing on the side of this stone wall. I have always liked Trumpet Vine, but haven’t grown it myself because it is deciduous in winter (loses its leaves) and I prefer using an evergreen vine such Purple Lilac Vine.
As I was walking, my husband and kids decided to take a break and play at the little park in the center of town. Now, I only had about 20 minutes until we were to meet, so I hurried to see what else I could discover.
First, I stopped to enjoy the breathtaking view across the valley. I could see the red mountains of Sedona in the distance…
Then I started walking towards one of the most interesting gardens that I have ever seen.
You know, I’m not sure that you could even call it a garden…
There are plants, but they are arranged around a bunch of ‘artistic junk’.
I’m not sure why I am drawn to this unique garden, but I find it irresistible.
There are lots of old glass bottles, a steer skull hanging inside of a broken door, and so much more odd things that are hard to describe.
On my way back to meet up with my husband and kids, I spotted some pretty planters along the sidewalk.
I like how this restaurant filler their planter with quite a few herbs. I think the flowering Verbena looks great alongside the herbs too, don’t you?
I spotted a beautiful Swallowtail butterfly and waited until it landed upon a Dianthus so I could take its picture…
Okay, so my time was up and I was going to be late to meet up with my husband and kids. So I walked (I really don’t run all that well), back as fast as I could. I was happy that my husband wasn’t upset at my lateness. It’s probably because he knows me so well that he adds 10 minutes to the time that I say I will be back 😉
On our way to the car, I noticed a doorway in the side of a wall / staircase.
Now I’m not sure what this doorway was exactly. But my kids knew what to do with it….
Go inside and explore!
That is until they realized how dark it was inside…..
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Thank you so much for coming along with me on our day trip to Jerome. I have been wanting to share my visit with you for some time.
If you get a chance, check out this link to find out more about this fun ghost town.
A House-Call and an Unusual Prescription
AZ Plant LadyTwo weeks ago I received a phone call from one of my long-time clients. She was frantic about her Hibiscus plant.
I’m not kidding….
Why was she so upset? Well, she had received this potted Hibiscus from her friend who had grown it for years. She was having a problem with white flies attacking her beloved Hibiscus and it was losing its leaves.
Now, I had seen the Hibiscus last fall, when she had first received it and she proudly showed me where she had put it in her dining room. It had always been grown as an indoor plant.
(All the photos below are of healthy Hibiscus. I didn’t have any photos of unhealthy ones to show you).
Hibiscus plant
It was a lovely specimen of Hibiscus and she was determined to take very good care of her friend’s Hibiscus.
However, when I arrived last week to look at it, it wasn’t looking too happy.
Some of the leaves were yellowing, while some were still green. The Hibiscus had lost many of its leaves. There was also ‘honeydew’ on the leaves, which are shiny, slightly sticky drops. The ‘honeydew’ is actually the ‘poop’ from the white flies.
When I gently brushed the leaves, a cloud of white flies flew upward.
Hibiscus plant
My client had used insecticidal soap and had even carefully brushed each leaf with a soft toothbrush to get “the blasted insects” off.
But, they would always return a few days later. She was at her wit’s end. She said that she couldn’t sleep at night because she kept envisioning ways to “kill those blasted insects”.
So if you have Hibiscus (inside or outside) and have problems with white flies, I will share with you what I told her including one unusual prescription:
1. Spray the leaves (top and bottom), stems and soil surface with insecticidal soap. Do this every 4 days to kill newly emerged white flies before they can lay eggs.
The key to killing white flies with insecticidal soap is that you have to do it 3 – 4 separate times to kill the emerging white flies before they can lay eggs. Insecticidal soap does not kill the eggs, which are usually laid on the soil surface.
2. In conjunction with the insecticidal soap, put out ‘yellow sticky traps’ around your Hibiscus. White flies are attracted to the color yellow and will become ‘stuck’ on the sticky trap. You can buy them at your local nursery, or you can make your own by coloring an index card yellow, attach a popsicle stick on the pack and smear with Vaseline.
3. Neem oil has been shown to be effective as well. But, its effects aren’t obvious at first. It interferes with the life cycle of harmful insects and keeps them from eating, mating and laying eggs. However, Neem oil can be a bit strong for some plants and can damage leaves. So, before using on your entire plant, be sure to apply it to one leaf first and wait 24 hours to see if your plant handles it without damage.
4. Okay, this is my favorite solution. Some people have shown great results in repelling white flies when they incorporate ‘earthworm casings’ into the soil. What are ‘earthworm casings’ you may ask? Well, it is earthworm ‘poop’. Plants just love it and it makes a great soil amendment and many people state that it has kept white flies away from their Hibiscus plants.
**I don’t believe that there are any scientific studies to support this and I haven’t tried it personally. But, earthworm casings will benefit your Hibiscus even if it doesn’t repel white flies, so there is no danger in using it. You can buy earthworm casings online.
Now I generally do not make house calls for a single, indoor plant. But, these clients are a very dear couple and I have had quite a history with them. First, it was attempting to save their old, Magnolia tree. The client had grown up in Louisiana and had loved having a tree that reminded her of her girlhood home.
Sadly, the Magnolia tree died due to an underground leak of the irrigation system. But, the good news is, is that they have a new Magnolia tree that although small, should do very well in its new location.
How about you?
Do you have a tree or plant that is especially important to you?
I would love to hear about it 🙂
Modern Shrub Sculpture?
ArizonaLast week, I was visiting one of my favorite communities visiting a client’s sick Hibiscus plant.
(I’m not kidding about making a ‘house call’ about a single, indoor plant. I will tell you more about that story in another post).
So, I was finished with my visit and decided to drive around the neighborhood. This particular community has many beautiful examples of landscape design and great opportunities for taking pictures of plants.
On the other hand, this same community has many examples of “What NOT to Do” to your plants and I like to capture photos of those things as well.
As I was driving, I saw the following example of improper pruning of shrubs. But instead of round green balls, I saw this….
At first, I couldn’t believe my eyes.
Then I tried to figure out what the purpose of the unusual shapes were meant to be.
I slowly drove back so that I could take a picture.
Now, I have spoken at length about the unhealthy and sometimes unattractive results from pruning using hedge-trimmers for flowering shrubs.
“Shrubs Aren’t Meant To Be Cupcakes, Frisbees or Pill Boxes”
But I must admit that if I had to choose between round, green balls or a “modern shrub sculpture”, that I would probably lean towards the “shrub sculpture” because it is way more interesting 😉
What do you think? Would prefer ‘green balls’ or more of a ‘free-form shrub sculpture’?
Two Beautiful Garden Bouquets and Ups and Downs…
AZ Plant LadyThis weekend has been an extreme roller-coaster of highs and lows.
Mostly lows though…..
You know what makes a person feel better though? A beautiful bouquet. I would like to showcase two bouquets that were submitted for August’s Monthly Garden Bouquet.
I can’t wait to share them with you.
Isn’t it lovely?
This bouquet was created by Marguerite who lives in Prince Edward Island. She has a great blog called Canoe Corner.
She created her bouquet using flowers from her own garden. She included one of my favorite flowers, Peonies, which unfortunately do not grow where I live.
The next bouquet is from David who lives and gardens in Texas.
David has been a faithful contributor to the Monthly Garden Bouquet. He always creates a monthly bouquet from his garden for his wife.
This one he named “Welcome Home” bouquet after she began working full-time.
He made it out of Blue Daze, Serena Purple Angelonia, Yellow Musseanda, Luteola and Bergarten Sage.
David is a wonderful blogger and you can read more about his garden on his blog, Tropical Texana.
So, if you would like for your bouquet to be included next month, all you need to do is to send me a photo via email (link on my sidebar), or you can send me a link to your blog page. You can also post on my facebook page if you like.
I will post it on the 20th of next month.
The only guideline is to create a bouquet using plants from your garden.
I can’t wait to see what you create 🙂
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The past few days have been emotionally exhausting.
My father-in-law, who is suffering from ALS, was taken to the hospital with pneumonia.
We have spent the past three days there with him and other family. Yesterday, his breathing became even more labored and he is becoming increasingly dependent on a machine that assists his breathing (not a ventilator though).
It is hard to see him suffer so much from this disease. He can no longer communicate beyond nodding “yes” or “no”. Using his hands is no longer possible and he is almost completely wheelchair bound.
Today his lungs began to collapse due to his disease, but for now, the breathing machine is helping to keep them open.
In the midst of all of this was a very joyful time. You see, my daughter had a 4-D ultrasound where we could actually see the features of our new granddaughter’s face. Even though she is not due for 10 more weeks, it was so wonderful to gaze upon her precious little face.
It was disconcerting to go from such sadness, to joy and back to sadness in a period of 2 hours as we left the hospital to go to the ultrasound and then back to the hospital.
We did bring the photos of the ultrasound to my father-in-law so that he could see his first great-grandchild. He has been so excited about her. We only hope that he will survive long enough to see her in person.
For now, we are living in a period of uncertainty. No one knows how long he will live. Will we get a call tonight? Or, will it be a few more months? No one knows.
What we do know is that there will be a precious little baby born in about 10 weeks. It is that certainty and joy that is helping us through this difficult time 🙂
I hope you all have a wonderful week….
August To Do List…
Fruit Trees, Growing FruitYou know, every month seems to fly by before I think about what I should be doing in the garden. Is it that way for you too?
I mentioned in an earlier post that I am busy writing garden articles that will be published in November. So my brain is thinking of all the things to do in the garden….in 3 months. So, the fact that I have August tasks that need to be done in my garden is somehow forgotten.
So, if you have been wondering what to do in your garden this month, here it is. Better late then never, I say 😉
If you have citrus trees, they should receive their third application of fertilizer towards the end of this month (or the beginning of September). Established citrus trees should be fertilized three times a year – in March, May and August/September. You can read more about citrus fertilization here.
I used to have citrus trees in my previous home, but do not in my current one. However, my mother shares her bounty of lemons and grapefruit with us every year 🙂
The orange tree, below, belongs to my father-in-law and he loves to share the oranges with the grandkids.
Time for Citrus Fertilization
Some vegetables can be planted now as well, including cucumbers, sweet corn, carrots, lettuce, green onions and squash can be planted from seed. It is still a bit early to set out transplants.
If you are a fan of palm trees, this is a great time to plant one. Palms should be planted during the summer and not during the winter if at all possible since they actively grow when it is warm.
Don’t add any amendments to the soil. If additional drainage is needed, you can add some sand to the hole.
You can also fertilize your palm trees this month as well, using a fertilizer specially formulated for palm trees. Palm fertilizer contains certain micro-nutrients that palms require and are often missing in more conventional fertilizers. Palm trees should be fertilized during the warm season only since palm trees will not take up fertilizer during the cooler months.
You know what? I must admit that I have been putting off getting out into the garden. Mostly because by the time August rolls around, I am a bit tired of the summer heat.
So, I think that I will end my “August To Do List” at this point.
Of course, if you want more to do, you can always lightly prune back your overgrown shrubs or perennials – but only by 1/4 – 1/3.
I am looking forward to September, when the weather begins to cool a little bit and I find that I am re-energized and ready to ‘play’ outside again 🙂
How Do Plants Deal With Drought?
Drought TolerantRecently, the drought that is being experience in Texas has dominated much of the news. I have a friend who lives in Dallas and she says that it is pretty bad.
For those of us who live in the Southwest, the idea of a drought is not foreign to us. We have some years with plentiful rainfall and others with little at all. Cycles of drought are normal. If you happen to live in the desert in the Southwest and you look at the desert around you, it is clear to see that most of the plants weather drought very well.
How Do Plants Deal With Drought
Have you ever wondered why?
Well, if you really look closely at many native desert plants, you can see how wonderfully adapted they are in regards to how they are designed to conserve water.
For example, let us look at the ‘Rio Bravo’ Sage (Leucophyllum langmaniae ‘Rio Bravo’), which is native to the Chihuahuan Desert.
If you look closely at the flowers above, you can see tiny hairs that cover the surface. What you cannot see is that there are also tiny hairs that cover the leaves, giving them a grayish cast.
The tiny hairs help to reflect the sun and help to keep moisture inside the flowers and leaves.
Here is another great example….
How Do Plants Deal With Drought
Here are the leaves of my Palo Blanco tree (Acacia willardiana), which is native to the Sonoran Desert. The leaves are so tiny, which helps to limit how much water is lost to the atmosphere.
It helps to think of it this way – plants lose water through their leaves (in a process called transpiration). The more sunlight, the more water that is lost.
**At this point it is probably rather obvious that I am somewhat of a ‘science geek’.
Now, did you know that there is a reason that cacti have spines?
Photo:Spines of a Saguaro cactus
Besides providing protection from animals who may want to eat them, the thousands of spines provide shade on the surface of the cactus, which helps reduce the amount of water lost.
Lastly, is one of my favorite trees….
How Do Plants Deal With Drought
Palo Verde trees are perhaps most famous for their green trunk. Well, besides being beautiful, the green trunk serves as an important survival mechanism when drought occurs.
In the Sonoran Desert, you will find Palo Verde trees growing all over. Now unlike the Palo Verde trees found in a landscape setting (above), that receive supplemental irrigation the Palo Verde trees in the desert survive on rainfall alone.
So what do they do in drought conditions? Well, they drop all their leaves, which greatly reduces the amount of water lost to the atmosphere.
Now most trees would die soon without leaves to continue to make ‘food’ for the tree (photosynthesis). But, the green trunk of the Palo Verde can make ‘food’ for the tree, even in the absence of leaves.
Pretty cool, huh?
So, you have all ‘heard’ some of what I talk to people about when I meet with them in person regarding their landscape. In addition to helping people learn how to care for their plants, I love to tell them more about the amazing plants that they have in their garden.
I hope I didn’t bore you, but I find the ways that plants adapt to their environment just fascinating.
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I hope your week is off to a good start.
This is what I call my ‘writing week’ when I work on my gardening articles. I haven’t been given my subjects yet from my editor, but I am writing in advance for the month of November. After a long summer, I am so looking forward to fall 🙂
Drought Tolerant and Beautiful: Aloe Vera
Showing Love Through…..Pruning?
PruningA couple of weeks ago, we were spending our weekly visit with my husband’s parents. Because my father-in-law is suffering from ALS, he can no longer do anything around the house or the garden for that matter.
My father-in-law always did his own landscaping chores. He took great pride in having a meticulous landscape. And yes, that included pruning his shrubs into round, green balls 😉
Landscaping chores
We would often tease each other, because I love the more ‘natural’ look as opposed to his more formal landscaping.
Now that I help out in his garden, I am very careful not to leave any debris behind such as fallen leaves or leaf for that matter. You see, his garden is so clean, you would almost think that he vacuumed it.
In my garden, I feel like my garden is clean if I use a leaf-blower once a year 😉
Well, back to our visit with my in-laws. My father-in-law asked me if I would prune back his flowering Gold Lantana.
Oh boy, this was a big deal. You see, I do not like to prune any plants that are flowering. In fact, I get up on my soapbox often, preaching against it.
But, you know what I did?
Landscaping chores
I pruned it…..
You can see how much I removed in the pile to the left.
My father-in-law even came outside with his walker to see how it looked, which as a big deal since he has a lot of difficulty walking now.
So why did I do it?
Well there are two reasons.
First, it is okay to lightly prune plants that are growing large this month. Now, my father-in-law’s Lantana really did not need to be pruned, but I knew it wouldn’t hurt them.
When pruning in August, I would avoid pruning more then 1/3. The reason is that as fall approaches (I know it’s hard to believe with temps still in the low 100’s), plants will continue to grow until the cooler weather arrives. So that nice-sized flowering plant can become too big by the time November comes around.
So if possible, I wouldn’t prune unless your plant is outgrowing its space. But, if you prune lightly in August, you should be okay until spring, when you can prune your plants back more severely.
The second and most important reason that I pruned back my father-in-law’s Lantana is because I love him and I know how much his garden means to him. I realize how hard it must be for him to not be able to do much of anything now.
After I was finished pruning back his Lantana (which really didn’t need it), I could see in his eyes how happy it made him. He typed “Thank you” on his iPad, which is how he communicates now. The software he uses actually ‘speaks’ whatever he types in.
Sadly, even now that is now hard for him to do. It is harder for him to type with his one finger, which is the way he has always typed.
Yesterday was my in-law’s 50th wedding anniversary. My father-in-law ‘texted’ my husband asking him if he could arrange to have roses delivered to my mother-in-law.
The words he asked to be put on the card were simple, yet communicated everything:
“Thank you, my love.”
That simple phrase brought tears to my eyes.
Summer To Do List
Do This….NOT That for the Red Yucca Plant!
Arizona garden, AZ Plant Lady, desert gardening, Landscape No-No, PruningThis is what (Hesperaloe parviflora)looks like when its flowering.
Every time I see a Red Yucca (Hesperaloe parviflora) in full bloom, I remember a disastrous pruning incident that still makes me laugh and groan at the same time….
Red Yucca Plant Pruning Disaster
I was working as a horticulturist at a golf course and I was fortunate to have a wonderful crew of landscapers. One of the landscaper’s was Abel. He was in charge of maintaining the clubhouse landscape grounds. One day, he came in to my office with a huge smile on his face and told me that in addition to the work that I had already assigned him, he had pruned some plants around the clubhouse and couldn’t wait to show me what a great job he did.
I went with him to see what he had done and when we got there, I just couldn’t believe it….. he had pruned off all the tops of the 30 Red Yucca (Hesperaloe parviflora) plants!!! I was in complete shock and standing beside me was a smiling Abel, whose was so proud of his work and who honestly did not have a clue that he had done something wrong.
This is what was left of one of the (Hesperaloe parviflora) plants.
Well, I didn’t have the heart to tell him that you never should prune the tops of Red Yucca leaves. But, I did tell him that he needed to check with me before he pruned anything else around the clubhouse.
This story has a happy ending…..the Red Yucca eventually grew back and Abel continued to work for me about a year with no further pruning disasters. He then left to go back to Mexico where he became mayor of his small town.
How to Prune a Red Yucca (Hesperaloe parviflora) Plant
Season for Red Yucca Pruning:
Prune the Red Yucca plant after the flowers have faded, typically in late summer or early fall.
Flowering Stalks:
Trim back the flowering stalks to the base of the plant using clean and sharp pruning shears. This helps maintain a tidy appearance and encourages new growth.
Simple Approach to Yucca Pruning:
Pruning Red Yucca is straightforward. Just focus on removing the faded flowering stalks and any dead or damaged leaves.
Avoid Cutting the Top:
Be cautious not to prune the top of the plant, as this can make it look unattractive and slow down its growth recovery. The crown of the plant should be left intact.
Red Yucca Minimal Maintenance:
Red Yucca is known for being a low-maintenance plant, and its pruning requirements are minimal. This makes it an ideal choice for a southwestern garden.
Pruning Tools:
Use clean and sharp pruning shears to make precise cuts, which promote quicker healing and reduce the risk of disease transmission.
Protective Gear in the Desert Garden:
Wear gloves and protective eyewear while pruning to shield yourself from the plant’s sharp leaves and any debris.
Sanitize Your Tools:
Before and after pruning, disinfect your pruning tools to prevent the spread of any potential diseases between plants.
Observe and Improve Structure and Plant Shape:
Take a moment to observe the plant’s overall structure and health before pruning. Remove only what is necessary for the plant’s well-being and aesthetics.
Careful Pruning:
If you’re unsure about pruning, start conservatively by trimming a little at a time. You can always prune more if needed, but you can’t undo an overly aggressive trim
Remember, Red Yucca is quite resilient, and with proper pruning, you can enhance its appearance and ensure its continued health in your southwestern garden.
So, have you seen any pruning disasters lately? I seem to be seeing quite a few….
Enjoying the Sun…..No Sunscreen Required