Do you like shopping for plants?  I do.  In fact, I often find myself tempted to buy more plants than I have space for. Southwest Nursery Sometimes, I have come home with a plant I bought on impulse, unable to resist its lovely flowers. It may surprise you to find out that there are potential pitfalls to avoid when shopping at the nursery, such as unhealthy plants, not allowing for enough room in the garden for plants, and buying plants that may be ill-suited to your area. Before you head out to the nursery to add plants to your garden, I invite you to learn some helpful tips to ma ..read more

Gather Flower Seeds, Red globe mallow (Sphaeralcea ambigua) Did you know that some flowering desert perennials can be grown easily from seed? Many of the plants in my garden are volunteers that grew from seed from established plants. I have several ‘parental’ plants in my front garden, along with their babies that have come up on their own with no assistance from me. Pink globe mallow  My favorite perennials that grow from seed are my colorful globe mallow (Sphaeralcea ambigua).  The most common color seen in globe mallow is orange. However, they also come in other colors, such as ..read more

I am always on the lookout for unique landscape design, seeing how others create beauty in the garden so that I can help inspire you with your outdoor spaces. So, here are some design notes from the field that I found that I hope you will find useful. REFLECTIONS: Often when walking through the garden, I find myself pausing to admire the view of a garden’s beauty reflected on a window. It is much like looking at a landscape in a mirror, which expands on its beauty while making it appear even more extensive. SUCCULENT NOOK: On a visit to a client’s landscape, I noted a unique way that they d ..read more

Budget Gardening For those of us who love succulents, there is a price to pay. These water-wise plants often cost a lot of money. If you have a bottomless wallet, that may not be a problem, but for those of us who live on a budget and want to include these lovely plants in our landscapes, it can be a problem. Thankfully, there is something that you can do in many cases to turn one succulent plant into several. I’ll show you how I did this when I bought a ‘Blue Elf’ aloe, which I had wanted for a long time. ‘Blue Elf’ aloe is a more compact aloe that is quite popular. Like most aloes, it does ..read more

Backyard desert landscape with low-water plants. Did you know that what you plant today has short-term and long-term benefits? It’s true. As water resources become even more precious, planting wisely is more important than ever. You will enjoy the immediate effects of lowering your outdoor water use while enjoying the knowledge that you are creating a sustainable outdoor space for the future. Another benefit is that low-water plants are beautiful and increase your outdoor enjoyment. So, let’s discuss four ways of “planting ahead” to ensure that your desert landscape is resilient for years to c ..read more

I love winters in the desert. It’s a time when activity in the garden slows down and we can sit back and ponder what plans (if any) we have for this new year. As I sit in my office looking outdoors at my winter garden, I see birds visiting my feeders and the stark winter beauty of my trees. And, I am excited about what 2024 will bring – both professionally and in the landscape areas around my home. While the colder temperatures mean less work in the garden, there are some projects that should be done in winter: Winter Garden Tasks Prune deciduous trees, if needed. This includes ash, Chinese ..read more

I love to grow vegetables in my backyard. Nothing beats the flavor of vegetables that you grow yourself, and it is fun and rewarding. That is, until you notice unwelcome insect pests causing damage to your edible crops. In the low to mid-desert regions, we are fortunate to be able to grow vegetables and herbs throughout the entire year. But that also means that we need to be on the lookout for unwelcome visitors.  Recognizing what insects are eating our plants and how best to get rid of them can be one of the hardest parts of growing vegetables. However, there is help! Susan Mulvihill is ..read more

 It’s about to get really cold… Well, cold in this area of the desert southwest.  Temperatures are predicted to dip into the 20s for a few days, which is quite cold for zone 9a. As a result, I am being asked by quite a few people about what they should do to prepare their semi-tropical plants for the cold temperatures. The best thing you can do is to cover your frost-tender plants.  This helps to trap the heat that rises from the ground, which raises the temperature by a few degrees around your plants. Earlier this week, I wrote about how to protect your plants during a normal ..read more

Thoughtful Gardening Gifts: Ten Must-Have Items I love to spend time out in the garden, but it may surprise you to learn that I don’t have a garden shed full of tools, fertilizer, and other gardening items. Full Disclosure: I USED to! As a garden influencer, companies send me their newest tools and fertilizers in hopes that I will recommend them to my followers. As a result, my garage was overflowing with so much stuff! Simplifying the Essentials: Gardening Gifts That Made the Cut And you know what? I found that I only need a few must-have items that make great gardening gifts. As a result, my ..read more

Exploring the Largest Therapeutic Garden in Arizona Discover Arizona’s Largest Therapeutic Garden in Bisbee. Explore healing outdoor spaces and inclusivity at this remarkable resource and heal your soul. On a recent visit to southeastern Arizona, I was invited to visit a special garden in Bisbee, a small community with a big heart. The Significance of the Founder’s Garden My husband and I visit Bisbee every spring and enjoy walking through the older part of town with its historic buildings and exploring the mining history. A Healing Oasis in the Desert During this visit, I was to speak about g ..read more