When you ask most people what they want in their garden, their most common answer is, “color”. One of the best plants that I like to recommend for warm-season color is the coral fountain. Also known as the firecracker plant (Russelia equisetiformis). It has beautiful, cascading foliage that resembles the movement of water. Deep orange flowers begin to appear in …
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Join Master Gardener Cathy Rymer and discover the secrets to successfully plant, irrigate and grow vegetables in our desert environment! You will also learn to tell the good bugs from the bad and how to safely eliminate the ones we don’t want in our gardens. This FREE Water-Smart Workshop will be held on Saturday, Sept. 9, from 9 to 11 a.m. in …
Read MoreBees, hummingbirds, and butterflies are just a few of the helpful pollinators flying through our landscapes. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, pollinators are responsible for assisting over 80% of the world’s flowering plants to reproduce. We depend on pollinators for the gardens we enjoy, plant materials we utilize, and the food we eat. Bees are by far the …
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Watershed Management Group wants to hydrate your neighborhood with our virtual landscape learning series! “Hydrate” is WMG’s free, 5-part, water harvesting project series offered throughout the Valley. Join us for Hydrate Surprise: Hydrate Your Plants! Learn how to create a beautiful landscape with native plants and trees. Attend the full series to build a comprehensive site plan for your landscape. …
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Calliandra, commonly known as Fairy Duster, refers to the beautiful stamens which make the tufted or ball-like flowers on these loosely branched shrubs. Their beautiful and vibrant colors range from pale pink to deep red. These small to medium-sized shrubs produce their flowers against a backdrop of finely divided, lacy-looking foliage. Fairy Dusters can be used in a wide variety …
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Texas Ebony is native to the lowland regions of the Gulf of Mexico from southern Texas to northeastern Mexico. The highly ornamental, glossy, dark green foliage is its most striking feature. This popular small to medium tree has flexible, zigzagged branches, and fragrant catkin-like spring flowers. The dense canopy is evergreen in lower desert regions. Texas Ebony, Ebenopsis ebano (formerly …
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Summer is here. Residents of the Southwest are no strangers to the heat, which not only affects our comfort but can be difficult for the plants in your garden. Thankfully, there are several things you can do to help your garden weather the heat of a Southwest summer. Southwest Gardening’s Noelle Johnson lives in the Phoenix area where summertime temperatures …
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Spruce Up Your Sprinkler System and Save! Spring has arrived! The onset of warmer weather can lead to an increase in landscape irrigation. Before you ramp up your watering, be sure to spruce up your irrigation system. System maintenance can help save you a lot of money and water! Cracks in pipes can lead to costly leaks, and broken sprinkler …
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Laura Miller, a Southwest Monarch Study citizen scientist and board member, will discuss how to attract Monarchs and other butterfly species to your garden. The numbers of Monarch butterflies are declining due to destruction of their natural habitat and difficulties during migration. You can help by adding native plants to your landscape or by creating Monarch way stations. Donna DiFrancesco, City of Mesa Conservation …
Read MoreDesert plants are challenged by hot and arid growing conditions. Water-wise gardening addresses their water needs and defines the best growing locations. But how can we be more confident that the timely pollination needed to set seeds, fruits, or nuts is accomplished? The answer is desert native bees, master pollinators of desert plants. The estimated 1,000 species of native bees …
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Envision your dream landscape. Does it have a rainwater-harvesting garden, rockwork, and basins overflowing with flowering native plants? How about a greywater system watering a fig tree or a buzzing pollinator garden? Once you’ve got the image, how would you bring it to life? Watershed Management Group (WMG) can help! Water harvesting rain gardens are basins that collect water and …
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Hydrate Your Food Use rain tanks to support your vegetable garden Rain tanks are like rain barrels, only upgraded: bigger, better, and your harvested rainwater lasts longer. While most rain barrels hold about 50 gallons of water, rain tanks can hold 1,000 gallons or more, capturing water from several storms and storing it for use over the course of many drier …
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