Archive for “hummingbirds” Tag

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Firecracker Penstemon: What’s Not to Love?

February 9, 2026

This month’s Plant of the Month blog spotlights another standout selection from the newly revised Cool Plants for Hot Gardens by Greg Starr — a must-have guide for any desert gardener! With 150 water-wise picks perfect for the Southwest, it’s no surprise we’re big fans here at Water – Use It Wisely. One of our favorite features? Greg’s playful deep dives into the etymology (the origin of …

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Plant of the Month: Pollinator-Friendly Plants are All the Buzz

March 6, 2025

Bees, 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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Plant of the Month – Eremophila ‘Valentine Emu’ and ‘Outback Cupid’

February 3, 2025

Our February Plant of the Month blog features a plant description from a recently revised book, Cool Plants for Hot Gardens by Greg Starr! In his book, Greg features 150 water-smart choices for the Southwest – it’s no wonder why we like the book so much here at Water – Use It Wisely! He includes a fun category of the …

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Plant of the Month: Chuparosa

December 2, 2024

The Hummingbird’s Choice Award goes to … Chuparosa! If Arizona’s hummingbirds could vote on a state flower, it would be Chuparosa (Justicia californica). A mainstay of most wildlife gardens, this long-suffering desert beauty asks little and gives much.  It can be grown long and lanky, spindly branches vining into trees — or pruned to take on a more civilized appearance. …

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Goodyear’s Plants that Attract Hummingbirds and Butterflies

September 29, 2020

Goodyear’s Water Conservation Fall Class Series What could be more enchanting than colorful pollinators fluttering through your garden? Discover habitat needs and best plants to incorporate into your garden for attracting pollinators, as well as plants that allow them to complete their life cycle. Taught by Jonathan Manning, certified arborist.

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Plant of the Month: Fall Planting for Spring Blooms

November 21, 2019

Spring wildflower season is one of the desert’s most colorful periods. But planning for those multicolored displays in the spring requires planning in the Fall. The prime time to plant spring flowers in the low desert areas of southern Arizona is during late September through early December. Most spring-blooming wildflowers benefit from the cold temperatures of winter and begin their …

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Plant of the Month: Chuparosa | Plants for Birds – Part 2

April 16, 2019

The Hummingbird’s Choice Award goes to … Chuparosa! If Arizona’s hummingbirds could vote on a state flower, it would be Chuparosa (Justicia californica). A mainstay of most wildlife gardens, this long-suffering desert beauty asks little and gives much.  It can be grown long and lanky, spindly branches vining into trees — or pruned to take on a more civilized appearance. …

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