The desert cities in Central Arizona have withstood 22 years of ongoing drought without imposing emergency conservation measures, such as those California ordered in 2015. Much of the credit goes to a groundbreaking piece of legislation called the Arizona Groundwater Management Act. The 37-year-old law is responsible for Arizona’s reputation as a leader in water management. The true story of …
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Creosote Bush, Larrea tridentata is the perfect plant for us to feature during these hot summer months. It’s one of the toughest plants you’ll find, and with a little extra water, they are green and attractive in the landscape! Description – What does the Creosote Bush look like? Whenever it rains in the desert, Creosote Bush lends a distinctive fragrance …
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Lovely, white blossoms of not one, but two different types of cordia, add welcome beauty to the arid landscape throughout the warm season, including summer. Cordias are large shrubs that are underused in the garden and deserve more attention due to their ability to thrive in full sun and shrug off the summer heat. Their evergreen foliage looks great all …
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FIRST, A BRIEF DISCUSSION OF SCIENTIFIC NAMES Before we start talking about these beautiful groundcovers, we want to briefly discuss plant names with you. The botanical name given to plants is often referred to as the “scientific name” or “Latin name.” Each plant has a name made up of two parts, a generic (or genus) name and a specific epithet …
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This past November, after months of planning and hard work, the Drab to Fab Backyard Rehab Xeriscape landscape install was finally completed! By the second weekend in December, our winner, Lisa O., was celebrating with friends and family with a backyard barbecue at her Avondale home! And that, my friends, is what having a beautiful and functional backyard landscape is …
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The Drab to Fab Backyard Rehab landscape is getting closer to groundbreaking. You might remember that Lisa (our backyard rehab winner) visited both a Xeriscape Demonstration Garden and a local nursery to look at plant materials. However, another important shopping trip to take before you break ground is to a landscape materials supplier… you know… rock yards and paver companies …
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In last week’s video, you were introduced to our winner, Lisa Osborne, and saw her sad and drab backyard. So we’re excited in our second video to start formulating our ‘fab’ plan for our featured backyard rehab winner! In this segment, Lisa Osborne, our Drab 2 Fab Backyard Rehab winner, consults with Janet Waibel, a landscape architect with Waibel & Associates …
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Caesalpinias make the landscape come alive with color. Their large bright flowers provide vibrant color for long periods of time. The shades of yellow, fiery red, and orange contrast with the feathery foliage. Commonly called bird of paradise, they range in size from medium shrubs to small trees. They thrive in the desert heat and can survive on little supplemental …
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I have a confession to make – I have a love-hate relationship with information technology. In the era of the “smart” meter, the “smart” home, and the “smart” device, there are times that I have trouble keeping up with its relentless pace. However, what I notice about my personal use of “Information Technology” is its reflection of my life – …
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Are you willing to take a risk with your landscape investment? Whether you’re the type of person who loves a do-it-yourself project or you’d rather hire a pro, making the switch to a beautifully designed and installed Xeriscape landscape is a visible investment that can be very rewarding and lead to a substantial return. Finding the right resources to help …
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Oenotheras, also known as Evening Primrose, are spreading or clumping groundcovers, native to the plains, grasslands and deserts of North America. They have large, showy four-petaled flowers in pink, white, or yellow, and create carpets of bright color in desert landscapes. Oenotheras are generally night-blooming plants, but most will stay open until midday. These widely adapted plants can be used …
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Cassias are native to the warm regions of Australia and Africa. Many of the Australian and North American species previously called Cassia have been reclassified to the genus Senna. However, these plants are still widely sold in our local plant nurseries under the scientific name of Cassia. Most cassias have fine textures foliage and bloom from late winter through spring. Most …
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