Follow Jeff on Twitter for daily garden tips and news!

• 
  
  

  

  Here are some very helpful tips for designing a garden. No time like now!

• 
  

  Designing a garden with color in mind; hints, tips and guidelines

http://birdsandbloomsblog.com/2012/01/13/garden-design-using-conrasting-colors/

• 
  

  Garden Design using cool colors

http://birdsandbloomsblog.com/2012/01/11/garden-design-cool-colors/

• 
  

  

  The Xerces Society is a nonprofit organization that protects wildlife through the conservation of invertebrates and their habitat. Pollinators need you to grow these plants!

http://allthedirtongardening.blogspot.com/2012/01/pollinators-need-you-to-grow-these.html




• Garden Design using warm colors

http://birdsandbloomsblog.com/2012/01/09/garden-design-warm-colors/

Gardening on the Moon, www.gardeningonthemoon.com, originally published this post

Written by Jeff

Follow Jeff on Twitter for daily garden tips and news!

© Jeff Ross and www.gardeningonthemoon.com, 2000-2075. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts of 50 words or less and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Jeff Ross and www.gardeningonthemoon.com with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

As I have mentioned in prior posts and tweets, this has been a relatively mild winter our corner of the Sonoran Desert and all around the United States from what I can tell by watching the national weather forecasts.

This has produced some interesting results. We have plants in flower and bud at least two weeks ahead of previous years. Although I don’t think it has anything to do with the weather, we were excited to see our Agave murpheyi send out its floral spike (panicle) which should produce yellow-green flowers followed by bulbils.

Interestingly enough we didn’t notice the panicle until it was 45 inches tall as in the picture above

The picture below was taken approximately one week later. It grew more than 11 inches (to nearly 56 inches in height) in that week. I can’t wait to see how tall it gets. I will continue to post pictures as the “spike” continues to grow and mature.

Agave spikes can become very large. Here is a photo of a mature spike getting ready to bloom at the Mariott Hotel near the Desert Ridge Mall in Phoenix.

To get a sense of the size, here is the same plant with a car in the foreground.

They are very impressive and some people leave the spikes on the dead or dying plant for a long time to add interest and drama to their landscape. I know the birds appreciate having such a nice elevated perch!

Gardening on the Moon, www.gardeningonthemoon.com, originally published this post

Follow Jeff on Twitter for daily garden tips and news!

• 
  
  

  

  Seed Starting 101 – Start with Part II and if you want to learn about selecting seeds and the difference between Heirlooms and Hybrids, look at Part I

• 
  

  Many elementary school students learn the importance of trees in helping to provide more oxygen and clean air. This post provides an interesting look, via NASA Map, of those areas of the US with the greatest density of trees. It was a bit surprising to see how relatively few areas have a great quantity of trees. Check the link supplied in the article for a better look!

http://inthegarden.marthastewart.com/2012/01/17/seeing-the-forests-for-the-trees/

• 
  
  

  Cold-Weather Compost. Keeping the compost cooking through winter in any region. When living in New Jersey, this was a problem I had to confront. Make sure to check out all parts via link at the bottom of each page!

http://www.organicgardening.com/learn-and-grow/cold-weather-compost

• 
  

  

  Find out where Fine Gardening (Magazine/Web Site) and staff will be visiting this January, February and March. Some topics are listed for your consideration as well.

http://www.finegardening.com/item/18242/fine-gardening-on-the-road-2012-edition

• 
  

  The folks at rodale.com recommend several foods to avoid. Click the link in the upper-right side of the page to go to the next tip. While I can’t say “never” eat these foods, some very good questions are raised and I am sure most of us do eat some of these apparently less-than-healthy foods as explained in the article (some of the time it is the packaging and not the product).

http://www.rodale.com/7-foods-you-should-never-eat

Gardening on the Moon, www.gardeningonthemoon.com, originally published this post

Written by Jeff

Follow Jeff on Twitter for daily garden tips and news!

© Jeff Ross and www.gardeningonthemoon.com, 2000-2075. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts of 50 words or less and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Jeff Ross and www.gardeningonthemoon.com with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

I am continuing my discussion to the winter garden in the Sonoran Desert. I began the discussion here.

One of the plants that does very well in this area is the Pansy. They enjoy the cooler weather and because we will most likely receive only a light frost or none at all, they should do well until next spring.

Another winter winner in this area is the decorative kale. In the picture below, we use a green bottle as a sun catcher to help add color to the garden.

Here we use the pot-on-pot technique to keep the kale out of the reach of rabbits and javelinas.

The Desert Botanical Garden (DBG) uses kale in their winter displays too. Here is a picture of a lacy variety against a wall.

Kale also does well in a planter arrangement as seen at the DBG.

Pansies can be used quite effectively with kale as long as the colors coordinate.

For the holidays, appropriate ornaments can be used in conjunction with kale to add to the festive atmosphere.

Some of our “garden standards” continue to do well because of the higher than normal temperatures. The double purple Datura continues to produce flowers, but they are not as robust as the summer blooms. I think we will remove the plant and rejuvenate the soil for next year’s plantings.

Gardening on the Moon, www.gardeningonthemoon.com, originally published this post

Follow Jeff on Twitter for daily garden tips and news!

• 
  
  

  

  An Appropriate New Year Wish from Water When Dry

• 
  

  2011 Garden Photo Contest Winners. Some real beauties. Click on the small pictures to enlarge them. [ Picture shown above was NOT from the contest and NOT a winner.]

http://www.hortmag.com/gardens-and-gardeners/2011-garden-photo-contest-winners

• 
  
  

  Happy New Years Rehash 2011 – Some interesting garden ideas from former posts that may have been missed. This post is definitely worth another look.

http://www.faroutflora.com/2011/12/31/happy-new-years-rehash-2011/

• 
  

  

  An interesting hummingbird camera. Mostly they sit and preen, but still interesting. Mom visits nest. Ignore the chat in sidebar which often has nothing to do with the streaming pictures. [ Link via http://birdsandbloomsblog.com ]

http://phoebeallens.com/

• 
  

  From Chiot’s Run – Good looking and good tasting popcorn. Who knew growing your own could look this good?

http://chiotsrun.com/2011/12/31/enjoying-the-fruits-of-our-labor-2

http://www.finegardening.com/item/21712/the-one-essential-thing-to-know-when-pruning-climbing-roses

Gardening on the Moon, www.gardeningonthemoon.com, originally published this post

Written by Jeff
Non-GOTM pictures credited by hover notes – move cursor over image

Follow Jeff on Twitter for daily garden tips and news!

© Jeff Ross and www.gardeningonthemoon.com, 2000-2075. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts of 50 words or less and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Jeff Ross and www.gardeningonthemoon.com with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

As deserts go, the Sonoran desert may have a bit of an identity problem. It is one of the more moderate deserts in the world. It does get approximately 10-12 inches of rain a year and the temperatures, at times, are quite moderate. As a matter of fact, the Sonoran Desert does get snow and frost from time-to-time.

As you can imagine, we plant heat-loving plants in the desert because of irrigation concerns during the hot, hot summer. Unfortunately, those heat-loving plants don’t like the cold. Take our long-flowering summer, 2011 favorite, morning glory bush.

Here it is after a few cold evenings. Not necessarily freezing, but in the low 30′s.

You might recall what it looked like from an earlier post HERE!

We flirted with freezing temperatures a couple of evenings where it may have dipped to 32.

Our potato vines didn’t fare much better

This is our fifth winter in the desert and for three of those winters, we didn’t have any hard freezes. When the weather turns in December, we try to plant some frost-tolerant plants that help us maintain season-long color in our garden areas.

One cool weather star is decorative Kale. Of course we also have to deal with the Javelina who don’t read the labels that say DECORATIVE Kale and will enjoy it if they can get to it; ditto for the rabbits.

We removed the morning glory bush and planted the Kale in that large, raised planter. We also put some pansies in the planter to add additional colors. I did most of the digging, root removal and soil refresh while my wife, Mary, performed the detail work of restoring the mulch and watering the newly planted treasures!

When we were finished we had replaced the dead plant with a very pleasant, frost-tolerant arrangement.

Gardening on the Moon, www.gardeningonthemoon.com, originally published this post

Follow Jeff on Twitter for daily garden tips and news!

• 
  
  

  

  Is Aquarium Water Liquid Gold for Your Garden? Apparently there are groups of people who think so and if the Native Americans used fish to fertilize their plants perhaps there is something wonderful about this by-product!

• 
  

  Hedge your bets by letting shrubs grow together if they were initially planted too close. BONUS – Snickerdoodle recipe included in the post!

http://www.azplantlady.com/2011/12/crowded-shrubs-and-pizza-night-at.html

• 
  
  

  A compendium of organic gardening resources. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is really the way to go to avoid chemical residue and help our people and our planet remain healthy. Scroll down to see the list of resources and ideas!

http://www.vegetablegardener.com/item/11644/collection-of-successful-organic-controls

• 
  

  

  
  Physocarpus opulifolius ‘Center Glow’ from Monrovia (not pictured above). This is a lovely performer in the correct zones during the Fall.

  “A mounded, vase-shaped, Ninebark cultivar that typically matures to 6-8’ tall and as wide, and is most noted for its attractive foliage.” Also highlighted is the more shrub-like ‘Seward’ Summer Wine and ‘Mindia’ Coppertina for zones 3 – 8. Appears to be especially well suited to erosion control!

http://allthedirtongardening.blogspot.com/2011/12/ninebark-physocarpus-opulifolius.html

• 
  

  8 ways to make a small garden look big. A few tricks can help make a small area look big. Using paths and other techniques, the garden can offer a number of “areas” to increase the feel of depth.

Gardening on the Moon, www.gardeningonthemoon.com, originally published this post

Follow Jeff on Twitter for daily garden tips and news!

The first two frosts have hit our garden (more about that in a later post). It didn’t freeze by much, but my heat loving, sensitive desert plants have suffered.

Before the frost, the spring-like weather rejuvenated many of the garden specimens.

Here is the Madagascar Palm, one of my favorites.

Of course it really isn’t a palm tree at all, it just looks like one and the animals don’t bother it.

The green potato vine also “took off” once the cooler weather hit the scene. It enjoyed the sun and cooler evening temperatures.

We also purchased a purple potato vine to sit on top of our Chimera (outdoor fireplace) and it too is doing very well.

A follow up post about after-the-frost conditions to follow in a couple fo weeks!

Gardening on the Moon, www.gardeningonthemoon.com, originally published this post

Follow Jeff on Twitter for daily garden tips and news!

• 
  
  

  

  “…time to join Donna at Garden Walk, Garden Talk with a Word 4 Wednesday post. This week’s words are Texture and Pattern and Donna’s post is full of great garden design information with fantastic photos to illustrate that information.”

• 
  

  Great Native Shrubs: Fothergilla ‘Mt Airy and ‘Blue Shadow’ for consideration for those living in Zones 5-8 +/- (please do some further investigation for your planting zone if interested).

http://serenityinthegarden.blogspot.com/2011/11/great-native-shrubs-fothergilla-mt-airy.html

• 
  
  

  A San Francisco garden with removal of an agave Americana and pictures of other interesting plants. Highlighted are the Gilia tricolor “Birds Eyes” which are stand outs and Erysimum franciscanum var. crassifolium. Removing a mature Agave is not for the faint of heart. Wear goggles and gloves!

• 
  

  

  Green roofs have gained in popularity for the aesthetics and the energy savings they provide. This entry provides reflections in building a green roof.

• 
  

  Torchglow Bougainvillea – Too bad the rabbits and/or javelinas seem to think it is food. They ate the leaves off of the plant pictured above in two weeks.

http://gardeningandthespanishway-rohrerbot.blogspot.com/2011/11/lighting-torches.html

Gardening on the Moon, www.gardeningonthemoon.com, originally published this post

Written by Jeff
Non-GOTM pictures credited by hover notes – move cursor over image

Follow Jeff on Twitter for daily garden tips and news!

© Jeff Ross and www.gardeningonthemoon.com, 2000-2075. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts of 50 words or less and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Jeff Ross and www.gardeningonthemoon.com with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

A couple of weeks ago I noticed our orange Justicia had “thrown in the towel.” This was a problem plant from the day I brought it home and I should have left this particular pot at the garden center. The roots were never completely below the soil line. They were slightly above the level of the soil almost like a “walking” tree, but I thought I could remedy this by burying it deeper over time. It never seemed to work and this bush, that should be sturdy, needed constant staking.

It was beautiful when in full bloom and the humming birds enjoyed it.

Our experience with the Morning Glory Bush ((Ipomea Fistulosa Carnea) has been a positive one. As long as it is given enough water, it continues to bloom throughout the summer and is relatively problem free. Having a bouquet of medium-sized pink flowers to look at every day in the searing desert heat is no small feat and is much welcomed!

We grew one in a large pot and it received sun in the morning and filtered sun the rest of the day. This specimen grew large; over six feet tall. It also flowered earlier than the full-sun plants. The reasons for this large growth could be the lack of competition from other plants, the more than ample water supply or the partial shade. I must say that the size of the plants grown in full sun is more preferable.

We were finally able to solve the problem of the birds destroying the coconut fiber mats we used in our hanging baskets. I will try to prepare a post about this next planting season. Here are a couple of pictures of our purple potato vines on a double shepherds hook with the Bush Morning Glory in front.

The double purple datura has survived a bout of white fly to flourish in the cooler weather of our Sonoran Desert autumn!

Gardening on the Moon, www.gardeningonthemoon.com, originally published this post

Follow Jeff on Twitter for daily garden tips and news!

• 
  
  

  

  Putting the garden away for winter – For an avid gardener, taking care of the garden in the Fall in preparation for winter may be an involved task, but here are some hints that might prove useful.

• 
  

  Succulent Bar - Succulents are so much fun. While they don’t always bring an abundance of flowers, their leaf forms and color varieties certainly add to the “textures” in the garden. In return, they don’t ask for much care. One garden center is capitalizing on the increasing popularity of succulents.

http://www.faroutflora.com/2011/10/29/diy-succulent-bar/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=diy-succulent-bar

• 
  
  

  Seed Savers Exchange Part I – Chiot’s Run website provides a visit to Seed Savers Exchange while describing their mission of saving heirloom seeds. We often use vegetable seeds that may have been hybridized from heirloom plants. Where will we be if we need to “strengthen” the genetic pool and these strong heirloom plants are gone?

  Don’t forget to click on the link for part II on the bottom of the post.

http://chiotsrun.com/2011/09/22/visiting-seed-savers-exchange-part-i/

• 
  

  

  Many of us choose several plants that have spent the summer outdoors to bring inside to hold over for next year or to brighten the home during the off-season months. Fern Richardson offers some quick hints to get those plants ready to go on vacation for winter.

http://www2.fiskars.com/Activities/Gardening/Articles/Container-Gardening/Prepping-Potted-Plants-for-an-Indoor-Winter-Vacation

• 
  

  Looking for Roses? Roses continue to be very popular plants. If you have any interest in selecting a rose for a garden, this is your chance to find the best choice. Here’s an article about a website that currently catalogues over 41,000 roses and has more than 130,000 photographs. Read about it by clicking on the link below!

http://www.finegardening.com/item/21240/help-me-find-roses-the-single-greatest-rose-resource-we-have-and-need-to-support

• 
  

  Ginny’s Garden reminds us that we should enjoy each season. Many would rather not have winter and be outside all of the time, but Fall and Winter have their personal charms. During the non-gardening months, it is time to recharge and to read books and CATALOGS!

  There is a nice quote by Thoreau to start the post!

Gardening on the Moon, www.gardeningonthemoon.com, originally published this post

Written by Jeff

Follow Jeff on Twitter for daily garden tips and news!

© Jeff Ross and www.gardeningonthemoon.com, 2000-2075. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts of 50 words or less and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Jeff Ross and www.gardeningonthemoon.com with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

You have probably heard the formula for a successful container garden: The Thrill, the Spill and the Fill. The objective is that you have some spectacular plants which usually are in the center or in the back of the container (Thrill), some plants flowing over the edge (Spill) and others that just fill in the blank spots to complement the composition.

I must confess, that even in the landscape, I love the spill. There is something about a vine trailing across the hardscape or dangling gracefully over planters that I truly love as long as they don’t overwhelm the space.

Here is a recently planted Agave with Snail Vine trailing around the raised planter:

Another shot from a higher angle

Sorry for the lighting, but the sun was very bright and caused some exposure problems.

We had some succulents in that particular planter, but the Javelina would visit our courtyard to dig them out and eat them so we decided to put in an Agave pup that was growing from one of our existing plants. The Javelina don’t like them at all!

Here is another “spill” type setting with our yellow and purple Lantana and the thrill is the large Saguaro in the background. There are times when there are no blooms on the Lantana and within a week, it is covered.

Now that the cooler weather is here, our Snail Vine has really picked up the pace and has begun to flower more. It is graceful as an individual specimen and provides plenty of the “spill” on its own.

Unfortunately, not everything is thriving in our desert garden. Do you remember those old Westerns where there seemed like they had fields of Golden Barrel cactus baking in the sun? Well, we have discovered that not all of the Golden Barrel cactus like to have full exposure. Here is one of our specimens that is dying from the bottom up even though I have given it supplemental water; too bad!

Gardening on the Moon, www.gardeningonthemoon.com, originally published this post

Follow Jeff on Twitter for daily garden tips and news!

• 
  
  

  

  Leaf Magazine – Apparently a new offering with inspiration about gardening and outdoor design. The first issue is free to review online. I am not sure about the following issues. There are some interesting ideas within these pages and I think it is worth a look. Click the “Expand” button to see a readable view of the magazine!

• 
  

  The New York Times addresses the manageable fantasy of growing a tree indoors to make an oasis of spring in a Minnesota home. I think readers will find this an interesting and amusing article. What tree would you select to grow under these circumstances?

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/20/garden/the-indoor-tree-a-tall-green-slip-of-summer.html

• 
  
  

  Martha Stewart offers some ideas for container gardening to keep the growing spirit all year long!

http://inthegarden.marthastewart.com/2011/10/19/container-strategies-for-any-time-of-year/

• 
  

  

  In the Sonoran Desert area, almost everyone has a strong opinion when it comes to Bougainvillea. Gardeners either love them or hate them. I do like them, but so do my critters and I have already gone through three. I don’t know if I will try another, but I think they offer great beauty for the money and the amount of gardening energy they require.

http://birdsandbloomsblog.com/2011/10/18/bright-colorful-bougainvillea/

• 
  

  Why a lack of perfection in the garden may not be a bad thing or how to avoid burn out and keep your gardening mojo!

http://www.gardeninggonewild.com/?p=18899

Gardening on the Moon, www.gardeningonthemoon.com, originally published this post

Follow Jeff on Twitter for daily garden tips and news!

© Jeff Ross and www.gardeningonthemoon.com, 2000-2011. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts of 50 words or less and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Jeff Ross and www.gardeningonthemoon.com with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

One of the more pleasant events in the life of a gardener is going out to the garden early in the morning which is much like every other morning in the garden except there is a SURPRISE!

So there it was. Can you see it in the photo above? Well, here is a better picture once I moved some leaves out of the way. This might be the sister plant to the one above, but it was still a surprise.

They are flowers on my dark sweet potato vine. Although these plants are grown primarily for their leaves, it is nice to see a flower and a pretty flower at that!

I first wrote about my Madagascar Palm in September of 2008 so I thought I would bring the readers up to date. It has done well. It spends the winter in the garage with very sparse watering. During the hottest part of the summer, it gets watered twice a week, but will soon be curtailed at once per week.

I was visiting a gardening friend a couple of weeks ago and she had a five foot tall Madagascar Palm with three heads. When I exclaimed that I had never seen one with three heads, she indicated that it was due to frost damage. The growing tip died and acted like a pinching back!

The weather has moderated a bit so I planted some Angelonia in with the coral bells which really do sufer during the hot part of the summer. It hangs in there, but struggles. Now the Angelonia shades the croal bells from the sun and provides a nice splash of color.

Sorry for the dust on the blue bottle. We use colored bottles to add additional color. When the sun hits, it provides a nice color profile on the patio!

I recently saw Agave Confederate Rose which reminded my much of my favorite; Agave parryi var (pictured here). truncata. It is a “miniature” or at least small agave and I wanted to get one. My friend allowed me to take some immature pups. Here they are and it has been nearly three weeks and they seem to be doing fine! I will follow up as they grow.

I hope your garden is doing well. We will be back in the triple digits as this is posted, but the major heat has gone and the second gardening season is under way. I send my wish for sunny and mild weather (at least for a while)!

Gardening on the Moon, www.gardeningonthemoon.com, originally published this post

Follow Jeff on Twitter for daily garden tips and news!

• 
  
  

  

  Earth Kind Roses – The next big step. Read about them here – http://www.finegardening.com/item/20960/beyond-knockout-the-next-generation-of-garden-roses and at the Texas AgriLife Extension Service – http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/earthkind/roses/

• 
  

  Water When Dry talks about some triumphs and some tribulations in the Phoenix garden. My heart goes out to her since I live in the same area. What a summer even by desert standards!

http://waterwhendry.blogspot.com/2011/09/summers-almost-gone.html

• 
  
  

  They’ve got to be nuts – The World’s 10 Most Unusual Nuts!

http://webecoist.com/2011/10/04/crunch-time-the-worlds-10-most-unusual-nuts/

• 
  

  

  Low light houseplants – This might be a reprise for some readers; sorry!

http://www.hortmag.com/weekly-tips/qa/houseplants-for-low-light

• 
  

  Carrots can be a bit tricky to grow. Here are some hints for next year’s crop.

http://chiotsrun.com/2011/10/04/tips-for-growing-great-carrots/

Gardening on the Moon, www.gardeningonthemoon.com, originally published this post

Written by Jeff
Non-GOTM pictures credited by hover notes – move cursor over image

Follow Jeff on Twitter for daily garden tips and news!

© Jeff Ross and www.gardeningonthemoon.com, 2000-2011. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts of 50 words or less and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Jeff Ross and www.gardeningonthemoon.com with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

One of the joys of gardening is trying new techniques and cultivating new plants. These are always learning experiences. I have spoken about the Morning Glory Bush (Ipomea Fistulosa Carnea) and although the packet directions indicated that it liked water, it didn’t say three to four gallons a day!

Anyway, this plant has produced flowers every day throughout the heat of the desert summer which is quite a feat even with those water demands. I did keep the seed pods clipped, but will now let a few develop so I can harvest new seeds for next year.

Here are a few other lessons I learned from my Sonoran Desert Gardening Experience during the summer months which had more than 30 days above 110 degrees; that’s hot!

Lesson 1 – Whiteflies can become quite a problem

Almost every year our Lantana attract some whiteflies. Until this year, they stayed in their own neighborhood and didn’t bother any of the other plants. This year, this year they exploded on to the Double Purple Datura. Look at the leaf above. This picture was taken several days after the systemic was applied and the carcases of the whiteflies can still be seen

The plant has now recovered and is in full bloom with the arrival of the below 100 degree weather. I used a Bayer systemic that was specifically formulated for whiteflies. Because we don’t receive much rain, I chose to use a liquid. Our poor verbena did not like the whiteflies or the systemic and are probably going to be replaced.

Lesson 2 – Agaves don’t mind the heat and pups are abundantly produced.

We have a number of agaves and they all need to be de-pupped if that is a word. Our Agave Murpheyi (above) has produced a good number of pups which you can see in the foreground of the picture. They are small, but numerous. They go around the entire plant and I would estimate that we have at least 20 on this one plant. Get the protective eye wear ready!

We also have a beautiful variegated agave (above) [ when we purchased it, the name given was Agave angustifolia 'Marginata' ] that was damaged during last winter’s frost and it too has created a number of pups. If they are not removed, they will destroy the form of the mother plant and become unsightly. If that happens, one could just yank out the mother plant and nurture one of the pups. In the second photo, the pups are enclosed in the yellow rectangle and the orange circle.

More lessons from our Sonoran Desert Garden to follow. Happy Fall gardening!

Gardening on the Moon, www.gardeningonthemoon.com, originally published this post

• 
  
  

  

  Twice as pretty – Arisaema dracontium, or green dragon. This is an unusual woodland plant that I have never seen before. The fruit looks very attractive and in the wild, appears like a large strawberry although I am fairly certain it is not edible!

• 
  

  A chain link fence in all of its glory; dressed up for passersby. I particularly like fences with blue morning glories. What could be better? These are very nice as well. HINT - Click on sidebar pictures and then click to enlarge!

http://www.finegardening.com/item/20830/a-chainlink-fence-transformed

• 
  
  

  Solar Food Drying – Now that the crops are coming in and the fruits are on their way, perhaps drying some for the future would be of interest. Using a solar dryer is a very green move!

http://gardentenders.com/projects/868

• 
  

  

  Taking care of the hummingbird feeders and the hummingbirds. Here are some tips to keep those teeny birds healthy and well fed!

http://chiotsrun.com/2011/09/15/when-do-i-take-down-my-hummingbird-feeder-in-the-fall/

• 
  

  A nice picture of a rustic potting bench (not the one pictured here). Doesn’t if put you in the gardening mood just looking at it?

http://contentinacottage.blogspot.com/2011/09/wonderful-potting-bench.html

Gardening on the Moon, www.gardeningonthemoon.com, originally published this post

Follow Jeff on Twitter for daily garden tips and news!

© Jeff Ross and www.gardeningonthemoon.com, 2000-2011. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts of 50 words or less and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Jeff Ross and www.gardeningonthemoon.com with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

I have written about our perennial squabbles with the desert wildlife (pun intended) namely rabbits, ground squirrels and javelina. I don’t want to give short shrift to the birds as the Cactus Wrens, a most curious and precocious species, do their fair share of trouble making followed by the Woodpeckers who happen to like some of the same plants I do.

I am ALWAYS on the lookout for a plant that will meet my botanical (if that’s the correct term) criteria AND won’t be tempting for the pests above. We have tried plants that people have nearly guaranteed are rabbit-proof, but somehow we always select the tasty variety.

I was looking down the road the other day and I spotted this:

I don’t know if you can see it, let me get a bit closer…

It is Desert Senna. It doesn’t get any drip irrigation and lives solely on whatever rain happens to come its way. I think the flowers which, at times, are abundant are very pretty.

Because it is not cultivated, it sets seeds and is not trimmed so the specimens pictured might not be display quality, BUT (and here it is) none of the animals bother it!

I am told that these probably do so well because when it does rain, the cement of the road traps the water and allows them to get their fill. I can just imagine what they may look like under cultivation and eyed with admiration!

The Plan – I have gathered some seeds and I am going to try growing some of the Senna for use in my landscape. I am told that they will be popping up all over, but I really don’t care at this point. I will put some in pots too just to see how they do.

TO BE CONTINUED SOME TIME IN THE FUTURE….

Gardening on the Moon, www.gardeningonthemoon.com, originally published this post

Follow Jeff on Twitter for daily garden tips and news!

© Jeff Ross and www.gardeningonthemoon.com, 2000-2011. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts of 50 words or less and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Jeff Ross and www.gardeningonthemoon.com with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

• 
  
  

  

  Dealing with white flies – These garden pests can be pretty annoying. There are some plants in my gardens such as Lantana that seem to be natural attractors. The Lantana is so vigorous and strong that the insects don’t appear to do much harm so I generally let them be. The problem arises, however, when they “move to a new neighborhood!” At that point, I am more likely to intervene with some action. The referenced article has several worthy tips for the gardener who is dealing with a white fly problem!

• 
  
  
  Metal in the garden - My wife and I enjoy touches of whimsy AND some metal artwork in the garden. We are particularly fond of artwork made of ReBar, but we like other artistic metalwork as well. Here are some ideas for inspiration.

http://greenforks.com/2011/08/metal-in-the-garden/

• 
  
  

  Cats down on the farm (click pics in sidebar) – We have an “indoor cat,” who has only touched the ground outside on three or four occasions and two of them were accidental. We enjoy visiting gardens with cats AND we prefer that they are belled to protect the birds and other garden creatures.

http://www.finegardening.com/item/20415/the-cats-of-atlock-farm

• 
  

  

  New Dwarf Butterfly Bush – My favorite plant smell is the Gardenia. They are intoxicating (IMHO). My second favorite might be a Buddleia or Butterfly Bush. I describe them as a “sugary” smell. I don’t know how else to explain it. I know many butterflies and bees enjoy their sweetness as well. Although I haven’t seen a traditional butterfly bush growing in any of the gardens in the Sonoran Desert area, I sure would love to try this one!

http://gardening.lohudblogs.com/2009/02/26/new-dwarf-butterfly-bush/

• 
  

  Longwood Gardens in PA has installed new public restrooms that are apparently a big hit with the public. Check out the link below to see what you think!

http://www.finegardening.com/item/20512/the-coolest-public-restrooms-on-the-planet

Gardening on the Moon, www.gardeningonthemoon.com, originally published this post

Written by Jeff

Follow Jeff on Twitter for daily garden tips and news!

© Jeff Ross and www.gardeningonthemoon.com, 2000-2011. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts of 50 words or less and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Jeff Ross and www.gardeningonthemoon.com with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

As you may recall, we had a few very cold days this past winter. In the desert, one prepares for such an eventuality by having frost cloths/blankets on hand. We had quite a few, but not enough to cover everything!

One group of plants we did NOT cover were the Texas Sage bushes we had and of course they suffered frost damage. Additionally, we hadn’t trimmed them in several years which may have made them more vulnerable.

My wife and I are polar opposites as it relates to trimming plants. She likes trimming and I don’t. I like to maintain their natural shape with very modest cuts here and there while my wife is, how shall we say, a very enthusiastic trimmer. In any event, we make a fairly good team.

After examining the frost damage, we decided to do “drastic” spring trims on these bushes and if they didn’t make it, we would replace them. So… off we went. Trying to be as careful as we could to cut the bushes symmetrically and leaving enough green growth to nourish the plant.

Below is the picture of one of the Texas Sage bushes that had gotten out of control and damaged.

In the middle you can see some new green growth. We will try to cut away the dead, gray branches and leave the green.

There is much dead wood needing to be trimmed from around the new growth.

Here’s another view from the top.

Let the cutting begin… (The first cut is the hardest!)

CLIP

As you can see some of the inner (older) branches were quite thick.

CLIP

CLIP

CLIP (We were able to use the small hand trimmers for more detailed work.)

CLIP

Here is that same plant taken within the last several weeks

NOTE – As the plant matures, the leaves take on more of a gray-green color.

© Jeff Ross and www.gardeningonthemoon.com, 2000-2011. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts of 50 words or less and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Jeff Ross and www.gardeningonthemoon.com with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Gardening on the Moon, www.gardeningonthemoon.com, originally published this post

Follow Jeff on Twitter for daily garden tips and news!

© Jeff Ross and www.gardeningonthemoon.com, 2000-2011. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts of 50 words or less and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Jeff Ross and www.gardeningonthemoon.com with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

• 
  
  

  

  This “Daisy” is driving me crazy! (Boltonia) – “Boltonia is a delightful flowering plant for casual garden settings. It can take some shade, needs minimal water, and blooms late summer to fall, shaking off humid nights like the native it is.” What more can I add? Read about this “causal” plant at the link below!

• 
  

  Make a hanging planter out of a car jack stand – While I haven’t tried a car jack stand, I have seen some unusual hanging baskets made from pieces of clothing, boots, salad baskets, etc. This is very unique and may provide further inspiration for you!

http://agrowingobsession.com/?p=20548

• 
  
  

  Adventures in pickling – Here is a post with pictures about a gathering of picklers (is that a word?). If you have any inclination to pickle some goods, this post may be just the right ticket!

http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/95623

• 
  

  

  Growing coleus from seed – Coleus have come along way. In the 1960′s there were only three or four varieties on the market as far as I can remember. Now the colors, shapes, leaf forms, etc. have undergone dynamic changes. You can grow this family of plants from seed as this post explains!

http://gardentenders.com/projects/836

• 
  

  Stressing some succulents actually enhances their performance – This post explains how some plants produce positive results (from the gardeners point of view anyway) from being stressed. See the pictures for yourself!

http://www.gardeninggonewild.com/?p=17919

© Jeff Ross and www.gardeningonthemoon.com, 2000-2011. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts of 50 words or less and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Jeff Ross and www.gardeningonthemoon.com with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Gardening on the Moon, www.gardeningonthemoon.com, originally published this post

Written by Jeff

Follow Jeff on Twitter for daily garden tips and news!

We have a variety of wildlife visiting our gardens and this has provided some interesting problems. The coyotes appear to be dwindling in numbers. We generally see them several times a week, but this year they have been infrequent visitors and the abundance of rabbits and ground squirrels tells the tale. We have taken measures to counteract some of the dining habits of these critters. You might recall that we talked about Javelinas here:
http://www.gardeningonthemoon.com/2010/12/13/out-of-javelinas-reach-part-i/

The birds are generally no problem except as I will mention below regarding seedlings. Here is a family of quail stopping by for a drink.

We have had problems with desert gardener enemy number one pictured below which has made this an exasperating year!

The rabbits have been out of control this year probably because the coyotes have been few and far between. We have dealt with the rabbits in the past and my attitude has always been (and still remains) live and let live, but they aren’t letting me live the way I want! Not only that, they have been a bad influence on the other animals such as the ground squirrels which aren’t shy about venturing on to the patio!

The ground squirrels and the rabbits have discovered that they can hop or crawl into our large potted plants and dine at the “salad bar” whenever they want. This is the first year they became fond of our Purple Potato Vine. This is what they have done

We tried a variety of tactics such as covering the plant with plastic netting, but the ground squirrels would find their way through. We tried raising the planter on top of another pot, but they still climbed or hopped into the plant.

After contemplating many options, I had a mild brainstorm. OK, it was just a drizzle, but in the desert that is counted as a storm.

We hate working in and around the Chollas because of their very sharp spines. We have tons (well perhaps not real tons) of fallen pieces under our Cholla plants. Why not use them to keep out the critters? We grabbed our tools and gathered them in our Homer buckets.

We carefully placed the Cholla pieces around the plant with the tweezers and a pair of pliers.

After a couple of days, we began to see improvement and over time we saw a great deal of improvement.

This solved the problem and I am happy to report that our Purple Potato Vine is doing very well and has some flowers. I think the critters have gotten the idea that they are not wanted.

We decided to use the same tactic with our Morning Glory Bush pictured below.

We have to protect our seedlings by using plastic shoe boxes with a cutout. We place netting over the cutout. Birds will eat the seedlings too if we don’t take extra care.

Of course we have also waged war against the hornworms this year which seem to love our Datura. Here is one I pulled off of a plant several weeks ago. At least they are gone after a time.

Here’s hoping that the worst is over for this year, but one never knows. That’s what makes gardening so much of a challenge (and fun)!

Gardening on the Moon, www.gardeningonthemoon.com, originally published this post

Follow Jeff on Twitter for daily garden tips and news!

• 
  
  

  

  The Appeal of Rock Gardens – I like rock gardens because they add a strong tone to the landscape. I have often favored hardscape in my garden design. Another benefit of rock gardens is that there are less plants that need care, but the point of interest can still be strong.

• 
  

  Plumerias - This is an amazing family of plants. The beauty of the flower can be awe inspiring. There are gardeners who specialize in growing these beauties. Some plumerias have wonderful fragrances as well.

http://notsoangryredhead.blogspot.com/2011/07/plumeria-love.html

• 
  
  

  Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens – I hadn’t heard of these gardens, but after viewing this post, I will be sure to visit if I am in the area. There are many wonderful plant combinations to inspire gardeners to try at home.

http://www.faroutflora.com/2011/07/27/mendocino-garden-madness/

• 
  

  

  Day lilies are garden favorites. What they lack in longevity, they often make up for in numbers. A mature day lily garden can bloom for months and provide vistas of grandeur!

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/claudia-ricci/day-lilies-teach-life-les_b_899806.html

http://www.gardeninggonewild.com/?p=17997

• 
  

  Corn Mazes Can Be A-maize-ing — But Are They Art? (PHOTOS, VIDEO) – Some of these are amazing! I have always wondered how these are constructed so precisely. Now I have a better understanding. I couldn’t do it, but I have an appreciation for how it is done!

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/07/26/corn-mazes-art_n_907395.html#s314461&title=Amazing_Corn_Mazes

Gardening on the Moon, www.gardeningonthemoon.com, originally published this post

Written by Jeff

Follow Jeff on Twitter for daily garden tips and news!

There is no way around it, dry heat or not, it is very hot in the Sonoran Desert in the middle of the Summer. Of course, this is also known as the “Monsoon Season” so it isn’t necessarily a DRY heat this time of year either.

Even with the difficulties of gardening during the hot summer, there is at least one bright spot and it is in the picture below.

Did you see it on the left-hand side of the baker’s rack? The second shelf from the top. It is that crest of pink. It is a Mammalaria!

Let’s get closer.

Closer…

Very Close!

This group, of generally smaller cactus, uses this time to put on their show. All the Mammalarias in my garden are the same variety. We rescued them from the surrounding desert property we own.

NOTE – Nobody should go into the desert and harvest native plants. It is illegal in most cases!

I can’t be certain of the exact species of Mammalaria, but it is my guess that it is Mammillaria grahamii. It looks exactly like it, but that isn’t the appropriate criteria so I will say that it may very well be Mammillaria grahamii.

Here is a picture of the entire plant in the pot so you can see the form of the flowers on the plant.

Even the spines create an interesting pattern when they are observed carefully!

I often refer to these as “crowning jewels” because when a mature Mammalaria blooms, they often encircle the entire cactus forming a crown. Doesn’t this one look fantastic?

When growing in an uncultivated situation, they often form clusters like the example below.

The “domes” develop right next to each other and form a clump. I like them better as individual specimens, but in nature, they are more likely to be in a group.

Here is more information about this particular plant.

http://www.fireflyforest.com/flowers/3/mammillaria-grahamii-grahams-nipple-cactus/

Gardening on the Moon, www.gardeningonthemoon.com, originally published this post

Follow Jeff on Twitter for daily garden tips and news!

• 
  
  

  

  Every gardener needs to find some plants that can stand up to a number of adverse circumstances whether it is a particular pest or troublesome location, etc. Here are a couple of plants that fit that bill and can take some punishment.

• 
  

  This article contains remedies for a significant number of pests. I particularly like the use of everyday products that can be put to work in and around the garden. Check your medicine and kitchen cabinets.

http://www.finegardening.com/how-to/articles/thirty-five-pest-disease-remedies.aspx

• 
  
  

  After reading this article, I decided that I “better know the Giant Hogweed” indeed. The plant looks so inviting and interesting. It is a shame that it has some potentially dangerous side effects. Have you ever heard of Giant Hogweed? Prior to this article, I was unfamiliar with this plant.

http://www.buzzfeed.com/gavon/better-know-your-giant-hogweed

• 
  

  

  Rooftop gardens are gaining in popularity. With precious urban real estate commanding huge prices people are eager to find new spaces and green spaces are especially welcome. The NY Times shows readers some pictures and an interesting article about this phenomenon.

Pictures here http://nyti.ms/jLdnUS and article here http://nyti.ms/lFDReJ

• 
  

  Gardeners don’t often think of DRY shade when they address the issue of shady gardens. Generally speaking, shady areas are more moist than others, but it only stands to reason that some areas that receive less light might also receive less water as well. The short article below presents some ideas for dealing with the dry shade garden.

http://www.loghouseplants.com/blogs/greengardening/?p=478

Gardening on the Moon, www.gardeningonthemoon.com, originally published this post