Get The Flower Garden Of Your Dreams!

 From seed or nursery transplants, in the yard, in containers or hanging baskets, flowers brighten our property and add to the pride of ownership. How do you plant warm-season flowers? Finding a spot with sunshine that you can also get a shovel into is a great start! Most colorful blooming flowers have much more tender roots than trees or shrubs so it is important that you have rich garden soil. 

Due to our poor native soil, it is best to add organic material like Paydirt™ Planting Mix or Humus Gro, with a liberal addition of Dr. Q’s® Gold Dust Starter Fertilizer. Install your flowers, water with a solution of Dr. Q’s Plant Tonic, fertilize monthly and enjoy! Container gardens are super too!

FAVORITE SEASONAL “Annual” VARIETIES:

 

Alyssum is a low, bushy, spreading plant covered with small fragrant flowers in shades of white, pink or purple. They self-sow readily and resprout in spring. Excellent in borders or mass plantings. Be sure you want them where you put them!

 

Begonia makes a colorful addition to any shady garden area. Bronze or shiny green, semi-succulent foliage is highlighted with delicate flowers in white, pink or red. Good in containers. Variety New Guinea is taller and bushier with larger flowers. Be sure this one has excellent drainage.

 

Buddy Purple has papery purple flower heads atop compact bushy foliage. Good for edging, beds or pots. Cut flowers are excellent in dried arrangements.

 

Celosia gives bright garden color in the hottest weather.  New Look has purplish red foliage and feathery, deep red flower spikes.  Plume Celosia has green foliage with feathery flower spikes in shades of yellow, pink and red. Makes an excellent full sun accent, border or background. Groom as needed to keep neat.

 

Cosmos is a delicate, fernlike plant with large, bright daisy-like flowers in shades of pink, purple, white, or lavender. It frequently reaches 3 feet in height and makes a good background or accent. Plants self-sow freely.

 

Impatiens give delicate color to shady areas, patio containers, atriums, and entryways. Succulent stems bear flowers in a wide variety of colors. Needs good garden soil and excellent drainage.

 

Lobelia makes an excellent trailing plant for shady containers, window boxes, and hanging baskets. In shady gardens, it makes a nice, compact accent or border. In varieties like Cambridge Blue and Crystal Palace, rich blue flowers contrast with bright green or bronzy green leaves. Other varieties may be pure white, pink or blue with a white eye.

 

Marigold comes in an endless variety of colors and sizes. From dwarf to giant, in colors of bright yellow, orange and red, this plant has always been a favorite of gardeners in the southwest. Equally, at home in containers or gardens, it self-sows readily. It’s great in full sun and better without overhead water.

 

Petunias are marked by large, trumpet-shaped flowers on compact, bushy plants. Shades range from pure white through purple, pink, red and bicolor. Some varieties are sweetly fragrant. Excellent in massed plantings, spring and fall; needs afternoon shade in summer to look good. May carry over in mild winters.

Vinca is a showy, glossy green, heat-loving plant with flowers in unusual shades of grape, raspberry, blue, red, rose, white and bicolor. Excellent in masses, as borders or spot accents. Avoid overhead sprinkling. It may return from seed next year.

 

Zinnia makes a spectacular addition to any summer garden. Ranging in size from dwarf to 3 feet or more, this heat lover produces flowers in nearly every shade imaginable. Good in pots; remove spent flowers to encourage repeat blooming. Avoid overhead sprinkling.

YEAR-ROUND “Perennial” FAVORITES:

Dianthus is a member of the carnation family that makes perfect mounds of color in spring and fall. Blooms off and on throughout the rest of the year. Shows nearly endless color varieties from deep red through pink, purple, white and bicolor. Will also grow well in part shade. Plant anywhere in the garden.

 

Dusty Miller is highly favored for its soft, silvery gray foliage. It’s excellent for formal borders and accents in traditional or desert gardens. Stalks of mustard-yellow flowers appear in summer. Remove them to keep the plant vigorous. This one is rabbit resistant!

Gazania is a bright, cheery, heat-loving plant available in trailing or clumping varieties. Trailing types make excellent ground covers while clumping plants are perfect for spot accents, masses or borders. Colors range from white to burgundy, yellow, orange, red and bicolor. Don’t over water this one!

 

Lantana is one of the most versatile, colorful plants available for our climate. Varieties include trailing, mounding, and bush with shades of purple, orange, yellow, red and multicolor. Use it as a ground cover, accent, border or clipped, low hedge. Prune in spring when new growth appears.

 

Pentas are wonderful, spreading, multi-stemmed perennials grown as annuals in our climate. Compact plants are continually covered with clusters of white, pink, lilac or red flowers. Superb as borders, masses or accents. Takes overhead watering better than most bedding plants.

Snapdragon is available in many colors and sizes. Dwarf varieties are excellent for masses, foregrounds, and borders. Taller varieties work well as background and accent plantings. All do well in containers. Self-sows readily and produces endless color variations due to cross-pollination.

For more information on Warm Weather Flower Gardening, check out Star Note #310.

10 Cool Season Flowers To Up Your Garden Game

Many people don’t consider flower gardens in fall because they believe it to be a short season.  After all, winter is coming.  Shrubs and trees go dormant and flowers 

don’t do well in the winter cold, right?

  Not exactly--winters in southwest deserts are traditionally mild.  There are a surprising number of flowering plants that like cooler weather and tolerate severe cold snaps as well. Not only are there flowers  that survive winter, but there are several that will

 blossom all winter and thrive in the cold weather.

 Here are some of our favorite annual cool season varieties:

Calendula is a compact plant with large yellow or orange flowers.  It does well planted in masses, borders or containers.  Clip spent flowers to encourage repeat blooming.  At its peak in late fall and early spring.

Carnation is very hardy, takes full sun and needs no protection in winter. Garden varieties normally seen as bushy, compact dwarfs, thrive under routine care. Shades range from scarlet through pink to white. Some are sweetly fragrant.

Cyclamen has unusual and beautiful blooms. It prefers light shade to filtered sun, is a low water user with good drought tolerance. Flowers range from white magenta, red and purple.

English Primrose is a classic, cool weather favorite that does very well in filtered sun to full shade.  Large-leafed and compact, it has flower stems in rich colors of yellow, pink, purple and white.  Plant in shaded areas where pansies, stock and kale would perform poorly.

Ornamental Cabbage and Kale are edible but prized for their deep colors of purple, pink and white.  The colder the weather, the brighter the colors!  Excellent in borders or masses; surround with smaller cool season flowers like pansies and violas.  Plant smaller specimens in fall, larger sizes in winter.

Pansy is a very popular, tough little plant available in nearly every color imaginable!  Majestic Giants have large flowers with “faces,” the Crown varieties have vivid colors without faces.  Plant these in fall through winter in any sunny spot.  Not bothered by the coldest weather.  Great in masses, borders or containers!  Pick spent flowers and pinch back occasionally to keep compact shape.

Stock is an old fashioned favorite known for its strongly fragrant flowers.  It blooms profusely in shades of purple, lavender, pink and white right through the winter and into late spring.  Midget or Green Leaf Stock is a short variety with brighter flowers.  Trysomic or Seven Week Stock is taller and bushier.  Use the tall varieties for background color and shorter varieties as borders or mixers.

Viola resembles a miniature pansy with loads of purple, yellow or bicolor flowers atop pansy-like foliage.  It’s delicate, tough and attractive.  Plant in borders or masses, or mix with other cool season flowers.

Here are some of our favorite cool season (perennial) varieties:

Dianthus is a member of the carnation family that makes perfect mounds of color in fall and spring.  Deadhead after blooming. Shows nearly endless color varieties from deep red through pink, purple, white and bicolor.  You’ll even get summer blooms if the plant has some afternoon shade. In the winter Dianthus will stay green and healthy, but you are not likely to see many flowers. Will also grow well in part shade.  Plant anywhere in the garden.  

Snapdragon is a winter specialist! You will have blooms from September through May. Can survive summers if it develops deep roots or gets afternoon shade. Snaps are available in many colors and sizes; Dwarf varieties are excellent for masses, foregrounds, and borders.  Taller varieties work well as background plantings.  All do well in containers.  Self- sows readily and produces endless color variations due to cross pollination.

For More Information On Planting Cool Weather Flowers, Check Out Star Note #305.

Stunning Herb Garden Ideas You'll Want to Steal

We recently visited the Herb Garden at the Cooperative Extension Botanical Gardens and took a tour of the many different varieties of herbs grown as a demonstration for what's possible in our desert climate.

Any misconceptions about

 growing herbs in a hot, dry place, would surely dissipate upon entering the herb garden courtyard that is maintained by the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension's Master Gardeners. 

The area is full of inspiration and is a perfect example of how careful placement and design can yield beautiful results.

This unique setting allows for morning sun and afternoon shade, ideal for growing herbs.

Interplanting of flowers allow for great pollinator activity and a thick layer of wood mulch on the ground suppresses weeds while holding moisture near the plants to conserve water. 

The are some fun and creative ways to use containers for growing herbs mixed into the garden.

A  potted bird bath is a double feature for growing Variegated Lemon Thyme while providing much-needed water for when our feathered friends come to visit.

 

A spiral support for potted herbs is a great idea for gardening in tight spaces, such as patios or balconies.

A short walk further into the demonstration garden, past the masses of Penstemon and the scent of Chocolate Flower, leads you to rows of various herbs surrounded by large shrubs of Lavender.

The Master Gardeners are growing several different varieties of Lavender in this area, as well as multiple varieties of other herbs like basil, oregano, and sage.

The garden was designed in such a way that no matter where you are standing, you are overwhelmed with the brilliant contrasts of foliage as well as an assortment of color from the flowers of annuals or perennials mixed with the flowers of the herbs themselves.

The addition of scent from the leaves of the herbs as well as the flowers is intoxicatingly fresh, leaving you with an overall sense of relaxation and well-being.

Herb gardening has many benefits that reach beyond the visual aesthetic of the plants, and with a little care, consideration, and planning, you can reap the many health and wellness rewards of having your own herb garden oasis.

Click here for more information on the Cooperative Extension Botanical Gardens or here for the UNCE Master Gardeners.

Don't forget to take a look at our Star Note #215 Growing Herbs In The Desert!

The Best Way To Celebrate National Pollinator Week!

We're celebrating National Pollinator Week with a round up of our most popular pollinator posts!

Easy Summer Flowers

Perfect Plants To Attract Birds and Butterflies

Flowers That Give More Each Year

How will you celebrate?

Perfect Plants To Attract Birds & Butterflies!

Butterflies and birds provide a source of enjoyment and education for many of us.  

Here are some of the plants, usually found in this area, that attract them.

For Butterflies:

Butterfly Bush

Buddleia davidii

It's all in the name!

This variety reaches 5 x 5 feet with clusters of fragrant dark purple flowers in summer. Likes full or part sun well-drained soil and moderate water. Cut back heavily in early spring. Feed with Dr. Q's Rose & Flower Food.

Halls Honeysuckle

Lonicera japonica 'Halliana'

Vigorous fast-growing vine with fragrant white and yellow flowers that attract many butterflies. Used on walls fences or trellises, good ground cover on slopes. Full sun any soil and deep infrequent water once established. Prune heavily in early spring.

For Birds: 

Chilean Mesquite Tree

Prosopis chilensis

This complex hybrid is the most frequently used landscape variety.  Grows rapidly to 20 x 20 feet and produces a seed pod that provides food for birds. Young trees may have thorns. Best in full sun with good drainage and deep infrequent water. Prune to open canopy and prevent wind damage.

Prickly Pear Cactus

Opuntia phaecantha

Spreading spiny variety to 4 x 10 feet! It has large yellow flowers followed by rose-red fruit in late spring and early summer that the birds will love. Give this one some room in any desert landscape. Deep water every 2 weeks; withhold water in winter.

For Hummingbirds:

Autumn Sage

Salvia greggii

Hummingbirds adore this popular desert shrub! It grows to 3 x 3 feet and has tube shaped red flowers most of the year. Also comes in coral, pink, white and purple. Plant in full sun amended well-drained soil, water moderately. Prune after bloom cycle to keep active.

Cape Honeysuckle

Tecoma capensis

This vigorous heat-loving vine is a winner to attract hummingbirds in the cooler months. It grows to 8 x 8 feet and has clusters of red- orange tubular flowers in spring thru fall; colorful accent. Prefers amended well-drained soil and moderate water. Prune as needed for form and control. Protect from frost & freezing.

For more plants that attract wildlife to 

your yard see Star Note #545.