Brush Cherry, or Carolina Laurel is a pretty, dependable garden shrub that grows quickly into screens or hedges. These shrubs can grow up to 30 feet tall and 10 – 12 feet wide. I have seen mature stands of Carolina Laurel grow even taller. Carolina Laurel is versatile too, growing in full sun to part Read More…
Category: gardening
Hot Pink Flowering Bougainvillea
Here’s a quick late night Friday Floral for you; the bougainvilleas are blooming here in southern California, and putting on quite a show. Their colors can range from purple to reds, pinks or white, but my favorites are the hot pink versions. This one is climbing over a fence in my neighborhood. Once they get Read More…
The Allure of Black Roses for Halloween
Happy Halloween! Many of us are getting our pumpkins carved and the candy ready for trick-or-treaters. And perhaps some of you will be getting or giving a bouquet of black roses. For anyone who is wondering about the history of these mythical roses I found a wonderful article for you by one of my fellow Read More…
Fall Planting Tips: 3 Flowering Succulent Plants For Drought Tolerant Gardens And Containers
Succulents are plants that are able to store water in their stems and leaves, enabling them to live for long periods of time without water. They are similar to cactus but without the thorns (usually). This is a very large grouping of plants with many different colors, leaf shapes and growth habits. Most flowering succulent Read More…
Fall Planting Time: Four Flowering Shrubs for Dry Southwestern Gardens
Fall is just around the corner and for gardeners in the southwestern US, it is a great time to think about planting perennial, flowering shrubs. This is also a great time to plan out your landscape for next year, including preparing for more drought! Benefits of planting in autumn is a little extra free water Read More…
Texas Ranger; Brave Bloomer in Hot Dry Gardens for #FloralFriday
This brave plant currently blooming in 100 degree heat is called Texas Ranger or Leucophyllum frutescens. It is also one of the oddest plants I have grown, but more about that later. After a few years of getting established it is really blooming this year. Most Leucophyllums have purple flowers with more of an open Read More…
Amazing Aechmea; Unique Urn Plant Pink Prickly Posies
Can you identify this photo? No, these are not the tendrils of a sci-fi monster, or the top of a giant pink bug. Anticipation has been crackling in the air over here since this aechmea flower was discovered emerging from one of the urns in my silver urn plant. It was a few years ago Read More…
Delicate Flowering Crape Myrtle Lagerstroemia for Hot Weather Gardens
Here in Los Angeles, the Crape Myrtle Trees begin blooming around April and are still in bloom now in July, despite the 100 degree heat wave. These perennials are known for their beautiful clusters of flowers that look like crinkles of crepe paper. Colors come in bright white, dusty pinks, neon reds onto pink and Read More…
Three Quick, Easy Shade Ideas to Keep Plants From Burning in Hot Summer Gardens
During the heat of summer even plants who like full sun may need a little break. If it has been in the 100’s for a few days, like it has here in Southern California, the plants will be starting to show the stress. Your first impulse may be to water them more. Sometimes that helps Read More…
Growing Kalanchoe for Drought Tolerant Gardens or as House Plants
You may not think of kalanchoes as succulent plants, but they are. Kalanchoes are another member of the Crassulaceae or Stonecrop family. They are reliable dry garden bloomers known for their bright flowers. Most varieties are perennial and evergreen, making them perfect candidates for my hot, dry landscape. Their flowers bloom in small bouquets of Read More…