Tag: landscape design
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Summer Challenges of landscaping in the low desert
introduction to hot weather thinking Put very simply, the key is “Right Plant, Right Place”. The start of my career in horticulture came when I was hired at a plant nursery down the street in Fountain Hills AZ. I was a nursery tech and customer service employee primarily, because without plants and customers there is…
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Tips for landscape curb appeal
February is a month that tends to make a boring garden look its worst. The common reliable landscape shrubs like oleander, bougainvillea, and lantana are barely blooming if at all. Texas sage is deeply asleep so any gaps in the landscaping are very obvious. The good news is this is a great month to install…
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Arabian Lilac
Vitex trifolia ‘Purpurea’ is an interesting small tree that could be used more often in the Phoenix area. Drought tolerant and fast growing, the arabian lilac looks nice in a wide range of situations. It has white bark and noticeably purple undersides to light green leaves. The leaves smell peppery when crushed. The visual effect…
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Seasonality and February blooms
The first spring flowers are here- Or rather the late winter flowers are here. This time of year is a little awkward in terms of seasonal color in the garden. All the warm weather flowers are quiet and the spring flowers haven’t quite woken up yet. We still have a few option though. The seasonality…
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Blue and purple flowers for spring
The desert is full of cheerful yellow color every spring due to the abundance of brittlebush, palo verde, and countless other daisies and ornamentals. These warm colors are great but they don’t fit every situation or garden, and sometimes we want contrast. These shrubs and annuals bloom during spring and potentially longer. Arizona bluebells –…
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Spotlight: The Splendid Argentine Giant Cactus
If you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will go its whole life believing it is stupid. So the saying goes. It means that different creatures have their own abilities and certain environments where they can thrive. Just like one person might excel in one situation and struggle very much…
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Spotlight: Tangerine Crossvine – vigorous, colorful, dependable
I’ve been using a fair amount of tangerine cross vine in my plantings, and it’s not a mystery why. I can make a compelling argument for planting it in Phoenix gardens with only a few basic facts. It seems like a good choice already for many back garden walls and sitting areas. But let me…
Paige Maloney | Arizona Landscape Designer 