 No winter lasts forever; no spring skips its turn. -Hal Borland
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Durable, Delectable Nasturtiums
I can't think of better annual flowers than nasturtiums. Not only are they fast and easy to grow — a bonus where the growing season is short — but they look and taste good, too. To provide quick summer color, I plant nasturtiums at the ends of raised beds or along the edge of a flower border. |  |
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How to Grow and Care for Agaves
Agaves are known for their incredible durability in arid climates and have been used as a source for fiberand fermented beverages for centuries. More recently, agaves have also been appreciated, bred and selected for a variety of attractive ornamental features. |  |
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Growing Strawberries in Small Spaces
Strawberries have a reputation for being hard to grow and requiring lots of space. Many gardeners picture strawberry farms with rows and rows of strawberries. But strawberries don't require lots of room to grow and in fact, they can thrive in small pots and planters sited on a deck or patio. |  |
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Creating a Butterfly Garden
Butterflies bring an added dimension to your landscape. Lured by scent and color, they visit certain plants to feed on nectar. Create a welcoming landscape by including butterfly-friendly plants and features. |  |
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Bountiful Basil
Ever since I received some basil seeds as a gift, my garden has never been without a generous planting of basil. No other herb is so exuberant and so useful. You may pick a sprig of rosemary or thyme, but you'll pick an armload of basil. |  |
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Here's to Rose of Sharon
Rose of Sharon is a large, summer-flowering shrub that reliably brings pleasure and beauty, whatever the weather dishes out. She's a hardy plant with gorgeous blossoms that needs little care -- what's not to love? |  |
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Make Your Own Compost
While compost can be purchased, making your own is easy and has numerous benefits besides helping you grow healthy plants. You'll need to purchase less fertilizer, for example, and you'll keep plant material out of the landfill. |  |
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Together with Victory Seed Company It was once true that you couldn't really grow watermelons if you don't have plenty of space, but not anymore! Check out Cal Sweet Bush F1 watermelon. The vines of this tiny plant max out at less than 2 feet long, and can be grown in any small space, even containers. Just give it plenty of sunlight, water and fertilizer, and you will be eating your own homegrown watermelon this summer. Each plant will produce at least one watermelon, but how does it taste? The All-America Selections judges in the Great Lakes region awarded it the 2019 AAS Winner award and said it delivered exceptional taste and texture. Victory Seed Company sells this exciting variety along with all the other awesome veggies for your 2023 garden.
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Tobacco Sage (Salvia dorrii)
Plant Habit: Herb/Forb, Shrub
Life cycle: Perennial
Sun Requirements: Full Sun
Water Preferences: Mesic, Dry Mesic
Minimum cold hardiness: Zone 5a -28.9 °C (-20 °F) to -26.1 °C (-15 °F)
Plant Height: 8 to 36 inches
Plant Spread: 24 to 36 inches
Leaves: Unusual foliage color, Fragrant, Other, Semi-evergreen
Flowers: Showy, Other
Flower Color: Bi-Color
Bloom Size: Under 1"
Flower Time: Late spring or early summer
Suitable Locations: Xeriscapic
Uses: Windbreak or Hedge
Wildlife Attractant: Butterflies, Bees
Resistances: Deer Resistant, Rabbit Resistant, Drought tolerant
Pollinators: Bees, Bumblebees, Moths and Butterflies
Awards and Recognitions: Other
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Desert Marigold (Baileya multiradiata)
Plant Habit: Herb/Forb
Life cycle: Perennial
Sun Requirements: Full Sun
Minimum cold hardiness: Zone 7a -17.8 °C (0 °F) to -15 °C (5 °F)
Plant Height: 6-18 inches
Plant Spread: 6- 9 inches
Flowers: Showy
Flower Color: Yellow
Bloom Size: 1"-2"
Flower Time: Spring, Summer, Fall
Suitable Locations: Xeriscapic
Uses: Will Naturalize, Suitable as Annual
Resistances: Deer Resistant
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Southwestern Mock Vervain (Glandularia gooddingii)
Plant Habit: Herb/Forb
Life cycle: Perennial
Sun Requirements: Full Sun, Full Sun to Partial Shade
Water Preferences: Mesic, Dry Mesic, Dry
Minimum cold hardiness: Zone 7a -17.8 °C (0 °F) to -15 °C (5 °F)
Plant Height: 12 inches
Plant Spread: 24 - 36 inches
Leaves: Evergreen, Other
Flowers: Showy, Fragrant
Flower Color: Pink, Lavender
Bloom Size: Under 1"
Flower Time: Spring, Late spring or early summer, Summer, Late winter or early spring, Other
Suitable Locations: Xeriscapic
Uses: Groundcover
Wildlife Attractant: Birds, Hummingbirds, Butterflies, Bees, Other Beneficial Insects
Resistances: Drought tolerant
Containers: Suitable in 3 gallon or larger, Needs excellent drainage in pots
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Chuparosa (Justicia californica)
Plant Habit: Shrub
Life cycle: Perennial
Sun Requirements: Full Sun
Water Preferences: Mesic, Dry Mesic, Dry
Minimum cold hardiness: Zone 9a -6.7 °C (20 °F) to -3.9 °C (25 °F)
Plant Height: 3 to 5 feet
Plant Spread: 1 to 5 feet
Leaves: Deciduous
Flowers: Showy
Flower Color: Yellow, Red, Other
Bloom Size: 1"-2"
Flower Time: Spring, Late spring or early summer, Summer, Late summer or early fall, Fall
Suitable Locations: Xeriscapic
Edible Parts: Flowers
Eating Methods: Raw, Cooked
Wildlife Attractant: Birds, Hummingbirds
Resistances: Drought tolerant
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Parry's Beardtongue (Penstemon parryi)
Plant Habit: Herb/Forb
Life cycle: Perennial
Sun Requirements: Full Sun
Flowers: Showy
Flower Color: Pink
Bloom Size: Under 1"
Wildlife Attractant: Hummingbirds, Bees
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 Photo by Valery33
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 Photo by mainstreet
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 Photo by dave
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 Photo by Valery33
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 Photo by kniphofia
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 Photo by scvirginia
"photo by dogtooth77 via Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/53817483@N00/33704036303/"
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 Photo by floota
"ORANGUTAN"
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 Photo by LorettaNJ
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 Photo by LorettaNJ
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 Photo by gwhizz
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The numbers from this week:
330 members joined.
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 A garden must combine the poetic and the mysterious with a feeling of serenity and joy. Luis Barragan
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