Southwestern Deserts
February, 2010
Regional Report
National News - From NGA Editors
Spooky New Peppers
Halloween can come early to your garden this year. The Agricultural Research Service of the USDA has developed two new hot pepper cultivars that will add an eerie note to your vegetable or...
More Garden Darkness
Black leaves arent the only means of bringing a dusky note into your garden. Some plants have flowers of such a deep color as to appear almost black. One such beauty is the Black Lenten Rose (...
Helping Our Native Pollinators
By now, most of us have heard of the threat to honeybees from colony collapse disorder, a mysterious ailment that can decimate entire hives, and the concern over the impact of this decline on our...
Ocean, Lake and River Friendly Gardening
Ever stop to wonder where all the excess fertilizers and pesticides used on lawns and gardens end up? A lot of it makes its way to nearby waterways, causing pollution and algal blooms that deplete...
In the Garden
Building Healthy Garden Soil
In my previous report, I covered the basic characteristics of desert soil, explaining that native soil is great for growing native and desert-adapted landscape plants, with no amendments needed. However, if you wish to grow annual vegetables, flowers...
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Resources
Shows & Events
Annual Arizona Tree Climbing Championship Enjoy a day of family activities at Boyce Thompson Arboretum in Superior, AZ, including an...
Favorite or New Plant
'Shimmer' evening primrose Vibrant yellow flowers of this aptly named perennial do seem to shimmer in the sunlight....
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Regional Reminders
- Plant Cool-Season Vegetables
- Watch for Cabbage Loopers
- Finish Pruning
- Rotate Houseplants
- Transplant Tomatoes
