Deane Alban 
Yellow orchid vine is a deceptively tough vine that sports charming clusters of orchid-shaped flowers and butterfly-shaped seed pods. Here’s how to plant and care for this Sonoran Desert native. … Read more
Knowing your area’s last frost date is something that every gardener and homeowner should know. It can keep you from inadvertently damaging or killing your plants. But most “last frost … Read more
If you’d love a shrub that looks like a Texas ranger but stays compact without pruning and blooms nearly year-round, consider blue bells emu, an Australian native that looks much … Read more
Many desert plants have spiky leaves and grow in a rosette. Have you ever looked at a plant and wondered, “Is that an agave or a yucca?” Discover how these … Read more
Baja spurge is a delicate-looking shrubby succulent that’s desert-tough. When in bloom, it has fragrant flowers that look like small cherry blossoms! Here’s how to plant and care for this … Read more
Cat’s claw vine is often grown to cover blank desert garden walls. It does that extremely well, but at a cost. Here’s everything you need to know to decide whether … Read more
Bulbine is a charming, compact plant that has a surprising number of applications in the desert landscape. But for all its attributes, it’s not used as often as it could … Read more
Most desert landscape shrubs are pruned more frequently than needed. This makes them less attractive, and is bad for their health and longevity. There are 5 good reasons to prune … Read more
Sunny yellow trumpet-shaped flowers and emerald green leaves make Carolina jessamine an eye-catching vine. It’s native to the Southeastern US, but grows well in the desert. But before you plant, … Read more
Mexican evening primrose is a perennial ground cover that’s blanketed with delicately beautiful pink flowers when in bloom. But be forewarned — it can be deceptively aggressive. Here’s how to … Read more
Do you live in the desert, but love the feel of the tropics? Do you like to grow plants that are out of the ordinary? Then consider sago palm, a … Read more
There’s a long-standing belief that putting landscape fabric or weed barrier over the soil will prevent weeds. While it may work temporarily in some situations, there are many reasons it’s … Read more