Dannette Hunnel The parties are done, the decorations are down, and the holidays are over. We step outside and find our yards looking a little bland. Yet there are a few cold nights and even colder mornings yet to come. So, what to do to add color to your landscape? Petunias! While autumn is a…
Dannette Hunnel While the temps are still high in September (75-degree mornings, low 100s in the afternoons), we can still occupy our green thumbs with a few neat projects. September is a good time to plant agave, cacti, and yuccas in full sun and, also, herbs such as cilantro, parsley, dill, fennel, and chives (either…
Dannette Hunnel Marigolds are a good flower choice for Sun Lakes summers. These plants are native to Southwestern USA and Northern Mexico, as well as plentiful and highly valued in India; therefore, it’s well known that marigolds are well-suited to desert and arid regions. Marigolds are bold, bright, and very interesting flowers, having symbolic meanings…
Dannette Hunnel The dianthus plant thrives in Sun Lakes during January. Even after cold, rainy days, they remain bright and healthy, kicking off the new year with pretty colors. They are familiar in the Valley as a winter annual; however, if protected from the summer sun and with plenty of water during hot months, they…
Dannette Hunnel August is such a hot month. Beyond cacti, many wonder what could possibly thrive in this intense heat. If you are aching to do some flower gardening, there are a few things you can still work with during this time of year. Vincas, of course, are the standard flower of the Phoenix Valley.…
Dannette Hunnel Ornamental cabbages are unique, healthy-looking, and a surprisingly pleasant sight to see in the middle of winter. Ornamental cabbages are also known as kale, wild cabbages, or brassica and are plant-able in October and November and again after the last frost. This perky, uprising flower, growing tall and tiered, looks similar to a…
Dannette Hunnel A “newbie” to Arizona is typically not accustomed to planting flowers outside in January. However, if you moved here for better weather, you might like the idea of gardening throughout the year. The very pretty and popular pansy is the best flower to plant during the desert’s winter months. Being non-toxic to pets,…
Dannette Hunnel Petunias are the standard winter flower here in metro Phoenix. Petunias are a cheerful, colorful plant with a light, pleasant scent. They are great in the ground, in pots, or as a hanging plant. Petunias are a vigorous, low-growing plant that spreads. Plant them from late October through mid-February. It takes no soil…
Dannette Hunnel Throughout the country, near Thanksgiving, there is one all-time standard favorite flower: the beautiful Chrysanthemum, or “Mum.” Arizona is no different. Mums provide a brief but intense splash of color in Phoenix landscapes from late October through mid-December. Mums are great as a fall accent in gardens, in containers, or even as cut…