Dannette Hunnel September is a hot, rugged month. We gardeners are anxious for the upcoming fall planting season. September is a good time to get prepared! Clean planters and pots by emptying the dirt onto an old sheet, tablecloth, or paint drop cloth. Sanitize pots by mixing water and a cap-full of bleach or vinegar…
Tag Archive for gardening
August 2024, Generals
August Flower Gardening in Sun Lakes
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.…
June 2024, Features
Planting in June? Try Bottlebrush
Dannette Hunnel This vibrant, easy, heat-tolerant, perennial shrub is a perfect addition to any Sun Lakes landscape. It can be planted in the Southeast Valley in June. Low maintenance and known as a clean plant, the bottlebrush shrub features red blooms with sweet nectar that attract birds and butterflies. A young, light green plant will…
Features, May 2024
The Slipper Plant
Dannette Hunnel The slipper plant is recognized as a succulent with green stems that grow upright from its root. With its woody, waxy look, many assume it’s bamboo. It’s a unique perennial with two-inch-wide, orange, slipper-shaped flowers along the stems—hence, the name. Some say the blooms look more like a mini orange bird of paradise…
March 2024, Features
Easy, Multi-Seasonal Plants
Dannette Hunnel It’s March. It’s springtime, and that means planting to all who enjoy gardening. Unfortunately, many people think, “Why plant now? I’ll soon be leaving for the summer.” Others will think that planting annuals now is labor intensive and expensive, only to lose the plants in the extreme summer heat. Don’t despair. There are…
February 2024, Features
Ornamental Cabbage
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…
Clubs & Classes, January 2024
Garden Club News
The speaker at the Jan. 16 Sun Lakes Garden Club meeting will be Steve Sheard, Master Rosarian. He attended the world-famous Chelsea Flower Show in London in the spring. It’s been held each year since 1913. He’ll take the members on a photographic tour and share his insights into this international show. Steve is a…
Features, January 2024
Tough Pansy
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,…
December 2023, Features
Our Colorful Winter Standard
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…
December 2023, Clubs & Classes
Garden Club
Starla Kramer The Garden Club’s annual Holiday Party for members only is scheduled for Dec. 5. This year, it’s a catered Hawaiian Holiday Party. Members will enjoy a patio party overlooking the beautiful Ironwood golf course at Grill on the Green. The event includes a buffet, games, and professional entertainment. The holiday festivities replace the…