Master Gardener sharing garden inspiration and helpful tips for growing your own garden.
Broccoli is a cool-weather, frost-hardy member of the brassica family grown for its edible flower buds and stalks. Although broccoli is packed with vitamins and minerals (vitamin A, potassium, folic acid, iron, & calcium to name a few), my family loves the taste and enjoys eating broccoli all season long. Learning how to grow broccoli […] Read more…
Sweet potato vine (Ipomoea batatas) is the “spiller” plant of a hot-climate gardener’s dreams. This ornamental vine is a fast-grower that loves the heat, thrives in full sun, propagates easily, and requires minimal care. Best of all, sweet potato vine comes in a range of colors and a variety of forms. Learn how to grow […] Read more…
I first saw four o’clocks on a list of flowers that bloom through Arizona summers. I didn’t know how to grow four o’clocks but thought – hey, if they can bloom through the summer here in the low desert, I need to give them a try. The list was right! I planted four o’clock seeds […] Read more…
Garlic is one of the easiest crops to grow, and learning how to grow garlic is simple. Even better, once you’ve grown it, you can regrow garlic year after year from your own bulbs. Keep reading for tips for how to grow garlic in any climate, including hot climates like the low desert of Arizona. Disclaimer: […] Read more…
Sunflowers are simple to grow and the seeds are a delicious snack too. Keep reading to learn how to grow edible sunflower seeds, when to harvest sunflowers for the plumpest kernels, and how to roast edible sunflower seeds. Disclaimer: this post contains affiliate links. See my disclosure policy for more information. How to Grow, Harvest, and Roast […] Read more…
Heat-loving and drought-tolerant, strawflowers grow well in areas with hot summers (cue my happy dance!) Brightly-colored concentric rings adorn these tall stemmed beauties. This Australian native is also called “Everlasting flower” or “paper flower”. Strawflowers are an excellent choice for a cutting garden and provide long lasting blooms in the garden as well. Learn how […] Read more…
Learn how to grow garlic chives with these 5 tips and add some to your garden this season. Garlic chives (Allium tuberosum) are an easy addition to the garden. If you live in zones 4-9, find a spot for this reliable perennial herb in your garden and it will come back year after year. A relative […] Read more…
On a whim, I picked up a 6 pack of lisianthus (Eustoma grandiflorum) at a local nursery several years ago. It was worth a try to see if they would survive the incredibly hot summers here in the low desert of Arizona. I wasn’t sure how to grow lisianthus, and was shocked when they grew […] Read more…
When I first saw the gorgeous blooms on ranunculus flowers, I didn’t think it was possible to grow them here in the low desert of Arizona. I’m glad I was wrong. Learning how to grow ranunculus is easier than you think. The stunning rose-like blooms with tissue-thin petals almost don’t look real. Ranunculus blooms come […] Read more…
Looking for a flower that doesn’t mind the heat? Tithonia (also known as Mexican sunflower) is a drought-tolerant and heat-loving annual plant native to Mexico and Central America. Bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds love the bright blooms. Tall branching plants bloom for several months (right up until frost), and make an excellent cut flower. Learn how […] Read more…