2018 Roses of the Year

02/26/2018 Ken Lain, mountain gardener

2018 Mountain Rose of the Year Collection by Lisa Watters-Lain, the mountain gardener The mountains of Arizona are famous for our easy-care roses. Because of the dry air and alkaline soils we just grow a better, brighter, more fragrant rose…

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Lobelia Cambridge Blue Flowers

04/27/2016 Ken Lain, mountain gardener

Loves growing in mountain gardens. The soft, light blue flowers of Cambridge Blue Lobelia are perfect for any spot in the garden, hanging basket, container, window box or border. The pale green foliage is not often seen because of the profusion…

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Shasta May Daisy or Leucanthemum x superbum

04/05/2016 Ken Lain, mountain gardener

She may look like a typical perennial daisy, but look again at her large, snow white Leucanthemum superbum flowers with blankets of amazing buds along every flower stem. With her stronger branching and waves of buds,…

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Pink Flowering Almond in Spring

03/24/2016 Ken Lain, mountain gardener

Very double, very pink flowers have cover this compact 3′ shrub all the way to the ground. No other shrub in spring is as pretty.  Because of its small size it never needs pruning, hardy as can be and won’t overpower…

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Red Centurion Crabapple In Bloom

03/24/2016 Ken Lain, mountain gardener

Leaves of this decorative tree emerge red in spring turning a bronze green in summer, then back to orange through autumn. Very large, very red flowers have covered this tree followed by cute red fruits. This Crabapple has very large flowers…

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Time to Plant Sweet Pea!

02/24/2016 Ken Lain, mountain gardener

 – Combine fragrance, intense flower color and its climbing habit makes Sweet Peas a favorite of local gardeners and non-gardeners alike. Known for the more perfumed varieties, sweet peas are often described as smelling like a mix of honey and…

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Gardening with Deer and Rabbits

11/13/2014 Ken Lain, mountain gardener

  Holiday Gift Cards Now Available Online With their large eyes, subtle colors, and graceful movements, deer really are mesmerizing to people. However, as our town grows, encounters with these majestic creatures are more frequent and…

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Cool Nights Invite Pesky Black Gnats Indoors

11/06/2014 Ken Lain, mountain gardener

A couple of weeks ago we dispersed the final applications of plant food to keep our landscapes health through winter. At the same time “Crabgrass and Weed Preventer” was applied to keep winter-growing weeds away until spring. This week the…

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“Welcome Back” to The First Days of Fall Gardening

09/18/2014 Ken Lain, mountain gardener

I am one of those guys who embrace cooler temperatures, autumn light, dropping leaves, and the musky, earthy smells that are synonymous with fall. However, it’s interesting that folks who recently relocated to the area from the sub-tropical climates of…

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Blesses and Stresses of Rain

09/10/2014 Ken Lain, mountain gardener

Traditionally, by the end of September we slip out of the monsoonal pattern and back to our normal, “spotty” rain cycles. However, this year’s overabundant rains have made the next four weeks critical for gardeners. This is the season plants…

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