Tag: perennials

Enjoy Summer-Long Color With These Long-Blooming Favorites By Ken Lain, the mountain gardeners Beautiful spring days draw gardeners into their backyards for a soft launch away from isolation, cabin fever, and the joy of fresh air.  I am a flower…

by Ken Lain, the mountain gardener Mountain landscapes are difficult for plants, especially if you want to keep them low maintenance.  In an arid climate where rock lawns are the norm because growing conditions are challenging, ground- hugging plants are…

by Ken Lain, the mountain gardener This week’s column is an extensive resource of perennial flowers that should be cut back now. Local gardeners have given each a commonly used name rather than the scientific Latin name, so this list…

by Ken Lain, the mountain gardener Scented flowers bring another dimension of enjoyment to the garden. Some flowers are lightly scented and need to be close to appreciate. Other plants engulf the entire yard in their perfume—think of Spring’s lilacs…

by Ken Lain, the mountain gardener The mountains of Arizona are famous for easy-care roses. Because of the dry air and alkaline soils we just grow a better, brighter, more fragrant rose without the disease and insect issues that plague…

by Ken Lain, the mountain gardener Every plant needs water, but drought-resistant varieties need only dainty sips once they’re established. They are perfect for low-rainfall areas, or low-energy gardeners. Native plants have the best chance of surviving dry summers or…

by Ken Lain, the mountain gardener The word xeriscape doesn’t mean zero landscaping. Rather, it comes from the Greek word xeros,   which means dry. Flower gardeners may turn up their noses at the idea of xeriscaping, thinking they have to…

by Ken Lain, the mountain gardener A good garden is coffee time with your thoughts, watching a sunrise, the majesty of a butterfly, or the buzzing of hummingbirds. Gardener is a label proudly worn, but there are some unpleasant tasks…

by Ken Lain, the mountain gardener Mountain monsoon season is the start of perennial blooms in the high country.  Not only do most perennial flowers take off with new buds and blooms, but they are magnets to unrelenting voracious insects.…

By  Ken Lain, the mountain gardener One of the top questions we get here at the garden center is what’s the difference between an annual and a perennial??  It causes great confusion among novice, but you will quickly become a…