Southwest Regional Reports
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Southwest Regional ReportsTwo Hot-Colored Milkweeds for the Southwest
Monarch butterflies are becoming more and more scarce, and it’s up to humans to help them. In the past 30 years, the number of monarchs has decreased by 90%, as…
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Southwest Regional ReportsChoosing Fire-Resistant Plants in Southern California
Once upon a time, the wildfire season in Southern California lasted for a couple of months in the autumn. Not anymore! Since these days wildfires can hit us at any…
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Southwest Regional ReportsPest Control for the Southwest: Piñon Ips Beetle
The piñon ips beetle (Ips confusus) infests Southwest-native piñon pines (Pinus edulis, Zones 4–8) throughout the region. According to the Colorado State Forest Service, “Ips beetles, sometimes known as ‘engraver…
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Southwest Regional ReportsSouthwest September Garden To-Do List
Welcome to September! By now you’re appreciating every drop of monsoon water you’re receiving, and more than likely you’re ready for the cooler temperatures to start arriving. While we continue…
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Southwest Regional ReportsPlants for Birds in the Southwest
As William Cullina mentions in his article on plants for birds, the sad reality is songbirds are disappearing: “Habitat loss, pesticides, and the accompanying decline of insect populations have contributed…
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Southwest Regional ReportsUnbeatable Plant Combinations for the Southwest
Although I have no problem creating single-plant containers or placing plants individually in garden beds, sometimes I come across a grouping of plants that just works so well together that…
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Southwest Regional ReportsShade-Tolerant Perennials for the Southwest
In the desert landscape, sometimes it can feel like everything is being constantly drenched in sunlight. That being said, most of us still have some shaded areas in our gardens…
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Southwest Regional ReportsDrought-Tolerant Ground Covers for the Southwest
I think it is fair to say that when most of us think of ground covers, we imagine low, mounding, and spreading plants. Although that image is accurate, it isn't…
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Southwest Regional ReportsHeat-Tolerant Grasses for the Southwest
Living in the desert can be a blessing and a burden when it comes to growing grasses. We all know that lawn grasses, or turf, don’t belong in the desert.…
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Southwest Regional ReportsOcotillo Is a Native Shrub You Need to Grow
Ocotillo (Fouquieria splendens, Zones 7–11) is an unusually beautiful desert gem. This succulent shrub, often misidentified as a cactus, is impossible to miss when you are traveling through the desert.…
