southwest - Fine Gardening

  • raised garden beds with corn and other vegetables
    Design

    Dawn’s Backyard Garden in Arizona

    Hi GPODers! A couple of weeks ago we got to see how Mark Montgelas grows a wonderful assortment of food and flowers in the northeast (Mark’s Ornamental Vegetable Garden in…

  • Blue Shadow Fothergilla, Color Guard Yucca and Wedding Gown Bigleaf Hydrangea
    Design

    The Best House Foundation Plants for Your Region

    When it comes to choosing foundation plants for your home, it’s important to pick species that not only enhance your landscape but also thrive in your specific climate. That’s why…

  • annuals for southwestern gardens
    Design

    The Best Annuals for Southwestern Gardens

    Annual plants are a garden designer’s secret weapon. Endlessly versatile and extremely showy, annuals add nonstop color without a high price or a lot of work. They are perfect for…

  • Article

    Shopping-List Plants for the Southwest

    If you’ve run into a garden rut, we’ve got you covered. It’s time to start planning for your first trip to the local nursery or garden center. What plants will…

  • water saving tips in southwest garden
    How-To

    Water-Saving Tips for Southwestern Gardens

    For most of the Southwest, “dry” is a normal state of affairs. We live in a complex mosaic of arid, semi-arid, and seasonally arid zones that make most generalizations impossible.…

  • fragrant plants
    Design

    An All-Year Plan for Fragrance in Southwestern Gardens

    I grew up in the north, where my mother’s garden teemed with the intoxicating aromas of lilacs, sweet peas, and lily of the valley. When I moved to Oklahoma, I…

  • spring planting ideas southwest
    Design

    Spring Planting Plan for the Southwest

    In her article "Spring Planting Ideas," Michelle Gervais beautifully illustrates the magical time that is the start of spring: "Our winter-weary spirits lift as hints of green begin to appear.…

  • variegated agaves
    Design

    The Best Variegated Agaves for the Southwest

    When it comes to sculptural form in the garden, it’s hard to compete with a well-grown agave (Agave spp. and cvs., Zones 7b–11). With sizes ranging from 6-inch rosettes to…

  • Hardy ice plant
    Design

    Evergreen Ground Covers for the Southwest

    From erosion control to weed suppression, ground covers play an important role in the garden. They benefit neighboring plants by shading the ground, which helps keep soil cool and reduces…

  • native plants for formal gardening
    Design

    How to Incorporate Arid Native Plants in Formal Garden Designs

    I love the natural shapes of plants in landscape design, but garden style is subjective, and it’s fair to say that gardens should be fun and expressive. We all have…