Garden & Nature, Southwest

Episode 23: Native Ground CoversGround covers are an essential part of any garden ecosystem, but they are often overlooked. What happens at ground level can influence soil health, temperature, moisture, insects, wildlife, and the overall functioning of the garden.In this episode, I explore how ground covers contribute to a healthy garden ecosystem and introduce some native ground-cover plants that can be incorporated into Southwest gardens.Plants Mentioned in This EpisodeTrailing windmills — Allionia incarnataHairy five-eyes — Chamaesaracha sordidaSand bells — Nama hispidumWinecups — Callirhoe involucrataCalifornia fuchsia (Zauschneria) — Epilobium canum (formerly Zauschneria californica)Gregg’s dalea — Dalea greggiiSilver ponyfoot — Dichondra argenteaFrogfruit — Phyla nodifloraCherry skullcap — Scutellaria suffrutescensSend us a text for questions on this topicVisit website for podcast show notes, images  and other posts.https://www.gardenandnaturesouthwest.com/Subscribe to get blog & podcast episodes delivered to your inbox. If you have questions regarding the topic covered here, email me

Summer garden with native plants and healthy ecosystem can be very resilient and continue to support wildlife even during hot summer weather in southwestNative Plants FeaturedAnnual sunflower (Helianthus annuus)Gregg's mistflower (Conoclinium greggii)Palo verde -"Desert Museum" (Parkinsonia )New Mexico privet (Forestiera neomexicana)Black dalea (Dalea frutescens) Skeletonleaf goldeneye (Viguiera stenoloba)Sand-Bells  (Nama hispidum)Silver ponyfoot (Dichondra argentea)Trailing Windmill vine (Allionia incarnata) Frogfruit (Phyla nodiflora)Wolfberry (Lycium andersonii)Autumn sage (Salvia greggii)Desert red bird-of-paradise (Caesalpinia pulcherrima) Golden columbine (Aquilegia chrysantha) Cherry skullcap (Scutellaria suffrutescens)Yellow bells (Tecoma stans)Wildlife MentionedLesser Goldfinch (Spinus psaltria)American Kestrel (Falco sparverius)Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)Swainson's Hawk (Buteo swainsoni)Cooper's Hawk (Astur cooperii)If you need more information on Hummingbird feeders, if safe to use and is it beneficial then please listen to episode 5. Also for humminbird nectar ( sugar water )recipe and correct ratio : visit link given below for Audubon.orghttps://www.audubon.org/news/how-make-hummingbird-nectar------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Send us a text for questions on this topicVisit website for podcast show notes, images  and other posts.https://www.gardenandnaturesouthwest.com/Subscribe to get blog & podcast episodes delivered to your inbox. If you have questions regarding the topic covered here, email me

Native plant garden in harsh summer seasons in southwest can be full of life and color. A summer native garden becomes more enjoyable as the garden matures and as the perspective of the gardener grows with the garden. Native plants mentioned in this episodeFlame Acanthus (Anisacanthus quadrifidus var. wrightii)Desert Willow (Chilopsis linearis)Gregg's Dalea (Dalea greggii)Hairy Five Eyes (Chamaesaracha sordida )Rock Penstemon (Penstemon baccharifolius)Blanketflower (Gaillardia )Desert Marigold (Baileya multiradiata)Chocolate Daisy (Berlandiera lyrata)Scarlet Hedgenettle (Stachys coccinea)Woolly Butterfly Bush (Buddleja marrubiifolia)Mexican Elder/Mexican Elderberry (Sambucus nigra subsp. cerulea)Wild Tobacco (Nicotiana )Damianita (Chrysactinia mexicana)Wildlife mentioned in this episodeTarantula Hawk Wasps (Pepsis spp. and Hemipepsis spp.)Curve-billed Thrasher (Toxostoma curvirostre)Verdin (Auriparus flaviceps)Bushtit (Psaltriparus minimus)Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos)Tiger Whiptail lizard /Western Whiptail (Aspidoscelis tigris)Send us a text for questions on this topicVisit website for podcast show notes, images  and other posts.https://www.gardenandnaturesouthwest.com/Subscribe to get blog & podcast episodes delivered to your inbox. If you have questions regarding the topic covered here, email me

Episode # 20 Where do you buy native plants in southwest USA. How do you select plants for your space, for different garden sizes an designs. Can you have native plants in containers if you just have patio/balcony or or a rental home.  I go through some examples of plants for different garden spaces and different wildlife benefits. Relevant prior episodes Ep # 4 _ Where to fin native plants. How to avoid confusion and invasive species Ep # 7 : Sun Exposure an direction; Microclimate of Garden2026 Spring Native plant sales mentioned in this episodeUTEP, Flora Fest, El Paso, TX - April 11, 2026Alamogordo, NM ( Otero native plant society ) - April 11, 2026Borderland nursery and seeds - Patagonia AZ spring plant sale - April 25th Albuquerque and Santa Fe have plant sales in various locations in April and MayDenver botanical garden annual spring sale - MayUtah - May Southern California, Arizona an Nevada - Many sales were in February an March. A few may be in April. Please check your local area. Some nurseries mentioned in this episodeSpadefoot Nursery, Tucson, AZhttps://www.spadefootnursery.com/El Paso, TXhttps://www.highdesertnativeplants.com/ Las Cruces, NMhttp://www.robledovista.com/La Union, NM (Near Las Cruces, NM & El Paso, TX) https://www.sierravistagrowers.net/Boulder  Coloradohttps://harlequinsgardens.com/Plants mentioned  in this episode :Ground cover plants  Wine cups - Callirhe involucrataFrog fruit - Phyla nodifloraSilver pony foot - Dichondra argenteaGray 5 eyes - Chamaesarcha chonioesWindmill trailing vine -- Allionia incarnataFlowering plants -Salvias - multiple native species Penstemons - multiple native speciesCherry Skullcap - Scutellaria sufretescensDesert marigold -   Baileya multiradiataBlanket flower - Gaillardia (different native species)Blackfoot daisy - Melampodium leucanthum Chocolate daisy - Berandiera lyratadamianita daisy - Chrysactinia mexicana Shrubs and tressAlgeria - Mahonia trifoliata - (Berberis trifoliata)Algeria - Mahonia hematocarpa -  (red barberry -)Wolfberry - Lycium Anderson (some other species of Lycium also native )Little leaf Sumac - Rhus microphyllaThree leaf Sumac - Rhus trilobataManzanita - pointleaf Manzanita  - Arctostaphylos pungent (and other native species )Sage - Leucophyllum - Desert Willow - Chilopsis linersGoldenball Lead tree - Leucaena retusa Mexican red bird of paradise - Caesalpinia mexicanaAnisacanthus Quadrifidus  GrassessMexican feather grass - Nassella tennuissimaGrama grasses native to southwestBuffalo grass - Bouteloua dactyloidesMuhly grasses - Muhlenbergia  (several native southwest species)Send us a text for questions on this topicVisit website for podcast show notes, images  and other posts.https://www.gardenandnaturesouthwest.com/Subscribe to get blog & podcast episodes delivered to your inbox. If you have questions regarding the topic covered here, email me

How do you find inspiration to keep growing a native garden when you can’t find the plants that you’re looking for. If you are starting a new native plant garden, how do you continue to make progress? Where do you find motivation to continue gardening? Send us a text for questions on this topicVisit website for podcast show notes, images  and other posts.https://www.gardenandnaturesouthwest.com/Subscribe to get blog & podcast episodes delivered to your inbox. If you have questions regarding the topic covered here, email me

Apart from general bird habitat requirement in the garden, specific changes for any particular bird can be very effective for growing a bird habitat garden. I use the example of Lesser Goldfinches in this episode but the information can be applied to any bird you are interested in. I will walk you through a process that will make learning and planning the habitat, simple Websites mentioned in this episode All about birds (Cornell Lab)https://www.allaboutbirds.org/news/Audubonhttps://www.audubon.org/Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center -  Native Plant Database page https://www.wildflower.org/plants/search.php?search_field=&newsearch=trueLadybird Johnson Wildflower Center  - Home pagehttps://www.wildflower.org/Plant nursery for online plants - It carries many southwestern native plants High Country Gardenshttps://www.highcountrygardens.com/Birds mentioned in this episodeLesser Goldfinch Dark-eyed Junco Native plants mentioned in this episode. Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center links are provided for each plant to get more informationChocolate flower ( Berlendiera lyrata )https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=BELYMaximillian Sunflower: Helianthus maximilianihttps://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=HEMA2Annual Sunflower : Helianthus annuus https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=HEAN3Skeleton-leaf Goldeneye: Viguera https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=VISTBlanket flower  (Gaillardia )There are many different species of Gaillardia. If you search on the wildflower center website for ‘Gaillardia” or “blanket flower” you will be able to review the different plants in that grouphttps://www.wildflower.org/plants/search.php?search_field=&newsearch=trueTetraneuris scaposa Same as mentioned above for Gaillardia. Please type “tetraneuris” on Wildflower Center website search bar to see various optionshttps://www.wildflower.org/plants/search.php?search_field=&newsearch=trueElderberry tree (Mexican Elder) : Sambucus nigra ssp. cerulea https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=SANIC5Black Dalea : Dalea frutescenshttps://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=DAFR2Wolfberry : Lycium andersoniihttps://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=LYANThree leaf Sumac : Rhus trilobata https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=RHTSend us a text for questions on this topicVisit website for podcast show notes, images  and other posts.https://www.gardenandnaturesouthwest.com/Subscribe to get blog & podcast episodes delivered to your inbox. If you have questions regarding the topic covered here, email me

Daily maintenance is possible only if it easy. Birdbath design and location are the two most important factors in developing a habit of cleaning birdbath daily. Birdbath heater alternatives for frozen birdbaths in the winter. Which regions in US Southwest could benefit from having a birdbath heaterSend us a text for questions on this topicVisit website for podcast show notes, images  and other posts.https://www.gardenandnaturesouthwest.com/Subscribe to get blog & podcast episodes delivered to your inbox. If you have questions regarding the topic covered here, email me

How can you maximize bird sightings every migration season including fall migration 2025 Easily make birdwatching a part of your daily routine. Create a birding hotspot in your garden. Birds and plants mentioned in the show :Rock wrenWarblersGreen tailed towheeScots orioleIndigo buntingPhainopepla Apps mentioned in the show: iNaturalist e-BirdAudubon Nature journaling and how to draw birds that you see in nature by https://johnmuirlaws.comSend us a text for questions on this topicVisit website for podcast show notes, images  and other posts.https://www.gardenandnaturesouthwest.com/Subscribe to get blog & podcast episodes delivered to your inbox. If you have questions regarding the topic covered here, email me

Ep. 15 In this episode: Water source for birds, bees and butterflies. Habitats for lizards, toads and tortoise. Create a safe space in patio, play area, other high traffic area : Rattlesnake fence.Remove clutterSimplify outdoor living ————————————Briefly, an important task for plant care - irrigation adjustments. ————————————-Spring bird migration : New bird in my garden. Yellow-rumped warblerSend us a text for questions on this topicVisit website for podcast show notes, images  and other posts.https://www.gardenandnaturesouthwest.com/Subscribe to get blog & podcast episodes delivered to your inbox. If you have questions regarding the topic covered here, email me

Episode 14Gardening tasks in spring for a native plant garden keep in mind the other wildlife species that depend on the  native plant garden. These tasks are different from vegetable garden and non-native ornamental gardens. Included in this episode:   Growing new plants - add more plant diversity in the garden, looking for local native plantsWhen and how to pruneHow to mulch (not always necessary to buy mulch).  Grrowng ground coverFertilizing native plantsCollecting seedsIrrigationNext episode will continue this series to include tasks specific to birds, pollinators, spiders, insects including butterflies and bees, lizards, toads and  small mammalsNative Plants mentioned in this episode (scientific names are in italics) Mexican gold poppy - Eschscholzia californica ssp mexicana One of the online native seed company for its seed :https://www.nativeseeds.org/products/wf035?variant=40837419499674 Native plants that easily reseed and are either aggressive or roots are difficult to pull outSnakeweed : Gutierrezia sarothraeDesertbroom - Baccharis sarothroidesMexican feathergrass: Nasella TenuissimaChocolate daisy (chocolate flower, lyreleaf greeneyes): Berlandiera lyrataMexican evening primrose: Oenothera speciosaNative plants that easily reseed but  are easy to pull out and  not aggressive Desert marigold - Baileya multiradiataGround cover:Frog fruit - Phyla nodiflora : native ground cover, host to butterflies Apps mentioned in the episode: iNaturalist :  https://www.inaturalist.org/Photos  (Apple)Send us a text for questions on this topicVisit website for podcast show notes, images  and other posts.https://www.gardenandnaturesouthwest.com/Subscribe to get blog & podcast episodes delivered to your inbox. If you have questions regarding the topic covered here, email me