Simple Southwest Look

Common name:Canary Island Pine
Botanical name:Pinus canariensis

This graceful, slender-growing pine has a pyramidal form, reaching 50'-70' tall. Its needles are 12" long and drooping in bundles of 3. The foliage is a blue-green color, maturing to a dark green shade. Needles do drop periodically, creating litter. Flowers are insignificant. Cones appear in the spring.

Common name:Windmill Palm
Botanical name:Trachycarpus fortunei

This easy-to-grow palm will mature to a size of 30', and its slender trunk is covered with dense, heavy fiber topped with a crown of rich green, fan-shaped leaves that could spread 8' wide. Once it's established, it needs low to medium watering. This is great palm for a tropical effect near the pool.

Common name:Barbara Karst Red Bougainvillea
Botanical name:Bougainvillea 'Barbara Karst'

The large amount of flamboyant color on this species creates a wonderful accent in a garden. Varieties can be in bush or vine form; colors vary. Once established, they tend to be carefree. All varieties are susceptible to frost damage. The 'Barbara Kost' variety blooms bright red in full sun; more crimson if in shade. It blooms in summer and fall.

Common name:Common Foxglove
Botanical name:Digitalis purpurea

This biennial Foxglove will reach 3'-4' tall when blooming in the early summer. The large spire of huge, bell-shaped flowers ranges from purple to pink to cream with purple specks. Large, textured leaves form an attractive rosette until bloom time. This plant likes a moist, filtered-sun area similar to the Lobelias and Columbines. -Holland Wildflower Farm

Common name:Garden or Common Geranium
Botanical name:Pelargonium X hortorum

Pelargonium X hortorum is a shrubby, succulent annual stemmed to 3' or more. Round or kidney-shaped leaves are velvety and hairy, soft to the touch, aromatic, with edges distinctly lobed and scalloped toothed. Single and double flowers are flatter and smaller than those of Pelargonium domesticum variety, but clusters bear more blossoms. Comes in many colors such as white, pink, red, salmon and bi-colored.

Soils and Compost:

Practice grass-cycling by leaving short grass clippings on lawns after mowing, so that nutrients and organic matter are returned to the soil.

Water Saving Tip:

Apply a layer of mulch around plants to reduce moisture loss.

Choose organic mulches, such as shredded bark, compost or aged sawdust.

Integrated Pest Management:

Drip and other smart irrigation delivers water directly to roots, allowing no excess water for weeds.