Sesame in July!

Looking for a plant that can tolerate full sun in July?  Look no further - sesame is here!  I have seen this herb (an annual) in action in a demonstration garden, but never for sale in a nursery.  Last week I stumbled upon some seedlings at Bakers Nursery in Phoenix for $3.99 apiece.  I have never grown sesame but am excited to give it a try.

This plant will eventually grow pods which house the sesame seeds. 

In general, however, take a break during July.  Other than watering there is not much to do in the garden.  Plants are suffering and wilting due to the high heat so leave them alone.   Don't try to prune, propagate or transplant.

Stay cool!

Garden Seeds on the Road // Hydrangea

I am visiting my parents in New Jersey and must share some of my mother's garden with you.  My mom has been a big inspiration to me as she is a long-time gardener and has a beautiful property.  One of her garden's features is hydrangea.  She has many varieties and colors and luckily, they are all in bloom in June.  Take a look:

Oakleaf Hydrangea

Annabelle Hydrangea

Hydrangea have a unique ability to change color based upon the ph of the soil.  I have read that you can put one in a pot and manipulate the ph in an effort to change if from pink to blue, for example.  Pretty cool science!

Lace Cap Hydrangea

Side yard

Hydrangea are not intended for the Arizona climate.  They are better suited for cold climates, or zones 4-9.  If you see one in a store in Phoenix, do not buy it with the intent of planting it in your garden.  It may survive for a week or so, but will ultimately land in your compost.  

Happy Hydrangea!

Garden Seeds // Spotlight: Zinnias

June is the time of year when zinnias are in bloom.  They add tremendous color and height to any garden and are also a beautiful cut flower for your favorite vase.

This year, I have scattered zinnia everywhere:  in between vegetables, in pots and amid my sunflowers.  There are a zillion varieties of zinnia so your choices of color, shape and height are endless.

Zinnia can be planted through mid-June, so pick up a couple seed packets today and get these beauties in the ground.  They are tolerant of full sun but need water daily.

Happy Planting!

Garden Seeds // Milkweed 101

Milkweed is a native Arizona plant that also serves as a host plant for monarch butterflies.  The monarchs are amazing creatures, flying up to 3,000 miles twice a year for their migration to Mexico and back.  Typically, you will see them in Phoenix in early April en route to Mexico, and again in the fall on their return trip to the north.  The height of a monarch presence in the Valley occurs in late September to early October.

Host plants for monarchs have greatly decreased over the years due to land development across the country.  We are lucky in Arizona because we have native plants - i.e. Milkweed - that are also monarch habitats.   How does it work?  The monarchs will lay their eggs on your milkweed.  Caterpillars will hatch and eat your plant but don't worry!  Established milkweeds will bounce back and return next year to assist again in this natural process.

Desert Milkweed

Desert Milkweed in my front yard

The following milkweeds are all native to AZ.  Choose one for your yard, or mix and match up to 10 of these plants and become an official Monarch Waystation!

• Narrowleaf Milkweed
• Tropical Milkweed
• Desert Milkweed (most common)
• Pineleaf Milkweed

I am currently working with Gail Morris, a local monarch expert, on growing two varieties of milkweed from seed to encourage more of these plants in Valley landscapes.  These seeds and plants will be available for purchase at the Fall Plant Sale at the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension.

For more information on monarchs, please visit monarchwatch.org.

Garden Seeds // Watson Garden Update

It's been a little while since I've shared the progress of our little garden (actually it's quite large now that I think about it) so here's a little peek into our lush and fruitful patch of dirt. 

Garden Seeds // Beware #2: Grape Vine Skeletonizer

Well, two weeks in a row of a bug blog.  This week my garden was visited by the Western Grape Leaf Skeletonizer.  My grape vines looked like they had been stripped or sucked on by an insect.  Upon further inspection, I discovered about fifty (50) of these small caterpillars.

Grape leaf skeletonizers are very destructive pests. At the first sign of caterpillars, treat with Bt (bacillus thuringiensis). The caterpillars must ingest the spray; shortly after eating it, they stop feeding and die. Basically, the Bt disrupts the insects' disgestive system and they starve.  This is a biological control and is not harmful to birds or beneficial insects.   Bt is available at most garden centers and is environmentally safe. Crops can be harvested the day after any Bt variety is applied.   Source:  Biocontrol Network, www.biconet.com.

I was lucky and saved my vine due to an early detection.  I initially plucked off the caterpillars and then applied the Bt later that day.  However, these pests can destroy an entire vine in just a few days.  I have a friend who, upon discovering her infestation, had thousands of skeletonizers and it was too late.  Her vine was completely destroyed.

It is important to check your garden daily.  Just a cursory glance over each plant will allow you to notice subtle changes.  I do this each morning with a cup of coffee and it only takes minutes.   In just two weeks, I have saved my pepper plants and now, my grapes.

Happy Hunting!

Garden Seeds // Beware: Tomato Hornworms

Last week I was casually making the rounds in my garden when I noticed, from a distance, that my pepper plants looked terrible.  At closer glance, I found four tomato hornworms on my three plants.  I had checked my plants that morning, and within a six-hour span of time, they had eaten more than half of each plant.

A fascinating and beautiful caterpillar, but not one you want in your garden!  They are a major pest.

The tomato hornworm appears in warmer weather, May - August.  They are bright green, with a distinguishing "horn" on their rear side.  They typically are about three inches long and one-half inch wide.  Despite their size, they blend in very well with the green foliage of plants.  Look closely!  You can even use a black light at night to locate them.  They transform into a large, five-spotted, grey moth called a Manduca quinquemaculata.









Hornworms are found on tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, tobacco and potato plants.  I have only seen them on tomatoes and peppers in my experience.

Simply pluck these caterpillars off your plant - immediately!  They have a tight grip.   I would not recommend using any type of spray on them since they prey upon edible plants.  Remove them instantly as they can consume a large amount of foliage and will destroy your plant in no time.  As I mentioned, I estimate they were on my pepper plants for six hours.  This photo shows the destruction in that time.  Two-thirds of this pepper plant is gone and I doubt it will recover.




Hornworm hunting is a favorite among children.  Give them a magnifying glass and send them into your garden.  I offer a reward for every one they find!

Happy Hunting!

Garden Seeds // Storing Spring Bulbs

As the hot weather approaches, remember to dig up your spring bulbs and store them for next year.  Just as winters are too cold for bulbs in many parts of the country, Arizona summers are too hot for most spring bulbs.

Narcissus (top), Freesia below

I dug my Narcissus and Freesia out yesterday.  Wait until the leaves turn yellow, dig them out store in a dry place.   Wash off the dirt and dry in a single layer.  Store them in a place that is not in sunlight and between 60-65 degrees.  Avoid temperatures below 50 and above 75 degrees.  Be sure air can circulate around the bulbs and do not pile them on top of one another.  Too many layers will restrict air flow and generate heat, possibly causing decay. 

Freesia

These flowers were just beautiful this spring!  It is extra work to dig out your bulbs but it is the right thing to do to ensure you will have them year after year.

For more information on bulb care, including a general description of bulbs, time of planting, depth of planting, mulching, fertilizing and moving instructions, read this excellent resource from AZ Master Gardener:  http://ag.arizona.edu/pubs/garden/mg/flower/bulbs.html.

Happy Digging!

Garden Seeds // Cochineal Scales

Do your prickly pear or Indian fig look like mine?

If so, don't worry!  This white spotting on your cacti is actually an insect called the Cochineal Scale.   It hides under these white globs on your cactus.  Carefully scrape off some of the white, waxy mass and look closely.  You might find the cochineal scale.  It is a sucking insect that uses the white mass to protect the female who produces a red dye.  It looks like this:

These insects were used by humans for hundreds of years in the dyeing industry.  When Herman Cortes came to the New World in the early 1500s, he discovered this red dye and took it to Spain for trading purposes.  The dye was widely used for food, drinks, clothing, cosmetics and artists' paints until synthetic dyes became available in the 1850s.  It is also why the British army had red coats!

To treat this pest, simply power spray off the white globs with water.  If a pad is badly infested, cut off the entire pad at its joint.  Then spray the pads again with a mixture of 1/2 tsp of dish soap to one gallon on water.  While spraying, you will see the red dye.

I love these unique cacti and am thrilled for this simple and easy pest control solution!

Happy Spraying!

Sources: 50 Common Insects, Western National Parks Association, 2004; The Backyard Gardener, December, 2004.

Garden Seeds // Attracting Hummingbirds in Your Garden

Each morning I stand at my kitchen window and watch a parade of hummingbirds visit my patio fountain.  Thirteen of the sixteen species of hummingbirds found in North America have been sited in Arizona according Ron Dinchak, author of "Southwestern Landscaping." (an excellent resource, BTW).

Hummingbirds are hard workers.  They hover like a helicopter while eating, drinking, bathing and feeding their young.  As a result of this continuous effort, they must obtain nectar from 1,000 - 2,000 flowers each day.  Wow!

I have filled my kitchen patio beds with the following plants that attract hummingbirds:  

Firecracker Penstemon, Penstemon Eatoni

Mexican Honeysuckle

Penstemon Parryi

Red Hibiscus

They adore these plants and many more.  Pick from this list and create a themed garden for these wonderful birds in your yard:

• Texas Mt. Laurel
• Fairy Dusters
• Baja Red Fairy Duster
• Bottle Brush
• Ocotillo
• Chuparosa
• Sage
• Arizona Yellow Bell
• Ruellia
• Trumpet Vine
• Century Plant
• Aloe
• Desert Bird of Paradise

Happy Monday!

Garden Seeds // Real Gardens, Real People Tour

I toured seven gardens last weekend on the Real Gardens, Real People tour sponsored by the Master Gardening program at University of Arizona.  It was a beautiful day and north Scottsdale has some amazing views!  Here are a few plants I saw that would be good additions to any desert landscape:

Echinopsis sp.:  the blooms on this cactus are spectacular.  Blooms come in a variety of colors.  I would recommend you locate this cactus in a well-viewed area of your garden as it is a show stopper.

Tiny Tangerine Bulbine, Bulbine frutescens:
This plant is unique and dainty.  I saw it planted singularly as well as in clusters and it looks lovely either way.  Plant along a walkway so it is visible.  

Jerusalem Sage, Phlomis fructicosa
This was in a few of the featured gardens.  The texture of the leaves is soft and soothing to the eye.  A nice alternative to the more popular sage varieties.












Other plants that caught my eye:
Bergaalwyn Aloe, Aloe Marlothii 'Berger'
Aeonium, Aeonium undulatum
Forest Cabbage Tree, Cordyline banksii
African Mallow
Star Jasmine, Trachelospermum jasminoides
Pine Needle Milkweed, Asclepias linaria