Garden & Nature, Southwest
Gardening and discovering nature in Southwest USA
Episodes
Episode 23: Native Ground Covers
Ground 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...
Summer garden with native plants and healthy ecosystem can be very resilient and continue to support wildlife even during hot summer weather in southwest
Native Plants Featured
- Annual 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 ...
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 episode
- Flame Acanthus (Anisacanthus quadrifidus var. wrightii)
- Desert Willow (Chilopsis linearis)
- Gregg's Dalea (Dalea greggii)
- Hairy Five Eyes (Chamaesaracha sordida )
- Rock Penste...
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 confusi...
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?
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Visit website for podcast show notes, images and other posts.
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 bi...
- 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 heater
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Visit website for podcast show notes, images and other posts.
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 wren
- Warblers
- Green tailed towhee
- Scots oriole
- Indigo bunting
- Phainopepla
Apps mentioned in the show:
iNaturalist
e-Bird
Audubon
Nature journaling and how to draw birds that you...
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 clutter
- Simplify outdoor living
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Briefly, an important task for plant care - irrigation adjustments.&...
Episode 14
Gardening 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 plants
- When and how to prune
- How to mulch (not always necessary to buy mu...
Episode 13
Native trees are essential part of habitat for insects, birds and other wildlife. Many of us may not be familiar with how elderberry and dessert willow can create a beautiful garden and also invite wildlife including birds.
Scientific plant names mentioned in this episode
1) Mexican Elderberry : Sambucus nigra ssp. cerulea OR Sambucus cerulea OR Sambucus mexicana
2) American Elderberry: Sambucus nigra ssp. canadensis
3)...
Episode 12: Starting seeds indoors.
In this episode:
- Why and when to start seeds indoors
- Growing near window with natural light. When would you need grow lights
- Ways to reduce use of plastic & alternatives to using plastic seed starting trays
- Soil blocks
- Alternatives to buying humidity dome for growing seeds
- What type of soil/seed mix to use for seeds indoors
Check out the image gallery for this episode on the webs...
The best way to keep pests in check is creating a garden that has a healthy, balanced ecosystem.
Here are some of the issues addressed in this episode
- Why not to use chemical pesticides
- What is the harm in using organic pesticides and homemade sprays for pest control such as garlic spray, chili pepper spray, oil or soap sprays etc.
- What does a good garden ecosystem consist of?
- Various elements of garden ecosystem...
Creating and maintaining healthy soil ecosystem is essential to easy gardening specially in harsh climates. Learn about the basics of soil ecosystem in any type of garden. Also some specific situations are addressed such as growing vegetables and other edibles in hot, desert climates. I am also addressing a few common questions about adding amendments to soil, adding nutrients and microorganisms to enrich the soil and concerns asso...
How can we make the best of spring bird migration time. How can we help at an individual level. Make your garden rest stop for migratory birds
Resources (websites and apps mentioned in the episode)
Apps
eBird (app by Cornell Lab)
Merlin (app by Cornell Lab)
Audubon Bird Guide (App by Audubon)
Websites
https://www.fws.gov/partner/migratory-bird-program-administrative-flyways
Book
Audubon F...
We forget about the benefits nature has on our wellbeing when most of our modern lifestyle is designed for indoors. In this episode I want to highlight some important effects nature has on our brain health, sleep and cognition. I also share some tips on increasing outdoor time without making it another "task for the to do list"
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- How can you use the knowledge about sun exposure and direction in your gardening and design decisions (outdoor and indoor living)
- Some suggestions for if you are stuck with a particular direction of sun exposure
- What is the best side for a patio or seating area
- Shade options for garden & patio
- What side is best for winter gardening
- Windows for bright interiors
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DIY frost protection for plants - sharing some winter memories from the past. How I created efficient, easy to maintain system for patio and vegetable patch.
In this episode:
- Frost protection for container plants in the patio and vegetable patch
- Creating a system that is easy to maintain
- A system that worked for few days even in less than 0°F
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Hummingbird feeder good or not, feeder microbes, nutrients in floral nectar, scientific facts and best practices to feed hummingbirds in our gardens
Microbial communities in hummingbird feeders are distinct from floral nectar and influenced by bird visitation
https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rspb.2018.2295
Sweet Solutions: Nectar chemistry and quality
https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rstb.2021.01...
Native Plants of Southwest -where to find local natives, how to avoid confusion and invasive species
Episode # 4 : Where to find locally native plants. Collecting plants/seeds from wild - legal or not, right or wrong. Learning about local natives and invasive species.
Plants and websites mentioned in this episode:
- Verbena (large genus with more than 100 species of plants )
- Paper flower (Psilostrophe tagetina)
- Jewel flower (Streptanthus carinatus)
- iNaturalist - App to identify plants
- Lady Bird Johnson Wild...
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