Hot Gardens
Newsletter - April 2005
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advice by topic
The
Natural Butterfly Garden. The heavy rains we
experienced this winter have given way to a gorgeous sea of flowers in
our Southwestern deserts. The most amazing and rare bloom is at
the southern end of Death Valley where acres and acres of flowers are
accompanied by millions of Painted Lady butterflies. And these
butterflies seems to be everywhere across Arizona, Nevada, Utah -- even
as far away as southern California beach towns. The Painted Lady
butterflies are, in fact, found on every continent, but this year there
are an abundance of them. (If you are reading this in late April,
unfortunately, the wildflower bloom in Death Valley will be over.)
 |
South African aloes in bloom at the Los Angeles
Arboretum. In late winter when most of the Arboretum was
drab these hardy plants put on an astonishing and gorgeous
show. Click on the photo to enlarge. |
 |
Spire
aloes in bloom in February. |
Washed
Out. The winter rain washed away the damaging salts
which accumulate naturally in our poor soil. That is the good
news. The bad news is that the drenching rains also washed away
many nutrients. You may need to increase the frequency with which
you fertilize your garden. Please note: do not increase the
amount of fertilizer you use at any one time, just fertilize a little
more often. Watch for signs that your plants are suffering from
"malnutrition". In particular, if you notice that the
leaves are turning yellow while the veins stay green (a condition known
as chlorosis), you may need to use a fertilizer with micronutrients such
as iron and sulphur. Ask your local nursery or garden center for
recommendations. Adding organic amendments to your flower beds
will also help restore vital plant nutrients.
| Oh
Those Beautiful Aussies. The brilliant yellow
blooming shrubs you are seeing everywhere are the
Australian-native Feathery Cassias (Cassia artemisioides or
Senna artemisioides -- botanists don't agree about the latin
name!) They bloom early, are drought-tolerant, and look
great massed along a garden wall as a low, open gray-green
hedge, reaching only 3 to 5 feet tall. And they are
virtually carefree -- just plant them and ignore them. |
|
Invisible Texan.
Another plant that goes largely unnoticed until it blooms in Spring is
the Mescal Bean tree or Texas Mountain Laurel (Sophora secundiflora).
This native of Texas, New Mexico and northern Mexico bursts forth with
purple or lavender wisteria-like blossoms at this time of year.
Often trimmed to a tree-like shape, it grows very slowly to 20 feet
tall. The downside: its brilliant red seed pods are poisonous so
pick them up and dispose of them.
 |
The Mescal Bean tree
tolerates drought, poor soil, wind, cold, heat and keeps on
looking great and green year 'round. In Spring it has
lovely wisteria-like blooms. |
Go to our Newsletter
for April 2006 or Spring
2004
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What
should you do in your garden this month?
Click here for month-by-month practical advice.
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How much does a Vegas condo really cost these days?
Find out now at the official
Las
Vegas Neighborhoods
website. |
|
Support
your local farmers.
Buy
your fresh fruit and vegetables at a Farmers' Market near
you.
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Moving
to Long Beach?
Now you can learn
more about this dynamic
ocean side city!
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