Plant of the week: Trumpet Vine (Capsis radicans) - Zone 4-11 Beautiful orange-red trumpet shaped flowers cover this fast growing climber from late spring to fall. Green canoe shaped seed pods add an extra pop to this already vibrant vine. Plant in well drained soil and full sun for ideal growth. This self-attaching vine latches on to stucco, arbors, or any other support it can find. Being drought resistant (once established) and easily cared for. A trumpet vine is a great addition to any garden.
Good morning Santa Fe! Time for this week's Transformation Tuesday: This week's transformation were some steps that needed a spruce up. After releveling and adding an additional row of railroad ties, we finished up the new steps with some weed barrier, gravel, and a few flagstone stepstones leading up to the doorway. Have a wonderful day!
Question of the week: The question this week comes from a client whose home we landscaped at the beginning of this year. Q: What is the green pod on my yucca next to the flowers? A: The green pod is actually full of seeds! Yuccas tend to produce these seed pods during or shortly after the bloom cycle. If left on the stalk, the seed pods dry and naturally crack open to drop the seeds. You can take the seeds and start new yuccas, although it will take some time for the yucca to grow to the same size as the parent plant. Have a wonderful Saturday and send us any and all your questions!
Plant of the week: May Night Sage (Salvia x sylvestris) - Zone 4-9 Multiple deep purple spikes form off of each stem of this beautiful drought-resistant perennial from early to midsummer. Removing spent flowers encourages more blooms to follow. "May Night Sage" also attracts butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds with the added benefit of being deer resistant. This fast grower reaches 18" to 24" tall and wide is sure to add a burst of purple in any location that provides full sun.
This week's transformation Tuesday was a nice small project. Our client has a small courtyard that was sloped toward the house. It needed a bit of a makeover - we built two terraces and filled it in with some beautiful gravel. The two new terraces will be the home of future water features and plants. Happy Tuesday!
This question of the week comes from a client who had noticed something odd in her lilac bush. Q: Is this from tent caterpillars and should I remove it ASAP? A: Although it looks like it may be from tent caterpillars since it has a webby look, it is actually a hummingbird nest. These tiny nests are always a delight to come across and will not harm the lilac bush. We do not come across these very often, but hopefully next time it will have some baby hummingbirds! Thank you for the question! See something odd or curious about something? We always welcome questions of all shapes and sizes!
Plant of the week: Walker’s low Catmint (Nepeta x faassenii) - Zone 3-9 Upright spreading blue flower spikes stems with aromatic, soft gray-green leaves. Can reach 18-24” tall and 2-3’ wide. Plant full sun. Happy Friday!
Time for Transformation Tuesday! We had a client that just purchased the Sage Creek Gallery on Santa Fe’s famous Canyon Road and they wanted to give it a cleaner look but also being mindful of our water situation here in the Southwest. It was a fun project. We removed all the grass, taking it down a few inches below grade, replacing it with weed barrier and Sunset Rose gravel. We also touched up the flowerbeds with some fresh bark mulch to help retain moisture for the plants. Hope you enjoyed this week's post!
This question of the week is one we have seen several times this year. As with most tree questions, we recommend you consult a tree company since they specialize in this field and will treat the pest/disease. We do not spray trees for diseases or pests. However, we would like to share this information since it has been more common than usual. Q: My aspen trees aren’t looking as good as they did last year. The leaves are turning a pale yellow with some brown and falling off - what is going on? A: Chlorosis (loss of green color of leaves) can be caused by a multitude of factors, such as lack of light, iron or macro-nutrient deficiencies, insects or disease. In this particular case (see photos)
Plant of the week: Pike’s Peak Purple Penstemon (Penstemon x Mexicali) - Zone 4-9 Spikes of purple flowers with white and purple lined throats. adaptable to a wide range of soils and conditions. Plant in well-drained soil, full sun to part shade. Grows 24”30 tall and wide.
Transformation Tuesday! Here was a project that needed a bit of a spruce up to the front entrance to the courtyard. We removed the old, uneven flagstone and replaced it with a lighter color of flagstone with a tighter fit and chiseled cut. Next, a moss rock flowerbed border was added in addition with a few plants. Happy Tuesday!
After the severe rainstorm we had a couple of weeks ago, I am sure that flooding is on most of our minds. Some of us (including myself) suffered minor to major flooding damages to their homes or businesses. The short but intense rain storms and flash flooding that New Mexico is prone to happen as a result of too much rain hitting the ground too quickly for the ground to absorb. These conditions are especially true when the ground is too dry - Santa Fe and the surrounding areas were ripe for this situation due to our ongoing drought. So when we receive more than 2 inches of rain in 15 minutes, the ground cannot absorb the deluge, and torrents of water form in our arroyos, roads, and sometimes
Question of the week: Q: Deer have decided to pay a visit to my house and I do enjoy seeing them. Unfortunately, they are rubbing and damaging my tree trunks. What can I use to prevent any further damage and fix the damage that is already done? A: I have a dog that has done the same thing but he has chewed on the bark. As far as the tree, there is nothing you can do to repair the damage. Over time, the damaged area of the tree will callous over and fix themselves. You can try protecting the tree by wrapping the trunks with chicken wire or tubes. You can also apply a deer repellent to the tree. There are also electronic repellents that would work online or at your local home improvement store
Plant of the week! Coronado Hyssop (Agastache Aurantiaca) - Zone 5-10 This hyssop has silvery green leaves on slim branched stems with brilliant orange-red flowers that deepen in color as summer progresses. Has an aromatic foliage. Butterflies, hummingbirds love this. Grows 24” x 24” wide. Plant full sun.
