Garden Gal

I believe butterflies, some of the most beautiful, magnificent, and interesting creatures in any garden, are God’s gift to gardeners. Fortunately, butterfly numbers are increasing in our landscapes, primarily because they’re losing their natural habitats. The building of homes, roads, and farms in Arizona all contribute to the increased butterfly populations in cultivated gardens. Creating a butterfly garden is an easy way to attract more butterflies for our enjoyment while improving their environment.

The mountains of Arizona are famous for easy-care roses. Thanks to the dry air and alkaline soils, we grow a better, brighter, more fragrant rose without the disease and insect issues that plague gardens in high-humidity states. Every garden deserves at least one rose bush, whether in the ground, a raised bed, or a container.

When you think of small evergreen shrubs, do you have an image in your mind of small, rather uninteresting lumps of green dotting a landscape? Well, you shouldn’t. There are plenty of lush bushes that are also quite colorful. It’s just a matter of knowing which grows best in the mountains of Arizona. Here is my list of unique, short, showy, evergreen shrubs with ample color that will enhance your home.