As the world heats up and we become more and more conscious of our place in the natural scheme, the appeal of the native plants of the Southwest becomes ever more compelling for gardeners. In addition to providing year-round beauty with relatively little maintenance, landscaping with native plants contributes to the repair of the natural ecosystem and brings us closer to our environment—and the array of native plant material available to the Southwestern gardener is diverse and spectacular, providing seemingly endless opportunities for creative and attractive landscapes. In Landscaping with Native Plants of the Southwest, George Oxford Miller provides the definitive guide to choosing the best of the best among the native plants of Arizona and New Mexico. Covering wildflowers, shrubs, trees, vines, groundcovers, and cacti, this comprehensive, richly illustrated book selects the species whose ornamental qualities, growth habit, adaptability, maintenance needs, and beauty add up to the highest landscape value. The illustrations, maps, and charts provide guidelines for species selection and planting, ongoing maintenance, landscape design, and water and energy conservation. In-depth plant profiles describe the habitat requirements for more than 350 native plant species, subspecies, and varieties, with lush photographs illustrating how each plant looks and responds to landscape conditions. As the interest in native-plant landscaping and xeriscaping continues to grow, this book will find a place on the shelf of every gardener and landscaper in the region—or of anybody interested in recreating the beauty of the Southwest in a hot, dry corner of the yard.
A thorough and well-illustrated guide to Texas' native plants, Landscaping with Native Plants of Texas provides both inspiration and instruction for creating beautiful and ecologically sound landscapes using the best that Texas has to offer.
Since its first publication in 1986, How to Grow Native Plants of Texas and the Southwest has set the standard for both home and professional gardeners. Written when the native plant movement was just getting started, it helped convert a generation of gardeners to the practical and aesthetic values of using drought-tolerant plants in southwestern landscapes. In this new edition, Jill Nokes has extensively rewritten every section to include the latest information on the production, cultivation, and landscape use of native plants. She has added over 75 new species and updated the propagation and care information for the original 350 species of trees, shrubs, and woody vines. In addition to the individual plant descriptions, she also devotes whole chapters to gathering and storing seeds, seed germination, planting, vegetative propagation, and transplanting. With this wealth of clearly presented, easy-to-reference information, How to Grow Native Plants of Texas and the Southwest will remain the last word on this subject.
A guide to selecting trees and shrubs for an arid Southwestern garden profiles more than two hundred climate-appropriate plants, with cultivation and care techniques, pest and disease control tips, and pruning advice.
In this complete reference to integrating edible plants into a wide range of private and public landscapes, landscape designer Cheryl Beesley thoroughly answers the questions of how to plant, where to plant, and what to plant. She covers garden layout, bed construction, and fencing options and offers specific design examples for a wide variety of possibilities for edible landscapes, such as a schoolyard, restaurant, or residence. She presents an extensive pallet of edible plant choices for Texas arranged by trees, shrubs, perennials, and annuals and includes detailed information about plant families as well as individual plants. Appendixes instruct readers on disease and insect control, additional variety selections, and plant and seed sources. As the author points out, however they are incorporated, vegetables and fruits—long relegated to their own plots and often hidden from view—can become beautiful and practical additions to the ornamental landscape.
Dedicated to gardeners from west Texas to the eastern edges of California, the experts at Sunset magazine and Sunset Books have created this comprehensive regional landscaping guide to the splendor and drama of Gardening in the Southwest. Amidst a cultural backdrop, stunning photo galleries showcase signature southwest garden environs. Essential reference information focuses on microclimates, soil attributes, seasonal factors, and native plants. An extensive section is devoted to design elements-shade structures, water features, firepits, and more.