I love the texture contrast in this bed next to the whale’s tongue agave. As a result, it thrives under the shade of this ironwood tree. Mexican honeysuckle doesn’t do well in full sun. Desert trees like ironwood, mesquite, and palo verde are excellent choices for producing filtered sunlight. Several perennials and small shrubs do best in the desert garden when planted in filtered sunlight. Whale’s Tongue Agave and Mexican Honeysuckle underneath an Ironwood tree In my garden, it grows up against a wall with a trellis for support. Here it is planted in a tall raised bed and allowed to trail downward. Blooms appear in mid-winter, adding a welcome relief to colorless winter landscapes. The vibrant, blooms of purple lilac vine never disappoint. Purple Lilac Vine (Hardenbergia violaceae) ![]() As a result, I didn’t know what we would see. ![]() But, my daughter’s bus arrived late that morning, so I was running a bit late. Usually, I arrive early before my classes to see what’s in bloom so I can plan our route. *Before we embark on our walk, I have a confession to make. I invite you to come along with me on a virtual tour of the plants I showed to the students in the class as we walked through the winter garden in mid-February. Believe it or not, there are quite a few plants that fit the bill. ![]() So, how can we change that? It’s quite simple – add plants that will flower in winter. As you’ll note, the focus in our gardens is typically on plants that flower through the warm season. Drive down a typical neighborhood street in winter, and you will have a hard time finding plants in bloom except for colorful annual flowers. Sadly, many desert dwellers miss this opportunity. During the presentation, I teach students how to incorporate plants in their gardens so they can enjoy colorful blooms all year long. One of the most popular programs that I teach at the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix is ‘Flowering All Year’. Did you know that you can have plants blooming in your landscape every month of the year? In the desert garden, this is definitely true!
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