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Sunflowers in a Sustainable Garden

February 3, 2018 Organic Gardening: Flowers and Ornamentals / The Mighty Garden Archive By: Ann Clary

Unlike many other edibles we grow in our yards, sunflowers are native to North America; Native Americans domesticated the wild sunflower into a single headed plant in a variety of seed colors. European colonizers then brought sunflowers to Europe. Sunflowers are an ideal element in a sustainable, edible garden: they attract beneficial insects and enrich […]

Bougainvillea: An Ideal Plant For Hot Mediterranean Areas

January 28, 2018 GardenZeus Southern California / Organic Gardening: Flowers and Ornamentals / The Mighty Garden Archive By: Ann Clary

Picture a large, magenta bougainvillea draping over the red tile roof of a Spanish style home on a cloudless, sunny day—the essence of Southern California. But it might surprise many to know that bougainvillea is native not to California or even North America, but to South America, specifically Brazil to Peru and a portion of […]

Rose Pruning: Tools and Protective Clothing

January 17, 2018 Organic Gardening: Flowers and Ornamentals / Pruning and Other Seasonal Tasks / Queen of the Garden: Growing Roses in California / The Mighty Garden Archive By: Ann Clary

GardenZeus receives commissions for purchases made through links in this post. Annual rose pruning, and even monthly deadheading and clean up, can be a big job. And while careful rose pruning is important in maximizing the growth and bloom of your roses, pruning needs to be done carefully, both with respect to your plants and […]

GardenZeus Quick Tips: Rosemary in the Sustainable Garden

November 12, 2017 Organic Gardening: Flowers and Ornamentals / Organic Gardening: Herbs / The Mighty Garden Archive By: Ann Clary

As a Mediterranean native, rosemary is an ideal choice for a sustainable garden in much of California. Rosemary can thrive in harsh microclimates in a given garden that are too infertile or dry for other plants. When given full sun and just enough water, rosemary graces the garden as attractive plant with its silver leaves […]

Thyme as an Element in Sustainable Gardening

September 29, 2017 Organic Gardening: Flowers and Ornamentals / The Mighty Garden Archive By: Ann Clary

Thyme is a low growing, woody perennial, often with small pink flowers, and requires little maintenance. It does need full sun and neutral to slightly alkaline soil with good drainage. Thyme is a drought tolerant plant. And thyme can be an important element in sustainable gardening. As a perennial, thyme provides an important year-round habitat […]

Roses in Mediterranean Climates: How to Maximize Autumn Bloom

September 25, 2017 Organic Gardening: Flowers and Ornamentals / Queen of the Garden: Growing Roses in California / The Mighty Garden Archive By: Ann Clary

With the majority of the summer heat in the past, roses grown in Mediterranean climates often demonstrate a spring-like rebirth in the relatively moderate weather of fall. Here are six tips to maximize your autumn bloom: Fertilize actively blooming roses at the end of bloom cycles as they set new buds and grow new leaves. […]

Planting Lavender in Mediterranean Climates

September 23, 2017 Organic Gardening: Flowers and Ornamentals / The Mighty Garden Archive By: Ann Clary

Lavender is an ideal choice for Mediterranean climates, where it thrives in the dry air and alkaline soil. And lavender is a drought tolerant plant. Soil needs. Lavenders prefer moderately fertile, slightly alkaline soil. Once established, lavender requires little or no fertilization beyond a minimal addition of compost and/or mulch placed away from the root […]

3 Uses for Lavender

May 31, 2017 Organic Gardening: Flowers and Ornamentals / Organic Gardening: Herbs / The Mighty Garden Archive By: Ann Clary

As Decoration. Once harvested, avoid packing stems tightly in vases, which will allow them to dry naturally. Lavender flowers remain fragrant and attractive, and may be kept on display for extended periods of time, although they may be a bit messy as they drop fine dried petals over time. Lavender flower are traditionally dried in […]

3 Tips for Maintaining Lavender

May 7, 2017 Organic Gardening: Flowers and Ornamentals / Organic Gardening: Herbs / The Mighty Garden Archive By: Ann Clary

Pinching and Pruning. In general, lavenders need frequent, somewhat aggressive pruning, pinching back, and harvest to maintain an attractive, compact form and avoid becoming leggy. Prune more aggressively after blooming from spring to fall for general cleanup and removal of spent blooms. Lavenders bloom on the current season’s growth. Use caution when pruning or pinching […]

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