Newsletter Archive
newsletter archive
july 10The Asteraceae family (also referred to as the aster, daisy, or sunflower family) has more than 22,750 species that can be found all over the world. Most of these are herbaceous, but many are also shrubs, vines and trees. Daisies are easy to grow and maintain, come in annual and perennial varieties, are very attractive, and are some of the most popular flowers in the home garden. Read more... |
 |
june 10Luscious peas come from P. sativum, an annual plant with a year-long life cycle. This cool season crop is grown in many parts of the world. The seeds may be planted as soon as the soil temperature reaches 50 °F, with the plants growing best at temperatures of 55 to 64 °F. Read more... |
 |
may 10The Columbine (Aquilegia) is a wildflower that will also feel at home in your garden, either as a native woodland planting, as part of a rock garden, as edging or in containers, or as a tasty nectar-filled treat for the hummingbirds and bees. Read more... |
 |
april 10Pansies and violas are members of the violet family. The blue and yellow 'Johnny jump-up' is believed to be the wild ancestor of most of today's species of viola. The modern pansy, through generations of breeding and cultivation, is far showier than its predecessors, and less hardy. Their rich history is evident in the culinary arts, visual arts, medicine, folklore, and more. Read more... |
 |
march 10What gardener doesn’t experience at least a little shiver of joy at the first crocus? Tangible evidence of winter’s end, the crocus bloom heralds the arrival of spring! The delicate chalice-shaped blooms of the crocus grow in shades of white, yellow, lavender, and purple and are cradled by its grassy leaves. Read more... |
.jpg) |
february 10Simple and complex, sweet and barbed, decorative and functional, earthly and symbolic, the rose finds a place in the heart of humanity. The romance of roses burst forth in our February celebrations, a time of dark winter when their light is most welcome. Read more... |
 |
january 10The Epiphyllum family comprises 19 species, the most popular of which is often known as the “orchid cactus” for its large, short-lived, spectacular flowers. Shimmering and iridescent, the Epiphyllum flowers range from white to red (though white is most common in the wild) and can be over 9 inches across! Read more... |
 |
december 09Christmas cacti are native to Brazil, where they attach themselves to another plant on which they grow. There is more to the Christmas cactus than meets the eye. The Christmas cactus does not have the modified spines of regular cacti, their joints are fragile and break easily, and what look to be its leaves are actually small stems called cladodes. Read more... |
 |
november 09Born from large papery bulbs, the flamboyant trumpet blooms of the Amaryllis crown tall stems in an impressive show that lives up to its name Amaryllis: the splendid beauty. With colors ranging from white to orange, from pink to deep red, the amaryllis is an easy and showy flowering bulb to bring to bloom in the indoor months. Read more... |
 |
october 09Narcissus, or Daffodil, is the botanic name for a genus of hardy bulbs in the Amaryllis family that are native to Europe, North Africa, and Asia. While most bulbs are spring-blooming, some are fall-blooming. However, with the ease of forcing Narcissus Paperwhite bulbs, these fragrant, beautiful, white-trumpeted blooms can be enjoyed indoors all year round. (You can get both bulbs, and started bulbs at YART.) Read more... |
 |
september 09Dahlia is a genus of bushy, tuberous, perennial plants native to Mexico, Central America, and Colombia. Since 1813, commercial plant breeders around the world have been breeding dahlias; dahlia hybrids are common ornamental garden plants because of their spectacular and vivid blooms. Read more... |
 |
august 09Maize (corn) was traditionally planted by the Native Americans in a symbiotic relationship known as the Three Sisters: beans relied on the maize plant for support and in turn provided nitrogen from its roots to the maize; and squashes provided ground cover to stop weeds and created shade to slow evaporation. Read more... |
 |
july 09Chamomile (derived from the Greek χαμα?μηλον, meaning "earth-apple") is a common name for several daisy-like plants. Common chamomile, anthemis nobilis, is a low growing perennial with appealing daisy-like single flowers that can reach 6-12 inches high. Their feathery greens have a pleasing and gentle scent, and the plant as a whole is hardy and easy to grow. Read more... |
 .jpg) |
june 09Salvia is very common here in New Mexico, although you probably know it as sage. Salvia is the largest genusof plants in the mint family, with approximately 900 species of shrubs, herbaceous perennials, and annuals that are also commonly referred to as sage. Read more... |
 |
may 09There are over 300 species of Dianthus, the most popular of which are known as Carnations, Sweet William, and Cottage Pinks. These common garden blooms are hardy perennials flowers with bright, richly fragrant blooms. Read more... |
 |
april 09The energy of apple blossoms bursting forth each spring inspires awe in those who stop to gaze at their delicate pink splendor. These simple flowers of the apple trees are a gentle pink—a color that encourages action, motion, courage, and passion—on a backdrop of medium green leaves. Read more... |
 |
march 09Iris, the Greek goddess of rainbows and messenger of the gods, spreads her message of love and hope while cloaked in a multi-colored robe of dewdrops reflecting the stars. She communicates through the rainbows, those bridges between the heavens and the earth. Thus, the Iris is the symbol of communication and the name itself means "rainbow" in Greek. Read more... |
 |
february 09There are between 40 and 200 different daffodil species, depending on which botanist you ask. Daffodils are hardy bulbs in the Amaryllis family that are native to Europe, North Africa, and Asia. Most are spring-flowering, although species bloom in the fall. Daffodils come in all shades and tones of yellow, white, orange, pink, red, and green. Read more... |
 |
january 09Red willow is a medium-sized deciduous tree that grows near water, most often stream-side in canyons. They tolerate sand and seasonal flooding, thrive in full sun, and are native to cooler regions in the northern hemisphere. The bark of mature trees is dark and rough, while young twigs are sometimes red. Read more... |
 |
december 08The piñon (Pinus edulis) is a sturdy, slow-growing little evergreen that flourishes in most of New Mexico and parts of Colorado and Arizona. They thrive in altitudes of 4000 to 9000 feet and grow to be between 20 and 25 feet tall, with short trunks, horizontal branching and rounded crowns. Read more... |
 |
november 08Chrysanthemums, also known simply as mums, are a genus of about 30 species of perennial flowering plants in the Asteraceae family, native to Asia and northeastern Europe. Chrysanthemums were cultivated in China as a flowering herb as far back as the 15th century BC and weren’t brought to Europe until the 17th century. Read more... |
 |
october 08Abundant and fruitful, Quaking aspen (populus tremuloides) covers more of our continent than any other tree. Aren't we lucky? Aspens share a root system, which means that an entire grove of aspens is one single living organism. Read more... |
 |
september 08Angel's Trumpets (or Brugmansias) are large shrubs or small trees native to subtropical regions of South America. The dramatic and pendulous flowers that hang in a living shower of white, yellow, pink, orange or red give them their name, and they have a delicate scent most noticeable in the early evening. Read more... |
 |
august 08Echinacea plants (aka Purple Coneflowers) are fabulous herbaceous perennials that are native to eastern and central North America. Known as the Purple coneflower because of its large, daisy-like purple flowers, Echinacea flowers also come in white, blush, wine, cream, and yellow colors. Read more... |
 |
july 08Also known as the Beardtongue, the Penstemon’s most distinctive feature is its prominent staminode (an infertile stamen). The staminode varies among different species of Penstemon, but is typically a long straight filament that reaches a height matching that of the petals. Read more... |
 |
june 08YART grew an amazingly delicious tomato plant in the growing dome (“It was the best tasting tomato I believe any of us have ever eaten,“ Jane says), and YART propagated this amazing tomato plant using cuttings. While the original plant is no longer there, YARTy folks are lucky to be able to buy its descendents now. Read more... |
 |
may 08Tulips, as a species, live in southern Europe, north Africa, and Asia. Aren’t we lucky to have them in New Mexico? Tulips love mountainous areas like ours, with temperate climates and long cool springs. It’s best to plant bulbs about four to eight inches deep (two to three times the height of the bulb) in late summer to fall in soil that drains well. Read more... |
 |
april 08Grape hyacinths are a group of plants in the genus Muscari of plants native to Eurasia, and they are some of the earliest blooms in spring. Planted as bulbs both in lawns and flowerbeds, grape hyacinths produce spikes of blue flowers resembling bunches of grapes. These vibrant blossoms have a lovely fragrance. Read more... |
 |
march 08Native to China, Korea. From late winter to early spring, these fountain-shaped shrubs' bare branches are covered with 3/4 -1 1/2" yellow flowers; budded branches can be forced for indoor bloom. During the rest of the growing season, foliage - medium green, rounded leaves with pointed tips - blends well with other background shrubs. Use as a screen, espalier, or bank cover; or plant in shrub border. Read more... |
 |
january/february 08Born from large papery bulbs, the flamboyant trumpet blooms of the Amaryllis crown tall smooth exotic stems in an impressive show that lives up to its name, "amaryllis"- the splendid beauty. With colors ranging from white to deep red, with pinks, oranges, and stripes in between, the amaryllis is the easiest flowering bulb to bring to bloom. Read more... |
 |
december 07When choosing your poinsettia plant, examine it carefully. Look for plenty of dark green leaves and brightly colored flowers (bracts) that are fully open. Do not choose a poinsettia if either the leaves or the flowers are dry or brown around the edges. If the weather is cold, make sure to wrap up the plant well for the trip from the store to the car. Even short exposure to cold and wind can damage your new poinsettia plant before it is even home. Read more... |
