Tag: plants
Odd Ways to Hydrate Your Christmas Tree
I got a letter from a woman whose husband wants to soak their Christmas tree in the pool for a couple of days before putting it up. She sounded quite worried about this. I have never thrown a Christmas tree into a swimming pool, so I don’t know what effect, if any, the needles would have ...Tips for Growing a Winter Lawn in the Valley
Q: I just survived my first Arizona summer, and the worst part was mowing my lawn in the triple-digit heat. Now, my neighbor asked me if I am going to put in a winter lawn. Am I? A: First of all, congratulations on your getting through your first summer. You are now officially qualified to lord ...Creosote Bush a Killer Plant?
IN THE DESERT -- Anyone who has ever wandered into an Arizona desert has undoubtedly encountered the rather plentiful, but inconspicuous, plant known as the creosote bush. They're not much to look at -- spindly shrubs that stand anywhere from three to six feet tall and measure about two to 10 feet across. The stems ...What Kind of Plant is a Tumbleweed?
Q: Are tumbleweeds a specific plant or is that a generic term for any dead plant that is blown around by the wind? A: New to these parts, stranger? Actually, so are tumbleweeds, relatively speaking. Tumbleweeds really are a specific plant, the mature form of the Russian thistle, Salsola iberica.We think of them as being a real ...How to Grow a Mesquite Tree
Q: I’d like to plant some mesquite, but I’ve heard they sprout best after passing through the alimentary canal of a bird or a cow or some other animal. Without such an animal, will they still sprout? A: Did you know they used to use mesquite wood to pave streets in some towns in Texas? That ...Why Don’t Palm Trees Blow Down in the Wind?
Q: Why don’t palm trees blow down in strong wind as often as other trees do? A: I thought this was going to be an easy one, and I was prepared to pad it out with a lot of cheap jokes about my masters. Instead, it got kind of complicated, so I had to cut out the ...Why Do People Paint Citrus Tree Trunks White?
Q: Why do people paint the trunks of their citrus trees white? A: HA! At last, a question we actually knew the answer to without having to look it up or ask somebody. It’s to protect them from the sun. We are soooooo smart. To celebrate, we asked an actual newcomer in the office if she knew why ...What’s That After-Rain Aroma in the Valley?
Q: What exactly causes that fresh/earthy scent when it rains in the Valley? It’s a real distinct scent, not flowery or sweet, but more like a fresh, clean smell. A: Your question worked its way to the top of the pile at just the right time — Tuesday, when we had that delightful morning rain. ...Frequently Asked Questions About Saguaros
Here at the Valley 101 Research Center and Windshield Squeegeeing Service, we have amassed a collection of three questions about saguaros, those noble cactuses that symbolize Arizona just as surely as do recall elections. And we now endeavor to answer these queries with, as always, the help of Patrick Quirk of the Desert Botanical Gardens, who ...Saguaros Refuse To Tell Their Ages
Today’s question is about the saguaro, so those of who you have lived in Arizona for more than a few years are free to talk quietly among yourselves or put your heads down on your desks and rest a bit. The rest of you, the newcomers, should pay careful attention because, like indicting a governor ...
