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One of the most essential elements to the bungalow lifestyle is that the home is completely connected to the outdoors, and in particular the garden.

A bungalow home is designed as a space to have views and access to your outdoor surroundings and is exceptional when it's design is unique to your location. 

Gardens are beautiful, provide nourishment and natural remedies, and support wildlife.  And most importantly even the tiniest garden offers sanctuary and peace. ​

How to grow feverfew in the high country

What's not to love about a tough plant that has cheery and bright blooms, is considered to offer proven health benefits, and adds to your cottage-style garden vibe all at once?

I seem to be partial to growing lots of unusual plants, and most of them are herbs that are superstars.  (Because if they aren't, they don't last long here!)

​Find out about growing Feverfew in your northern Arizona garden here.

Growing clary sage in prescott

Those of you who are unable or unwilling to devote a lot of time and energy to your garden will thank me for introducing you to this week’s featured plant.

​Actually known as an herb that thrives on neglect, clary sage is a showy, fragrant, easy-to-grow favorite with abundant medicinal and herbal properties.   And it thrives in the high desert climate of Prescott, AZ.

Creating private & cozy landscapes

This is a fun Before & After story about a huge project we did years ago.

We were asked to craft cozy and private outdoor spaces in a not-so-private location on a riparian reserve.

This large Spanish-style home felt exposed to traffic, the neighbors, and the elements.  See the before & after of this total custom landscape design.

Design by The Whiskey Porch.

Growing MonRDA (bEE bALM) IN pRESCOTT

Are you looking for a stunning, water-wise, hardy, and useful herb that will sustain your pollinators?  Monarda does all that effortlessly in our high desert climate, and offers a billowy cottage garden feel to your landscape.

Plus, I've got a wonderful herbal tea recipe for you.
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Learn how to grow and use Monarda in your Prescott garden.
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Growing clematis in the high desert

Clematis is a luxurious old-fashioned climber that is a showstopper in part-sun here in the high desert.

I wanted to share a little bit about this wonderful plant along with a peek at the spring flush in my own Prescott garden.
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Celebrating national gardening weekend

10 Reasons Why Gardening is Good for You. 

Thinking about growing something beautiful or eatable for the first time, or feeling like you're in a bit of a gardening rut?  Whether you have acres and acres to work with, or just a small balcony or bay window and a few pots, the case can easily be made that gardening is good for your Mind, Body, and Soul. 

A little inspiration to get your hands in the dirt.
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First Frost:  How to Prep your kitchen garden

In the high country of northern Arizona, we are blessed with a long growing seasons.

When that first frost threatens to end your kitchen garden pleasures, there's a few simple steps and rituals that you can take to extend that summer just a bit longer.

And remember to embrace it - it's a wonderful process.  

Learn how to prep your garden and what to do with your herbs.  
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Growing Blanket Flower wildflowers

When we decide we want to create some of that wild meadow feeling in our own home gardens, it often turns into a battle to contain the wanderings of these wild-flowers as well as attempting to provide the right conditions for our favorite varieties. 

Somehow it often doesn't have that carefree meadow feeling or look.

Enter, the Blanket Flower - learn why this perennial wildflower is perfect for your high desert garden.

Growing evening primrose wildflowers

The abundant and wild look of wildflowers in a large meadow or in the wide expanses of the low-land desert in early spring are so inspiring.  

But in a home garden, wildflowers can be challenging to incorporate without a scrappy or weedy look.  And often they require quite a bit of water to regularly flourish and reseed on their own.

Enter, the Primrose - learn why this perennial wildflower is perfect for your high desert garden.

Growing prickly pear in the high desert

For those of us who garden in the high country of Northern Arizona, some of you may not think of incorporating prickly pear initially.   

While our climate here in Prescott is considered a high desert, it might be surprising to know that many prickly pear varieties will not only survive in our four season climate, but truly thrive.

One of my favorites is Engelman's Prickly Pear - and it makes a truly stunning focal point in your landscape.

artful uses of budget friendly materials - 6 ideas

Gardening, on a budget?  Sounds like an oxymoron to me! So, in the spirit of sharing some artful uses of unusual and budget-friendly garden materials, I put together this blog post to focus on a few that I think are worth considering.  I've got 6 Budget Material Ideas for you.

There's some wonderful How-To's for all you DIY-ers too.
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5 Great reasons to use pots in your garden landscape

Sometimes there is nothing better or more appropriate than incorporating carefully selected and placed pots.  Not as an after-thought, but as an integral part of your garden problem solving toolbox, and of course your creative design.

Check out the blog post.
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Growing Cactus & succulents in prescott

It's tricky and vastly different than in more temperate climates, but very possible to have cactus and succulents thrive here in the high desert of Northern Arizona.

Here's a little inspiration.
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monsoons bring little surprises

Some of us like to think of our garden landscapes as well planned out and meticulously maintained.  But the truth is that no matter how much planning goes into it, there's just some surprises that couldn't possibly have been planned better.

Here's to celebrating the unplanned!!
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you might also be interested in...

Our monthly local garden feature during the summer is called Gardens of Prescott.  Get a sneak peek inside some local hidden gems for ideas and inspiration.  And find out how to submit your own garden.
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