Garden & Nature, Southwest

Vani Shukla
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Gardening and discovering nature in Southwest USA

  1. Apr 10

    Part-2: Starting Native Plant Garden:. Where to find native plants. How to select plants for different spaces and wildlife. Ep # 20

    Episode # 20  Where do you buy native plants in southwest USA. How do you select plants for your space, for different garden sizes an designs. Can you have native plants in containers if you just have patio/balcony or or a rental home.  I go through some examples of plants for different garden spaces and different wildlife benefits.  Relevant prior episodes  Ep # 4 _ Where to fin native plants. How to avoid confusion and invasive species  Ep # 7 : Sun Exposure an direction; Microclimate of Garden 2026 Spring Native plant sales mentioned in this episode UTEP, Flora Fest, El Paso, TX - April 11, 2026Alamogordo, NM ( Otero native plant society ) - April 11, 2026Borderland nursery and seeds - Patagonia AZ spring plant sale - April 25th Albuquerque and Santa Fe have plant sales in various locations in April and MayDenver botanical garden annual spring sale - MayUtah - May Southern California, Arizona an Nevada - Many sales were in February an March. A few may be in April. Please check your local area. Some nurseries mentioned in this episode Spadefoot Nursery, Tucson, AZ https://www.spadefootnursery.com/ El Paso, TX https://www.highdesertnativeplants.com/  Las Cruces, NM http://www.robledovista.com/ La Union, NM (Near Las Cruces, NM & El Paso, TX)  https://www.sierravistagrowers.net/ Boulder  Colorado https://harlequinsgardens.com/ Plants mentioned  in this episode : Ground cover plants   Wine cups - Callirhe involucrata Frog fruit - Phyla nodiflora Silver pony foot - Dichondra argentea Gray 5 eyes - Chamaesarcha chonioes Windmill trailing vine -- Allionia incarnata Flowering plants - Salvias - multiple native species  Penstemons - multiple native species Cherry Skullcap - Scutellaria sufretescens Desert marigold -   Baileya multiradiata Blanket flower - Gaillardia (different native species) Blackfoot daisy - Melampodium leucanthum  Chocolate daisy - Berandiera lyrata damianita daisy - Chrysactinia mexicana  Shrubs and tress Algeria - Mahonia trifoliata - (Berberis trifoliata) Algeria - Mahonia hematocarpa -  (red barberry -) Wolfberry - Lycium Anderson (some other species of Lycium also native ) Little leaf Sumac - Rhus microphylla Three leaf Sumac - Rhus trilobata Manzanita - pointleaf Manzanita  - Arctostaphylos pungent (and other native species ) Sage - Leucophyllum -  Desert Willow - Chilopsis liners Goldenball Lead tree - Leucaena retusa  Mexican red bird of paradise - Caesalpinia mexicana Anisacanthus Quadrifidus   Grassess Mexican feather grass - Nassella tennuissima Grama grasses native to southwest Buffalo grass - Bouteloua dactyloides Muhly grasses - Muhlenbergia  (several native southwest species) Send us a text for questions on this topic Visit website for podcast show notes, images  and other posts. https://www.gardenandnaturesouthwest.com/ Subscribe to get blog & podcast episodes delivered to your inbox.  If you have questions regarding the topic covered here, email me

    55 min

  2. Apr 2

    Starting Native Plant Garden. Staying Motivated and Inspired despite some frustrations. Ep#19

    How do you find inspiration to keep growing a native garden when you can’t find the plants that you’re looking for. If you are starting a new native plant garden, how do you continue to make progress? Where do you find motivation to continue gardening?  Send us a text for questions on this topic Visit website for podcast show notes, images  and other posts. https://www.gardenandnaturesouthwest.com/ Subscribe to get blog & podcast episodes delivered to your inbox.  If you have questions regarding the topic covered here, email me

    22 min

  3. Feb 13

    Backyard Bird Habitat. Effective Process of Learning About Any Bird to Create Its Habitat. Ep#18

    Apart from general bird habitat requirement in the garden, specific changes for any particular bird can be very effective for growing a bird habitat garden. I use the example of Lesser Goldfinches in this episode but the information can be applied to any bird you are interested in. I will walk you through a process that will make learning and planning the habitat, simple  Websites mentioned in this episode  All about birds (Cornell Lab)https://www.allaboutbirds.org/news/ Audubonhttps://www.audubon.org/ Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center -  Native Plant Database page https://www.wildflower.org/plants/search.php?search_field=&newsearch=true Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center  - Home pagehttps://www.wildflower.org/ Plant nursery for online plants - It carries many southwestern native plants High Country Gardens https://www.highcountrygardens.com/ Birds mentioned in this episode Lesser Goldfinch Dark-eyed Junco  Native plants mentioned in this episode.  Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center links are provided for each plant to get more information Chocolate flower ( Berlendiera lyrata )https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=BELY Maximillian Sunflower: Helianthus maximilianihttps://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=HEMA2 Annual Sunflower : Helianthus annuus https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=HEAN3 Skeleton-leaf Goldeneye: Viguera https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=VIST Blanket flower  (Gaillardia )There are many different species of Gaillardia. If you search on the wildflower center website for ‘Gaillardia” or “blanket flower” you will be able to review the different plants in that group https://www.wildflower.org/plants/search.php?search_field=&newsearch=true Tetraneuris scaposa Same as mentioned above for Gaillardia. Please type “tetraneuris” on Wildflower Center website search bar to see various options https://www.wildflower.org/plants/search.php?search_field=&newsearch=true Elderberry tree (Mexican Elder) : Sambucus nigra ssp. cerulea https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=SANIC5 Black Dalea : Dalea frutescenshttps://www. Send us a text for questions on this topic Visit website for podcast show notes, images  and other posts. https://www.gardenandnaturesouthwest.com/ Subscribe to get blog & podcast episodes delivered to your inbox.  If you have questions regarding the topic covered here, email me

    27 min

  4. Jan 27

    Winter Birdbath Maintenance so easy that you can Clean & Refill it daily? Are Birdbath Heaters needed? Ep#17

    Daily maintenance is possible only if it easy. Birdbath design and location are the two most important factors in developing a habit of cleaning birdbath daily. Birdbath heater alternatives for frozen birdbaths in the winter. Which regions in US Southwest could benefit from having a birdbath heater Send us a text for questions on this topic Visit website for podcast show notes, images  and other posts. https://www.gardenandnaturesouthwest.com/ Subscribe to get blog & podcast episodes delivered to your inbox.  If you have questions regarding the topic covered here, email me

    17 min

  5. 09/15/2025

    Fall bird migration 2025. Maximize bird sightings in your backyard and beyond. Ep#16

    How can you maximize bird sightings every migration season including fall migration 2025 Easily make birdwatching a part of your daily routine. Create a birding hotspot in your garden.  Birds and plants mentioned in the show : Rock wrenWarblersGreen tailed towheeScots orioleIndigo buntingPhainopepla Apps mentioned in the show:  iNaturalist  e-Bird Audubon  Nature journaling and how to draw birds that you see in nature by  https://johnmuirlaws.com Send us a text for questions on this topic Visit website for podcast show notes, images  and other posts. https://www.gardenandnaturesouthwest.com/ Subscribe to get blog & podcast episodes delivered to your inbox.  If you have questions regarding the topic covered here, email me

    23 min

  6. 04/30/2025

    Native plants /wildlife garden Spring Tasks (Part 2 ) Create Habitat; Make maintenance easier; keep outdoor living space safe & functional. Ep#15

    Ep. 15  In this episode:  Water source for birds, bees and butterflies. Habitats for lizards, toads and tortoise. Create a safe space in patio, play area, other high traffic area : Rattlesnake fence.Remove clutterSimplify outdoor living ———————————— Briefly, an important task for plant care - irrigation adjustments.  ————————————- Spring bird migration : New bird in my garden. Yellow-rumped warbler Send us a text for questions on this topic Visit website for podcast show notes, images  and other posts. https://www.gardenandnaturesouthwest.com/ Subscribe to get blog & podcast episodes delivered to your inbox.  If you have questions regarding the topic covered here, email me

    23 min

  7. 04/17/2025

    Native plant gardens: spring gardening tasks for native plants and wildlife. Ep#14

    Episode 14 Gardening tasks in spring for a native plant garden keep in mind the other wildlife species that depend on the  native plant garden. These tasks are different from vegetable garden and non-native ornamental gardens.  Included in this episode:    Growing new plants - add more plant diversity in the garden, looking for local native plantsWhen and how to pruneHow to mulch (not always necessary to buy mulch).  Grrowng ground coverFertilizing native plantsCollecting seedsIrrigationNext episode will continue this series to include tasks specific to birds, pollinators, spiders, insects including butterflies and bees, lizards, toads and  small mammals Native Plants mentioned in this episode (scientific names are in italics)  Mexican gold poppy - Eschscholzia californica ssp mexicana  One of the online native seed company for its seed : https://www.nativeseeds.org/products/wf035?variant=40837419499674  Native plants that easily reseed and are either aggressive or roots are difficult to pull out Snakeweed : Gutierrezia sarothrae Desertbroom - Baccharis sarothroides Mexican feathergrass: Nasella Tenuissima Chocolate daisy (chocolate flower, lyreleaf greeneyes): Berlandiera lyrata Mexican evening primrose: Oenothera speciosa Native plants that easily reseed but  are easy to pull out and  not aggressive  Desert marigold - Baileya multiradiata Ground cover: Frog fruit - Phyla nodiflora : native ground cover, host to butterflies  Apps mentioned in the episode:  iNaturalist :  https://www.inaturalist.org/Photos  (Apple)Send us a text for questions on this topic Visit website for podcast show notes, images  and other posts. https://www.gardenandnaturesouthwest.com/ Subscribe to get blog & podcast episodes delivered to your inbox.  If you have questions regarding the topic covered here, email me

    27 min

  8. 04/04/2025

    Two southwest native trees for wildlife and beautiful gardens. Ep#13

    Episode 13 Native trees are essential part of habitat for insects, birds and other wildlife. Many of us may not be familiar with how elderberry and dessert willow can create a beautiful garden and also invite wildlife including birds.  Scientific plant names mentioned in this episode 1) Mexican Elderberry : Sambucus nigra ssp. cerulea OR Sambucus cerulea OR Sambucus mexicana 2) American Elderberry: Sambucus nigra ssp. canadensis 3) Desert Willow: Chilopsis linearis Send us a text for questions on this topic Visit website for podcast show notes, images  and other posts. https://www.gardenandnaturesouthwest.com/ Subscribe to get blog & podcast episodes delivered to your inbox.  If you have questions regarding the topic covered here, email me

    19 min
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About

Gardening and discovering nature in Southwest USA

Information

  • Creator
    Vani Shukla
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    20
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Garden & Nature, Southwest
  • Show Website
    Garden & Nature, Southwest