• Marylee, Potted Desert Gardener
• Desert Potted bougainvillea

1. Choose the right sized container. You need one at least 22” in height and diameter and one that is heavy with a wide bottom to reduce the risk of tipping. Be sure there are drainage holes in the pot.

2. Give bougainvillea plants well-drained soil. Bougainvillia does not require high quality soils. Potting soil is to rich for these plants. Use a garden soil that is more coarse with organic material and even gravely.

3. Do not disturb the roots when removing from the nursery can. Handle carefully, cutting the can away from the root ball rather than pulling the plant from the can.

4. Position the bougainvillea plant in the best place. Bougainvillea is a sun-lover and it will grow best in a full sun position, in the open, facing due North (in southern hemisphere) and due north (northern hemisphere). Heat is not an issue for bougainvillea.

5. Water sparingly. Bougainvillea plants weaken with too much watering, ending up with all leaf growth in place of flowers

6. Prune. Bougainvillea plants are prolific growers and need good pruning to force blooming:

• Marylee, Potted Desert Gardener
• Summer Shade Desert Potted Garden

This pot will be happy in the shade. It includes coleus, geranium, impatiens and a wire vine (available in house plants.)
Be sure not to over water it!

From a previous post:

• Marylee, Potted Desert Gardener
• Potted Purples in the Desert

Do you know that 5 minutes of gardening improves both self-esteem and mood as well as making you feel more tranquil, generous and hopeful*?

To me this is both surprising and makes so much sense. I know when I go out to tend my potted garden in my back yard, I quickly feel better than before I went outside and wonder why I don’t get out there more often. In the summer, we might need to start a lot earlier in the morning when the air is refreshing.

• Marylee, Potted Desert Gardener
• Let's Go Out and Just Sit

Give it a try — go outside and if your garden is one plant or 100, spend 5 minutes tending them and see how you feel. Take a break during your day and I bet you that you will come back inside energized and ready to go!

*A Study in the Journal of Environmental Science & Technology

The Watershed Management Group holds several educational sessions throughout the year to help citizens of their community to be smart about their water usage.

"Almost every weekend we’re running a workshop for two that’s free and open to the public to come and sit in," said Catlow Shipek, co-founder and senior program manager with WMG. "It’s basically other homeowners who are hosting that workshop and we provide a workshop instructor that helps with the design any preparations and the implementation of utilizing volunteers."

On May 16, WMG will be holding a Tucson Water Rainwater Rebate Educational Session. For this particular session, the goal is to help citizens of the Tucson community in applying for a rebate if they use a system that captures rainwater to water their plants or conserve drinking water.

"It’s also meant to help people if they do it themselves, or if they hire a contractor, they become a more knowledgeable, informed customer so that way we can ensure that rainwater in our state systems is being implemented equally as practiced," said Shipek.

The three hour workshop will involve a site tour, an introduction to rainwater harvesting, information about the rebates and a design process.

Anyone who wishes to attend is encouraged to bring a map and/or drawings of their site with measurements included, or any other information they can that would be helpful when applying for the rebate.

According to the City of Tucson website, "Tucson Water will rebate qualifying residential rainwater harvesting system costs under two levels of funding: Level 1 - 100% of the costs of labor and materials up to $300; Level 2 - 50% of the costs of labor and materials up to $2,000. Applicants can decide which level to apply for based on the amount of rainwater they aim to capture onsite and the type of practices they want to implement."

"What I think is highly successful are two things," said Shipek. "One that people learn about the systems in a hands on fashion. So they really learn the nuts and bolts and the best practices. The second thing is just kind of building community. They’re doing it with others from the community so they get to know each other and often build better community bonds and relationships."

The workshop will be held at the City of Tucson Ward 3 Council Office, 1510 E. Grant Rd. on May 16 from 2 to 5 p.m. To sign up for the session, click here.

• Geraniums in All Their Glory

We also expect our geraniums to ‘brown out’ by late July and August. When this happens, cut them back to their lowest point and either shade them or plant some flowers around them to provide a natural shade. You will be rewarded by having fresh wonderful plants in the early fall. Be sure to let them dry somewhat between waterings as they don’t like their feet constantly wet!!

The desert has finally started to heat up this week. However, the night time temperatures are staying true to form at 30 degrees less than the day. This is a great time to plan for your summer flowers. You won't want to plant until mid- to late-April when the night time temperatures are staying above 55 degrees.

• Skirted Vinca Thrives All Summer

Dave’s Garden is a great site to check out plant varieties from the comfort of your own home.

I certainly love the color and tropical effect of flowers all year long. But, we do want to think about adding some pots with cacti or succulents, try something like this:

• Marylee, Potted Desert Gardener
• Potted Artichoke Agave Simply Stated

• Marylee, Potted Desert Gardener
• Dianthus Close-up

Colors range from white through the pinks and reds with some variegated options available. Dianthus has also been grown into several different height options from a low grower of six to eight inches to very tall plants up to 20 inches!

Dianthus respond very well to dead-heading meaning that if you remove spent flowers and stems them they will rebud quickly. They also like a regular application of a water-soluble fertilizer, every two weeks.

• Marylee, Potted Desert Gardener
• Winter Dianthus (Red) with Lobelia and Alyssum

Other facts about Dianthus:
-Carnations are in the Dianthus family.
-Commonly called Pinks in age-old gardens due to the serrated flower edge as if cut with pinking shears.
-Also know as Sweet William.
-Multiplies readily
-Fragrant
-Good for cut flowers
-Critter resistant

Have a question? Email Marylee