Garden & Nature, Southwest

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. Ho...

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...

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 thi...

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...

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 wren Warblers Green tailed towhee Scots oriole Indigo bunting Phainopepla  Apps mentioned in the show:  iNaturalist  e-Bird Audubon  Nature journaling and how to draw b...

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 clutter Simplify outdoor living  ———————————— Briefly, an important task for plant care - irrigation adjustments.  ————————————- Spring bird migration : New bird in my garden. Yellow-rumped...

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 plants When and how to prune How to mulch (not always nec...

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...

Episode 12: Starting seeds indoors. In this episode:  Why and when to start seeds indoors Growing near window with natural light. When would you need grow lights Ways to reduce use of plastic & alternatives to using plastic seed starting trays Soil blocks Alternatives to buying humidity dome for growing seeds What type of soil/seed mix to use for seeds indoors  Check out the image gallery for...

The best way to keep pests in check is creating a garden that has a healthy, balanced ecosystem.  Here are some of the issues addressed in this episode Why not to use chemical pesticides What is the harm in using organic pesticides and homemade sprays for pest control such as garlic spray, chili pepper spray, oil or soap sprays etc.  What does a good garden ecosystem consist of? Various elements o...

Creating and maintaining healthy soil ecosystem is essential to easy gardening specially in harsh climates. Learn about the basics of soil ecosystem in any type of garden. Also some specific situations are addressed such as growing vegetables and other edibles in hot, desert climates. I am also addressing a few common questions about adding amendments to soil, adding nutrients and microorganisms t...

How can we make the best of  spring bird migration time. How can we help at an individual level. Make your garden rest stop for migratory birds Resources (websites and apps mentioned in the episode) Apps eBird (app by Cornell Lab) Merlin (app by Cornell Lab) Audubon Bird Guide (App by Audubon)  Websites https://birdcast.info/      https://www.fws.gov/partner/migratory-bird-program-administrative-f...

We forget about the benefits nature has on our wellbeing when most of our modern lifestyle is designed for indoors.  In this episode I want to highlight some important effects nature has on our brain health, sleep and cognition. I also share some tips on increasing outdoor time without making it another "task for the to do list"  Send us a text for questions on this topic Visit website f...

How can you use the knowledge about sun exposure and direction in your gardening and design decisions (outdoor and indoor living) Some suggestions for if you are stuck with a particular direction of sun exposure What is the best side for a patio or seating area Shade options for  garden & patio What side is best for winter gardening  Windows for bright interiors Send us a text for questions on...

DIY frost protection for plants - sharing some winter memories from the past. How I created efficient, easy to maintain system for patio and vegetable patch.   In this episode: Frost protection for container plants in the patio and vegetable patch Creating a system that is easy to maintain  A system that worked for few days even in less than 0°F Send us a text for questions on this topic Visit web...

Hummingbird feeder good or not,  feeder  microbes, nutrients in floral nectar, scientific facts and best practices to feed hummingbirds in our gardens Microbial communities in hummingbird feeders are distinct from floral nectar and influenced by bird visitation https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rspb.2018.2295 Sweet Solutions: Nectar chemistry and quality https://royalsocietypublishing...

Episode # 4 : Where to find locally native plants.   Collecting plants/seeds from wild - legal or not, right or wrong. Learning about local natives and invasive species. Plants and websites mentioned in this episode: Verbena (large genus with more than 100 species of  plants ) Paper flower (Psilostrophe tagetina)  Jewel flower (Streptanthus carinatus) iNaturalist - App to identify plants Lady Bird...

Rainwater Harvesting  Active rainwater harvesting - setting up collection system. Passive harvesting - maximizing rainwater absorption in the ground. Rain barrels/containers/tanks - plastic, metal, ceramic, wood.  Rain gutters - various options; installing small sections of roof vs full roof Rain chain vs downspout Option for flat roof - how to collect water from scuppers/canale Link https://www.c...

What characteristic to look for when selecting fruit trees.  Learn about chilling requirements Growing conditions including soil pH Importance of knowing about the wholesale nursery Cold hardiness USDA cold hardiness zones What is the best time to plant fruit trees Send us a text for questions on this topic Visit website for podcast show notes, images  and other posts. https://www.gardenandnatures...

Date: September 6, 2023 Podcast name : Garden and Nature, Southwest Episode titile : Inviting wild birds to the backyard Podcast Host: Vani Shukla How can we make our garden space friendly for wild birds to visit and nest. If a backyard garden promotes a healthy ecosystem, then birds that we never imagined could come in an urban neighborhood,  start to show up.  This episode covers information on...