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, 2026
• Alamogordo, NM ( Otero native plant society ) - April 11, 2026
• Borderland nursery and seeds - Patagonia AZ spring plant sale - April 25th Albuquerque and Santa Fe have plant sales in various locations in April and May
• Denver botanical garden annual spring sale - May
• Utah - 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)

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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? 

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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/

• Audubon

https://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 page

https://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 maximiliani

https://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 frutescens

https://www.

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• 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

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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 birds that you see in nature by 

https://johnmuirlaws.com

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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 : 
  1. Rattlesnake fence.
  2. Remove clutter
  3. Simplify outdoor living

 ————————————

Briefly, an important task for plant care - irrigation adjustments. 

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Spring bird migration : New bird in my garden. Yellow-rumped warbler

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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 necessary to buy mulch).  Grrowng ground cover
• Fertilizing native plants
• Collecting seeds
• Irrigation

Next 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)

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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

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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 this episode on the website: https://www.gardenandnaturesouthwest.com/starting-seeds-indoors/

Seed companies mentioned in this episode:

• Baker Creek Heirloom seeds :   https://www.rareseeds.com
• Tomato grower supply company : https://tomatogrowers.com
• Sandia Seed company : https://www.sandiaseed.com
• Chili pepper institute, New Mexico State university : https://cpi.nmsu.edu 

https://chilepepperinstitute.ecwid.com

Soil block maker : Johnny’s selected seeds : https://www.johnnyseeds.com/search/?q=soil+block+maker&search-button=&lang=en_US

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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 of garden ecosystem - soil, plants, wildlife, microbial life, water/irrigation, wind, sun etc. 
• What plants to grow
• Companion planting
• Diversity of plants

Episode 11

Date published : Oct 29, 2024

Host: Vani Shukla

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