This week we explore a visually stunning perennial known as Alstroemeria, or the Peruvian Lily. True to its name, Alstroemeria originated in the cool mountainous regions of Peru and other South American countries. Nowadays, both heirloom and hybrid varieties are found in gardens and flower arrangements across the globe. The showy, intricate blooms are truly sights to behold. Petals come in a variety of colors including orange, salmon, peach, red, and magenta with darker color

This All-American Selection Winner is sure to brighten your garden in more ways than one! A heat and drought tolerant perennial, Coreopsis grandiflora boasts bright golden-yellow blooms beginning early in spring and lasting through late summer. Continuous and more profuse blooming is encouraged by removing spent blooms as they appear. Long, slender stems reach one to two feet in height and host narrow dark green foliage closer to the base. The long stems make ‘Early Sunrise’

Cucumbers belong to the family Cucurbitaceae (try saying that aloud!), which also includes squash and melons. The cucumber fruits appear on trailing vines that can sprawl up to 25 square feet. When growing space is limited, they can be grown on fences or trellises. The flowers require heat for pollination, making late spring through early summer an ideal time for planting. When watering, it is important to avoid overhead irrigation as this can promote downy mildew. Instead, r

This week we are featuring a gorgeous California native called Penstemon heterophyllus ‘Catherine de la Mare’. True to its common name ‘Foothill penstemon’, this plant decorates hillsides with tubular violet-blue blooms and glossy green lance-shaped foliage. Individual plants have low, open growth habit, spreading about 2 feet in width with the impressive flowers sitting atop 1 to 1.5 foot spikes. ‘Catherine de la Mare’ is an excellent plant for borders, patio pots, and nativ