National Lavender Day is June 29. In honor of this widely celebrated and universally beloved holiday, we deemed it time to share a timely tip on one way to use lovely lavender. Why is it Called Lavender? The name of the plant is derived from … Read more
Yerba mansa is a native Southwest herb that has some proven anti-bacterial properties. An Unusual Herb This lovely herb is in the Lizard Tail Family (Saururaceae), an unusual plant family with only seven species in it, grouped into four genera. Yerba mansa is known more … Read more
Tall stately mesquite trees are not what most people think of as a herb! But this graceful tree with durable wood was used as a medicinal herb as well as a source of food, tools, and building materials. Mesquite Pods The seed pods of mesquite … Read more
Brittlebush (Encelia species) is in the sunflower family and offers its bright yellow flowers to pollinating bees as early as January in parts of the desert Southwest. It is easily recognized and has some nice uses for the forager – or if you just want … Read more
Globe mallow, desert mallow, apricot mallow (Sphaeralcea ambigua) is blooming now in the Southwest, and it is one of those herbs long used by humans. Desert Wildflower The globe mallow is a common desert wildflower found especially in disturbed areas. Leaves and stems are covered … Read more
The Great Columbian Interchange brought turmeric to our shores, and it is now found in a number of Southwest dishes, including to give a lovely golden color to Christmas tamales. We just were gifted some of these tasty golden tamales – bringing this handy spice … Read more
Desert broom is a Southwestern plant with many uses. Yes, you can use it to make brooms, but also as a lovely dye plant, a pollinator plant, a bank stabilizer, and it has been traditionally used as a medicinal plant. Overview Desert broom (Baccharis species, … Read more
Creosote is a remarkable herb for your herb garden! Low-water, lovely, and highly useful, this unique desert shrub rewards any extra water you give it by adorning its branches with masses of vivid yellow, star-shaped flowers. These flowers are replaced by charming fuzzy gray seed … Read more
Oregano is a wonderful herb, with many uses – culinary, medicinal, ornamental, and aesthetic. Not to mention it’s also a good pollinator plant, plus the javelina and rabbits leave it alone. Oregano Origins From the arid mountains of the eastern Mediterranean, including present day Greece … Read more
Agarita berries are some of the earliest fruits to harvest in our region. The berries are tart for sure – but I like the flavor better than strawberries. Finding Agarita Mind you agarita is not something found in Low Desert around Phoenix – it’s more … Read more
