tag: Desertsouthwest

Ocotillo (Fouquieria splendens) is neither a true cactus nor a succulent, but a desert shrub with a distinctive, thorny silhouette and brilliant red flowers. It can drop its leaves during dry spells and quickly leaf out again after rain. Ocotillo is essential to hummingbirds, adored by bees, and used by many desert animals. The Ocotillo family is small, with just 11 species, and Fouquieria splendens is the most widely recognized. They are native to North and Central America, with a distant sister family in Madagascar....

In the Desert Southwest, freezing temperatures tend to be rare, brief, and highly localized, but when they do occur, they can be surprisingly destructive. A single radiational freeze—characterized by clear skies, still air, and rapidly dropping nighttime temperatures—can damage buds and new growth, and kill young seedlings outright. These freezes can be sudden, often not predicted until the day before, so it’s important to watch the weather. In this article, we’ll explore how frost behaves in the Desert Southwest, how to plan your garden with frost (and even snow) in mind, and practical ways to prepare for sudden cold snaps when they occur....