Scientific name: Borage officianalis Plant Family: Boraginaceae Common names: Borage, starflower By Susan Bruneni One of the early bloomers in a springtime Santa Fe garden is borage, presenting a showy display of vivid blue star-shaped flowers. Borage is a member [...]

Scientific name: Tulipa species Family: Liliaceae (Lily) Common name: Tulip species Photos and text by Janice Tucker The Tulip - a much-anticipated harbinger of spring - is one of the most fascinating flowers in the world. There is nothing ordinary [...]

Scientific Names include: Papaver somniferum, Papaver rhoeas, Eschscholzia californica, Argemone hispida Family: Papaveraceae By Susan Bruneini Photos: Janice Tucker Few flowers equal the poppy’s historical influence, including its legendary powers to sprout from the blood of fallen soldiers [...]

Scientific names: Mahonia aquifolium and Mahonia haematocarpa Plant Family: Berberidaceae - Barberry Common name: Oregon grape-holly and Red barberry By Janice Tucker Deck the halls with boughs of Mahonia! Um, shouldn’t it be “holly”, not “Mahonia”? Well, since we’re pretty [...]

Scientific name: Juniperus monosperma Family: Cupressaceae - Cypress Common name: One-seed juniper, New Mexico cedar, Cherrystone juniper, Sabina By Susan Bruneni Photos Courtesy of Janice Tucker The Juniperus monosperma, or One-seed juniper, dots the drier habitats of New [...]

Scientific Name:  Sporobolus airoides Plant Family:  Poaceae (Grass) Common Name:  Alkali sacaton By Janice Tucker The annual visual feast of Santa Fe in living color will soon descend upon our landscape, enticing us to revel in the parade [...]

Scientific Name: Rudbeckia hirta Plant Family: Asteraceae (Aster) Common Name: Black-eyed Susan, Coneflower By Janice Tucker Black-eyed Susans (Rudbeckia hirta) are equally as stunning when mixed with other plants in a domesticated flowerbed as they are growing wild in a [...]

Scientific Name:  Phlox nana Plant Family:  Polemoniaceae - Phlox Common Name:  Santa Fe phlox Photos and Text by Janice Tucker It is always gratifying to find a native plant that grows well in a natural setting and is equally desirable in the [...]

Scientific Name: Kolkwitzia amabilis Plant Family: Caprifoliaceae - Honeysuckle Common Name: Beauty Bush Photos and Text By Janice Tucker   The Beauty Bush (Kolkwitzia amabilis) was a show-stopper at the June 5th SFBG Garden Tours. In a garden first begun [...]

Scientific Name: Lithospermum incisum Plant Family: Boraginaceae – Borage, Forget-me-not Common Name: Puccoon, Fringed gromwell, Narrowleaf stoneseed By Janice Tucker Spring often seems to come slowly to Santa Fe. The first bulbs tease us with their bright flowers [...]

Scientific Name: Acer palmatum ‘Atropurpureum’ Plant Family: Acer – Maple Common Name: Redleaf Japanese maple By Janice Tucker While not entirely rare or uncommon, the appearance of a Redleaf Japanese maple in a Santa Fe Garden is always a bit [...]