Snow and Bottle Tree Photo: Barbara Porsch By Barbara Porsch, Permian Basin Master Gardener What comes to your mind when you hear the term “yard art”? I love yard art because it usually fills a void in my landscaping or garden. Welcome to my yard. My favorite decoration in my yard is my first bottle tree. It is a tall cedar post with long screws holding the bottles. A friend helped me with it, and we planted it in the middle of what was then my vegetable garden. I have had neighbors...

Young Bloom Stalks of Nolina Photo by Emmy Ulmschneider By Emmy Ulmschneider, Permian Basin Master Gardener I am always amazed by the connections between native plants and the organisms they support. As I started to cut back last year’s dried flower stalk from my Saccahuista or Beargrass, Nolina microcarpa, I noticed that both a praying mantis and a green lacewing had chosen to lay their eggs on the old flower stalk. This plant has a long human connection as well. The common name...

A pocket prairie garden feels intentional—and contained—when paired with a strong hardscape bed border. In the winter months, the sculptural bird bath provides a quiet beauty as the flowers go dormant. | Emmy Ulmschneider By Mary Sirgo, Permian Basin Master Gardener One of the most common objections I hear about native landscapes is that they look messy. As someone who spends a lot of time advocating for native plants, I understand where that perception comes from. What many people are...