Valley Ho Horticulture

Learn some landscaping tips from Jeff Sweeney!



Jeff is the director of horticulture for Westroc Hotels and Resorts,
including Hotel Valley Ho and Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain.

Be a Seed | February 17

Few things hold more promise than a seed. Packed with genetics and energy, all a seed needs is the right environment to prosper and grow. In nature, the normal cycles are that winter snows and rain give way to a gentle warming of the soil by the spring sun, creating ideal conditions for sprouting.

Recent times have been much like winter — cold, austere, and uncertain.  But suddenly there is a sense that things are improving. Jobs are coming back, the economy is growing, and confidence is on its way back up. Almost like spring is approaching. So be a seed – germinate and grow.

Sweet Citrus | February 6

It’s a bit early, but the sweet scents of citrus blossoms are in the air. When the desert air is perfumed by this annual profusion of fragrance it means only one thing…summer is not far behind. For now, though, savor the sights and smells of the season while you can – spring is fleeting in the desert. This variegated Eureka Lemon graces the entry of the hotel and extends a warm welcome to our guests with its intoxicating aroma.

Wintertime Blues | January 30

While most of the northern hemisphere shivers and the snow flurries fly, here in the Valley of the Sun we have to deal with the deepest of wintertime blues. Yes it is only 70 degrees, yes great golf is about to begin, and yes the Scottsdale season has begun… but still it is just January's end. We have more winter to come. Luckily here the cure for wintertime blues is planting some. Check out these Lobelia and Pansies we are currently cultivating at Hotel Valley Ho and kiss those winter doldrums goodbye! 

Sudden Spring | January 18

Winters in Phoenix are just as unpredictable as elsewhere. It could be cloudy, cold, and windy one week then approaching record highs the next. This year the early cool and wet conditions of the season have given way to a slow, gradual warm up. Already, signs show that this could be a sudden spring. Sweet Acacias are beginning to bloom, Ash trees are budding, and the pool here at Hotel Valley Ho is seeing some action. So if you are ready for some sudden spring in your yard, below is a list of early blooming trees and plants that are among the first to put on a show.

Trees

• Sweet Acacia
• Evergreen Pear
• Cascalote

Shrubs

• Cassias
• Emus
• Brittle Bush
• Cape Honeysuckle
• Bougainvillea