They prefer full sun locations and regular watering in well-drained soil that keeps them moist, but not wet. However, that's only a preference. Most echinacea varieties are tolerant of drought, heat, humidity, and poor soils...oh, and they are cold-hardy, too. A couple of feedings per year of a good flower food will keep them healthy and strong.

Coneflowers make an excellent addition to any perennial garden and look great in border or container plantings. They are a great addition to any butterfly garden.

Butterflies are beautiful, dainty and graceful. Butterflies are loved by children and adults alike.

So wouldn't you like to have a butterfly garden in your own yard? Even if your landscape is already established, if you plant a few plants they like, butterflies will soon find a friendly environment in your gardens.

Unfortunately, not all flowering plants will attract butterflies. There are flowering plants that are excellent hosts for the butterfly larvae. There are other flowers that provide nectar for the adults. Different species of butterflies are attracted to different flower nectar and flower colors.

You can create a wonderful, colorful garden that is beautiful for you and attracts these delicate creatures. Here at Westwood Gardens we have many plants that attract butterflies. Here are some of our suggestions:

With summer here, garden herbs are kicking into high gear, producing lots of pleasing, aromatic foliage that is great for cooking and potpourris. Freshly harvested leaves are wonderful for cooking, but you might want to preserve some to use later in the year or to create sachets that will fill your home with wonderful scents.

There are two ways to air-dry your crop. The first is to hang it up. With large-leafed herbs such as basil, rosemary, and sage, snip off the leafy stems, then tie the cut ends together with string and hang the bundle upside down in a warm, dry place (out of direct sunlight) with good air circulation. The herbs should be dry and crisp in two to three weeks. You can then strip the leaves off the stems and store them in airtight container for later use. This method is also a great way to dry lavender.

The second way to dry herbs is to spread them out to dry. With fine-leafed herbs such as oregano and thyme, simply remove the foliage from stems and spread the leaves on a cookie sheet or piece of clean window screen and set in a warm, dry, airy place away from direct sun. Stir them up every few days to turn them over. Once the leaves feel crisp, you can store them in an airtight container for later use.

When most people think about drought tolerant landscaping they conjure up images of rock, cactus and succulents. And while they can have a place in some drought tolerant gardens (if you live in the desert) most modern drought tolerant designs don't rely on them and are filled with the beauty and color of many favorite mainstream plants.

Most existing landscapes already have plants that can survive periods of drought. The key is to select plants for your particular growing conditions when planning and designing (or re-designing) your landscape and then placing these plants together according to their water needs.

Your goal should be to create three basic divisions of plant groupings: a very low water zone, a low water zone and a moderate water zone. Each area should be irrigated separately, according to specific water needs. In this way you can have one area that uses more water than the environment naturally provides and another area where you might need no extra water at all.

Consider foliage texture and color, bloom period and the shape of each plant when selecting plants for your garden. Also incorporate some plants with grayish foliage; these have a natural reflective quality that allows them to survive in low-moisture, high-heat situations.

Along with proper plant selection are a couple of other very important principles which should be incorporated into any drought tolerant garden:

• Make sure to use a soil amendment when planting.
• Cover open areas around plants and trees with a two inch layer of mulch to reduce evaporation, keep the soil cool, and help prevent weeds.

Last, a drought tolerant garden needs to be watered correctly in order for you to succeed in your water-saving goals. Each water zone should be on a separate station and timer. Make sure to irrigate in the early morning to help reduce evaporation. Be sure to pull weeds as needed to reduce competition for water, and feed your garden at least quarterly to help your plants stay healthy and strong.

With careful selection, planning and execution, drought-tolerant landscapes can be as pleasing as those needing heavy irrigation. We have a great selection of colorful drought tolerant plants, and our staff of garden experts is available to help you every step of the way.

What You'll Need:

• 2/3 cup soy sauce
• 4 tbsp. vegetable oil
• 2 tbsp. brown sugar
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 tsp. ground ginger
• 2 tsp. seasoned salt
• 1-1/2 lbs boneless sirloin steak, cut into 1-1/4 inch cubes
• 12 whole large fresh mushrooms
• 1 large green pepper, cut into 1-1/2 inch pieces
• 1 large onion, cut into wedges
• 12 cherry tomatoes

Step by Step:

• In a bowl, combine soy sauce, oil, brown sugar, garlic, ginger and salt; mix well.
• Pour half of the marinade into a large re-sealable plastic bag or shallow glass container; add beef and turn to coat.
• Seal or cover and refrigerate for 4-8 hours, turning occasionally. Cover and refrigerate remaining marinade.
• Drain meat; discard marinade. On metal or soaked bamboo skewers, alternate meat, mushrooms, green pepper, onion and tomatoes.
• Grill uncovered over medium heat for 3 minutes on each side. Baste with reserved marinade. Continue turning and basting for 8-10 minutes or until meat reaches desired doneness. (For rare, a meat thermometer should read 140º; medium should read 160º; well-done 170º).
• Serve meat and vegetables over rice pilaf if desired.

Yield: 6 servings