What can 650 college students, 100 veterans, and 150 community leaders accomplish in just three hours? They can turn a vacant lot into a neighborhood educational venue. In March, former President Bill Clinton and Chelsea Clinton brought together students from across the country and around the world to Arizona State University to participate in the Clinton Global Initiative University (CGI …
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Agaves are impressive leaf succulents with a wide range of color, texture and size to their rosettes. There are approximately 200 species found throughout the southwest, Mexico, and Central America. The bold rosettes are dramatic accents for the garden that contrast well with the fine texture of desert trees and shrubs. Agaves are some of the most useful desert plants, …
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Envision your dream landscape. Does it have a water-harvesting rain garden, rockwork and basins overflowing with flowering native plants? How about a greywater system feeding a fig tree or a humming pollinator garden? Once you’ve got the image—how do you bring it to life? Join Watershed Management Group (WMG) for the coolest educational series in Central Arizona to learn how …
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Description As the common name suggests, Ironwood has hard, heavy wood. One cubic foot of the wood, valued for carving and firewood, weighs 66 pounds. Ironwood’s bark is light gray when young, turning darker with maturity. The gray-green foliage is evergreen except in extreme cold. The 2-inch-long, 1-inch-wide leaves are divided into oval leaflets to ½ inch long. Pairs of …
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Creosote Bush, Larrea tridentata is the perfect plant for us to feature during these hot summer months. It’s one of the toughest plants you’ll find, and with a little extra water, they are green and attractive in the landscape! Description – What does the Creosote Bush look like? Whenever it rains in the desert, Creosote Bush lends a distinctive fragrance …
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When it comes to desert landscaping you often hear the terms “Xeriscape” and “zeroscape” used interchangeably, but have you ever wondered what the difference is between the two? Xeriscape and zeroscape are definitely not the same. Let’s explain: Xeriscape comes from the Greek word “xeric” meaning dry or arid. Zeroscape is basically a mispronunciation of Xeriscape. The correct way to …
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Vibrant purple color, lush green foliage, and a long bloom period combine in the form of desert ruellia (Ruellia peninsularis). This Southwestern native thrives in full sun and shrugs off the intense heat in summer. The arrival of spring is greeted by a large flush of purple flowers, which contrast beautifully against the bright green leaves. Flowering will continue through …
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Calliandra, commonly known as Fairy Duster, refers to the beautiful stamens which make the tufted or ball-like flowers on these loosely branched shrubs. Their beautiful and vibrant colors range from pale pink to deep red. These small to medium-sized shrubs produce their flowers against a backdrop of finely divided, lacy-looking foliage. Fairy Dusters can be used in a wide variety …
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Many homeowners prefer a lawn close to the house that may provide a recreational or play area for children or pets, a relaxing place for lawn chairs and family gatherings and to create a cooling effect. Lawns can be functional and their root mass provides erosion control and helps to filter, capture and break down pollutants. In fact, a practical …
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Xeriscape (zer-i-scape) is a type of landscaping which uses water-wise plants and can even include small water features, patios, walkways, limited turf areas and effective mulches combined into an eye-appealing environment. Xeriscape should not look like a sea of gravel or barren rocks and cactus. Xeric gardens can be full of beautiful green plants that are water-efficient and able to …
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They’ve been hard to miss … stories about drought, Colorado River water shortages, and water restrictions in California and other surrounding states. Through actively managed water supplies and the development of extensive reservoirs and underground storage, Arizona has planned for moments like these (see 5 Things You Need To Know Right Now About Arizona’s Drought). But, that doesn’t mean that …
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The transformation from Drab to Fab may have only taken weeks, but with proper care of the new landscape plants, the fab can be everlasting. Join winner Lisa O. as she learns how to care for her brand new plants as they grow and evolve in her landscape. In episode 9 of our 10-part series, Jody Latimer, Environmental Resource Supervisor …
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