News & Events

News & Events

Plant of the Month – Bear Grass

December 7, 2023

Bear Grass Plant Description Bear Grass, Nolina microcarpa, looks like a clump of coarse grass, at maturity 4 feet high and 6 feet wide. The leaves are 3-4 feet long and about 1/4-inch wide at the base, narrowing to a frayed tip. The leaf margins are finely toothed. A loose cluster of greenish white flowers appears on a 3-foot stalk …

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Superstition Springs Transit Center Planting Event Restores Desert Landscaping

November 30, 2023

Beautiful trees and shrubs, including milkweed and other pollinator-friendly varieties, now grace the walkways and parking areas of the Superstition Springs Transit Center. This transformative project is the result of collaborative efforts between Mesa and its partners: Meta, Mesa High School, and the Arizona Sustainability Alliance. Additional support for the initiative came from Valley Metro and the Superstition Springs Center …

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Wayne Drop is Splashing Into November with Water-Saving Activities!

November 17, 2023

  Hi, Water Pals! Wayne Drop here, your trusty water-saving sidekick. Guess what’s on my November radar? Gratitude and giving thanks, of course. This year, I am extra grateful for the water we’ve got in Arizona! That’s why I wanted to share some awesome water-saving activities with you this month so we can turn our gratitude into action. Of course, …

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Wayne Drop Reconnects with Impatient Fourth Grader!

Winter Flowers, Fragrance & a Funny Name

November 7, 2023

Want beautiful foliage, spectacular flowers all packaged up in a tree that blooms in fall and winter? Well, let me introduce you to a medium-sized tree with a funny name: Cascalote (Caesalpinia cacalaco)*.  I love this medium-sized tree with its circular leaves, textured bark and winter flowers. Native to Mexico, Cascalote produces beautiful yellow flowers during the cooler months of …

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Water Wisely with SRP: Save $$$ on a Smart Irrigation Controller!

October 27, 2023

IMPORTANT NOTE: This promotion is no longer running. But don’t worry, the sale will be back in March at the SRP Water Expo! Don’t miss your next opportunity to save on smart irrigation controllers and register here. Salt River Project (SRP) and Ewing Outdoor Supply are offering a great deal to upgrade your irrigation controller to the latest and greatest technology …

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Carefree Desert Gardens: A Desert Jewel

October 2, 2023

October is a welcome time to get back outside as temperatures start to cool. Desert or xeriscape demonstration gardens provide a fun way to enjoy the outdoors with the family. Since many of the gardens have shady places to enjoy a picnic lunch, you can plan to spend some time exploring and enjoying the surroundings as you build ideas for …

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Why Arizona Landscapes Benefit from Low-Water-Use Plants

September 13, 2023

As communities across Arizona face increasing heat and water challenges, many homeowners are rethinking traditional lawns, artificial turf, and rock-only landscapes. Landscaping experts at SummerWinds Nursery explain in their guide on why low-water-use plants are a better choice for desert landscapes that water-wise plants provide a smarter, cooler, and more environmentally friendly alternative. Desert-adapted and native plants: Require significantly less …

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Plant of the Month (to NOT Plant): Ryegrass or Winter Grass

September 6, 2023

To Overseed or NOT to Overseed… Most Americans love lush, green lawns, and have shown that they are willing to do whatever it takes to have them. Nowhere is this act of defiance against nature and common sense more obvious than in the Arizona desert, especially in the fall when the ritual of winter grass activities begins! You’ll hear the …

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Removing Your Pool: Saving More Than Water

August 15, 2023

Have you thought about a pool removal? Not only is it a great way to reclaim your backyard for other uses, it may also make your yard safer for children or pets. While it may be true that one in six pool owners surveyed wish they could get rid of their pools, many fail to do so because they lack …

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Plant of the Month: How Do Those Desert Plants Survive?

August 7, 2023

HOW PLANTS COPE WITH THE DESERT CLIMATE Desert plants tend to look very different from plants native to other regions. They are often swollen, spiny, and have tiny leaves that are rarely bright green. Their strange appearance is a result of their remarkable adaptations to the challenges of the desert climate. Aridity is the sole factor that defines a desert …

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Pools: Early Leak Detection Is Key to Saving Water & Money

July 17, 2023

Did You Know that an estimated 20% of pools in Arizona have leaks? Water – Use It Wisely, with permission, is reposting this blog from our favorite home advisor, Rosie on the House.  *   *   * Thanks to an abundance of winter rains and significant snowpack, we’re seeing less drought news in the headlines . . . for now. However, …

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Plant of the Month: Slipper Flower

July 7, 2023

Plant Description Slipper Flower (Euphorbia lomelii or sometimes sold under the old name of Pedilanthus macrocarpus) has succulent light green stems that grow upright from a woody root crown. The jointed stems are mostly unbranched, ¾ inch thick and up to 3 feet tall. The plant can eventually spread to 2 feet wide. Small leaves along the stems drop soon …

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