Many of us might think of deserts as barren wastelands, but in reality, the desert is a planty oasis within itself! There are towering saguaros, rosette aloes and agaves, and pollinators flitting between prickly pear flowers. To walk us through this underrated environment, we have a very special guest: Tina Wilson, the Director of Horticulture at the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix, Arizona. We take a closer look at the amazing vegetation that thrives in the desert, and how you can create your own thriving desert landscape. Tina also shares her expertise on how to cultivate a lush desert landscape that is heat-tolerant and drought-resistant, perfect for those living in the Southwest garden zones.

In this episode, we learn:

• [04:58] How Tina Wilson became Director of Horticulture at Desert Botanical Garden
• [06:13] Tina's duties as Director of Horticulture
• [08:04] Unique vegetation in Arizona
• [10:02] What is desert landscaping? (and its 3 characteristics!)
• [13:08] Gardening zones in the Southwest
• [14:06] Key factors to consider when landscaping in the desert
• [14:42] Right plant at the right location!
• [15:51] What are the plants recommended for desert landscapes?
• [16:46] The impact of the southwestern sun on plants
• [18:17] Protecting plants from sunburn with shade cloth
• [19:16] What is a plant palette?
• [21:08] Where to find the best bamboo bedding for health and comfort?
• [23:36] Want to grow fresh berries in your own garden?
• [25:09] The importance of water conservation and irrigation in the desert
• [26:22] Why reduce grass/turf in desert landscapes?
• [29:24] The process of renovating a yard: soil profiling and testing
• [31:07] Why are native desert plants so well-suited to desert conditions?
• [33:34] An overview of desert plants' root systems
• [34:17] How a Saguaro cactus stays upright despite its shallow root system
• [35:53] Exploring water harvesting techniques
• [37:02] What are some of the drought-tolerant plants?
• [40:20] Tina's favorite pollinator-attracting plants
• [42:04] Maria's experience at the New York Botanical Garden
• [42:39] Join Desert Landscape School now for an exceptional learning experience.
• [45:26] Is there a season for growing food in the desert?

Mentioned in our conversation:

• Channy Gray Home
• Elevated Gardening
• New York Botanical Garden
• Desert Botanical Garden
• Marriott Hotel Phoenix
• Desert Landscaping School of Desert Botanical Garden
• https://dbg.org/learn/dls/

For an in-depth read on desert plants and water conservation practices,

check out the full show notes and blog here!

Thank you to our episode sponsors:

Cozy Earth

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