Desert Gardening Seminar Series Begins at Carefree Desert Gardens

DESERT GARDENING: Carefree Desert Gardens Educates the Community

Gardening in the desert is undoubtedly both an art and a science. Arizona’s climate is highly varied based on elevation, which may come as a surprise to visitors and transplants. From snow-covered peaks to the hot, dry Sonoran Desert, Arizona gardening aficionados must understand the unique care that desert flora require.

Carefree Desert Gardens (CDG), in the unique town of Carefree, offers not only a lovely botanical display, but a monthly seminar series for anyone interested in learning more about the delicate balance of plant life, weather and other factors in Arizona gardening.

This year’s annual horticulture series will include topics such as Living With Urban Wildlife (Jan.); Legumes: More Than Just Beans (Feb.); Preparing Your Trees for Summer... (March); and Responsible Gardening in Severe Drought (April). See www.carefree.org.

Visitors enter Carefree Desert Gardens near the iconic sundial sculpture — a 72-foot long working sundial that stands 35 feet above the circular plaza on which it casts its monumental shadow. As one of the largest sundials in the U.S., this landmark alone is a sufficient reason to visit Carefree, but it also welcomes guests into the adjacent four acre gardens. The public is free to wander through on a self-guided tour and take in the colorful, lush and sometimes prickly plants that adorn the walking path.

Pamela Slate, Chair of the CDG Horticulture Seminar Committee, composed mostly of Master Gardeners, commented that not all plants are labeled, but some of the more unusual ones are. Visitors will see exceptional plant specimens intermixed with plants seen as they stand in nature, lending to the natural, easy feel of the gardens.

Arizona has a plethora of protected native plants — from the well known Saguaro Cactus and Santa Rita Prickly-pear, to the nearly forty other legally safeguarded varieties. All seem to have memorable names, like the Teddybear Cholla, MacDougal’s Nipple Cactus, and the Rainbow Hedgehog Cactus to name a few. Some of these threatened or endangered cacti and flowering desert plants can be seen at Carefree Desert Gardens.

There is no doubt that Carefree Desert Gardens is an enchanting and inviting place to visit, and with the popular gardening series occurring during the first four months of 2019, it also becomes a great place to learn from expert horticulturists.

The seminars are scheduled for the second Saturday of the month January through April. Participants meet at the Town Council Chambers at 33 Easy Street in Carefree at 9:30 a.m. A small donation of $5 is requested in order to sustain the programs for future visitors.

Free Monthly Seminars in the Carefree Town Council Chambers 33 Easy St., Carefree, AZ | Carefree.org

Carefree Desert Gardens Seminar Series

PHOTO BY ED MERTZ

Saturday, January 12, 9:30 a.m. LIVING WITH URBAN WILDLIFE Guest Speaker: Darren Julian, Urban Wildlife Specialist from Arizona Game and Fish Department. Arizona is home to a variety of wildlife species. Understand the issues as their natural habitats and native food sources shrink.

Saturday, February 9, 9:30 a.m. LEGUMES: MORE THAN JUST BEANS Guest Speaker: Dr. Marty Wojciechowski, Associate Professor at Arizona State University Specializing in Legume Research. With more than 19,500 species worldwide, legumes are more diverse that other flower plant families.

Saturday, March 9, 9:30 a.m. PREPARING TREES FOR SUMMER Guest Speaker: Sarah Maitland, Certified Arborist and Plant Health Care Manager for Integrity Tree Service. Learn how to prepare your landscape to withstand harsh weather conditions and prevent storm damage.

PHOTO BY ED MERTZ

Saturday, April 13, 9:30 a.m. RESPONSIBLE GARDENING IN SEVERE DROUGHT Guest Speaker: Rick Cober, ISA Certified Arborist and owner of Tree Theory Landscape Asset Management. With proper water management, desert gardens can remain healthy even in harsh, dry conditions.

Carefree Desert Gardens Easy Street in downtown, Carefree, AZ The Gardens are open 365 days a year. 480-488-3686 | www.carefree.org

Arizona KEY Magazine