7 Reasons I Appreciate Gardening in the Desert

Desert gardening has its challenges, but there is much to appreciate about gardening in the desert, too. Here are some of the many reasons I appreciate gardening in Tucson.

As Thanksgiving approaches, I’ve been thinking about things I’m grateful for, and gardening here in the desert southwest definitely makes the list. And while gardening here has its challenges, and I’ve enjoyed my decades of gardening in more hospitable climes, there are many reasons I particularly appreciate gardening in Tucson.

1. We Have the Coolest Plants

We undoubtedly have some of the coolest plants on the planet. That is why people around the world admire, grow, and collect cactus and other succulents.

Who hasn’t fallen in love with our saguaros or gaped at the improbability of a boojum tree?

Every spring, visitors from around the world flock to the desert to witness our spectacular wildflower displays. Every summer, Tohono Chul’s Bloom Night is a major event attended by thousands who come to witness the blooms of the “Queen of the Night” (Peniocereus greggii).

It wasn’t until I lived here awhile that I fully appreciated the desert’s diversity. With 3,500 native plants, the Sonoran Desert is the most biodiverse desert in the world.

And many of these native plants make excellent landscape plants. Desert Survivors, a Tucson native plant nursery, has assembled a list of roughly 400 native plants that can be used in the landscape.

2. We Can Garden All Year Long

I love that we can literally garden all year long. I can always find something to do in my “happy place” every day of the year.

If you’re into growing your own food, there is always something to plant or harvest, especially in the winter when you can grow herbs, root vegetables, green leafies, cruciferous vegetables, and more.

One of my favorite winter garden activities is harvesting citrus. There’s nothing like a juicy orange or lemon straight off the tree! And I appreciate how gardeners here share their citrus and pomegranates. I’m always delighted when I see a curbside box labeled “Free Fruit.”

I love that there is always something in bloom, and particularly appreciate seeing flowers in the winter.

Some landscape plants you might see flowering in winter include aloe, fairy duster, emu bush, angelita daisy, firecracker penstemon, desert marigold, trailing lantana, blanket flower, cape honeysuckle, Mexican bird of paradise, and cascalote.

There’s a huge selection of cold-hardy annuals that thrive all winter in containers or in the ground — pansies, snapdragons, petunias, alyssum, dianthus, stock, geranium, and many more.

And when there are no tasks to be done, you can sit outside and just enjoy your beautiful surroundings… and plan what you want to do in the garden next.

3. I Appreciate Growing “Houseplants” Outside

I’ve always been a houseplant enthusiast, so I was amazed when I realized that I could grow many of my “houseplants” outside here, albeit sometimes with a little pampering.

Snake plant, purple heart, dwarf citrus, philodendron, rubber plant, pothos, spider plant, foxtail fern, asparagus fern, jade plant, Christmas cactus, and other succulents (Echerverias, Crassulas, etc.) are just some of the plants typically grown as houseplants that can be grown outside here.

4. We Have Fantastic Nurseries

Tucson has fantastic nurseries and a lively gardening scene. We are fortunate to have nurseries that specialize in selling native plants, cactus, and other succulents.

And many of Tucson’s nurseries do more than sell plants — they provide education and entertainment, as well. Every week there are numerous garden-related events — classes, workshops, plant sales, tours, musical events, garden-related crafts, and more.

5. Tucson Has a Tremendous Gardening Community

We have an incredible resource in the University of Arizona Extension Service. They offer loads of very helpful free gardening publications.

The Pima County Master Gardeners offer free talks both online and in-person library talks, tours of their demonstration gardens, a walk-in plant clinic, and online help.

Other educational gardening organizations include:

• Arizona Native Plant Society
• Mission Garden
• Tucson Cactus and Succulent Society
• Tucson Organic Gardeners

And of course, Tohono Chul, the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, and the Tucson Botanical Gardens are always sources of gardening information and inspiration.

We have an active Facebook Group – Tucson Backyard Gardening — where you’ll always find knowledgeable gardeners willing to help each other.

6. Tucson is on the Forefront

I appreciate living in a city that is making strides in water sustainability and encourages the use of native plants.

Tucson is about 10 years ahead of other communities when it comes to encouraging homeowners to adopt desert landscaping. As a result, Tucson’s per capita water use has dropped by 25% since the 1980s.

We have 2 nurseries that specialize in native plants — Desert Survivors and Spadefoot Nursery. (I was stunned to learn that some Phoenix gardeners travel to Tucson to buy their native plants!)

Tucson is a leader in the rainwater harvesting movement. Local Brad Lancaster is a world-renowned expert on rainwater harvesting. He literally wrote the book(s) on rain harvesting — Rainwater Harvesting for Drylands and Beyond (volumes 1 and 2).

A Washington Post article that featured Brad states this,

“…no city has encouraged the practice more than Tucson, which launched first-of-its-kind rainwater harvesting installation mandates in 2008 and rebate programs in 2012.”

I live adjacent to Southeast Houghton Area Recharge Project (SHARP). This park has the usual trails and ramadas with picnic tables, but its primary purpose is to replenish the aquifer with its three recharge basins. Seeing these ponds continually fill and then empty is a reminder that Tucson is taking active measures to protect our water supply.

7. I’m Grateful to No Longer “Endure” Winter

Winter in Tucson is a time to look forward to, whereas it used to be a time to be endured. I remember when the extent of my gardening in the winter was pouring over seed catalogs and daydreaming of spring. Do you recall doing that, too?

I’m grateful I no longer have to…

• Take care of a lawn. (I’m relieved to no longer have to care for a high-maintenance monoculture.)
• Rake leaves. (I now leave my minimal leaf debris where it falls to replenish my soil.)
• Shovel snow. (Need I say more?)

What do you love about gardening in the desert? Please let me know in the comments!

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