High Desert Gardening in Prescott, Arizona

Plantswoman Design is now bringing their signature style and sustainability to the High Desert. Taking up part-time residence in Zone 7 High Desert in Prescott Arizona gave the opportunity to learn about a completely different type of gardening. Putting away the raincoats, rubber boots, and waterproof gloves, and instead pulling on a sun hat and lots of sunscreen she started to dig in the rocky dry soil. Different pests, Javelinas instead of slugs, meant learning to plant things they couldn’t dig up or eat. Dry months with no rain only to have monsoon rains sweep across the garden trying to drown everything and wash away all loose soil meant careful rock placement to divert rushing rainwater. Most gardens around Prescott are very minimal gardens with plants that need no care. This often meant no flowers, no shelter, no fragrance. However, this stop on the migration route for many, many birds, butterflies, and other insects needed to have much more to offer. After study and experimentation, a mostly native garden was created. The native sages, cliff roses, yucca, cactus, grasses, and low-growing desert plants all are food and shelter sources for these transient species. Now the 17 varieties of hummingbirds (and 550 other bird species) have a place to stop. The 1800 species of bees in Arizona are ground nesting, twig nesting, and parasitic, making one of the most diverse bee populations in the US that can also have a place to call home.

Here are some of the first pictures of the ‘new’ gardens being created. Strangely enough, the gardening here has given amazing insight into drought tolerance that can be brought back and implemented in the PNW to help with the climate changes being experienced there now.