Sheilah Britton, Pinal County Master Gardener The Sonoran Desert is full of surprises—javelina families sharing a prickly pear cactus, hawks on the arms of saguaros, water rushing through arroyos after a rain, a chorus of coyotes howling at dusk, and cactus flowers coloring the desert in spring. But when you come upon a saguaro whose familiar…
Sheilah Britton, Pinal County Master Gardener Beginning the first day of this year, Jan. 1, 2022, the United States Bureau of Reclamation has announced a Tier 1 Shortage to go into effect for the Colorado River basin. It is the first time a water shortage has been declared on the Colorado River, a source of water…
Sheilah Britton, Pinal County Master Gardener When I first moved to Arizona in the late 1970s, I shipped fresh citrus to my parents who lived in the mountains of Colorado each December. It was a rare thing for them to have a box of tangelos and lemons in the midst of winter. A short time…
There is a community garden located at the end of Egret Trail in Unit 4C. For those experienced growers with a green thumb or for someone who just wants to try something new, this could be just what you are looking for. Arizona is known for its long growing season, so there are lots of…
Learn about Growing Wildflowers in Arizona Nov. 18 Zann Wilson, Pinal County Master Gardener Your SaddleBrooke/SaddleBrooke Ranch Master Gardeners are pleased to invite you to attend an online program presented by Jared McKinley with his partner Katy Gierlach, owners of Spadefoot Nursery, a local nursery that promotes growing native plants and supporting wildlife in the…
Marilyn Kline, Pinal County Master Gardener Your SaddleBrooke/SaddleBrooke Ranch Master Gardeners are pleased to invite you to attend an online program presented by Steve Watts. Steve currently serves on the board of the Tucson Cactus and Succulent Society (TCSS) and is the co-director of the organization’s cactus rescue program. The TCSS Rescue page has more information…
Sheilah Britton, Pinal County Master Gardener Just over a year ago, I wrote my first column for SaddleBrooke/SaddleBrooke Ranch Master Gardeners. Titled, “Ocotillo: Dead or Alive,” it was inspired by my own Ocotillos that had looked dead from the moment they became part of my landscape but, according to my research, might come to life at…
Sheilah Britton, Pinal County Master Gardener The summer of 2021 has been a marvelous time for gardening in our SaddleBrooke/SaddleBrooke Ranch communities. Tomatoes, squash, potatoes, lettuces, herbs, and flowers were abundant before the rains of July—and cooler temperatures have allowed us to enjoy our home-grown delights for many days following the monsoon moisture. This July…
Laurie Foster The University of Arizona Cooperative Extension trains gardening enthusiasts of Pinal County as master gardener volunteers who help their fellow citizens grow better gardens and more sustainable landscapes. Class dates: Wednesdays, Oct. 6, 2021, through Feb. 16, 2022, from 9 a.m. to noon Tuition: $150 per individual and $225 per couple, which includes books and…
Zann Wilson, Pinal County Master Gardener Your SaddleBrooke/SaddleBrooke Ranch Master Gardeners are pleased to invite you to attend an online program presented by Jacqueline Soule, Ph.D., author and garden expert on Thursday, Sept. 16, at 1 p.m. Join us for “Wonderful Winter Landscapes.” Dr. Soule is a long-time Southwest gardener and award-winning garden writer with…