Closed for the Summer Season
March 31 – October 1
We are currently closed while we propagate and grow plants for fall.
We’ll reopen October 1 for the next planting season.
Questions? Text or email anytime.
🎁 Gift cards are available year-round.
Desert gardening by the month
1 / January
January is one of the quieter months in our desert gardens. Days are mild and beautiful, but frost is still possible at night, and with the Winter Solstice behind us, the daylight is short. Most plants are growing slowly, resting, or fully dormant — which gives us a chance to pause and look more closely at the bones of our gardens.
This is a perfect time to step back and evaluate how well your space supports wildlife throughout the year. Do you have nectar and pollen sources that carry you through every season? Winter berries or seedheads left for the birds? Undisturbed areas where insects can burrow, and spots for our native bees to nest and overwinter? Small adjustments now can make a big difference once spring activity begins.
It’s also a good moment to look at your garden infrastructure. Are there repairs you’ve been putting off or projects you meant to wrap up before fall got busy? Check your irrigation, pathways, and planting areas — and take a look at what rebates or conservation programs your local water district may be offering this season.
2 / February
We are finally coming out of the darker days of winter, with the light lingering a little longer each evening and temperatures settling into that sweet spot of mild and comfortable.
Wildflowers are beginning to bloom and many plants are slowly waking from dormancy. With the winter rains, we’re set up for what could be an incredible wildflower season. Between now and March, your garden will start to change noticeably, often almost overnight. Remember that much of a plant’s work happens underground in the fall, when as much as 80% of its root development takes place. Now, as the days grow longer and those strong, healthy root systems are established, plants can shift their energy into producing fresh leaves, flowers, and new growth.
This is a wonderful time for planting and gentle garden observation, but it’s also the beginning of nesting season for birds and other wildlife. For that reason, we want to avoid pruning right now whenever possible. Leaving shrubs and trees undisturbed helps protect active nests and gives wildlife the quiet they need to raise their young. If you do need to prune an errant branch, be sure to inspect carefully to make sure you aren’t disturbing any wildlife. If you’re planning garden projects, focus on planting and supporting new growth, and let your established plants do their own beautiful, wild thing.
3 / March
March in the desert is a true wonder - everything seems to come alive in the most stunning ways. Whether you're out for a hike or enjoying a leisurely drive, take a moment to look around and appreciate how nature crafts her landscapes. Notice how flowers are tucked into rocky crevices, where the boulders and stones act as natural nurseries. Seeds blown into these spaces settle where debris gathers, enriching the soil and helping it retain moisture. That insulation keeps roots warmer in winter and cooler in summer.
You can recreate this natural beauty in your own garden by planting near rocks, allowing leaf litter to gather, and resisting the urge to make everything too tidy. The desert teaches us how to garden — if we’re paying attention.
And then… the cacti begin.
March is when our local cacti begin to bloom. Beavertail (Opuntia basilaris) pushes out impossibly bright magenta flowers, silver cholla (Cylindropuntia echinocarpa) quietly opens pale green blossoms, and barrel cactus (Ferocactus cylindraceus) begins forming buds along its crown. These flowers may last only a few days, but during that window, they become essential feeding stations for native bees and beetles emerging from winter dormancy.
Spring is also the season for local garden tours - a perfect opportunity to gather fresh ideas and discover plants you might not have considered before.
If we’ve had a good fall and winter rain, wildflowers should be putting on a show right now - another reminder that the desert is never boring.
This month, it's time to plant warm-season vegetables like squash, beans, corn, melons, and citrus. The mild temperatures encourage rapid growth, so expect to see noticeable changes - not just in your plants, but in the wildlife that begins to visit them.
Every year, my senses are overwhelmed with the sounds, colors, and fragrance of spring as our desert reaches its fullest potential. It’s that fleeting window where everything feels alive at once - blooms layered on blooms, pollinators moving from plant to plant, and the landscape reminding us what it’s capable of when conditions are just right.
As we begin to shift toward the slower pace of summer, our role in the garden changes too. The focus moves from planting and tending to preparing and sustaining. Before the heat settles in - or before you head out of town for the season - take a little time to check in on your garden. A few simple maintenance steps now can make all the difference in how well your landscape carries through the long, hot months ahead.
May is a stunning time of year in our desert gardens! Native plants in our landscapes are flourishing! The weather is warm, but we usually haven't reached the consistently scorching temperatures yet. While we're no longer in our planting season, there's still an opportunity to tackle minor yard projects before the full force of summer heat arrives. Additionally, this is an ideal time to venture into the higher elevations and foothills. The foothills tend to be a bit cooler, prolonging their blooms, while the higher elevations are beginning their summer bloom.
6 / June
June marks the beginning of summer and the end of most of our gardening chores for this season. The next three months it's time to relax and enjoy our gardens while floating in the pool. Dream of the projects you want to tackle and plants you want to plant in the fall!
7 / July
July summer is in full swing. Temperatures can be anywhere from 105 to 120. We may be dry or have monsoonal humidity. Gardening tasks should be done in the early morning. This is the time to really begin planning anything you want to accomplish in the fall.
8 / August
Summer is almost over! The planting season starts September 15th! This is not the month to tackle any big garden tasks. Let your garden rest and take care of itself. Except for irrigation, pay attention to your irrigation. By mid-September there will be a noticeable difference in the length of the days. Even though it will still be hot, it won't be hot for as long. We just need patience now.
For many garden enthusiasts like me, September holds a special significance. It heralds the start of what feels more like a new year than January ever does. The relentless summer heat begins to wane, and the days offer warmth while the nights bring a refreshing coolness.
As I prepare to plant my vegetable garden, I also find myself reassessing my entire yard, contemplating new additions, and planning changes. It's a time of renewal and rejuvenation, where creativity and nature's beauty intertwine.
September also serves as our final respite before the gardening whirlwind of October, the most pivotal time of the year for our desert gardens.
So, let's savor this moment, relish the anticipation, and prepare to dig in. September is here, and it's time to embrace the new beginnings it brings to our gardens.
Desert gardeners, rejoice! October has arrived, bringing with it the perfect amalgamation of favorable conditions. The days are warm, the nights are refreshingly cool, and we find ourselves nestled between the summer and winter solstices, blessed with ideal daylight hours.
In nurseries, new plants call our names, promising the potential for vibrant transformations. After spending the summer contemplating and dreaming about our gardens, this is the moment to breathe life into those visions.
Fall has fully settled in, and our desert gardens are quietly transforming. The days are still warm - most often reaching the high 80s and low 90s—but those cool mornings and crisp nights are a sure sign of the changing season. With shorter days ahead, November is the last big push before growth begins to slow in December.
Thinking about moving a plant that’s been struggling—or adding something new you’ve had your eye on? Go for it! The soil is still warm enough to encourage strong root growth, helping plants settle in and establish before winter brings slower growth.
By the end of the month, some areas of the valley may see light frost, especially in low or open spots. Keep an eye on tender new growth and young plants, and be ready with frost cloth or other light protection if needed.
Here in the desert, our plants don’t go truly dormant in winter—they simply pause to adjust to the shorter days and cooler temperatures. That makes now an ideal time to take advantage of the season’s balance: warm soil, mild days, and steady conditions for planting and garden care.
Our gardens in December, like in the heat of the summer, really only ask us to enjoy them and make sure there are no problems. While there are no major tasks to perform, we should always be looking at our gardens and assessing them. How do they look each season? Is it making me and the local wildlife happy? Are there any projects that I would like to complete while it's cooler outside? What about replacing annuals, with native perennials? Instead of floating in the pool, I'm sitting by the firepit asking myself these questions.
