Helping native bees in your yard
Native bees are in trouble due to habitat loss, diseases, pesticides and other factors. Here’s a helpful article at the Arizona Daily Star discussing how to help them out.
About the three species of mesquite trees
The Sonoran Desert’s three mesquite tree species are keystone species that provide food, shelter, breeding areas, and many other benefits to both humans and wildlife. Read more about them here.
Palo verde trees
Read about the blue palo verde and the foothills palo verde trees in this informational page from the Arizona Native Plant Society.
Native plant lists
A number of different local organizations have helpful plant lists. These lists are an excellent starting point when designing your native garden.
- Here’s a great list from the Arizona Native Plant Society.
- Here’s another plant list from Tucson Audubon.
Tools for designing a garden
There are several tools out there to help you figure out the type of soil you have, the sun exposure in your garden, and the amount of precipitation you’re likely to get. This article in the Arizona Daily Star goes over these tools and how to use them.
Sample Tucson Garden Plan
Check out this free garden plan for small urban gardens. It includes information on native plants, rainwater harvesting, and many other helpful resources!