The Desert Tree of Life

Growing Native with Petey Mesquitey

Sep 23 2024 | 00:04:26

00:00 / 00:04:26

Show Notes

I started my career in horticulture spring of 1980 when I got a job as a laborer at a wholesale nursery northwest of Tucson. The California landscape palette ruled back then, but a push had started to grow more regional native plants. Growers grew native mesquite, but also the South American species of Prosopis were quite popular. Most of the selections were thornless and fast growing, oh and they were all called the “Chilean Mesquite.” I got caught up in the frenzy, but soon realized they didn’t have half the character of the native velvet mesquite, that stout slower growing…

Other Episodes

Episode 0

February 21, 2022 • 00:03:46

Zoned Out!

Growing plants and being involved in horticulture since 1980 meant knowing the USDA’s plant hardiness zones so I could jabber to folks knowingly (Ha!)...

Episode

January 01, 2019 • 00:04:57

Simmondsia chinensis

Jojoba is also called goat-nut and pig-nut, deer-nut or to plant geeks like myself, Simmondsia chinensis. The foliage and stems are browsed by wildlife...

Episode 0

February 06, 2024 • 00:04:29

Whortleberry!

I read in HORTUS THIRD that there are about 150 species of Vaccinium found in “cool temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere,” 40 of...