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

December 31, 2016 •

Aloysia wrightii

The botanical name of Wright’s Beebrush is Aloysia wrightii. It used to be Lippia wrightii, well actually it has gone back and forth, but...

Episode 0

May 18, 2021 • 00:04:55

Literary Ringtails

The scientific name of the ringtail is Bassariscus astutus. It’s in the Procyonidae, the same family as our local borderlands’ critters the raccoons and...

Episode

April 20, 2016 •

Gaillardia pulchella

I suppose the thinking is that any wild flowers blooming along the side of the road will beautify that road and who cares what...