The 2023 Mojave Desert Land Trust’s annual Fall Native Plant Sale allows you to take inspiration from the beautiful desert landscape and bring native plants to your garden. This event, which is slated for October 26th, is a perfect time to add new members to your garden family. During the fall, the sun still provides warmth during the day while the evenings cool off, creating perfect conditions for new plants to retain water and establish strong roots.
There are plenty of sources around the basin to get inspiration for the types of plants you might want to pick up at the sale. Consider the Trust’s native discovery garden which has a variety of plants that flourish in the challenging desert climate.
The Joshua Basin Water District is another source of inspiration with their water-wise demonstration garden. Here, you can witness first-hand how native plants have been meticulously incorporated into the landscape. It’s worth noting that due to the persistent summer heat, plants may appear a tad subdued, but a simple hike is enough to provide abundant ideas for your garden’s future features.
Let’s take a short virtual tour of the Desert View Conservation Area. It’s home to dozens of Parry’s Nolina – their large conical flowers drying gracefully in the summer sun. You can also spot the paperbag bush in full bloom in spots like Black Rock Campground as well as private residences. A testament to its growth and resilience, last year’s plant sale saw one individual’s paperbag bush double in size in the past year, with its first blooms popping out last month.
Another site with a collection of desert-hardy plants is the Hi-Desert Nature Museum. It has a beautiful garden upfront – a perfect spot to stroll through and soak in the beauty of desert flora before you step into the free and fun-filled museum destination.
For more plant inspirations, head over to the Mojave Desert Land Trust’s social media handles where images of plants available at the sale will be posted. However, the complete list will not be released just yet. Interested buyers can sign up to receive updates when the plant inventory is posted on their website.
Opting for desert gardening may initially seem intimidating, but much like other locations, it is simply a matter of choosing the right spot for the plant and ensuring it receives sufficient hydration while we anticipate a hopefully wet winter. The MDLT staff has always been on-hand to give advice on the best spots for specific plants. Should you struggle keeping your plants happy, you can always seek advice from gardening experts.
So gear up, step out, get inspired. Mark your calendar for the native plant sale happening in two weeks time on Saturday, October 26th. The sale begins at 10 AM at the MDLT headquarters just off Highway 62 in Joshua Tree. Keep an eye out for the big red MDLT sign – it just got a brand-new facelift. Immerse yourself in the glorious world of desert flora and make your selection from the splendid native plants on offer.
