Desert-adapted plants available at Springs Preserve sale

Don't miss the Springs Preserve's first plant sale, where you can choose from more than 100 species and more than 7,000 vibrant and colorful Mojave Desert-adapted plants.

It is your chance to fill your landscape with new, exciting and sustainable plants at a very reasonable price. This gigantic sale takes place from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, so come and take home some special plants from the preserve, 333 S. Valley View Blvd.

The day's events also will include horticulture classes and demonstrations on how to select native plants from nurseries; new plant introductions from across the Southwest; the proper pruning of shrubs; how to landscape with natives; establishing a water-efficient irrigation system; learning to compost; and new research on how to plant trees and shrubs.

The keynote speaker will be Scott Calhoon, a prolific garden writer and lecturer from Arizona. At 11 a.m., he will show new and innovative ways to landscape with native plants so you'll get the most out of them. Calhoon has won numerous awards for his gardening books, specifically for the Southwest. These books will be available, and he'll be on hand to sign them.

Jeff Knight, who is the state entomologist, will explore with you the incredible world of insects, showing which are beneficial to your plants and garden. Knight's free class begins at 8:30 a.m.

Penstemons will be the showstopper this year. They are certainly a reliable spring bloomer. You'll find them in bloom across the garden.

One penstemon in particular is the firecracker penstemon. It is a Mojave native that grows about a foot tall, and when it comes time to bloom, three-foot spikes filled with spectacular tubular flowers rise above plants for you and hummingbirds to get closer looks. The preserve has about 30 varieties on display.

You'll rarely find chaparral or creosote bushes in nurseries, because they are so hard to start from seed. But once started, all they need is a little TLC and they become a dramatic part of your landscape. These plants will be available at the sale.

Seemingly out of nowhere, Russ Harrison, horticulturist at the preserve, and associates have come across many unusual varieties of desert mallows.

"We don't find desert mallows at nurseries as some people consider them weeds, but they do extremely well here and come in several colors," he said.

Harrison takes his crew on extended searches across the Mojave Desert looking in every nook and cranny for new native plants to introduce.

"We are even surprised with the plants we are finding and growing, and want people to start using them in their yards," he said. "When you give these plants a little TLC, they create a fragrant and practical use in all gardens. They are functional, water-smart and simply beautiful!"

The advantages of using indigenous plants are countless. Not only do they save water, but also foster a sense of place and add wildlife diversity to your backyard.

They give your visitors a sense of the need to preserve our environment.

Mojave natives evolved over centuries. Hence, they are adapted to our poor soils with little rainfall, cold winters and hot summers. They come with built-in resistance to pests and get by on very little nourishment.

One of the simplest ways to begin growing more natives is by replacing your traditional plants with natives. The structure, leaves, seeds, flowers and fruits of these plants provide food and shelter for wildlife, including the Mojave's very own desert tortoise.

You'll also find cactuses and succulents, ornamental grasses and many new and unusual plants from other parts of the Southwest at the sale.

The preserve will use proceeds from the sale to expand its searches for more unusual plants and to develop informational materials. If you need more information, call 822-7705.

Along with the sale, master gardeners will be on hand to answer your gardening questions and distribute gardening publications.

UPGRADE TO WATER-SMART LANDSCAPING

More than ever, savvy homeowners are realizing that desert landscaping is not only more water-efficient but more beautiful, textural and ever-changing than a plot of water-guzzling grass. A free class at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Springs Preserve explains step-by-step the process to convert grass to water-smart landscaping, including how to earn a rebate.

Linn Mills writes a garden column each Sunday. You can reach him at linn. mills@springspreserve.org or call him at 822-7754.