May 19th Gardening for Wildlife Tours

​Don't miss this golden opportunity to see what our members are doing to attract birds and other wildlife to their backyards. Your $20 per carload donation (maximum four adults per car) helps fund our chapter's important work. Children under the age of 16 are free. Visit as many yards as you can from 9:00 am to noon.

Here is a description of what you will see:

#1 Near Ann Road and the 95 exit
A labor of love and work in progress - large demonstration garden with native plant theme. Complex rocky topography recreates microhabitats for resident animals (rabbits, lizards, quail and ground squirrels) and a welcoming stopover for migratory birds and even the occasional coyote. 77 bird species detected over the past 10 years. Vegetable garden section creates a space where pollinators and birds move between agricultural and native habitat. Colorful plant palette creates a rolling flower show (penstamen, desert marigolds, etc.,etc.) throughout the growing season and is mostly stocked with salvaged natives (barrel cacti, Joshua trees, yuccas) and a range of foundational tree species (mesquites, redbud, scrub liveoak) grown from locally collected seeds.

#2 Summerlin off S. Desert Foothills Drive
The garden had very little color other than green and lots of roses about five years ago. Since then we have focused on adding hummingbird friendly fountains, feeders and of course, flowers. This year we have added several to ensure we have flowers through the winter months as well.

#3 Frenchman's Mountain Area
We built this house 32 years ago when we were pretty young. The landscaping is slowly transitioning from first time home owners in our 20's with 2 active kids to people in our 60's with the kids grown and gone and a desire to slow down and savor the moment. What hasn't changed is the desire for space. Our home sits at the base of Frenchman's Mtn with BLM land in very close proximity. The house sits on .8 acres but has a buffer of 1.2 acres of all natural untouched Mojave Desert habitat. The guy who helps prune the yard trees says we have the two largest Desert Willow trees he has ever seen. (Water from a yard and the leach field for the septic tank must be the secret)

#4 Seven Hills, Henderson
When we bought this house there was a lot of brick in the back yard and fake grass on the side. I have been learning desert gardening as I go along with some successes and some failures. Over the years I have progressed from planting what looks good to what is desert adapted to what is native while also taking a shot at a raised bed for herbs and vegetables as well as agriscaping. The addition of water features and bird feeders has increased the amount and variety of birds which visit our yard. The "catio" allows our felines to enjoy some fresh air without creating danger for the birds or themselves.

#5 Sunset Park Vicinity
We believe in planting native to restore local nature. In our garden we try to grow species native to the Mojave Desert, hope they will reseed themselves, and allow them to grow naturally. Along with native species we also garden food plants. We get a fair number of happy volunteers through composting and using grey water when possible. We view gardening as a way to restore the unique beauty of the amazing desert we live in and provide tasty edibles for us, birds, butterflies, bees, and whatever else we are lucky enough to have in our yard!


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If you wish to sign up but not through our website contact Nancy Chang at 513-509-9961.