Month: April 2021

New paper published by Ph.D. candidate Davis Blasini

April 12, 2021

Fremont cottonwood are among the most important tree species in the western US providing habitat for numerous species. However, cottonwood forests are also recognized as being highly threatened by many factors, including climate change. A recent paper published by...

Pollinator Plant Propagation

April 7, 2021

Garden research is highlighting the importance of native plants for conservation of ecosystems and many types of animals, including pollinators. However, there is a lack of native plant material available for building habitat–from small backyard projects to large...

Milkweed Ecology

April 7, 2021

Milkweeds support more than just monarchs. They offer value to a variety of landscapes by providing nectar for pollinators and attracting predatory insects that are excellent for pesticide-free pest control. Great Milkweed Grow Out is currently working on a project...

Assessing Suitability of Native Milkweeds

April 7, 2021

Milkweeds (Asclepias spp.) are the sole hostplant for monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus). Monarch caterpillars must consume milkweeds to survive. As monarchs are facing drastic declines, largely tied to loss of plant habitat, the Garden’s pollinator...

Earth Day Tool Shed | 2021

April 7, 2021

Celebrate Earth Day throughout the month of April with Desert Botanical Garden. The theme of this year’s Earth Day is Restore Our Earth. Learn about a variety of ways you and your family can help preserve nature and be a good steward to the environment. The Tool Shed...

The Mystery of Gambel’s Quail Head Feathers

April 5, 2021

Garden visitors often ask why Gambel’s quail have those curious-looking plumes on their heads that are especially prominent on the males. Composed of six black, comma-shaped feathers that tightly overlap, you might guess that this topknot’s function is to impress....