Conservation
Is Saguaro Cactus Fruit Edible?
Photo by Michael Searcy Ripening in the hottest, driest time of the year, saguaro fruit provide important moisture and nutrition to animals and insects in the Sonoran Desert before the summer monsoon rains. With each saguaro able to produce an average of 150 fruit,...
21 U.S. Urban Agriculture Public Garden-Community Partner Collaborations Awarded Funds
The United States Botanic Garden (USBG) and American Public Gardens Association (Association) have partnered to support public gardens and their community partners engaging in urban agriculture and food-growing to address food security challenges exacerbated by the...
Fruits that Grow in the Desert
Common fruit trees like citrus and figs are forming fruits in May but there are many other desert plants producing edible fruits. These desert fruits produced are relished by desert animals such as birds, desert tortoises as well as people. Look for saguaro fruits...
June Ecoflora Challenge | The Night Shift
Header Photo: John HoffmanMany people are familiar with honeybees, birds and other species that are daytime pollinators, but which ones are busy working at night? Nocturnal pollinators are understudied, especially when compared to diurnal ones. These night workers and...
Endangered Species day
Endangered Species Day When we think an endangered species, it's easy to envision a bald eagle, whale or giant panda. However, did you know that there are more federally protected plant species than animals in the United States? Why protect plants? Could you imagine...
Queen of the Night Cactus Flower and Her Hawk Moth
Following a perfumed path in the night, hawk moths in the desert of Southern Arizona find the queen of the night cactus blossom held aloft on what appears to be a dead stick. The skinny cactus stems grow from a large tuberous root that weighs more than 40 pounds. The...
