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....

Brittlebush | A Desert Survivor

March 23, 2021

Brittlebush–a widespread and very drought-resistant woody shrub with bright yellow flowers–is one of the most conspicuous desert plants when in bloom from late winter to mid-spring. During really dry, hot years with little soil moisture, their green leaves can appear...

A Backstop to Extinction

January 26, 2021

This article ran in the Winter 2019 Sonoran Quarterly issue Those infatuated with the Sonoran Desert recall the allure of towering saguaros, the herbal smell of creosote and verdant trunks of palo verde trees. The unfortunate truth is that this fragile biodiversity is...

February Ecoflora Challenge | Monarchs, Milkweed and Mystery

January 26, 2021

Join the February EcoQuest: Monarchs, Milkweeds and Mystery Find and map as many monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus) and milkweed plants (Asclepias spp.) as possible. Monarch butterflies are in severe decline, with numbers from 2020 showing the lowest ever...

Sonoran Sippin’ At Home | Otro Café’s “Summer Scents”

September 17, 2020

“Summer Scents” Desert Botanical Garden has teamed up with Mezcal Carreño to challenge local mixologists to create desert-inspired mezcal cocktails. The rules are simple—each cocktail has to include at least one desert ingredient and must feature mezcal....

Tag: sonoran desert

The Mystery of Gambel’s Quail Head Feathers

Brittlebush | A Desert Survivor

A Backstop to Extinction

February Ecoflora Challenge | Monarchs, Milkweed and Mystery

Sonoran Sippin’ At Home | Otro Café’s “Summer Scents”