The Pima County Native Plant Nursery
Friday 10 October
7:30 am to 9:30 am
Meet : Nursery entrance gate at 5845 N Camino de la Tierra
Directions : Turn south off Orange Grove at the Camino de la Tierra traffic light. Camino de la Tierra is between Thornydale and Mona Lisa, east of I-10.
Limit: 15 participants
RSVP to tucsonaznpstrips@gmail.com
Nursery manager and AZNPS member Amy Belk will show us native plants from seedlings to maturity. This is a great way to learn how to identify a wide range of our native species.
The Pima County Native Plant Nursery (NPN) grows native plants for landscaping projects in public spaces such as roadsides and medians, restoration sites, flood control properties, libraries and parks. This small, 4-acre nursery operates differently than a standard retail nursery, with inventory driven by upcoming public projects rather than sales forecasts. Because the plants are grown for restoration, a robust IPM (Integrated Pest Management) program with organic pest control methods is in place. As part of the Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan, the nursery specializes in common, threatened, and rare species found in the Sonoran Desert.
After the native plant nursery tour, those who have time can also visit Prickly Park, adjacent to the nursery. The Park is a successful collaboration between Pima County and the Tucson Cactus and Succulent Society (TCSS), a local non-profit organization that rescues and salvages succulent species from private residences and large development projects all around town. Many of these rescued plants find their way to Prickly Park, where they can be enjoyed by the public for years to come. Come see how this once gravel mine and landfill has been transformed into a truly unique greenspace that now hosts a variety of wildlife!
