Eleven Landscape Tour participants submitted essays to our Contest this year - 4 more than the previous high of 7 essays! The voting was very close. All the judges were impressed with the quality of all the essays and the clear message of combining conservation with desert beauty. We thank the eleven writers for the time they spent portraying their Tour experience and the value of water-wise landscaping.
See a variety of photos from this year's Tour on our Landscape Tour Review page. (And for information on where to purchase native plants for your own landscape, see MBCA's Native Plant Nurseries page!)
Here are the three prize-winning Landscape Tour Essay Contest winners. Click their name to read their essay.
1st place - Cynthia Heaton - $200 Unique Garden Center gift certificate 2nd place - Lisa Lafferty - $150 Cactus Mart gift certificate 3rd place - Cynthia Von Halle - $100 Cactus Mart gift certificate
Below are links to the other eight creative and thoughtful essays, in alphabetical order.
Eleven creative and engaging essays were submitted to the 2018 Desert-Wise Landscape Tour Essay Contest. The top three (a hard choice for the judges) received gift certificates. Each of the essays hit the mark on portraying the goals of the Tour - demonstrating colorful and comfortable desert landscapes created with low water usage. Enjoy reading them all and be inspired to improve your own desert garden!
Click on the photo to enjoy MBCA's latest engaging video of a local residential landscape filled with desert native plant beauty and skillful water management.
Eco-Education Summit Draws Local Conservation Educators
MBCA and the Joshua Tree Foundation for Arts & Ecology invited local environmental and conservation educators - individuals and organizations - to meet for information sharing and planning future collaborations emphasizing youth education. Pat Flanagan of MBCA presented an EcoMap curriculum as a tool to explore environmental data. More than a dozen participants then presented overviews of their educational programs and tools, including: Copper Mountain College Educators from La Contenta...
MBCA is delighted to announce the awarding of $1000 Scholarships to two Yucca Valley High School seniors.MBCA's Conservation Scholarship is the continuation of our commitment to educate the next generation of conservation-conscious citizens. Kaleb Mix of Yucca Valley High School is the recipient, planning to enroll in an environmental studies program at the University of California at Santa Barbara.The Women's STEAM Scholarship (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) is provided anonymously...
New County App for Reporting Public Works Problems
An app called SeeClickFix is now available for residents of unincorporated areas of San Bernardino County to report Public Works issues such as weed abatement needs, flooding, potholes, or graffiti in public locations. The app is available for free download on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. Residents can also access a desktop version and view service area maps by visiting the Public Works website at https://dpw.sbcounty.gov/.
MBCA Signs with Coalition Against Proposed Fall Ballot Initiative
In a coalition with over 210 public health, environmental, and environmental justice organizations, MBCA has signed a letter to members of the California legislature with deep concern about the proposed fall ballot initiative 25-0023A1. Proposed by the California Chamber of Commerce in November 2025, it has been cleared for circulation and is in the petition signature collection phase (due June 24). The coalition letter asks all state legislators to publicly...
The California Energy Commission, the state's primary energy agency, has launched a website intended to keep Californians up to date on the state's progress toward 100% clean energy. California's Clean Energy Journey highlights topics such as innovation, transportation, efficiency, and equity and tribal partnerships. Content incudes graphs, charts, and videos about various projects and goals.
MBCA Asks Our Congressional Representatives to Oppose Anti-Public Lands Action
Although the House and Senate Congressional resolutions S.J.Res.109 and H.J.Res.151 deal specifically with overturning the management plan for Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument in Utah, the implications for public lands everywhere would be dire. MBCA has sent letters to Representative Obernolte, Senator Padilla, and Senator Schiff asking them to oppose the House and Senate resolutions directing the cancellation of the management plan. A key message to Representative Obernolte is "For a district...
MBCA Joins Support Letter for SB 1250 - Wildlife Connectivity in Transportation Planning
MBCA was among 72 organizations signing on to a letter in support of California’s AB 1250, a bill that would incorporate required consideration for wildlife crossings into transportation planning. A key goal is reducing wildlife–vehicle collisions which cost Californians more than $200 million annually.
MBCA's Landscape Video Host Featured in Palm Springs Life
Miriam Seger, MBCA's landscape gardening guru, is featured in an article in the Palm Springs Life magazine this month. Miriam's expertise and effective teaching style can be experienced in MBCA's series of instructional videos produced by Board member Stacy Doolittle and filmed by local videographer Cole Gibson. Segments focus on Deep Watering, Planting Hacks, and a Fall Planting Guide, each containing easy-to-follow demonstrations with detailed and entertaining advice. Miriam has...
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