Photo courtesy Mark Astorga

In anticipation of MBCA’s Desert-Wise Landscape Tour  on April 19, this free lecture and art event in Joshua Tree brings nurserywoman and pollinator specialist Lisha Astorga to share her expertise about the intersecting lives of desert plants and pollinators. The range of topics will include:

• Who our desert pollinators are, and how pollination happens
• Combinations of native plants that will bring blooms throughout the year
• Essential elements for pollinator habitat
• Benefits pollinators provide to ecosystems
• Identifying Monarch eggs and caterpillars
  
  

The 1-hour presentation will be followed by a Q&A and held in the gallery space of Hey There Projects in Joshua Tree, where you’ll also find an exhibition of desert landscape paintings by Eric Merrell.

Registration for April 19th Desert Wise Landscape Tour will be available at the event.

Lisha Astorga specializes in native landscapes, wildlife habitats, vegetable gardens, and sustainable practices. Previously she sat on the Board of Directors of the Desert Horticultural Society as the Special Events Coordinator. She’s led turf conversion and landscape revitalization projects with the Desert Horticultural Society and Palm Springs Unified School District, and served twelve years as Garden Coordinator at Palm Springs High School teaching sustainable gardening. Lisha founded DesertStrawHouse Nursery in Desert Hot Springs, CA, where she grows native plants for home gardeners,landscapers, and restoration projects. She can often be found holding a magnifying loupe to show Monarch eggs to enthralled visitors, or writing her monthly gardening blog.

p.s. You might also be interested in the Native Plant Walk with Botanist Melanie Davis on the morning of this event, Saturday, April 18.