November 01, 2021
by Stacy Doolittle 163sc on November 01, 2021
The jojoba is a native of the Morongo Basin and thrives in home landscapes. Simmondsia chinensis is a wonderful plant for back of the border or to be used as at moderately-fast growing screen. Leaf color ranges from greens to greys. The leaves are small and the shrub can be kept compact in habit through pruning. It can grow from 4-7 feet high and wide. Care should be taken in higher elevations (up to 5000 feet) of our area as a hard freeze can kill a young plant. Despite needing good drainage, jojoba seems to tolerate and even appreciate clay soils. Deer prefer it but rabbits and other nibblers ignore it.
October 01, 2021
by Stacy Doolittle 163sc on October 01, 2021
Photo Courtesy of John Doyen, CC 3.0 license
One lovely grey-leaved shrub for Morongo Basin landscapes is the California native Desert Lavender (Hyptis emoryi). This fast-growing shrub (given a small amount of irrigation) is a delicate, multi-trunk contrast in the garden to the broad leaves of agaves or the green of the creosote bush.
September 01, 2021
by Stacy Doolittle 163sc on September 01, 2021
Texas Rangers are a welcome respite during the dog days of summer. Referred to as barometer plants, Rangers blooms occur with high humidity and rain. When this happens, the plants are covered with purple or magenta flowers.
Photos by Stacy Doolittle
A native of the Chihuahuan Desert and other locales in Texas, Leucophyllum frutescens is a powerhouse of a shrub for Morongo Basin gardens. When young, hungry rabbits can find this sage appealing, so cage it in hardware cloth for protection. Once mature, it is ignored by foragers. Here is a handy guide (pdf) to the different varieties, which you can buy at big box stores and local nurseries.
August 05, 2021
by Stacy Doolittle 163sc on August 05, 2021
Photos by Stacy Doolittle
Willow-like in appearance, the Desert Willow (Chilopsis linearis) is actually a catalpa tree, hence its other name: Desert Catalpa. No matter what you call it, this tree is ideal for Morongo Basin landscapes. Attributes such as fast growth, heat tolerance, ease of care, and drought adaptation make it a desirable addition to the water-wise garden. It can be pruned into a shrub or allowed to grow into a tree.
July 04, 2021
by Stacy Doolittle 163sc on July 04, 2021
A workhorse of a shrub for Morongo Basin gardens is the native Sugar Bush (Rhus ovata). Use this plant as a windbreak, for hedging or by itself as a specimen plant. It enjoys full sun and plenty of space to spread out.
Young Sugar Bush in 29 Palms, CA. Photo by Cole Gibson
June 13, 2021
by Stacy Doolittle 163sc on June 13, 2021
A delightful native wildflower for Morongo Basin is the Mojave Aster (Xylorhiza tortifolia). Featuring pale purple daisy-like flowers, Mojave Aster blooms from March to May in our area. After flowering, it often dies back but will return the next year. It can also reseed and form new plants in your garden.
May 06, 2021
by Stacy Doolittle 163sc on May 06, 2021
A spectacular blue-flowered sage, Cleveland sage (Salvia clevelandii) is native to the Southern California coast and Baja. This highly-aromatic plant is a fast grower and a spring bloomer (dried blooms are showy throughout the year). Showcase this plant either by itself as a specimen plant, or create groupings in the landscape. Allow room for this plant when siting as it gets larger.
April 16, 2021
by Stacy Doolittle 163sc on April 16, 2021
Rosemary (Rosemary spp.) is native to the dry, rocky areas of the Mediterranean, yet it performs so well in our climate that we consider it a "desert-wise" plant and worthy of the spotlight.
Clipped rosemary in Yucca Valley,CA. Photo by Heather Sommerfield
You can help bees get through the winter by planting rosemary, as it is a late winter bloomer.
March 02, 2021
by Stacy Doolittle 163sc on March 02, 2021
This fast growing desert native is a favorite among gardeners in the Morongo Basin and it is easy to see why. Brittlebush's (Encelia farinosa) grey leaves offset its profusion of yellow daisy-like flowers in a mounding habit. It has a long bloom cycle if given enough water. But not too much water as it is a true desert native and is used to an arid environment.
February 21, 2021
by Stacy Doolittle 163sc on February 21, 2021
We love the structural quality of Desert or Rush Milkweed (Asclepias subulata) in the garden. This plant thrives in all Morongo Basin elevations (hardy to 10-20 Fahrenheit). Can tolerate some shade.
Morongo Basin Conservation Association has awarded college scholarships to three local graduating high school seniors. Recipients demonstrate commitments to include conservation and environmental interests in their education and career plans. Each $1,000 scholarship goes toward the student's higher education expenses in the 2025-26 academic year. MBCA's Conservation Scholarship is the continuation of our commitment to educate the next generation of conservation-conscious citizens. Jocelyn Gonzalez of Yucca Valley High School is the recipient, planning to study biological sciences...
On April 18, three MBCA Board members were interviewed on the Up Close Show (Episode 397), a weekly public affairs program of local radio station Z107.7 FM. Host and Hall of Fame Journalist Gary Daigneault conversed with MBCA's Vice President Stacy Doolittle, Board member Arch McCulloch, and Secretary Laraine Turk. While much of the hour-long discussion focused on details of the upcoming Desert-Wise Landscape Tour, the Board members were also...
After hearing three hours of public comment, the San Bernardino County Supervisors unanimously denied the appeal of the Planning Commission's approval of the Lovemore Ranch housing project. The appeal was filed by MBCA and supported by the Joshua Tree Village Neighbors group and others. Public comments were almost entirely in support of the appeal. You can view the entire hearing by clicking "video" on the April 8 line of the...
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEDate of Event: Sunday, April 27, 2025 Contact: Steve Bardwell: 818-516-1437 Laraine Turk: 760-799-2951 MORONGO BASIN CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION 2025 DESERT-WISE LANDSCAPE TOUR Morongo Basin, CA – March 25, 2025The annual Desert-Wise Landscape Tour offered by the Morongo Basin Conservation Association is scheduled for Sunday, April 27, between 9:00 AM and 4:00 PM. The public is invited to visit five creatively landscaped home sites and two public gardens...
Video and PowerPoint slides from 56 th Annual Meeting available!
MBCA joins in appeal of approval of Lovemore Ranch
Western Joshua Tree Conservation Act Workshop March 10, 2025
Attend California Desert Coalition Meeting on changes to NEPA
Desert Wise Living Landscape Tour April 27, 2025
MBCA Comments on Proposed Changes to Wind Turbine Specifications
In this letter to San Bernardino County Senior Planner Maryn Wells, MBCA expresses concerns about a proposed Development Code amendment that would permit expansion of the generating capacity of wind turbines Countywide. With the potential for placement of 100-foot tall wind turbines within the Rural Living Zone, MBCA is calling for the imposition of a Conditional Use Permit for the permitting of wind turbines throughout the County. Especially in desert...
MBCA Joins National Parks Conservation Association Requesting Reversal of Workforce Reductions
MBCA is one of 495 organizations which have signed on to this letter from the National Parks Conservation Association to Senators and Congressional representatives. The letter requests immediate reversal of the recent federal workforce reductions, "particularly those individuals who had been employed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), USDA Forest Service, (USFS) and the National Park Service (NPS). The letter states that the...
