Desert-Wise Landscape Tour at Morongo Basin Conservation Association

Desert-Wise Landscape Tour Inspiration Contest Winners 2023

Posted on MBCA News by · May 24, 2023 11:22 AM · 1 reaction

Congratulations to the winners of the Desert-Wise Landscape Tour Inspiration Contest!

In this year’s Contest, we asked Tour participants to submit their reactions to the Tour in either a short essay or a visual creation.

Winner of the essay category and a $200 gift certificate to Unique Nursery in Joshua Tree is Allie Irwin. Here is her essay, which captures so well the spirit of discovery, as well as lessons learned, that MBCA hopes to provide to Tour participants.

Winner of the visual creation submission is Corrina Paton, whose photograph below depicts a spot in Tour Host Valerie Davis's yard. She explains: Conserving Water through art ~ Proving you can still have vibrant colors and a fun and quirky landscape while reducing your water usage. Corrina wins a $200 gift certificate to Cactus Mart in Morongo Valley.

Watch for an announcement in early June about several new Virtual Tour Videos of additional Morongo Basin landscapes that offer exceptional beauty and creativity with low water use and native and drought-tolerant plants.

Conserving Water through art ~ Proving you can still have vibrant colors and a fun and quirky landscape while reducing your water usage……

Eblast March 1, 2022

Posted on Eblasts by · March 01, 2023 2:47 PM · 1 reaction

Flamingo 640 Glamping Project going before Planning Commission
Wonder Inn Project update
Spring is here and so are Invasive Plants!
Rooftop Solar Update
2023 Desert Wise Living Landscape Tour

Eblast August 15, 2022

Posted on Eblasts by · August 15, 2022 3:22 PM · 1 reaction

Short Term Rental Survey
Housing Element update
Desert Wise Virtual Landscape videos released

Eblast July 20, 2022

Posted on Eblasts by · July 20, 2022 6:29 PM · 1 reaction

Desert Wise Virtual Landscape videos released
Planning Commission to vote on Housing Element
Industrial Scale Renewable Energy Threats to the Desert

Eblast June 1, 2022

Posted on Eblasts by · June 01, 2022 7:37 PM · 1 reaction

Fish and Game Commission to consider Joshua Tree Listing
Protect Rooftop Solar!
Comments due on San Bernardino County Housing Element
Short Term Rental ordinance amendments
Landscape Tour was a success
Stagecoach Solar project put on hold

Desert-Wise Landscape Tour Essay Contest Winners 2022

Posted on Desert-Wise Living by · June 01, 2022 2:38 PM · 1 reaction

Congratulations to the winners of the Desert-Wise Landscape Tour Essay Contest! Click their name to read their essay.

1st place winner is Amos Collins, a $200 gift certificate to Unique Nursery [Yucca Valley, CA].
2nd place winner is Elizabeth Leonard, a $150 gift certificate to Cactus Mart [Morongo Valley, CA].
3rd place winner is Jennifer Cho, a $100 gift certificate to The Dez [Joshua Tree, CA].

Thanks also to Isaiah and Manuela Hesslup, Helen Jeong, and one other entrant for sending their thoughts. Our reviewers this year were Kerrie Aley, Allan Songer, Arch McCulloch, and Mike Lipsitz.

Through the words of Essay Contest entrants, MBCA is gratified to see that we are educating and inspiring desert residents to make the most of their gardens and landscaping with desert-wise practices. Thanks to everyone who attended, and be sure to check Facebook or this website in June for announcements of four new 2022 Virtual Tours. You may also enjoy reviewing the Virtual Tours from 2020 and 2021.

Eblast April 18, 2022

Posted on Eblasts by · April 18, 2022 8:19 PM · 1 reaction

Attend MBCA’s Landscape Tour Sunday April 24!
Comments due on the Flamingo 640 Glamping Project
Proposed Wonder Inn Hotel
Short Term Rentals and the SB County Housing Element
Is the Joshua Tree a Threatened Species?

Plant resources

Posted on Desert-Wise Landscaping by · May 06, 2021 1:56 PM · 1 reaction

A detailed plant list from a mainly native garden in 29 Palms (PDF).
Robin Kobaly's plant list for hi-desert gardens. Find helpful planting and other resources on her site as well.
California Native Plant Society (CNPS)
We are lucky in California to have a thriving and helpful native plant society. (Check out the local Mojave chapter of CNPS). Also included in the resources they provide is one for gardeners, Calscape.

Learn how to search for native plants in the Morongo Basin on Calscape:

Cheyenne Bonnell's garden has been featured on our Landscape Tour. See it showcased on Fine Gardening's website.
Check out the spectacularly landscaped Mojave Rock Ranch on Garden Design's website.
Blogger Lisa Burford covers Mojave desert gardening on her site Mojave Garden.
A Joshua Tree home showcasing its native plantings.
A helpful brochure about native plants best for our area.
Wonderful planting and irrigation designs from JBWD.
Water-wise native desert plants brochure from the Summertree Institute.
A gorgeous brochure from the city of Palm Desert. Use caution as some of the plants featured are not cold-tolerant.
Another resource, customized for the high desert, is Plant Search by the Alliance for Water Conservation (AWAC).

Posted on Desert-Wise Landscaping by · February 20, 2021 12:40 PM · 1 reaction

"plant spotlight" graphic

EBlast February 1, 2021

Posted on Eblasts by · February 01, 2021 12:55 PM · 1 reaction

Light Trespass Ordinance to be Considered by County
Video of MBCA Annual Meeting Available
Virtual Landscape Tour
Check the MBCA Calendar for Online Events

Pages tagged "Desert-Wise Landscape Tour"

Desert-Wise Landscape Tour Inspiration Contest Winners 2023

MBCA Comments on Golden Current Solar Project

MBCA Awards Scholarships to Three Local High School Seniors

MBCA Supports Water Conservation Landscaping Act

Eblast April 10, 2023

Eblast March 20, 2023

A Change in Direction for Cadiz Water Project?

Wonder Inn Resort Proposal Denied by Planning Commission

Letter: Group Comment on Public Health Emergency Due to Warehouse Growth