Made possible through the
generous support of

Architectural Landscaping

Old Pueblo Adobe Co.

Desert Trees Nursery

Plants for the Southwest

Desert Survivors

Tierra Seca Nursery

Joe Prchal & Leslie Mansur

Plant selection and installation

Jim Brock  

Garden design and construction

Steve Prchal

The area in front of the library was chosen for two reasons. One, it was an ugly parking area. Secondly, it is right below the aluminum ramada which tops the watershed. During the heavy summer rains, water runs off the ramada, joins water running off the parking area and heads down hill, gouging deep cuts into the drive/walkway. By building the garden in this spot, we not only created an aesthetic and educational enhancement to SASI's facilities, but use the runoff from the ramada to water the garden. Erosion during our heavy summer rains is greatly reduced by the garden whose growth has been phenomenal.

Because the area had been used by vehicles, the soil was very compacted, nearly impossible to dig by hand and very hard for plants to grow in. The soil was churned, 3 yards of mulch mixed in and large rocks removed. Masonry work took about three weeks of before and after "work hours" and was completed July 17. The final coat of plaster on the seat wall and the fire pit remain uncompleted while funding is sought for outside services.

Donated and purchased plant material was installed during the last week in July. Since July, a few more plants have been added and some seeds sown. The accompanying plant list includes all plant species within the adobe section, the planters in front of the Library and the planter in front of the patio.

The Desert Museum donated a number of plants native to Sonora's tropical deciduous forest. These have been planted in containers around the garden and classroom area. Freeze damage was severe on a few but all survived the winter of 1996-97.

From August through October, 1996, the garden produced nearly 75 butterflies (as determined by counting larvae) representing six species; queen (Asclepias subulata), sleepy orange, (Senna covesii), cloudless sulphur (Senna covesii, S. leptocarpa), Mexican sulphur, Acacia angustissima, hippalus skipper (A. angustissima). It will only get better as the garden matures.