Red Hills Desert Garden and Beech Creek Botanical Garden and Nature Preserve
by Carol Burton
Five years ago we were driving from the North Rim of the Grand Canyon to the Hoover Dam and looking for a place to have a picnic lunch. I found Pioneer Park in St. George Utah, a city in southwest Utah surrounded by beautiful red rock formations. When we stopped we were quite surprised to come across the Red Hills Desert Garden. We wandered through and found out they were just getting ready for their grand opening. What an amazing find! At that time California had water restrictions in place due to drought conditions. The local water authority had created this garden to teach local residents how to garden using much less water. Did you know that by converting turf landscaping into desert landscaping you can save 55 gallons of water per square foot per year?
During last month’s dry spell I began to think about ways to spend less time watering which reminded me of Red Hills Desert Garden.
Checking out the website I found it was created by a collaboration of Washington County Water Conservation District, the Virgin River Program and the city of St. George. The plantings have grown and improved in the last five years. My favorite part of the website is a plant search with beautiful photos of desert plants. It also includes water and light needs as well as hardiness information for each plant. There is also a photo gallery of current plants. Admission is still free and there are many activities for kids as well as adults. You can see more about this hidden gem with wonderful views of the area by checking out their website:
During last month’s dry spell I began to think about ways to spend less time watering which reminded me of Red Hills Desert Garden.
Checking out the website I found it was created by a collaboration of Washington County Water Conservation District, the Virgin River Program and the city of St. George. The plantings have grown and improved in the last five years. My favorite part of the website is a plant search with beautiful photos of desert plants. It also includes water and light needs as well as hardiness information for each plant. There is also a photo gallery of current plants. Admission is still free and there are many activities for kids as well as adults. You can see more about this hidden gem with wonderful views of the area by checking out their website:
Red Hills Desert Garden is a 2 hour drive north of Las Vegas on I 95 and less than an hour form Zion National Park.
Beech Creek Botanical Garden and Nature Preserve, Alliance Ohio
Since now is not a good time to travel cross country I found Beech Creek Botanical Garden and Nature Preserve just 2 hours away in Alliance Ohio. They are an independent nonprofit which provides educational opportunities and interactive experiences that inspire people to be good stewards of their communities and the world. The garden features a butterfly house with a caterpillar nursery, a raptor sanctuary and many play areas for children including a small zip line and tree house. They also offer many learning experiences for kids. Several trails lead you through wooded areas.
Currently they are selling succulent arrangements to help offset their losses due to Covid 19. I visited the Garden the end of July to check out “Succulents Gone Wild”. All are very creative and colorful. They are currently updating their inventory and are taking orders online.
Link to plant sales at Beech Creek Botanical Garden and Nature Preserve;
Link to plant sales at Beech Creek Botanical Garden and Nature Preserve;
