Spring has sprung in the desert and that means it’s time to “go native”…native plants that is. Two native plant sales offer local gardeners the opportunity to landscape with plants that are not only beautiful, but also stabilize soil, retain water, sequester carbon, and support wildlife more efficiently than non-natives. Reporter Mike Lipsitz pulls on his gardening gloves to tell us all how to go native with responsibly-sourced native plants…
Local gardeners have an opportunity to learn about and purchase native plants at two sale events. On Sunday, March 28, the Joshua Basin Water District opens the spring native plant sale from 1 to 3 p.m. at the district office at Chollita Road and Park Boulevard in Joshua Tree. Seedlings are $9 each or three for $25, cash only. Sales support the Native Plant Wildcrafting Program by the water district and Joshua Tree National Park. Masks and social distancing mandates will be in place.
Next, the Mojave Desert Land Trust, or MDLT, opens an online spring clearance sale of native plants at mdlt.org/shop from 9 a.m. April 5 until the stroke of midnight. A variety of nursery-raised native plants will be on sale in containers ranging from tiny to five gallons. A sneak preview of available plants is online now along with planting guides and other information. After placing orders online, customers will schedule a contact-free pick-up from MDLT headquarters in Joshua Tree. Orders will be filled in the order received.
For questions about what to plant, visit calscape.org. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, all sales are final. The Mojave Desert Land Trust is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with the mission to protect and care for lands with natural, scenic, and cultural value within the Mojave Desert. MDLT operates a seed bank and onsite nursery at its Joshua Tree headquarters which propagates native species for ecosystem restoration.
