Photos: Take a peek into the backyards of Tucson's garden experts
The Pima County Master Gardeners home garden tour on April 9 will give community members the chance to get a look at the backyards of Tucson's garden experts.
These five east-side homes will be featured on the tour.
Rincon View garden: Ed Gutowski
Ed Gutowski’s Rincon View garden is a peaceful sanctuary with breathtaking sweeping views of the Catalinas and Rincons.
Rincon View garden: Ed Gutowski
Ed Gutowski’s Rincon View garden has a mixture of native and non-native desert-adapted plants.
Rincon View garden: Ed Gutowski
Coming from California, Ed Gutowski had problems initially getting used to gardening in the desert climate. “I picked a lot of things that just would not manage."
Rincon View garden: Ed Gutowski
Ed Gutowski’s Rincon View garden is one of five featured in the 2022 Pima County Master Gardeners home garden tour.
Rincon View garden: Ed Gutowski
The theme in Ed Gutowski’s Rincon View garden is trees, which provide much-needed shade. There will be a tree expert at the tour to help visitors learn more about growing healthy trees in our desert.
Desert Wildlife Refuge garden: The Barons
The Desert Wildlife Refuge garden is reflective of Tucson's barrio-style gardens.
Desert Wildlife Refuge garden: The Barrons
The Desert Wildlife Refuge garden features lots of native plants and a butterfly garden.
Desert Wildlife Refuge garden: The Barons
Cactus lovers will enjoy the many varieties on display in the Desert Wildlife Refuge garden.
Desert Wildlife Refuge garden: The Barons
Quirky items can be found throughout the Desert Wildlife Refuge garden.
Desert Wildlife Refuge garden: The Barons
Shady paths, a patio and more at the Desert Wildlife Refuge garden are sure to provide inspiration for wildlife lovers.
Lilacs, Roses and Irises, oh my!: Chris Dickens
Chris Dickens’ garden features irises, lilacs and roses. As part of the Pima County Master Gardeners' home tour, Master Gardener Deborah North will be there, discussing plants for cooler microclimates.
Lilacs, Roses and Irises, oh my!: Chris Dickens
Chris Dickens encourages gardeners to branch out a bit from native plants if they have a fondness for more exotic plants.
Lilacs, Roses and Irises, oh my!: Chris Dickens
Chris Dickens Tucson garden also includes many native and desert-adapted plants.
Lilacs, Roses and Irises, oh my!: Chris Dickens
Chris Dickens began her iris garden after meeting fellow Master Gardener Diane Tweedy, who lived just down the street, and whose garden is also featured on this year’s tour. Dickens says that growing irises in the desert isn’t that difficult, and a bonus is that javelina don’t eat them.
Lilacs, Roses and Irises, oh my!: Chris Dickens
Chris Dickens’ garden will be one of five featured on the 2022 Pima County Master Gardeners home garden tour.
Desert Oasis garden: Dave Williams
The Desert Oasis garden at Dave Williams’ home has a wide selection of cacti with spectacular blooms. He’s learned to deal with various desert critters, like pack rats and ground squirrels. Williams recommends keeping prickly pears near the house in a more upright growth habit to discourage packrats from creating burrows.
Desert Oasis garden: Dave Williams
The Desert Oasis garden at Dave Williams’ home has a veggie garden, which he had to redesign after a nearby mesquite’s roots invaded the garden plot.
Desert Oasis garden: Dave Williams
The Desert Oasis garden at Dave Williams’ home features a variety of blooms. He recommends thinking carefully about where you place your plants. “Think about what’s going to be the size of it 10 years from now before you plant it. Choose the right plant for the right place.”
Desert Oasis garden: Dave Williams
The Desert Oasis garden at Dave Williams’ home features plants that are drought-tolerant, some native, some not.
Desert Oasis garden: Dave Williams
Dave Williams' desert oasis garden will be featured in the 2022 Pima County Master Gardener Home Garden Tour.
Iris garden 2022 home garden tour
Irises bloom in Diane Tweedy's Desert Sanctuary garden featured on this year's Master Gardener Home Garden Tour. An iris expert will be present to help visitors interested in growing irises.
Alexis Huicochea
Team leader
Five of Tucson's garden experts will be opening up their yards for the 2022 Pima County Master Gardeners' Home Garden Tour.
Tips to help you cultivate a healthy soil in your Tucson garden, where we have plenty of sunshine but some challenges to make our soils support the plants we want to grow.
If you're looking for some shade for your yard, check out these fast-growing trees.
If you have a warm spot in your yard or a greenhouse, try growing some of these tropical plants!
If you're adding hardscaping and have existing plants, take a look at these tips to help preserve your plants and keep them alive during construction.
