u/Worldly-Conflict-359

I found this cutie while gardening this morning. Any help with an ID?

It was about 1.5 inches long. South-central Arizona, USA.

Thanks!

Resources:

• AZNPS
• Southwest Desert Flora
• American Southwest
• Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum

We had to update our LFL this year to a composite library; the Phoenix summer sun destroyed our old wooden one. 🙁

My husband also built a "little free book depository" in an unused guest closet, and I had fun choosing some whimsical wallpaper for it.

We often have large donations of books that don't fit in our library, and I was previously using milk crates to store the extra books, which made it hard to find various grade levels, etc. 😆

We also recently received a grant through the Friends of the Phoenix Library BookStorm Grant, which gifts Phoenix LFL stewards with 100 free books. (I know the books cover the wallpaper, but there aren't usually this many extra books hanging around, it's just due to the sudden influx of 100 free books🙂 ) It's a really amazing program; check it out if you're in Phoenix!

Trees Matter - To foster and inspire an increased, more balanced tree canopy in the Valley of the Sun.

Trees offer many critical functions such as shade, pollution reduction, dust reduction, food, increased property value, carbon sequestration, increase in mental and physical health, and more. The Valley has an immediate need for an increased tree canopy; Trees Matter works to alleviate this need by educating the public on tree knowledge, distributing desert-adapted shade trees to residents across the Valley, and planting trees on school campuses and within communities in need.

• Events
• Tree Database
• Ask the Arborist Forum (Facebook)
• Programs
• Volunteer
• Membership or Donation

If you have a nonproft or other group with a conservation/eco focus in Arizona you'd like to spotlight, please share it below!

Check out our Wiki Page on Lawn Removal Incentives By City!

Flyer Resources:

• UofA - Arizona Invasive Plants
• UofA - Cooperative Extension
• AZNPS - Grow Native, Don't Be a Pest!

We threw these Kallstroemia grandiflora seeds down in our Sonoran Desert Tortoise enclosure a couple of years ago and forgot about them. The monsoon season this year has brought rain and humidity, and we've been happily surprised by endless blooms since late July!

No color edits to these photos; these blooms are incredibly showy and bright!

Resources:

• AZNPS
• Southwest Desert Flora
• American Southwest
• AMWUA

Arizona Master Naturalist: Maricopa Chapter - Inspiring leadership and community engagement for a sustainable world through volunteer service to natural resource agencies in the state of Arizona.

• Volunteer
• Become a Master Naturalist
  • New volunteer training courses are held annually from January into early May.
  • Applications for the 2027 cohort open soon (September 1, 2026)!
• Donate

If you have a nonproft or other group with a conservation/eco focus in Arizona you'd like to spotlight, please share it below!

Year 3 of our adopted Sonoran Desert Tortoise enclosure/ pollinator garden.

We wanted to create a "wildscape" where he could forage for all the food he needs, with lots of enrichment, while also supporting our local pollinators. We're happy with how things are looking so far. 🙂

Plants in this video:

• Globemallow
• Chuparosa
• Jojoba
• Ironwood
• Triangle Leaf Bursage
• White Bursage
• Desert Lavender
• Brittlebush
• Creosote
• Rush Milkweed
• Desert Willow
• Four-Wing Saltbush
• San Marcos Hibiscus (Sonoran Desert-Native (Baja), but our lil guy loves the flowers and leaves!)

If you have adopted a Sonoran Desert Tortoise, what does your enclosure look like? What kind of plants does your tortoise enjoy? 🐢 💚

Photo Source:

• Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

Resources:

• AZNPS
• Southwest Desert Flora
• Spadefoot Nursery
• UofA Campus Arboretum

Last year was the first year we saw an Arizona Mantis in our yard; this year we've seen many!

This is a nymph - probably about an inch or so in length.

Have you had any recent wildlife visitors in your garden/yard? Share pics below!

Friends of the Tonto National Forest: Friends of the Tonto National Forest is a group of volunteers who assist the Forest in its critical mission of natural and cultural resource and visitor use management. We promote public understanding of the Tonto National Forest’s policies, programs, and projects.

• Events
• Volunteer
• Membership
• Other Projects
  • Adopt-a-Site
  • Riparian Photopoint Project
  • Sears-Kay Ruin & Shoofly Village Ruin
  • Water Source Inventory

If you have a nonproft or other group with a conservation/eco focus in Arizona you'd like to spotlight, please share it below!

Although not native to Phoenix, my Fendler's Globemallow is blooming throughout the summer!

I found this one at the Boyce Thompson Arboretum plant sale last fall - do you have a favorite AZ-native plant you found at a recent plant sale?

Learn more about Fendler's Globemallow - Southwest Desert Flora

Our summer poppies are blooming like crazy!

Anyone else have some summer-loving plants that are enjoying this heat?

These photos haven't been edited to change color at all - the blooms are just that stunning! (pic one is in the rain this morning; pics 2 & 3 were in the full sun yesterday)

Resources:

• AZNPS
• Southwest Gardener
• UofA Cooperative Extension
• AMWUA