Pima Invasive Species Program

Pima County Master Gardener 2026 Home Garden Tour
Celebrating Native Plants!

April 25, 2026, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the door.

-- Garden Spotlight - Tucson Mountain Retreat --
Visit this garden that has evolved into a colorful, lively retreat for both people and wildlife, featuring many native trees, several small fruit trees, a variety of agaves and other plants that add structure and seasonal interest.

Garden philosophy
"I love color and an active garden full of all kinds of pollinators and wildlife. Plants that require constant pampering rarely thrive here, so the focus is on resilience and enjoyment. I delight in the seasonal transitions—from the blooms of the Palo Verde to the ironwood trees—and in watching wildlife explore the space. Gardening is a source of calm and joy, offering a place to relax and reconnect with the outdoors. Staying informed through U of A publications and Master Gardener talks helps me refine my approach while maintaining the garden as a sustainable and evolving retreat."

For more information on this and other gardens on tour - https://extension.arizona.edu/events/pima-county-master-gardener-2026-home-garden-tour
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At the Extension Demonstration Garden, you'll enjoy hands-on activities and meet special guests from:

Civano Growers
Community Gardens of Tucson
Desert Laboratory at Tumamoc Hill
The Desert Museum
Pima County Firewise Landscaping
Pima County Invasive Species
Smartscape
Southern Arizona Beekeeping Association
Strategic Habitat Enhancements
Tucson Bird Alliance
Tucson Cactus and Succulents Society
Tucson Organic Gardeners
Tucson Water
Sonoran Desert W**dwhackers

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🚨 Equestrian Alert – Pima County (2026) 🚨

We’re seeing a concerning pattern: stinknet infestations are emerging on horse properties alongside rising reports this year.
There is growing concern that hay or straw sourced from Arizona’s Central Valley may be a contamination pathway.

⚠️ Why this matters
-Stinknet is highly invasive and spreads rapidly.
-It has been reported as toxic to horses, with impacts comparable to nightshade.
-It threatens livestock health, property safety, and local ecosystems.

✅ What you can do now
-Inspect your property carefully for stinknet.
-Remove plants early while infestations are still small and manageable.

🗣️ Protect your animals & community
-Ask your feed store where their hay/straw is sourced.
-Let them know you’re concerned about stinknet contamination and its risks to your livestock, the local equestrian community, and the surrounding ecosystem.

Learn more about stinknet at https://extension.arizona.edu/topics/stinknet

Together, early action can make a big difference. 🌱

Stinknet StinknetOur research is helping property managers, HOAs and homeowners deal with this invasive plant. Arizona InvasionStinknet, an invasive African annual w**d that crowds out native plants and becomes a fire hazard in summer, is spreading in Maricopa, Pinal and Pima counties. Oncosiphon pilulifer,....

Wildfire risk in the Sonoran Desert is changing—and invasive plants are a big reason why. 🔥🌾

Species like buffelgrass and stinknet are excellent fuel for fire, allowing fires to burn hotter, spread faster, and reach places that historically did not burn, threatening saguaros, wildlife, neighborhoods, and infrastructure.

Pima County is developing a Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) to guide how our region reduces wildfire risk, and your voice matters! The CWPP will help shape priorities for prevention, education, and funding.

Whether you live near desert open space, love hiking among saguaros, or simply care about the future of our desert and our community, your input can help ensure the plan reflects real conditions on the ground.🌵

Take a few minutes to complete the Pima County CWPP public survey here: https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/AZPIMA/bulletins/3f515f8 and help protect the Sonoran Desert we all love!

Congratulations to the Sonoran Desert W**dwackers on winning the SouthWest Vegetation Management Association W**d Manager of the Year award for 2025! This award recognizes groups or individuals in the Southwest region who go above and beyond in their work to combat invasive plant species and protect the ecosystem.

Tucson Mountain Park is one of the most beautiful wild spaces in the Sonoran Desert, partially due to the 25 years of dedication from this volunteer group in removing buffelgrass from our saguaro covered slopes. While there are a handful of members who attend nearly all of the thrice monthly events, there are hundreds who have volunteered at some point in the past year. If you are one of those hundreds, you’re a part of this special recognition as well!

If you’re a past or present W**dwacker, we would love to hear from you in the comments!

Thank you TBA for all you do!

Dear Friends of Tucson Bird Alliance,

Working in conservation, our staff and volunteers often have a front row seat to the damage done by the trifecta of climate change, drought, and development. It can take a heavy toll, yet, when you come across anyone on the Tucson Bird Alliance team, chances are, they’re smiling, enthusiastic, motivated, and eager to talk about their work.

What’s our secret to staying optimistic?​

Easy. It’s because we all know and see that we are making a tangible, immediate and long-term difference for birds, people, and our habitats, every single day. And we are able to do this work because people like you believe in us enough to support us with your time, talent, and treasure.​

Together, we have planted thousands of saguaros, installed thousands of nestboxes, and restored hundreds of acres of habitat. We continue this work because we want the joy of birds to be part of our lives for generations to come.

We are deeply grateful for those of you who include Tucson Bird Alliance on your “give” list during this season of generosity. Thanks for keeping a smile on our faces as we work through difficult times. We hope our work brings you joy in return!

For Birds and People,
Melissa Fratello,
Executive Director

TUCSONBIRDS.ORG/WINTER

Invasive plants like buffelgrass are considered one of the greatest threats to our beloved saguaro cactus, and we are doing everything we can to combat them. Thanks to a generous donation from the Paul and Deane Shatz Invasive Species Research Fund, you can help!

We are seeking applications for local students for two $2,000 scholarships to study ways that we can be successful in protecting saguaros and other plants and animals we love. If you are a current college or high school student in Pima County and interested in conservation science, please consider applying! Please visit our website for more information: https://www.nps.gov/sagu/learn/kidsyouth/shatz-scholarship-2026.htm The deadline is January 30, 2026.

Congratulations Ellie! An absolute gem indeed -- very well deserved. The invasive species community is so lucky to have you.