Throughout the various ecosystems of the world, there exists a multitude of exotic plant life, much of which is threatened by human activity and development. Tropical regions are among the most highly threatened, as tropical ecosystems hold a number of valuable resources that attract human intervention. The Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden is a unique botanical garden in the Miami area with the mission of saving tropical plant diversity and researching the sustainability of the amazing plant life that thrives in tropical climates. The garden is a huge tourist attraction with more than 45,000 members and 1,200 volunteers.

Forming the Fairchild Garden

The Fairchild Botanical Garden was established by Robert H. Montgomery in 1936. It was named for Montgomery’s friend, David Fairchild, who was a plant explorer and collector, who brought more than 20,000 plant species to the United States. The garden was first opened to the public in 1938, and it has grown to cover 83 acres of land with a variety of tropical plant life.

Extensive rare collections

One of the distinguishing features of the garden is the rarity of the plants within the collections of palms, cycads, flowering trees, and vines. The garden’s newest exhibit, the Wings of the Tropics, shows off the exotic butterflies that dwell in tropical regions.

Research and conservation

While garden is a privately owned attraction, it also serves as a conservation center for tropical plants facing extinction. The garden maintains active partnerships with Florida International University, University of Florida, University of Miami, and Miami Dade College to facilitate active research and conservation programs.

The best landscape design is one that utilizes trees and plants which are native to the surrounding area. Native landscaping in Tucson not only ensures that your home or business will reflect the natural beauty of Southern Arizona, but also that the trees and plants you select are equipped to survive harsh desert conditions. A landscape design company in Tucson can help you select the best trees for your home or business, but in the meantime this blog post will help you start thinking about some of the best and most popular native trees for an authentic and drought-resistant Southern Arizona landscape design.

• Mesquite Trees – Mesquite trees are among the most easily recognizable and widely used trees in Tucson. Native mesquite trees like the Velvet Mesquite and Screwbean Mesquite are multi-trunked and provide excellent shade beneath their canopies, making them ideal garden trees. Mesquites develop deep roots, which means you don’t need to worry about these trees blowing over during monsoon season in Tucson.
• Acacia Trees – Acacias are another popular tree species native to Southern Arizona. Native acacia trees such as the Cat Claw Acacia and White Thorn Acacia grow between 10 and 20 feet tall. Because of the sharp thorns found on acacia trees, they work very well as security trees along a perimeter fence.
• Palo Verde Trees – Native palo verde trees like the Foothills Palo Verde and Blue Palo Verde grow up to 30 feet tall and produce edible flowers and seeds. The colorful bark of the palo verde tree is even more striking come spring when the flowers turn yellow. Like mesquites, palo verde trees are multi-trunked and make for great shade trees, especially in a garden or common outdoor seating area.

These are just a few of the native trees that can be used around your home or business. To learn more about these and other Southern Arizona trees, contact the Tucson landscape design experts at Santa Rita Landscaping, Inc. Our mission is to provide extraordinary results for our customers. Contact us online or call us at (520) 623-0421 to learn more about our landscape design and maintenance services.

As you explore heat and drought-resistant plants to incorporate into your Southern Arizona commercial or residential landscape, you may be surprised at the abundance of different plant life that you have to choose from. There are, however, some plants that you should be wary of, since they are invasive species that can take over your landscape and cause problems throughout the local ecosystem. Below you’ll see some of the most common invasive species used in Arizona landscape design that you should avoid on your property.

Periwinkle

The beautiful flowers of the periwinkle, or vinca major, plant are deceptive. While small flowers might seem like an appealing addition to your landscape, these plants will take over with aggressive roots that can compete with native plants for resources in drainage areas. More favorable flowering alternatives include summer snow, desert verbena, and desert four o’ clock.

Aquatic plants

Many Tucson homeowners have pools or ponds in the backyard, and these may welcome plants like the parrot feather and giant salvinia, which can threaten endangered riparian areas.

Bermuda grass

Bermuda grass is one of the most aggressive invasive weeds seen in yards and gardens. It has an extensive underground root system, which may reach up to 1 feet deep in soil. If you are seeking desert-friendly grasses, blue gramma and curly mesquite are drought-tolerant alternatives that won’t take over your outdoor space.

Fountain grass

Not only is fountain grass an invasive weed that chokes out other native plants, but it is a fire hazard to homes and wildlife areas. Grasses that will offer similar aesthetic appeal for accenting rocky areas or flat terrain include Arizona cotton top, bull grass, and desert spoon grass.

Working with the responsible and eco-friendly experts of Santa Rita Landscaping for your residential or commercial landscape design will help you make the best plant selections for a sustainably beautiful outdoor space. To begin your landscape project with us in Tucson, give us a call at (520) 623-0421.

The Summer Garden is a historical park located on an island between the Fontanka, Moika and the Swan Canal in Saint Petersburg. The property also contains the Summer Palace of Peter the Great, which was originally designed in 1704 by Czar Peter in conjunction with renowned architect, Domenico Trezzini. Today the palace and garden are leading attractions in the city, offering a romantic atmosphere that may inspire your own landscape. Keep reading to get a closer look at the history of the Summer Garden and the unique features of this quiet retreat nestled in the busy city of St. Petersburg.

European inspiration

Czar Peter designed his garden with inspiration from the royal parks he had visited throughout Europe. Because St. Petersburg was already known as “Venice of the North,” the garden and palace borrowed the latest European trends with lavish marble statues and fountains alongside tall trees and flowering bushes. The palace itself was built between 1710 and 1714, and it is a 2-storey building with 7 rooms on each floor. Following WWII, the palace and garden were carefully restored with a number of 18th century artifacts, some of which were personally owned by Peter the Great himself.

Historical artifacts

Throughout the garden, guests can stroll the alleys of the property and view a number of 18th century sculptures and marble structures. For a period in the 19th century, the garden was rearranged and taken away from its original design, but revitalization took place in the later 20th century to restore the historical aesthetics of the palace and park, which is open to the public.

The entire city of Dubai may be considered something of a miracle, since the Middle Eastern city sits upon a harsh desert landscape, where summer temperatures regularly average 104 degrees. Despite the extreme temperatures and harsh climate of the city, it is home to some of the most ambitious and technologically advanced engineering projects in the world, including the Dubai Miracle Garden, which contains the largest natural flower garden on the planet. Since opening in 2013, the Dubai Miracle Garden has attracted visitors from around the world to see the stunning attractions discussed below.

Floral Clock

Among the 45 million flowers spanning 72,000 square meters of land is the impressive Floral Clock, which is 13 meters in diameter and made from real plants with flowers that are changed seasonally twice per year. This feature and the amazing wealth of flowers and trees contained in the garden are maintained through a drip system that reuses waste water to sustain a lush landscape in the desert climate.

Peacocks

There are many unique colorful features along the four kilometers of walkways that weave through the gardens, including 3 peacocks crafted from flowers. Two are displayed with open tails spanning 12 meters in diameter, and one has a closed tail of 13 meters in length.

Butterfly Park

One of the later features of the Dubai Miracle Garden is the Dubai Butterfly Garden, which is another record-breaking attraction as the world’s largest indoor butterfly garden and sanctuary for 15,000 butterflies representing 26 different species.