Native plants can enliven our landscapes through their colorful flowers, varied foliage types, and interesting forms. Additionally, they provide valuable habitat for birds and other wildlife.
Perhaps most importantly, native plants are resilient and well adapted to our challenging desert environment. Join us as Judy shares practical design concepts and some of the best native trees, shrubs, groundcovers, and accent plants for Arizona landscapes.
You’ll also learn how thoughtful plant selection and landscape design can help reduce water use, allowing you to do your part to conserve this precious desert resource. Judy will also cover maintenance practices that help native landscapes thrive while remaining beautiful and water-wise.
FORMAT: In-Person
INSTRUCTION METHOD: Presentation
AGES: Adults 16+, Youth Ages 14-18
EXPERIENCE LEVEL: All skill levels
PREREQUISITES: None
WHAT TO BRING: N/A
FEE: Please RSVP below so we can plan accordingly. Thanks to our donors, there is no charge to attend this event. Donations for our 501(c)(3) are graciously accepted at the door; every amount helps us continue to offer free and affordable events to the community.
INSTRUCTOR NAME: Judy Mielke
Judy Mielke is a Senior Landscape Architect with Logan Simpson in Tempe. She has more than 35 years of experience designing landscapes for projects as diverse as parks, schools, custom residential, and freeways, both urban and rural. Judy also frequently conducts native plant inventories that result in the salvage and replanting of trees, saguaros, and other types of cacti. Judy is author of the award-winning book “Native Plants For Southwestern Landscapes” and has taught courses in Landscape Plant Materials and Arizona Native Plants at ASU. Judy is a Certified Arborist and a Certified Water Harvesting Practitioner. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Horticulture from Washington State University and she worked for nine years as a horticulturist at the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix before returning to school for her Masters of Environmental Planning from ASU. Judy is an avid home gardener whose interests include succulents, wildflowers, flowers for cutting, and vegetables.
