Events

You won't want to miss this annual event! Held on the beautiful patio at The Holland Community Center, the Prickly Pear Fest is a treasured event in our Sonoran Desert. Come learn about the many things you can do with this abundant fruit including harvesting, juicing and flour processing. There will be delicious samples of smoothies, salsa, bread and more!

  Come celebrate with the Desert Awareness Committee and Kiwanis! Through a generous grant from Carefree Kiwanis, DAC was able to replace the worn out playground at Desert Awareness Park in Cave Creek. The 30 year old playground  equipment needed to be replaced. The Desert Awareness Committee of the Holland Community Center worked with the Town and wrote a grant to Carefree Kiwanis, who donated $39,000 to the project.  The [...]

Join Master Gardner, Marcia D'Alessandro, and learn about growing tomatoes in the desert.  This is a hands on class, bring your own container or buy one here, and go home with a new tomato plant! Class Cost is $30 - Plants and soil will be provided. Bring your own pot, at least 18" deep, or purchase one for $10 before class.

Join Master Gardner, Marcia D'Alessandro, and learn about growing your own organic herb garden and take one home.  This is a hands on class, come ready to plant! Class Cost is $40 - Plants, container, and soil will be provided.  

    Learn tips and techniques for handling and processing, prepping and pairing ten of the most productive Sonoran desert plants of our area: saguaro, mesquite, mormon tea, prickly pear, ocotillo, wolfberry, jojoba, hackberry, ironwood, and palo verde. Learn harvest tips, seasonality, flavors, varieties, and other fine points of their bounty. Now you will be ready for our Walk, Talk & Taste in the park on Saturday, April 15!

  Desert Awareness Committee presents their Container Gardening in the Desert Series and this month is a Succulent Garden with an Easter Lily cactus. Join Master Gardner, Marcia D'Alessandro, for this hands on class. Learn what grows best in our desert and take home a new project every month! Classes begin at 10am and are held on the Holland Community Center patio. Class cost is $40 and includes container, soil [...]

You won't want to miss this annual FREE event! Held on the beautiful patio at The Holland Community Center, the Prickly Pear Fest is a treasured event in our Sonoran Desert. Come learn about the many things you can do with this abundant fruit including harvesting, juicing and flour processing. There will be delicious samples of smoothies, salsa, bread and more! SEMINARS BEGIN AT 10 / 10:45 / 11:30 / [...]

  Join us for a leisurely stroll through a native desert park with a Desert Awareness Naturalist. Learn the plants of the Sonoran desert upland and how they survive. Walks last for 90 minutes and begin at 10am.  The Nature Trail is relatively flat and a slightly uphill Saguaro Trail. For more information, click HERE.  Tours are the 1st Saturday of the month, November through April and begin at 10am. [...]

Join the Desert Awareness Committee for this hands-on workshop on the healing powers of our desert plants. Become familiar with 12 desert plants used over the centuries by native cultures for healing and first aid. Experience various methods of preparation and application at home and in the field. Compare tinctures, ointments, and emollients Make an ointment for topical use Workshop dates are March 19th & 21st at 10:30am Workshop cost [...]

  Join us for a leisurely stroll through a native desert park with a Desert Awareness Naturalist. Learn the plants of the Sonoran desert upland and how they survive. Walks last for 90 minutes and begin at 10am.  The Nature Trail is relatively flat and a slightly uphill Saguaro Trail. For more information, click HERE.  Tours are the 1st Saturday of the month, November through April and begin at 10am. [...]

Learn tips and techniques for handling and processing, prepping and pairing ten of the most productive Sonoran desert plants of our area: saguaro, mesquite, mormon tea, prickly pear, ocotillo, wolfberry, jojoba, hackberry, ironwood, and palo verde. Learn harvest tips, seasonality, flavors, varieties, and other fine points of their bounty. Now you will be ready for our Walk, Talk & Taste in the park on Saturday, April 13! Please register below [...]

This FREE event held at our Desert Awareness Park is a perfect opportunity to learn more about our beautiful desert! Stroll through the ¼ mile trails at Desert Awareness Park and meet our education team guides along the way who share information about the plants you pass.  Learn when and how to harvest as you stand before the plant.  Gather in the interpretive center after your walk to taste foods [...]

Desert Awareness Committee is hosting this FREE WORKSHOP on how to maintain your desert landscaping and raise healthy plants as they kick-off their 50th Anniversary!  Join our DAC "master gardeners" to learn how you can keep your yard looking like a native lush, colorful desert, but with little water and no pruning.  We help you consider where and what to plant and how to care for it. We all want [...]