Finding Inspiration For Pollinatorfriendly Home Gardens At The Living Desert

Winter is the perfect time to visit the Live Desert Zoo and Palm Desert Gardens. The lower the temperature, the more active the animals.

Recently, a group of ornithologists turned their binoculars on some of the zoo's most active residents. But they were not interested in giraffe, antelope or black rhino. Instead, a variety of birds, including the magnificent hummingbird, chirp around the zoo's various botanical gardens.

Despite the fact that it was a calendar month, there was clear mating activity among the birds, including a male Ana's hummingbird meeting in the air to impress a mate.

"There is no doubt that the living desert is the center of animal husbandry," said the director of environmental protection, Dr. James Danoff-Berg. "Especially for our two year-round residents, Anna's and Costa's hummingbirds, who are now nesting."

"We are a zoo, but as our name suggests, we also have botanical gardens," he said. "There are 60 botanical gardens in the area, each dedicated to a different theme and providing different food sources for hummingbirds."

For hummingbirds and all who migrate through the Coachella Valley each year, there is a constant presence of flowering plants and insects. Many of these theme gardens are planted to benefit pollinators, including hummingbirds, bees and butterflies.

Residential desert herb gardens inspire homeowners who want to create a wildlife-friendly environment in their yards. Plants native to the desert southwest are used for patios, walkways, and recreational areas. And his gardens show how a homeowner can use native trees, shrubs, vines and flowers in garden design.

Dr. Danoff-Berg says gardening with native plants can help restore fragmented urban ecosystems, provide critical habitat for endangered pollinators and conserve much-needed water.

Last year, Living Desert received a grant for its Pollinator Pathway program to help educate the public about the importance of pollinators and help restore pollinator habitat in the Coachella Valley and beyond. Its main objectives are to establish pollination gardens, remove water-loving weeds and educate local residents, including school children.

"It brings nature into the schools," she said. "Children take care of the plants and animals they serve indirectly."

A second grant will help support the Pollination Festival this spring. The program is designed to educate zoo visitors about creating a safe and healthy zoo environment, including reducing pesticide use. The zoo plans to offer bags of native seeds to visitors from April 10 to April 23.

Zoos and botanical gardens are devoted exclusively to the world's deserts. The programs provide environmental education, plant propagation, habitat restoration and breeding for African, Australian and North American species, including the popular desert bighorn sheep. The non-profit zoo has been working to preserve and protect the desert and its diverse flora and fauna since 1970.

Living Desert is located 17 miles south of downtown Palm Springs. Winter hours are daily from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm with last admission at 4:00 pm. For more information, call (760) 346-5694 or visit liveddesert.org.

Contact the writer. Jennifer J. Meyer is a freelance writer in Mission Viejo. Email him at jjthebackyardbirder@gmail.com or visit his blog at jjthebackyardbirder.com.