Here鈥檚 a Tucson site that could become ever-more-attractive in the sun-baked days of late spring and summer: the Shade Oasis.
It鈥檚 a wonderfully shady garden area near the Pima County Cooperative Extension office at .
A stroll through the oasis 鈥 with abundant shade from large mesquite trees, colorful shade-loving blooms, butterflies and an inviting bench 鈥 offers an outdoor respite from the glare of a desert day.
鈥淵ou walk in and it鈥檚 cooler. It鈥檚 like you鈥檝e been transported to a different place,鈥 said Eric Johnson, coordinator of the Pima County Master Gardener Program. 鈥淚t鈥檚 open to the public during daylight hours, and it鈥檚 free seven days a week.鈥
Johnson said the small site 鈥 about 2,500 square feet 鈥 was created in recent years by members of the Master Gardener Program.
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鈥淚t initially was created by a master gardener named Terri Hersch,鈥 he said. 鈥淭hat garden, believe it or not, used to be considered just the end of the driveway. Then, in 2013, Terri and others started working on it.
鈥淢aster gardeners Leslie Oley and Christina Biggs are the ones who have really taken Terri鈥檚 vision forward,鈥 Johnson said. 鈥淣ow it鈥檚 gorgeous. We have 14 gardens here, and by far the Shade Oasis is my favorite.鈥
MADE IN THE SHADE
Colorful vegetation thriving in the shady environment includes golden and blue columbine flowers and blooms of red lobelia and coral fountain plants.
A chaste tree produces brilliant purple-blue flowers, and succulents add another dimension to the landscape. Small signs identify many of the plants.
Butterflies flit from bloom to bloom. Lizards lounge on tree-shaded rocks. Birdsong provides a natural soundtrack.
鈥淎nd much of the shade is thanks to those beautiful mesquite trees,鈥 Johnson said.
