Moody Demonstration Garden - The emblem, the lizard, the Desert Willow

This is part two of the series - A Walk Through The Robert J. Moody Demonstration Garden. Last week we just covered some of the history of the garden. This week we start our walk. I hope you have been to the garden and have taken a walk. If so, this series will add to your knowledge of the garden. If you haven't been to the garden, this will serve as an introduction.

Let's say we have just arrived at the garden, 1.7 acres. This

morning we are ready to walk. We've got our walking shoes on, hat and lots of sunscreen already applied. We've parked our cars and there is always plenty of parking available. Now we are walking up to the south entry gazebo. It is a beautiful spring day, early in the morning when the air is fresh.

Before we enter the garden, let's pause a minute and admire the large "A" (for the University of Arizona) that has been beautifully done in tile.

This "A" is located at the north end of the Emblem Garden and is a good spot for us to take time to study the picture of our map, which I copied from the program we had for the dedication of the garden on April 18, 2004. Be sure to save it for future walks. We are in the process of updating it as the area that says turf is now larger and it has become our vegetable garden. More about that later.

Looking at the map pictured, you can see exactly where we are

and we will just follow the sidewalk around to the left and the Emblem Garden is now on our left. You can see the beautiful desert Baja Red Fairy Duster (Calliandra californica) in bloom, which surrounds the back of the "A."

We had a hard time finding just the right design for this area and finally Marianne Newton, a member of MGM Garden Club, said she thought her friend Myra Saylor, who is an artist, might like to submit a design. She did a design with the University of Arizona logo and a large lizard and indicated she would not charge for her labor. We accepted her design and passed a motion to pay for only the materials needed for the project. See what your friends can get you into?

Myra's husband, Gene, is her helper - big time! While they were working on the "A" at home, she and her husband were also building the wall at the Moody Garden that would support the "A." She had a lot of help with the labor from the rest of us at the garden. I've even got my fingerprints in that block wall.

The big day came for the "A" to be brought to the Moody Garden for placement. It took a flatbed truck and a forklift.

That finished, Myra moved down a few yards and starting with some leftover cement blocks, she built the lizard. It seemed that easy to me anyhow. I was out of town and unfortunately I missed seeing this lizard emerge.

I'll let Myra introduce you with "Lizard Stats."

-Scientific name: Lizardus gardenidae

-Common name: Elizabeth Lizard

-Description: A very large lizard (22 feet long, 2 feet high at midbody) multicolored with bright, orange head and tail tip, beige back with floral designs evenly distributed along the full length of the back with green feet and under-legs.

-Habitat: Sunny areas of gravel overlooking lush vegetation.

-Range: This lizard has a range limited to the boundaries of the Robert J. Moody Demonstration Garden in Yuma.

-Feed: Gardenidae subsist on the squeals of delight from visiting children, "oohs" and "aahs" from other visitors, ozone from electrical storms and the constant outpouring of fresh air and sunshine interspersed with raindrops and flower fragrances; especially the fragrance of Chocolate Flower, which blooms a few feet away from her favorite basking spot.

Artist Myra Saylor says: "It is my hope that ‘Elizabeth' brings joy and inspiration to all who visit her."

This was a big project for Myra and Gene. It took the better part of three months. It has been a true labor of love. We think it was worth it!

Just down a little more from Elizabeth's nose is a Desert Willow tree. When Dr. Barry Bequette left Yuma in October 2004, we asked him what his favorite tree was in the Yuma area. He chose the Desert Willow and it is planted here on the left. It is doing very well and we will soon have a sign by it that will say: "Thanks to Dr. Barry Bequette, county director and extension agent, July 1998 to October 2004, for the help in the Robert J. Moody Demonstration Garden."

The bench by Barry's tree is one of many throughout the garden made by Jimmy Vance, master gardener and member of the MGM Garden Club.

Then south of Barry's tree are some fruit trees - an Anna apple, Asian pear and a golden Dorsett. All three were doing very well but last year we suddenly lost the Anna apple. This year the golden Dorsett has been loaded with small to medium apples, which are very firm and delicious. A couple of us brought apples home and made applesauce. Yum! This is the first year the Asian pear has had fruit. I'll keep you posted.

It is time to stop for this week. Are you tired? Next week we are going to tour the Cultivated Garden. As you will notice on the map, the Cultivated Garden goes all the way around on the inside of the sidewalk. That will be our walk for next week. Join me again.

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Ellen Gardner, a master gardener who writes this column for the Federated Garden Clubs of Yuma, can be reached at 343-4020 or at gardner3028@netzero.com. For more information about the Robert J. Moody Demonstration Garden, visit cals.arizona.edu/yuma/horticulture/

moody_garden/index.