This story begins largely with Sidney Engs, twin sister to Stephanie, who are both passionate volunteers at Mission Garden. For the last nine years, Sidney has been thinking and planning for how to bring an “Africa in the Americas” garden to life. After years of thinking on this idea, two years ago their research and plans really took off.

Did you know the Sonoran Desert is considered to have five seasons? Dry Summer, Wet Summer, Autumn, Winter, and Spring. These distinctions are important for gardeners and today more than ever, we benefit from the ancient agricultural wisdom of the O’odham people passed down through generations, who developed the first desert planting calendars.