Join the Santa Fe Botanical Garden and the Native Plant Society of New Mexico (Santa Fe Chapter) for an engaging evening with Jack Dash, co-author of The Southwest Native Plant Primer. This talk will explore how gardeners—at any skill level—can make informed, regionally appropriate plant choices that support biodiversity and respond to the realities of a warming, water-limited climate.
Spanning landscapes from New Mexico and Arizona to southern Utah and Colorado, the book highlights both the diversity and shared ecological patterns of Southwest flora, offering practical, science-based guidance for sustainable gardening. This comprehensive guide introduces a diverse selection of 235 native wildflowers, grasses, vines, cacti, and trees suited to gardens across New Mexico and the broader Southwest.
Following the presentation, Dash will be available for a book signing.
Jack Dash is a horticulturalist and writer based in Tucson, Arizona. A graduate of Prescott College, Jack is a board member of The Arizona Native Plant Society and co-editor of its biannual publication, the “Plant Press Arizona”. He is the Gardens and Facilities Manager at Tohono Chul, a 49-acre botanical garden where he oversees horticulture, infrastructure, plant propagation, and retail nursery sales. Jack is an advocate for ecologically-based urban landscaping and is a frequent contributor to the “Desert Plants” video segment on Arizona Public Media. He has contributed articles on the topic to a variety of publications and his first book, “The Southwest Native Plant Primer” was published by Timber Press in July 2025. Jack is the co-creator of “Atascosa Borderlands” an annotated floral study and visual storytelling project centered on the culture and ecology of the Atascosa Highlands in southern Arizona. This project can be viewed at https://www.atascosaborderlands.com/, and a book version of the project will be published by Timber Press in November, 2027.
To purchase a book in advance please select a ticket price “with Book”. Pre-ordered books will be available for pick up at check-in. No books sales will occur at the event. You are welcome to bring your own copy if you already have one. Books are also for sale at the SFBG Gift Shop (715 Camino Lejo).
Date and Time
- Tuesday, August 11, 2026
- 5:30pm – 7:30pm
Location
Christ Church Santa Fe, 1213 Don Gaspar Ave, Santa Fe, NM 87505
Pricing
- Member of SFBG or Native Plant Society of NM: $15
- Member of SFBG or Native Plant Society of NM with Book: $40
- Not-yet-Member: $20
- Not-yet-Member with Book: $45
**Native Plant Society Members** You will be emailed a discount code to use for $5 discount in checkout. If you need assistance please email [email protected].
**SFBG Members** You must sign in to take advantage of the discount. If you already have an account, click the “Sign in” button at the top of this page. If you do not have an account, click the “Register” button to create an account. If you receive an error or have questions, email [email protected].
Not yet a member? Join/renew here for discounts and benefits all year long!
Refund and Cancellation Policy
All sales are final. We do not offer refunds. If you must cancel, please consider the program fee a donation to the Garden.
We reserve the right to cancel programs at our discretion. Participants will be contacted via email as early as possible in the event of a program cancellation.
