USU Moab Adds Several Native Plants to Campus Thanks to Donation

MOAB, Utah — The Utah State University Moab campus has added new landscaping thanks to a local donation. The campus has added 24 new species of cactus, yucca and other desert flora, as well as two Joshua trees, to beautify the property and provide education to residents on regional desert plants that can flourish in Moab with little water.

The plant donation was made by Darin Menlove, a master gardener and certified Utah nursery professional through USU Extension. The landscaping project was overseen by Cory Farnsworth, a USU Extension assistant professor. The entire project came about after Menlove spoke with several USU officials during a campus visit and mentioned his interest in desert plants.

“Darin invited [Senior Vice President] Ken White, [Development Director] Michelle Merrill and I to see his landscaping,” Farnsworth said. “He has an impressive collection of many species of plants including a desert species zone. He mentioned that he would like to help scape some of the USU Moab building with species that he has had success with in Castle Valley to provide education for people in the Moab community on plants that are more water wise and suited for the hotter climate in Moab.”

During this discussion, the group identified an area near the front entrance of the campus that had a steep slope, which was experiencing problems with erosion. Menlove suggested putting in a terraced scape, which could help prevent erosion while also providing the perfect exposure for a desert garden. After working with several university officials on approvals, local landscaper Jeff Adams was brought in to create the rock terrace and Menlove sourced all the plants at several nurseries. The project mirrors the USU Moab campus, which was designed for sustainability.

“This project reflects USU Moab’s commitment to sustainability, education and community engagement,” said Samantha Campbell, interim associate vice president for USU Moab. “It’s a really great example of how native landscaping can be both sustainable and beautiful. We hope it encourages community members to explore more waterwise options in their own spaces.”

Menlove hopes to help people in Grand County get a broader perspective of what they could plant in their own yards and how they could transform their landscaping with native plants that use less water yet still look good.

“In my experience, many of the eye-catching species from these regions can also grow perfectly well in our area, but they're almost never seen in Moab landscapes,” Menlove said. “While it’s a small, modest garden now, I hope that in time, as it grows, it will pique the interest of visitors and inspire some imagination for more desert gardening in Moab. If this little garden can inspire a little more imagination, then it's all fun and worth it.”

Farnsworth credits Menlove’s vision for the space and he sees the value of having this educational tool that also beautifies the area.

“Darin has done a fantastic job in transforming an underutilized piece of USU Moab’s landscaping into an awesome desert garden,” Farnsworth said. “This will be a great opportunity for the community to think outside the box when it comes to planting waterwise and heat adapted plants in our area.”

Menlove and Farnsworth are now working on getting signage for the new landscaping so they can show what species were planted and how they relate to the region. Residents are invited to come see the new plants and to get ideas for their own gardens and yards.

Located in the outdoor recreation paradise of Moab and boasting one of the greenest buildings on any USU campus, Utah State University Moab offers students the personalized attention and small class sizes of a small-town college with the resources of a large university. With programs such as Nursing, Elementary Education, Recreation Resource Management and Social Work, technical education in Health Professions, Automotive and Business, and degree options ranging from associate to doctorate degrees, USU Moab offers programs that help fuel local economies and empower individuals and their communities. Learn more at moab.usu.edu.