The Pahrump Valley Garden Club gave Pahrumpians a chance to see for themselves that it's possible to have lush and inviting garden out in the middle of desert with its Landscape Tour on Saturday, April 26.

The self-guided tour allowed those who purchased their tickets for a $5 donation to visit the gardens and landscapes of eight locals who didn't let the heat or arid climate get in the way of their horticultural dreams.

(See photos, facing page.)

The ticket served as a treasure map of sorts, including both written and map directions to the various sites. From 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. visitors could stop by an information table manned by a Garden Club volunteer and get a brief information sheet about the gardener and the site.

In some cases the gardeners were available to give a personal explanation of what had been planned, planted and sprouted.

That was the case for this reporter at Walter Roesch's garden, whose backyard proves lush greenery can thrive in the desert.

Wooden benches and cutout frames Roesch built himself blocked out a medium-sized lawn that's healthy enough to belong on a golf course along with shady willow trees.

There's a small cactus garden off the side and even a small grove of Mesquite trees, giving his backyard a light and airy feel despite its confines.

"Well, it's a lot of fun, and I keep playing with it," Roesch said, admitting his garden was prone to changes.

For example, he recently removed his front lawn and replaced it with a xeriscape, more commonly recognized and referred to in this region as a "desert landscape," (although a xeriscape is really any use of land designed to minimize the use of water).

Dianne Wilson gave this reporter an exceptionally warm welcome on her pristinely xeriscaped front lawn, coming out to offer a smile and greeting while holding a sprayer full of soap water.

She explained that the formula (one tablespoon of any lemon dish soap to one gallon of water) got rid of pesky flies that turn into aphids.

Weeds weren't as much a concern for Wilson primarily because her spacious front lawn was landscaped in fine crushed gravel that made it hard for weeds to push through.

In the backyard, Wilson enthusiastically explained the work in progress surrounding the swimming pool which was under construction and various other zones for different gardening purposes.

A small garden was nurturing the seeds for everything from lettuce (interspersed with marigolds to keep munching rabbits away) to carrots and squashes.

"I'm seeing what grows best," Wilson explained.

Two rows of apricot and pear trees were already holding small, green fruit Wilson said she would have to begin trimming soon.

Curt, Dawn, and Creg Winkle's expansive front and back gardens are truly a desert oasis, not just for those enjoying their portion of the garden tour but for turtles and tortoises as well.

The front of the yard features the first turtle habitat Curt Winkle built after his daughter got two Red-Eared Slider specimans, which are semi-aquatic.

"I just started reading up on how to take care of them," Winkle explained.

From there, taking care of the desert's shelled inhabitants became something of a passion, as the three tortoise habitats in the front yard, complete with large ponds featuring giant stone turtle fountains, proved.

The Wilson's backyard features a wide expanse of lawn, a waterfall swimming pool, and another enclosed habitat with a small pond from which a particularly friendly resident eagerly poked his head out of the water, almost seeming to play host to the people crowded around the edge of the pool.

Two tiny baby turtles could also be seen relaxing in smaller, appropriately-sized dry enclosures next to the pond.

Another small, dry habitat could be found when walking around the shaded lawn amongst the greenery.

Winkle explained that being from the Midwest, he missed greenery and the lawn was planted for his kids to play on.

As for the turtles, "They seem to like the sprinklers, I guess they think it's rain," Winkle explained.

The total shelled population of the Winkle's yard includes three Russian tortoises and 11 Mojave Desert tortoises.

Winkle said two of the turtles were "dog rescues" and another was found crossing the road, which, like the all of the landscape tour, just goes to prove that the desert, though dry, can still foster plenty of life.