Desert-Edge Garden: Entertaining Friends and Wildlife

Terracing a Sloping Site

In Tucson, Arizona, Barbara Gutek and Geza Bottlik wanted a garden that welcomes both guests and desert wildlife. Designer Jeffrey Trent terraced the sloping property to maximize usable space. The upper terrace holds an outdoor kitchen, dining patio, and seat wall for entertaining, while surrounding native and desert-adapted plants provide food and shelter for birds and other creatures. A small pond at the back attracts visiting birds.

Blending Hospitality with Habitat

The garden’s design balances human comfort with ecological function, creating a vibrant desert-edge oasis.