Marylee’s Desert Container Gardening Books
In her books, Marylee Pangman shares a wealth of information gained through 3 decades of creating successful potted gardens in the desert.
Book Reviews for “Getting Potted In the Desert”
I have had great results since moving to the desert
I just wanted to thank you for writing the “Getting Potted in the Desert” book. I bought it shortly after moving to Phoenix from CA, and have followed all of your advice, and had great results. It has made moving here and dealing with the summers so much more enjoyable.
~ Shelley Y
I love the additional resources Marylee provides in the book
Full of great tips for container flower gardening in the harsh desert environment. Provides lists of plants that do well, from the author's experience. I love that there are additional resources available online, and a chance to connect with the author and ask questions.Learn about Marylee’s secrets
The author does such a great job of sharing her learned secrets in a fun, well presented read! Got another copy for a friend in AZ and she loves it too, 5 stars!!
~ Mark S
Getting Potted in the Desert is a great read and tool for desert dwellers.
I have had this book in my possession since its publication several years ago. I admit that I skimmed it at first and am still drilling down on specific projects. I follow the author and subscribe to her premium newsletter...an extension of the initial book.
~ Anonymous
It makes a great gift!
My recommendation is that this book would make the perfect simple guide to container gardening for any gardening enthusiast. One more recommendation
~ Montie S
Great Month to month-to-month guide
This guide shows you how to care for your potted plants in a very dry climate. This book is different from most gardening books. It is broken down by month so I know exactly what I need to do to keep each plant healthy and strong all year long.
~ R Lane
Perfect book for container gardening in hot arid climates
The plant library is extensive, with good details on each. Nice illustrations and photos. The expert advice gardening in the AZ climate is great. A lot of good info on pot size and type. I ran across a recommendation for this book by accident.
~ Anonymous
Loved the book - well worth the purchase.
~ Anonymous
I have had great results since moving to the desert
I just wanted to thank you for writing the “Getting Potted in the Desert” book. I bought it shortly after moving to Phoenix from CA, and have followed all of your advice, and had great results. It has made moving here and dealing with the summers so much more enjoyable.
~ Shelley Y
I love the additional resources Marylee provides in the book
Full of great tips for container flower gardening in the harsh desert environment. Provides lists of plants that do well, from the author's experience. I love that there are additional resources available online, and a chance to connect with the author and ask questions.Learn about Marylee’s secrets
The author does such a great job of sharing her learned secrets in a fun, well presented read! Got another copy for a friend in AZ and she loves it too, 5 stars!!
~ Mark S
Getting Potted in the Desert is a great read and tool for desert dwellers.
I have had this book in my possession since its publication several years ago. I admit that I skimmed it at first and am still drilling down on specific projects. I follow the author and subscribe to her premium newsletter...an extension of the initial book.
~ Anonymous
It makes a great gift!
My recommendation is that this book would make the perfect simple guide to container gardening for any gardening enthusiast. One more recommendation
~ Montie S
Great Month to month-to-month guide
This guide shows you how to care for your potted plants in a very dry climate. This book is different from most gardening books. It is broken down by month so I know exactly what I need to do to keep each plant healthy and strong all year long.
~ R Lane
Perfect book for container gardening in hot arid climates
The plant library is extensive, with good details on each. Nice illustrations and photos. The expert advice gardening in the AZ climate is great. A lot of good info on pot size and type. I ran across a recommendation for this book by accident.
~ Anonymous
Loved the book - well worth the purchase.
~ Anonymous
Book Reviews for “Riley’s Garden Oasis”
This book is a must-have for any new or seasoned Tucson gardener!
Marylee Pangman's new book, “Riley’s Garden Oasis,” is a delight to read. Not only does Marylee take you on a journey of the beauty and the struggles of gardening in the Sonoran Desert of Tucson, she weaves a fun story about an unusual friendship between a young female newcomer to the area and an older bachelor/cattleman who lives next door. The reader will learn much about what and when to plant in the desert southwest and enjoy the unfolding relationship between the two characters.
~ Jane, Southern Arizona
What an entertaining story
A great way to learn about the concepts and steps in container gardening. Even though the specific flowers might be for containers in Arizona and desert areas, the education and Riley’s adventures of moving into a new place apply everywhere and to anyone! Great characters and an awesome book.
~ Heather S, Toronto CA
If you like stories and gardening, this book is for you!
It combines delightful characters and down-to-earth gardening tips for growing potted plants in the desert. I recommend reading the book twice: once for fun and again for the gardening advice.
~ Anonymous
You'll fall in love with Riley, Ben, and their friends
As you follow the story of them sorting out the gardening challenges of Riley's first year in the desert. She faces the same humbling pitfalls most gardeners do in a new climate. Luckily, she has lovely friends and advisors who help her turn her new property from nearly bare desert into a garden oasis.
~ Anonymous
Your garden will thank you
Buy the book and then join Marylee on her website, thepotteddesert.com, where you'll find information, her class schedule, and more.
~ Jeri H., Tucson
I enjoyed getting to know Riley!
I was able to learn some great tips and valuable lessons! For example, she shared how her desert pots were getting full of water during a monsoon storm! I had just recently experienced this. Now I know what to do the next time. I highly recommend this book to read as a story and as a guide to help you with your desert pots
~ Janice H, Palm Desert.
Fun Facts About Gardening in the Desert
A cute approach to a how-to gardening book. Rather than using a textbook, here's-how-you-do-it format, the reader sort of looks over the shoulder of the book's character, Riley, as she learns the do's and don'ts about creating a year-round garden in the Sonoran desert of the southwest.
~ Lynn N Southern Arizona
This book is a must-have for any new or seasoned Tucson gardener!
Marylee Pangman's new book, “Riley’s Garden Oasis,” is a delight to read. Not only does Marylee take you on a journey of the beauty and the struggles of gardening in the Sonoran Desert of Tucson, she weaves a fun story about an unusual friendship between a young female newcomer to the area and an older bachelor/cattleman who lives next door. The reader will learn much about what and when to plant in the desert southwest and enjoy the unfolding relationship between the two characters.
~ Jane, Southern Arizona
What an entertaining story
A great way to learn about the concepts and steps in container gardening. Even though the specific flowers might be for containers in Arizona and desert areas, the education and Riley’s adventures of moving into a new place apply everywhere and to anyone! Great characters and an awesome book.
~ Heather S, Toronto CA
If you like stories and gardening, this book is for you!
It combines delightful characters and down-to-earth gardening tips for growing potted plants in the desert. I recommend reading the book twice: once for fun and again for the gardening advice.
~ Anonymous
You'll fall in love with Riley, Ben, and their friends
As you follow the story of them sorting out the gardening challenges of Riley's first year in the desert. She faces the same humbling pitfalls most gardeners do in a new climate. Luckily, she has lovely friends and advisors who help her turn her new property from nearly bare desert into a garden oasis.
~ Anonymous
Your garden will thank you
Buy the book and then join Marylee on her website, thepotteddesert.com, where you'll find information, her class schedule, and more.
~ Jeri H., Tucson
I enjoyed getting to know Riley!
I was able to learn some great tips and valuable lessons! For example, she shared how her desert pots were getting full of water during a monsoon storm! I had just recently experienced this. Now I know what to do the next time. I highly recommend this book to read as a story and as a guide to help you with your desert pots
~ Janice H, Palm Desert.
Fun Facts About Gardening in the Desert
A cute approach to a how-to gardening book. Rather than using a textbook, here's-how-you-do-it format, the reader sort of looks over the shoulder of the book's character, Riley, as she learns the do's and don'ts about creating a year-round garden in the Sonoran desert of the southwest.
~ Lynn N Southern Arizona
Shop Locally
Getting Potted in the Desert and Riley’s Garden Oasis are available at the following locations:
Tucson: Tucson Botanical Gardens and Antigone Books
Getting Potted in the Desert
The book, “Getting Potted in the Desert" has been a long process of gathering Marylee’s desert gardening experiences into one volume.
It is not just the difference in seasons but the intense heat, long growing seasons and challenging winters that require a different mindset as well as a defined practice to maintain a beautiful container garden in the desert.
A Month by Month planning guide plus;
- Ideas for creating and caring for potted gardens
- Advice on container selection and plants.
- Bonus chapters including seasonal flowers and plants lists.
- Strategies for dealing with specific challenges like desert critters, the desert sun and water usage.
Marylee shares practical learnings of growing potted gardens for 100’s of customers and teaching her tried and true methods for success to create this resource.
The Author
Marylee Pangman
Riley’s Garden Oasis
Are you envisioning exquisite desert container gardens, brimming with vibrant flowers and distinct plant varieties that excel in hot and arid climates?
Meet Riley, a recent transplant from a colder, wetter climate now living in Southern Arizona who longs to plant and enjoy a year-round colorful oasis. With the help of her knowledgeable neighbor, Ben, Riley learns how to cultivate thriving desert container gardens filled with vibrant flowers, colorful perennials, and hardy shrubs.
While entertaining the reader, Marylee Pangman’s unique parable-style book Riley’s Garden Oasis provides step-by-step instructions and valuable tips for planting and nurturing successful desert container gardens in a parched climate.
Let Riley’s Garden Oasis guide you from being a hopeless "black thumb" to becoming a skilled and fearless gardener, ready to enjoy the splendor of fragrant and colorful potted gardens.