Mary Irish is a prominent voice in southwestern horticulture and has written extensively on dry-climate gardening.
She received her master's degree in geography from Texas A&M University and is the former director of public horticulture at the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix.
A Texas native, Mary grew up raising farm animals and tending a large vegetable garden. In 1985 Mary and her husband Gary moved to Phoenix, Arizona, and before long she began working as a volunteer at the Desert Botanical Garden, where she soon earned a full-time position.
Mary once hosted a weekly Phoenix-based radio show called "The Arizona Gardener,” and has appeared on countless news and lifestyle television programs regarding desert gardening.
She is a regular contributor to several magazines including Sunset, and teaches classes on the care and culture of agaves, cacti, and other desert shrubs.
Trees and Shrubs for the Southwest
Perennials for the Southwest
Agaves, Yuccas, and Related Plants