Pahrump Garden Lights Bring Holiday Cheer, Tree Care Guidance
The Pahrump Master Gardeners hosted a Celebration of Trees and Lights, Cookies, Cocoa and Cider in the Garden on Dec. 12 at the UNR Cooperative Extension Desert Demonstration Garden, drawing residents for seasonal displays and practical advice on evergreen selection. The illuminated garden remains open through the end of December, and the extension will offer live cut holiday tree recycling from Dec. 25 through Jan. 22, 2026, providing both civic engagement and environmental disposal options for the community.
The Pahrump Master Gardeners transformed the UNR Cooperative Extension Desert Demonstration Garden into a seasonal gathering on Dec. 12, combining holiday lighting with practical horticultural outreach for local residents. The event at 1651 E. Calvada Blvd. invited the public to stroll illuminated paths, take family photos, enjoy warm beverages and snacks, and participate in in person question and answer sessions on which evergreen trees perform well in the Pahrump Valley.
Professor M.L. Robinson appeared as a special guest to provide guidance on species suited to local conditions. Topics covered included Norfolk Island Pine, Mondel Eldarica Afghan Pine, Italian Stone Pine and Aleppo Pine, as well as tips for keeping fresh cut trees healthy during the season. The program aimed to help homeowners make informed choices about landscape and holiday trees in a high desert environment where species selection and care affect long term survival and water use.
Organizers added community service elements to the celebration with a Letter Writing Station allowing visitors to write to Santa or to veterans. Letters to Santa will be forwarded to the Pahrump Valley Lions Club to help fulfill children s wishes. Attendees were asked to sign in, a simple step organizers said will support future funding for the Desert Demonstration Garden and sustain ongoing extension programming.
The garden will remain lit through the end of December, offering continued opportunities for residents to visit the site and access extension resources. For those seeking post holiday disposal options, the UNR Cooperative Extension will accept live cut holiday trees from Dec. 25 through Jan. 22, 2026. For more information or questions about the recycling program contact Heather Freeman at HeatherF@unr.edu.
The event underscored the cooperative extension s role in providing science based advice, seasonal programming and community partnerships that blend education, volunteer involvement and local philanthropic efforts.
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