MEC's annual members-only meeting is 9/17/2026. District 1 meeting is 9/14; District 2 is 9/15; and District 3 is 9/16. All meetings begin with registration at 5:30 p.m. and start at 6:30 p.m. If you have questions about the District meetings, call Jacqueline Caudle, Executive Assistant, at 928-763-4115.
Shade trees help save energy by lowering the outside temperature of your home. This can reduce cooling costs by up to twenty percent in just a few years! The energy you don’t use doesn’t need to be generated, which is good for the environment and your wallet.
Operation Cool Shade helps beautify your home and yard while helping you save energy dollars.
Trees and their root structure also help prevent soil erosion.
This event is supported by volunteers from MEC employees, members, and local community organizations to help defray program costs for tree delivery.
Trees Available in 2026
Joan Lionetti Texas Live Oak
Joan Lionetti is praised for its symmetrical shape and fast growth. Evergreen to semi-evergreen, Joan Lionetti has a dense canopy, upright growth, and performs best in full sun with regular water until established. Proven to handle extreme cold and hot temperatures, Joan Lionetti has proven to have a “tough-as-nails” demeanor. This majestic tree is named after the founder of the Tucson Clean and Beautiful program.
Desert Willow ‘Sweet Bubba Seedless’
A spectacular hybrid of 2 well-known desert willow trees, Sweet Bubba Seedless is a fast-growing native tree, with glossy green foliage and large pink flowers that have one of the longest blooming cycles of all the desert willows. Sweet Bubba will reach a mature height of 20′ to 25′ tall and close to 20′ wide. Extremely cold hardy, heat and drought tolerant, Sweet Bubba also has a low seed count which means minimal maintenance.
Chaste Tree
Flaunting beautiful lilac blooms, the Chaste Tree is an aesthetically pleasing addition to any landscape. This beautiful deciduous is typically grown as a multi-trunk tree, with turning, twisting trunks giving it a unique statuesque appearance under the bright flowering canopy.
Versatile in use, this small-to-mid size variety is fast growing and easily cared for. Chaste Trees thrive in the heat and prefer a full-sun environment.
Plan for Planting
Before planting, create a landscaping plan. Observe and take into consideration how your family or business uses the outdoor space where you are thinking about placing trees. Plant at least three trees where they can provide enough shade to shield your structure and outdoor living areas. Shade the roof, as well as the east, west, and south walls as much as possible.
Before You Dig
One week before you plan to dig, call Arizona 811 at (800) 782-5348 or go online to the Arizona 811 website to create a ticket. Arizona 811 will notify utility locators to mark the placement of underground utility wires and pipes where you plan to plant trees. Even if you are hiring someone to dig for you, it is your responsibility to call Arizona 811.
Look Up…
Never plant trees where their growth will interfere with overhead power lines. A good rule to follow is, at maturity, the trunk and branches of trees should be at least 15′ clearance from driveways, patios, sidewalks, and block walls.
Plant promptly and keep them watered.
Bullhead City Master Gardeners
The Bullhead City Master Gardeners will be offering a workshop on how to plant your Operation Cool Shade trees and other desert-adapted plants. Workshop will be held on Thursday, October 15 from 2:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. at Mohave Community College, Bullhead City Campus, Room #201, 3400 Highway 95.
Whether you are new to the area or just need a refresher course, this program will cover what you need to know to successfully plant and grow your native and non-native trees and shrubs.
This presentation is part of the Master Gardener’s monthly series of programs on gardening in the Mohave Desert. They are held on the third Thursday of each month and are free to the public.
