BEST Academy logoBEST AcademyBrandys Environmental Science and Technology Academy

Ten free lectures that mix practical gardening advice with climate and geology research for the Las Vegas Valley. Presented by Robert C. Brandys, PhD, MPH, PE, and Gail M. Brandys, MS.

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All ten lectures

1

Climate Change in Las Vegas

How the valley’s summer heat and winter chill have changed, and why chill hours depend on the neighborhood you live in.

2

Why Do Full-Sun Plants Die in Las Vegas?

Why sunlight and UV here are harder on plants than the tag says, and how to judge the sun in your own yard.

3

Las Vegas Geology: Caliche

The hard layer under many valley yards, often 3 to 14 inches down. How it traps water and roots, and how to plant around it.

4

When to Water: Irrigation Strategies

How fast valley soil dries out, when watering does the most good, and what the yard sensors show about timing.

5

What Is a Native Plant? What Is a Genetically-Appropriate Plant?

Why a plant’s home climate and seed source matter, and how to choose plants that fit the valley.

6

Building a Microclimate

How walls, shade and reflected light change what will grow. A shaded courtyard lit by a mirror grows plants usually seen in Chicago.

7

What Should You Plant for 2030?

How to use the BEST Academy plant matrices to pick plants that will still thrive as the valley warms.

8

Native Plants in Captivity

What changes when a wild desert plant moves into a garden bed or a pot, and how to keep it healthy.

9

Heat Pumps, EVs, and Cooling the Valley

How home energy choices add to or reduce the heat that builds up over the valley.

10

Irrigation System Design and Maintenance

Drip lines, emitters and controllers: how to design a system that fits your plants and keep it working.

See Current Lecture Schedule and Locations