Yuma’s Moody Garden reopens after irrigation upgrades

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) - The Moody Garden at the Yuma County Cooperative Extension is back open to the public after a brief closure tied to infrastructure upgrades that temporarily disrupted water access.

The demonstration garden, located at 2200 W. 28th Street, recently had its irrigation system restored after construction-related power and water relocations forced it offline for about a week.

During that time, several plants were lost, underscoring how critical consistent irrigation is, even for desert-adapted species.

Staff and volunteers are now fine-tuning the garden's drip lines and emitters to better prepare the site for the upcoming summer heat.

John Metha, an outreach instructional specialist with the Yuma County Cooperative Extension, said the garden serves both an educational and community purpose.

"It provides a lot of opportunity for providing workshops, educational opportunities," Metha said. "It's a great location to stop, relax, take a lap around here and find some shade, some cool plants to look at."

The Moody Garden showcases identified Arizona native plants and allows visitors to see what species thrive in desert conditions, information that can help residents apply similar landscaping choices at home.

The site remains open year-round and is maintained by Master Gardener volunteers through the Cooperative Extension.

For those interested in expanding their horticultural knowledge, the Yuma County Cooperative Extension also offers a Master Gardener certification program and related educational courses covering topics such as plant science, soil health, and composting.