Peter Gierlach Celebrates 34 Years of Growing Native

The Tucson naturalist shares his passion for local flora through his long-running radio segment on KXCI-FM.

Updated on Oct. 25, 2026 in Botany

Peter Gierlach Celebrates 34 Years of Growing Native

Live Poll

Do you find value in listening to niche local radio programs about your community's natural environment?

Peter Gierlach has spent 34 years hosting the four-minute radio show Growing Native on Tucson station KXCI-FM 91.3. Through his program, the self-taught naturalist fosters appreciation for the plants and animals of the Sonoran Desert.

Why it matters

Gierlach works to build excitement for Arizona's unique ecosystem by sharing his observations with the public. His decades of broadcasting have established him as a consistent voice for regional conservation and botanical education.

Each weekly segment runs for 4 minutes and is produced using a Blue Yeti microphone in a home studio. Gierlach prepares for these broadcasts by scouting field locations and logging observations on large yellow legal pads.

The players

Peter Gierlach

He is a self-taught naturalist and nursery manager who has hosted a long-running radio program in Tucson.

KXCI-FM

This is a Tucson radio station that broadcasts the Growing Native program on the 91.3 frequency.

Botanical Society of America

This is a professional scientific organization that recently hosted Gierlach for a regional botany lecture.

The details

Since creating his radio persona Petey Mesquite in 1992, Gierlach has combined his experience as a nursery manager with his expertise as a naturalist to engage listeners. He recently presented a regional botany lecture at the Botanical Society of America conference held on August 3, 2026.

Gierlach moved to the Sonoran Desert in 1967.
Gierlach ended his time with the band Dusty Chaps in 1978.
Gierlach created the Petey Mesquite radio persona in 1992.
Gierlach gave a regional botany lecture on August 3, 2026.

The Big Picture

Gierlach connects local ecological knowledge to professional scientific standards through his engagement with the Botanical Society of America conference. This intersection validates the importance of amateur naturalism in contributing to broader botanical discussions.

Listeners and local residents can apply Gierlach’s observations of native plants to their own landscaping and conservation efforts in the Sonoran Desert. His decades of field notes provide a practical guide for those looking to understand the seasonal rhythms of the regional flora.

The takeaway

Gierlach illustrates how consistent, long-term advocacy can sustain community interest in local environmental preservation. Residents can improve their connection to the desert by observing and cataloging the native species in their own neighborhoods.