Meet Lauren McGue | University of Nevada, Reno Extension

For this month’s Community Spotlight, we head to Las Vegas, where a childhood surrounded by a lovingly tended backyard sparked a lifelong fascination with plants. What began as an appreciation for greenery in the desert deepened in a high school biology classroom, where the science of plant life revealed an entirely new world.

Today, at the University of Nevada, Reno Extension, that early curiosity has grown into a career dedicated to education, horticulture, and practical impact. Managing gardens that support students, professionals, and the public, their work helps strengthen desert landscapes through plant knowledge, irrigation expertise, and thoughtful stewardship.

From living collections to water-wise practices, this Spotlight shows that horticulture in the desert is both an art and a science. 

When did you know you wanted a career in horticulture?
In Las Vegas, we do not take lush gardens for granted. Our harsh environment makes us appreciate how much time and effort goes into a beautiful landscape, and my dad always loved tending to our backyard when I was little. 

I was lucky to have a gorgeous backyard growing up, and when I started learning about botany in 9th grade biology class, I realized there was more to plants than I thought. I found their anatomy and physiology so fascinating, I knew I wanted to study them further and work in a botanical field.

How does your work support your garden or institution’s broader mission?
The garden I manage is not only a botanic garden but a part of the University of Nevada, Reno Extension, which is under the College of Agriculture, Biotechnology, and Natural Resources. 

Our mission is to educate not only students, but professionals and the general public throughout Nevada. The Extension presence in each county tailors its offerings and research to the needs of that location. Landscaping and construction are huge sectors of the Southern Nevada economy. The gardens I manage serve as educational resources for nursery workers, landscapers, arborists, irrigation technicians, and more. We also conduct small-scale agriculture research in the Gardens to provide guidance to local growers.

Do you have a book, podcast, or resource you’d recommend to others in the field?
For those of us who work in desert climates, irrigation is essential for plant life and knowing how to irrigate properly is a field in itself. My education in horticulture and botany at Smith College in Massachusetts did not prepare me for the technical intricacies of irrigation because in Massachusetts the natural rainfall provided most of the necessary water to outdoor plants.

Upon returning to Vegas and entering the horticulture profession here, I realized I had to learn about irrigation if I wanted to manage a botanic garden. After scrambling to self-educate, I found the Irrigation Association. Principles of Irrigation is essential reading for any horticulturist in the desert southwest of the United States, and I highly recommend Waterwise Gardening by Richard Restuccia. 

Knowing how to apply species or crop coefficients, understanding soil, and irrigating based on evapotranspiration is essential for gardening in the desert. Irrigation is often perceived as a trade or technical skill below the purview of a horticulturist or botanist, and I reject that kind of thinking. Desert horticulturists must familiarize themselves with irrigation guides and literature.

Which IrisBG report or feature do you find most useful?
I generate reports from IrisBG based on location to do inventory checks. I have my Garden organized by area numbers that correspond to irrigation valves. Using IrisBG to generate location-based reports with the quantities of each taxon has been helpful as my team and I maintain better records of our plant collection.