A butterfly fluttered briefly above a lush red bloom bursting from atop a thorny succulent, before flying off toward dozens of other blossoms hidden in a small corner of the Orange County Fair. Various hummingbirds and bees were attracted to the red, yellow and orange flowering plants in the Water Wise Demonstration Garden, sponsored by the Mesa Consolidated Water District.

Dunlap said the items up for sale and auction are repurposed donations from the community and rescues from properties slated for demolition. "It's not like putting on a golf tournament — there's always going to be something different," she said. "We always find new items every year and the hunt is half the fun."