WaterWise Gardener's Corner
Each Thursday at the Gardens a SCMG volunteers to present a plant, a critter or a weed of interest to the group during our Coffee Break.
See LIST of NMSU publications that the Santa Fe MGs recommend reading for our area.
SCMG Volunteer Plant Discussions @ the WaterWise Garden
Plant Care Information
This plant site web site is a great source of information on light conditions for plants ~ explained; Water conditions for plants ~ explained; perennial shrubs ~ explained, just scroll through different areas of interest to find the answer to your gardening question.
See Broom Dalea reference below as of March 2009: as discussed June 18, 2009
Thursday, March 19
SCMG Jae R has identified a beautiful plant, Broom Dalea that grows beautifully in sandy areas of Sandoval County, NM and other areas of Texas, New Mexico and Arizona as well. Grows easily from seed. The plant is leafless gray-green stems with fragrant violet/purple flowers in the fabaceae family. Thank you Jae for introducing a group of SCMG to this plant. It is certainly one more plant to think about in the garden with sandy type soil. Please click on Broom Dalea above for more information.
One Hundred Common insects in New Mexicoaddresses common, abundant insects in the state of New Mexico that began as a contest with 4-H Kids.
SCMG Becky Hunter shared her knowledge of this NMSU web site with WWG volunteers as she learned of the pest site via SCMG Mary Moore as pest discussions arose during the Hotline sessions.
Catalpa Tree is a very large decidious tree with an interesting history. Please click on Catalpa above and learn more about this interesting tree.
Chitalpa Tree has an interesting history in New Mexico. Please click Chitalpa above and read more.
Chilopsis linearsis is a unique tree of the desert landscape. Please click Chilopsis above and read on.
WHICH ELM is prone to Dutch Elm Disease?
If Salvia greggii and Zauschneria are favorites; here is another choice and it is rabbit resistant.
Stachy Coccinea ~ Scarlet Hedgenettle
Sanvitalia creeping zinnia may work in the sandy, hot, dry garden or hanging basket. This plant thrives on heat and the southwest.
Mandarin Orange and Irish Eyes
April 1, 2009
Penstemon (Beard-tongue) is a large genus of North American and East Asian plants traditionally placed in the Scrophulariaceae family. Due to new genetic research it has now been placed in the vastly expanded family Plantaginaceae according to information
March 12, 2009
SCORPIONWEED Waterleaf Family (Phacelia spp.)
See Scorpionweed
Anne and I were so amazed and delighted by the large display of scorpionweed just outside the Land Ends Garden area. Park & Recreation will be notified so as not to accidently drive over or spray these plants. We think it will be fun to see them in bloom.
December 2008
Loren shared his problem of Root Disease (see Aug. 28 below) on his cucumbers and tomatoes with WWG volunteers in August. Soil samples sent to NMSU lab came back with a verdict of Nematodes. Loren believes they were brought into his garden through fresh soil for his raised beds.
Read about alfalfa; see what this grass has to do with nematodes.
Contact Rudy Benavidez, Sandoval County Extension Director, for more information on nematodes: prevention, elimination and causes.
December 2008
(click on blue words for further information:)
Wednesday, December 3
Butterfly weed is a host for the monarch's caterpillars.
Monarch's use only milkweed as a host plant. See article for more information.
Thursday, October 9
WaterWise Garden Volunteers have planted CALENDULA from seeds with great results in the WWG. (Click on calendula above for more information).
Otto Stangl has provided us with an abundance of seed through the summer. WWG volunteers look forward to 2009 sprouts imerging in the spring.
September Topics
Spurge in Buffalo/Grama
Chaste Vitex Tree. Also visit Lilac Chaste Tree
Thursday, August 28
Tom: Purple Robe Locust Tree Great tree. Tom has had great success with growing the Purple Robe Locust (Black Locust) and highly recommends it for landscapes. During the discussion the question arose: What is the difference between the Purple Robe Locust Black Locust and the Honey Locust?
Loren: Root Disease: Loren brought examples of disfigured roots from a wilting cucumber plant for identification. The 2 possibilities mentioned were Club Root and Nematodes. Rudy suggested a soil sample be sent in to NMSU. Loren will do that Sept. 2. SCMG are leaning toward nematodes. Loren is having same problem on tomatoes. Results will be posted when results are returned from NMSU.
Anne: Anne discussed plant material for new project Mexican Blue Sage and Mexican Sage
Thursday, August 21
Loren: Discussed seeding SSCAFCA with 3 sunflower varieties: 1.Desert Marigold 2.Mexican Hat 3.Chocolate Flower
This is the Chocolate Flower Farm and it is a great idea plus a place you might want to visit when in WA.
Thursday, August 14
Linda: Discussion on weed identification: Salisify and Spurge
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SAWFLY
Dr. Carol Sutherland, Extension Entomologist at NMSU and State Entomologist for the New Mexico Department of Agriculture answers a question about a critter SCMG could not identify properly. Photos were sent to her for identification; thanks for a prompt reply: