Desert Blooms - NMSU Horticulture Extension Program

08/18/2026

Join us for 🌳Tree Awareness with John Thompson
>> Learn about the benefits of trees, research into climate-ready trees, how to avoid killing your trees and how to select and care for your trees.
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📆 Monday, August 24
⏰ 6:45pm
📍 Loma Colorado Library - 755 Loma Colorado Blvd, Rio Rancho
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Photo credit: Canva

08/18/2026

🌱🌳🌹🪏 Is your garden, lawn, orchard, or field getting what it needs? Find out with a soil test!

Join us at 3 pm on Wednesday, August 19 for our next Ready, Set, GROW! Webinar: “Soil Testing 101” with John Garlisch, Bernalillo County Agriculture Agent with NMSU Cooperative Extension.

Learn why soil testing matters and how to do a basic soil test. This 45-minute webinar will cover the tools you need, how to collect a good soil sample, where to send it, and—perhaps most importantly—how to connect with resources that can help you understand and use your results.

John Garlisch helps producers and gardeners use soil test results to make informed decisions and improve their gardens, lawns, and orchards.

👉 Register here: https://nmsu.zoom.us/meeting/register/qma8mqikTZ-PbOSq9YNcTg

If you can't join us live, no worries! The recording will be linked here: https://desertblooms.nmsu.edu/grow.html

08/16/2026

08/16/2026

Let's Grow is a free education series for the home gardener. No advance registration is required.

What: Growing Native Plants From Seed
When: Saturday, August 22, 10:00-11:00 AM
Learn to create a low-cost, sustainable landscape by growing native grasses and wildflowers from seeds. This class will cover seed collecting or sourcing, seed cleaning, seed dormancy, cold stratification, scarification, and sowing methods to grow hardy native plants from seed.
Where: Santa Fe County Extension Campus, 3229 Rodeo Rd

07/13/2026

Workshop at the NMSU-Alcalde Sustainable Agriculture Science Center!
"Chickpea: From Field to Food"
Wednesday, August 12, 2026
1:00 - 3:00 PM
Register at https://rsvp.aces.nmsu.edu/chickpea

07/01/2026

New GROUND-NESTING BEES article written by Bethany Abrahamson, Dr. Joanna Bloese, and Dr. Joanie King!

https://nmsudesertblooms.blogspot.com/2026/06/ground-nesting-bees-q.html

Photo credit for pic of bee peeking out of its nest: Joanie King, NMSU 🥹

Integrated Pest Management- NMSU Extension Program NMSU Cooperative Extension Service New Mexico State University Plant Diagnostic Clinic

07/01/2026

SAVE THE DATE: Join us in Albuquerque Oct. 14-15 for the 2026 New Mexico Soil Health Conference. Connect with other farmers and ranchers, as well as conservation professionals, researchers, and other partners from across the state to explore soil health principles and practices for building resilient agricultural systems. More details and registration information coming soon.

05/19/2026

🐐🐑🐔 Join us at 3 pm on Wednesday, May 20 for our next Ready, Set, GROW! Webinar: "Electric Fence and Rotational Grazing Options for Small Acreage Properties" with Will Jaremko-Wright with the NMSU Taos County Cooperative Extension Service & 4-H Program. This presentation will offer an introduction to electric fencing principles and types, with a focus on implementing rotational grazing for small acreages with sheep, goats, chickens and other small livestock. Presentation will cover common electric fence issues, tools and installation tips. Temporary electric fencing systems are a great tool for flexible land stewardship at any scale. Register at https://nmsu.zoom.us/meeting/register/0WPOevZSQlS3fddrd7fjNQ
--- If you can't join us live, no worries! Recording will be linked here https://desertblooms.nmsu.edu/grow.html

04/20/2026

Not so humble brag👀 Rose variety: ‘Joseph’s Coat’ 🌹 Artichoke variety is likely ‘Colorado Star’

04/13/2026

Our Ready, Set, GROW! Gardening Webinar Series continues at 3 pm on Wednesday, April 15, with an interactive discussion on "Pruning After Budbreak: IT'S NOT TOO LATE!" with NMSU Extension Urban Horticulture Specialist Dr. Marisa Thompson. Bring your questions, your pruning concerns, and you can even share photos of your trees/shrubs/vines! From peach trees to rose bushes, let's gain a better understanding of when to prune and why. Register at https://nmsu.zoom.us/meeting/register/NUWc49XqRmGMaFGhuAx4Sg. ***Can't attend the live webinar? No worries! As always, we'll post the recorded session here: https://desertblooms.nmsu.edu/grow.html***