Desert Blooms

Southwest Yard & Garden Squash bug eggs on leaves and stems. Photo credits Bdm23, Wikimedia Commons (left) and Pollinator, Wikimedia Commons (right) Question: Back in April, I had questions about what turned out to be aphids on my peach trees. Now my melon plants are covered in squash bugs. Is there anything I can do to control them this late in the season? -           Lorraine J., Los Lunas   Answer: I wish I had better news for gardeners with the squash bug blues. Squash bugs are difficult to control, and even more so as the bugs mature because insecticides are a much less effective tool. Some people delay planting squash until July to avoid the squash bug, but this tactic is not foolproof. As many gardeners have reported this year, delayed planting seems to work some years, but not reliably. Dr. Carol Sutherland, NMSU Extension Entomology Specialist and NMDA Entomologist, has suggested that you take a hint from their name and “squash” the squash bugs. Look

Southwest Yard & Garden   Guest columnist this week: Alissa Freeman - Senior Program Specialist and Director of the pollinator-friendly NMSU Learning Garden at the NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Los Lunas. Seed from bush morning-glory ( Ipomoea leptophylla ) being collected (top image), followed by seed cleaning (bottom left), and packaging seeds (bottom right) for storage at the Santa Ana Plant Nursery in Bernalillo, NM.  Question: I recently attended a native plant seed-saving workshop and collected a few different native plant species. How do I grow these seeds?   -           Emilio B., Belen, NM Answer: Not only are native plants a beautiful addition to any landscape but they also require less water, are adapted to our climate, and are a vital resource for native bees and other pollinators. Many native plants are available commercially, but it can be a fun and rewarding experience to try growing native plants at home. The first step is collecting seed

Southwest Yard & Garden Guest columnist this week: Alissa Freeman - Senior Program Specialist and Director of the pollinator-friendly NMSU Learning Garden at the NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Los Lunas.   Image of western pondhawk dragonflies at the Albuquerque Open Space Visitor Center Pond used with permission from photographer Bosque Bill ( http://www.bosquebill.com/odonata/gallery.php ). Dragonflies hovering above the water. Photo credit Alissa Freeman. Santa Ana Pueblo bosque restoration site with newly established native grasses and riparian plants along the banks. Photo credit Alissa Freeman. QQQQQQ Question: I volunteered this year and helped plant coyote willow poles for a riparian restoration project. I wanted to follow up and learn about how scientists monitor the health of these wetland ecosystems following restoration. -           Eric L., Bernalillo Answer: I recently visited the Pueblo of Santa Ana, about 20 miles north of Albu