Desert Blooms

Southwest Yard & Garden by Dr. Marisa Thompson with contributions from NMSU Extension Specialists Dr. Amanda Skidmore and Dr. Carol Sutherland (Entomology) Curious and Curiouser: Tortoise Beetles Are Weird and Cool Adult tortoise beetle makes little holes on a tomato leaf in Albuquerque. Photo credit Gloria Lucero.  Question:  What kind of bug is this? It moves around the leaf like a Roomba vacuum cleaner. -         Gloria L., Albuquerque (question originally posted to the Facebook group “Growing Food in and around Albuquerque & Foraging Too”) Answer:  I   saw these critters for the first time on my tomatillo and tomato plants at home this week. I had noticed irregular-shaped holes in the tomatillo leaves but hadn’t taken the time to investigate. I knew I’d had grasshoppers nibbling at leaf edges throughout the garden, but these were holes in the middle of leaves, not at the margins. The critters seemed to have a shiny, almost iridescent shell. When I looked closer I saw lots

LOOKING FOR IDEAS on   WHAT TO DO WITH  SIBERIAN ELMS AFTER REMOVAL?  I'll keep posting ideas HERE over time. 👍 Southwest Yard & Garden  by guest author Dr. Leslie Beck   &  Dr. Marisa Thompson   Additional Info On This Noxious Weed Below Siberian elm seedlings can have a taproot that’s longer than the above-ground parts. Try to get all or most of the root when you pull them. Photo credit M. Thompson.   Question : What’s the best way to kill Siberian elm seedlings? - Mellene Pablo, Los Lunas Answer: I’m glad you’re asking this question when these weedy, invasive trees are small and relatively easy to control (emphasis on the “ relatively ”). We all know how precious shade is in New Mexico, and we love our trees for providing it, but weedy trees like Russian olive ( Elaeagnus angustifolia ) , tree of heaven ( Ailanthus altissima ) , salt cedar ( Tamarix spp. ) , and the Siberian elm are real problems across the state. Several traits make Siberian elms ( Ulmus pum