The Western Heritage Horticultural Society website pages can be found under the "Horticulture" tab here - http://www.nmjc.edu/museum, please visit it often to find out about upcoming training and events.  Additionally, you will find gardening articles, videos and other resources.  To contact the society, email hortsociety@nmjc.edu or call 575-492-2678.

January 13, 2017
The Society hopes everyone had a wonderful holiday and is ready to start gardening!  If you're not a member of the Society yet, now is a good time to join.

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Random Dirt...
Reminders & Random Dirt.....
 
From the desk of the Hort-Society President..

Happy New Year, that phrase seems to be fading already into the background much like the Gray Owl. As we move forward into 2017 be aware of things around you, loved one family and friends and myriad of other things. The world is hectic now, fast-paced and seemingly on the very edge and any word(s) of solace bounce back at us. Just remember there is ONE who is still in control of ALL things.

Just as my trips to Cloudcroft, the mountains and hiking into the Lincoln National forest bring me to peace and to a place of serenity. A moment of getting priorities in order, but just as the owl is watching me he is aware of his surroundings too.
Our gardens and landscapes should be a place we can entered into, sit and relax, have a tea, coffee, a beer; but all the while soaking in that moment. Take in the things there, watch for nature to show herself in beauty, admire what you have created and designed. This is your element, you rule in this moment.

For those of you who might not have this 'spot', this place to commune with the Creator or just YOU, then now is the time to start. You can design, you can garden, and you can get back to nature. It is in our very being. I encourage you to get outside and garden and learn how, there are many offerings available to you but create your space, your own element and reveille in it.

The Western Heritage Horticultural Society has many offerings (classes-workshops) you can attend and learn the how to's as a beginner gardener, an accomplished gardener and even those who love to go deeper into the soil.
We are here to help you achieve you dreams, help you in planning and designing, and selecting the right plants and hardscapes into a beautiful created environment or landscape. Where-in you can also take in the view, much like my encounter in the forest, eye to eye with my surroundings and with that Gray Owl, whoooo was watching me too!
 
Come and join us as we garden and have fun along life's journey.
 
David Ray Hooten
President, Western Heritage Horticultural Society

"Gardening Like Grandma"
The Western Heritage Horticultural Society has a special project in mind- "Gardening Like Grandma".  The Society would like to video interview older gardeners about the techniques s/he used way back when.  We are looking for interviewees or suggestions from readers as to who might be a candidate to give us valuable information to share and archive at the Western Heritage Museum.  If you would like to participate or know of anyone that might be able to tell us how they gardened many moons ago, send email with name and contact info to hortsociety16@gmail.com   or Private Message a suggestion on the Society Facebook page... https://goo.gl/NsOxgA .

We need Suggestions for Training...
The Western Heritage Horticultural Society is in the process of planning the new training and event calendar for 2017.  Look for the dates in next year's newsletters and on the website.  if you have suggestions for training send an email to hortsociety16@gmail.com.
Have Questions???
The Society would very much like to showcase your gardening efforts via personal snapshots of successful growing (or even unsuccessful for one of those "teachable moments"), and if you have any Desert Thumb newsletter article ideas or gardening question/s submit them to   hortsociety16@gmail.com  and you'll see them in the new Dr. Plant's Dirt Therapy section of the newsletter.  

New Gardening Article
Don't forget to go to our webpage and read the Hobbs News-Sun's article "A New Year's start to gardening" by David Hooten, Society president.  Find it here... http://www.nmjc.edu/museum/horticulture_inthegarden.aspx

If you liked the Society Facebook page, please like and share the posts... 
164 people "Like" the page.  We'd like to build the page into a valuable tool to keep people informed about training and gardening locally and nationally.

Training/Events 
3 DATES LEFT of the FREE DVD TREES & SHRUBS CARE TRAINING ...

VIA a DVD series with Q&A sessions geared toward Lea County's unique gardening needs. Location: Western Heritage Museum Theater, Hobbs, NM.  Time: 6:00 to 7:30 pm...read more about it here... http://www.thegreatcourses.com/courses/how-to-grow-anything-make-your-trees-and-shrubs-thrive.html?ai=112784

Thursday, January 19, 2017 (Note: This date has been cancelled and rescheduled, see below.)

Thursday, January 26, 2017
* Trees and Shrubs for Challenging Conditions
(Includes a live tree show and tell by Horticultural Society member/s.)

Thursday, February 2, 2017
* Shopping for the Best Trees and Shrubs
* Spring and Summer Care of Trees and Shrubs
(Special presentation on buying trees and shrubs from the local big box stores)

Thursday, February 9, 2017
* A Framework for Your Landscape
* Form and Function in the Landscape

February 25, 2017
Rose Pruning Demonstration and Hands-On Training (FREE)
Time: 8:30 to 11:30 on the NMJC Campus
Location: New Mexico Jr. College, 1 Thunderbird Circle, Hobbs, NM 88240
Learn pruning techniques for each type of rose. Hands on pruning instruction for each person attending the workshop. Bring your own tools or come to observe. This will take place at the memorial rose garden in front of the Panell Library on the inner campus of New Mexico Junior College.
For reservations, call 575-492-2678, and for more information call David Hooten at 575-942-1492.

For a list of Society Rose Pruning how-to videos on YouTube go here...

March 25, 2017
Drip Irrigation & Hands-On Training
Cheryl Garing, a Horticulturalist and Landscape Designer from El Paso will present on setting up a basic drip irrigation system and answer your questions.  Following the presentation, the participants will move to behind the museum for hands-on instruction working with various irrigation equipment.  You'll leave the training with instructional materials and your notes specific to your watering needs.
$10 Registration Fee

Time: 8:30 to Noon

Location: Western Heritage Museum and Lea County Cowboy Hall of Fame
For RESERVATIONS, call 575-492-2678, and for more information call David Hooten at 575-942-1492.

Save the Date 
Saturday, May 6, 2017...Llano Estacado Gardening Seminar 2017 and Plant Sale
Presenter Melinda Myers is definitely coming to talk about the use and impact of landscaping with the right native plants.  The Western Heritage Horticultural Society has made the decision to change the name from the "Water Wise Conference" to a title that better reflects the Lea County area's gardening needs.  More info a about registration is forthcoming.

P.S. Melinda is the gardening expert for Birds & Blooms, so reviews every piece of plant information that goes into the magazine. She also answers questions in the popular Glad You Asked column.

Sample our presenter's expertise...Garden Talk: The Summer Garden
 
And for a larger array of Podcast tips by Melinda..
 

Articles & Tips
Perennial Plant of the Year 2017: Asclepias tuberosa (Butterfly Weed)
 
It's generally easy to grow in most climates. It takes full sun and sandy to loamy soil. Once it's established, it can tolerate drought, thanks to its taproot that seeks moisture from deeper soil. Its taproot makes it a challenge to transplant from place to place in the garden, so choose its spot wisely when planting. If transplanting does become necessary, do so when the plant is dormant. Winter hardy in USDA Zones 3-10. You'll find you have lots of seeds at the end of the flowering cycle.


Contributed by Shirley Mee

Where do I find Native Plants?
Where do you purchase native plants?  Often, locally owned nurseries are leaders in sustainable gardening practices, including the selling of native plants, unfortunately Lea County is short of these gardening resources other than big box stores.  You'll have to do a little research to make sure you're buying plants that will do well in our hot sunny climate and Caliche  terrain because "drought tolerate" has become a buzz word for greenhouses and may not necessarily be 100% accurate.  And if the label says perennial, it may only be a perennial in certain growing zones.  So RESEARCH before shopping or come to the Horticultural Society meetings and trainings to ask questions.  

There are a number of on-line nurseries and seed producers available for the home gardener who is growing native.  Here are a few: Prairie Moon Nursery , High Country Gardens , Native American Seed  and Wildseed Farms.  I especially like High Country Gardens.  If you start exploring the websites, many times you'll find a mega amount of information on growing and even propagating the plant, downloadable guides, a blog, etc.  If you really like to surf the net, use the word "Free" in your search to find pdf growing guides from people who love to garden and want to share their efforts.  Some of these resources will show up on the HS webpage under Articles/Videos.  The Society has and will be developing articles and info related to Lea County unique landscape needs.

Here's a few valuable websites to add to your gardening knowledge base. ENJOY!

A local resource, The Native Plant Society of New Mexico, dedicated to educating NM gardeners about native plants.

The 
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center is the consummate source for information about native North American plants.   Bookmark that site.

The National Wildlife Federation also provides excellent tips for the how-tos of wildlife gardening, with a strong emphasis on using native plants.

Contributed by Anita Lee
Remember...

Heirloom Smooching
Notes
The Western Hertitage Horticultural Society anticipates sending out an event calendar newsletter (or fliers) on a regular basis along with an expanded quarterly newsletter with articles on gardening and "when to do it" tips.  The Society is looking forward to being a resource to the general public and helping to improve your yard and landscape.  If you'd like to join the Western Heritage Museum and the Society to take advantage of everything both have to offer, use the Quick Links at the top of this newsletter to see how to join.  Use the links to receive the newsletter and take a look at the Society Facebook page.  Please forward this newsletter to anyone you think might want a greener thumb.