Photo of Monarch Butterfly thanks to Xerces.org
Bee City Los Alamos November 2024 Newsletter & Blog
As temperatures drop, the landscape around the mesas is transforming, and so are the needs of our local wildlife and pollinator-friendly gardens. Read on for this month’s tips on garden care, pollinator sightings, upcoming events, and more.
Let Nature Take Its Course This Winter!
As temperatures drop, consider letting leaves, stems, and dried flowers remain in your garden. Fallen leaves create a protective layer for overwintering butterfly pupae, moths, and other insects. These leaves will enrich the soil as they break down and shield plants from frost. Native bees, meanwhile, often find shelter in the ground, under leaf cover and in the hollow stems of plants like Sunflower, Penstemon, Mints, and Goldenrod. Leave stems intact until spring, when temperatures consistently rise above 50°F, and new growth appears. Birds will benefit from nutrient-dense seeds left on shrubs and perennials over winter.
Winterize your watering systems
With our cold winters, it is important to disconnect and drain/flush any irrigation systems you have so they don’t freeze. Disconnect hoses from faucets and protect your faucets with insulating covers or tape. If it is a dry, warm winter, be sure to hand water once a week unless there is snow on the ground. Do not water when the ground is frozen.
Now is a Great Time for Native Seed Sowing!
Fall is a perfect time for sowing native wildflower and grass seeds, especially if you have a large garden or new plot. Try the Plants of the Southwest Pollinator Mix, which is well-suited for our high desert climate.
Don’t miss the Los Alamos Community Seed Library Winter Sowing Workshop on December 14 at the Unitarian Church, hosted by KokHeong McNaughton. You’ll go home with plant starts and connect with fellow enthusiasts. Start saving clear, 1-gallon milk and water jugs to bring and share!
Have Extra Seeds to Share? If you’ve harvested seeds this season, consider donating them to the Seed Library at PEEC, Mesa Library, or White Rock Library. For guidance on seed processing, join KokHeong McNaughton’s Seed Processing Tea Parties on Wednesdays, from 3:30–5 PM. Contact her at: kokheong@comcast.net for more information.
Late Fall Pollinators
I have been noticing some new butterflies in my garden this week: Checkered Whites, Painted Ladies and Checkered Fritillaries are migrating through our county. Honeybees are still industriously gathering pollen on late blooming flowers. Be sure to take pictures of any pollinators you observe and post them on iNaturalist to help with our county-wide data gathering project. You can read all about the project here: https://peecnature.org/bee-city/citizen-science/
Featured Pollinator of the Month: The Monarch
In celebration of Day of the Dead, we’re highlighting the Monarch Butterfly. Learn more about this remarkable species in an article by LANL wildlife biologist, Jenna Stanek. Find additional pollinator resources at our website: https://peecnature.org/bee-city/bee-city-los-alamos-pollinator-demonstration-garden-on-bathtub-row/
Bee City Los Alamos Coordinator Job Opening is still accepting applications!
Do you love pollinators, people and the outdoors? We might have the perfect job for you. Flexible hours up to 20 hours per week, working with the amazing PEEC staff and a great committee, promoting protection of pollinators…what could be better? You can find the complete job description here: https://peecnature.org/employment/
Note: The Bee City Los Alamos Firesafe Garden project is on hold for this year, but you can use any cardboard you saved to prepare garden beds for spring by sheet mulching. Layer cardboard over grass or weeds, add a thick layer of composted mulch, and by next spring, you’ll be ready to plant! Learn more about this technique here (https://lawntogarden.org/how-to-sheet-mulch)
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