Rooted in Nature: Growing Gardens for Pollinators, Birds, and You

The featured speaker for this year’s Garden Fair is Marisa Thompson, NM Extension Urban Horticulture Specialist. Marisa connects people with plants through the “Ready, Set, GROW!” webinar series, the “Southwest Yard & Garden" column, and field research with the help of enthusiastic volunteers. Her research and outreach efforts encompass mulches, shaded tomatoes, wildlife habitats, fruit trees, and landscaping with native plants. Before becoming a Master Gardener in 2008, Marisa worked at plant nurseries in Albuquerque. Her M.S. in Horticulture (NMSU 2011) focused on pecan orchard management and the impact of weeds. She earned a Ph.D. in Plant and Environmental Sciences (NMSU 2017), studying pecan flowering mechanisms.

Marisa will present “Rooted in Nature: Growing Gardens for Pollinators, Birds, and You” followed by a Q and A session. She will also be available before and after to answer any questions about how to make gardening easy with flowers, veggies, and more.