The Merge

The New Mexico State University Landscape Garden is home to over 100 shrub and tree species, including the rare Montezuma cypress tree, which is one of the few deciduous evergreens found in the Las Cruces area.

Located on West University Avenue, the NMSU Landscape Garden is used for both recreation and education.

John Mexal, NMSU professor in horticulture, said the NMSU Landscape Garden is used as a teaching tool for a number of classes taught within the NMSU Department of Agronomy and Horticulture. Mexal also said that the garden is open to the public. “We encourage visitors. It’s not just for students,” he said.

Mexal said the NMSU Landscape Garden is approximately one acre in size and is 20 years old. Mexal said the garden was designed by retired architect Roy Anderson and constructed by Anderson’s son, Jeff.

Rolston St. Hilaire, NMSU associate professor of horticulture, said the garden is set up as a display garden. St. Hilaire said the entrance of the garden consists of European-type hedges. St. Hilaire also said the eastern part of the garden is a low-water-use area that contains native plants, such as cacti and mesquite.

St. Hilaire also said the above mentioned Montezuma cypress tree, which he has done research on, can be found in the center of the garden.

“The interesting thing about the [Montezuma Cypress] is that it is deciduous and has fall color,” he said.

St. Hilaire said the Montezuma Cypress also has the potential to grow very large. “In fact, the largest plant that has the largest diameter recorded is the Montezuma Cypress.”

St. Hilaire also said the western end of the garden is a lush area designed by students and contains a small waterfall.

Mexal said the western portion of the garden also contains an “earthmath garden,” which is used as a teaching tool for children. Mexal said children can measure the angles, heights and circumferences of things found in the garden.

“We also have a little scavenger hunt where they have to find plants with different characteristics,” Mexal said.

Mexal also said the garden has a gazebo valued at about $30,000 that was donated by the Las Cruces Homebuilder’s Association. Mexal said a medicinal plants garden is currently being constructed as well.

Mexal said there are turf plots behind the gazebo that are in assimilated golf course greens. “No, there are no holes out there,” Mexal said, with a laugh. “But we are looking at the water use of turf grass in the southwest.”

Researchers are trying to develop strategies that will keep a “good looking lawn, but minimize the water use needed” to do so, Mexal said.

Both Mexal and St. Hilaire would like to see the garden expand.

“We need more space for urban horticulture, backyard gardening, organic gardening, landscape demonstrations, and turf,” Mexal said.

“What I wish is that we could have more space to have a garden, but even with that limitation, I think we have done a lot with it,” St. Hilaire said.

The NMSU Landscape Garden is open seven days a week from sunup to sundown.

The New Mexico State University Landscape Garden is home to over 100 shrub and tree species, including the rare Montezuma cypress tree, which is one of the few deciduous evergreens found in the Las Cruces area.

Located on West University Avenue, the NMSU Landscape Garden is used for both recreation and education.

John Mexal, NMSU professor in horticulture, said the NMSU Landscape Garden is used as a teaching tool for a number of classes taught within the NMSU Department of Agronomy and Horticulture. Mexal also said that the garden is open to the public. “We encourage visitors. It’s not just for students,” he said.

Mexal said the NMSU Landscape Garden is approximately one acre in size and is 20 years old. Mexal said the garden was designed by retired architect Roy Anderson and constructed by Anderson’s son, Jeff.

Rolston St. Hilaire, NMSU associate professor of horticulture, said the garden is set up as a display garden. St. Hilaire said the entrance of the garden consists of European-type hedges. St. Hilaire also said the eastern part of the garden is a low-water-use area that contains native plants, such as cacti and mesquite.

St. Hilaire also said the above mentioned Montezuma cypress tree, which he has done research on, can be found in the center of the garden.

“The interesting thing about the [Montezuma Cypress] is that it is deciduous and has fall color,” he said.

St. Hilaire said the Montezuma Cypress also has the potential to grow very large. “In fact, the largest plant that has the largest diameter recorded is the Montezuma Cypress.”

St. Hilaire also said the western end of the garden is a lush area designed by students and contains a small waterfall.

Mexal said the western portion of the garden also contains an “earthmath garden,” which is used as a teaching tool for children. Mexal said children can measure the angles, heights and circumferences of things found in the garden.

“We also have a little scavenger hunt where they have to find plants with different characteristics,” Mexal said.

Mexal also said the garden has a gazebo valued at about $30,000 that was donated by the Las Cruces Homebuilder’s Association. Mexal said a medicinal plants garden is currently being constructed as well.

Mexal said there are turf plots behind the gazebo that are in assimilated golf course greens. “No, there are no holes out there,” Mexal said, with a laugh. “But we are looking at the water use of turf grass in the southwest.”

Researchers are trying to develop strategies that will keep a “good looking lawn, but minimize the water use needed” to do so, Mexal said.

Both Mexal and St. Hilaire would like to see the garden expand.

“We need more space for urban horticulture, backyard gardening, organic gardening, landscape demonstrations, and turf,” Mexal said.

“What I wish is that we could have more space to have a garden, but even with that limitation, I think we have done a lot with it,” St. Hilaire said.

The NMSU Landscape Garden is open seven days a week from sunup to sundown.