Master Gardeners at the Randall Davey Audubon Center

Birds, bees, and butterflies—oh my! The courtyard garden at the Randall Davey Audubon Center & Sanctuary (RDAC) that was planted and is maintained by the Santa Fe Master Gardeners serves many purposes—artists paint it, birders bird, photographers take pictures, visitors enjoy the serenity, school kids and Day Camp kids learn about pollinators, and Master Gardeners learn about and teach about selecting wildlife attracting plants, planting, pruning, drip irrigation, etc.

The garden is a beautiful place to study, paint, photograph, meditate—or just to sit and enjoy nature.

This garden is one of several projects of the Santa Fe Master Gardeners Association (SFMGA). In keeping with the goals of RDAC, the garden is designed and maintained as a Wildlife Attracting Garden. In keeping with the goals of the SFMGA, the garden is a demonstration garden for teaching the public, an educational tool for students, interns and Master Gardeners to learn what to plant to attract wildlife, how to plant and maintain the garden, wildflower and weed identification. Master Gardeners also learn how to maintain the drip system.

Plants include xeric, native and other plants to show the variety that can be used to attract birds, butterflies, and pollinators—from nectar plants to shrubs and trees with berries and seeds.

Master Gardeners selected the fountain and restored the wrought iron bench. A Master Gardener and her husband donated the stone bench and contributed to the purchase of the beautiful educational sign in the garden.

The Santa Fe Master Gardener Association, established in 1998 by a group of Santa Fe residents, operates under the auspices of the Santa Fe County Extension Service, which is a part of the New Mexico State University Cooperative Extension Service, a Land Grant college. Master Gardeners must complete a course offered by NMSU, complete an internship with volunteer hours, and keep their certification by continuing their volunteer hours. Promoting locally responsible gardening through reliable, current, research-based practices is the mission of the association.

More information about the Master Gardeners, including how to become a member, is available at the Santa Fe Master Gardener Association website: http://www.sfmga.org/.