By Lara Lovell, President of New Mexico Beekeepers Association (NMBKA) and Shanna Narath, Albuquerque Master Gardener and NMBKA member
(Tour Date to be announced)
NMBKA serves beekeepers in the state of New Mexico. NMBKA mission is to help local beekeeping organizations, assist the agricultural community, promote the importance of the honeybee in the environment, and promote beekeeping, bee products, and more. We all love our honey bees and pollinators, and by now most of us have learned that the best way to help them is to provide clean water sources and season-long nutrition (including plants). But knowing what to do and having the confidence to do it are two different things.
Lara Lovell moved to our high desert from the Southeastern states and had no idea how to grow anything here. Looking back, it’s probably because she was trying to grow the same things she planted back there. It took a lot of trial and error, but she learned. As many of our master gardeners have learned. Now Lara is very proud of her gardens and loves sharing what she has discovered about growing three seasons worth of nutrition for our pollinators.
About the Tour
These tours are self-guided driving tours, much like the Parade of Homes that real estate agencies or Parade of Gardens the Albuquerque Garden Council hosts, only more bee-centric. Apiary tour visitors will map their own route and visit participating apiaries and pollinator gardens at their own pace. It’s a chance to see what’s working for other gardeners and beekeepers in our area. We know we have some master gardeners and beautiful apiaries out there. Please consider signing up for your chance to show off your space and inspire others to dream up their own pollinator havens.
How to Participate
Want to add your apiary or pollinator garden to the tour? We also encourage participation by providing pollinator gardening knowledge at the apiary tour locations. Whether your space is a single hive tucked behind sunflowers or a full demonstration garden, every stop on the tour helps build community knowledge. Let’s show what’s possible when gardeners and beekeepers work together.
Please fill out THIS FORM if you are interested in having your hive and/or pollinator garden on the tour.