By Jesse Jones
The 14th annual Corrales Garden Tour, set for Saturday, May 17, will showcase five distinctive properties highlighting practical, water-wise techniques designed for the arid Southwest.
This year’s tour, Sustainable Growing in the Desert Southwest, isn’t just about admiring beautiful landscapes—it’s about learning how to create them in a way that conserves water, supports local wildlife and thrives in the desert climate.
“Every one of these properties has some important things for people to learn about in terms of growing here in the desert southwest,†said Sam Thompson, chair of the Garden Tour committee. “It’s a challenge to us as people living in it, and it’s a challenge for plants growing in it.â€
After the tour, from 2 to 4 p.m., attendees can attend educational talks at the Corrales Library on vermicomposting, a composting method using worms for soil enrichment, and pollinator-friendly landscaping.
The tour organizers hope to provide real-world solutions for gardeners looking to make their outdoor spaces more resilient.
“We want to teach people how to do more with their garden, but by putting in less effort, less time, less money, less water,†said Thompson.
Vermicomposting is an easy way to get rid of food scraps and turn them into something that will help your soil. It costs almost nothing. People set up a little area for the worms, and organizers will teach people how to do so.
“It’s an easy fertilizer that won’t cost you anything except a little time,†Thompson said.
The second talk is a panel discussion that will explore how to convert lawn spaces into pollinator habitats. It will offer tips for both structured garden designs and more natural, meadow-like approaches.Â
According to Thompson, the panel will feature a landscape architect who is considering the transition and a speaker who has already made the change.
“Some people would like a garden space to be more regular looking rather than chaotic, and so we want to give people tips for doing it either way,†she said.
The five properties — four homes and a farm — serve as living labs for sustainable gardening, showcasing diverse, practical ways to thrive in the desert Southwest.
“Everybody has a story to tell,†Thompson said. “A number of the properties have livestock on them, horses, mules, chickens; they’re shared spaces, and it’s just an exciting way to see the different approaches people have taken to creating a sustainable environment to live in.â€
Each property presents unique approaches to working with the region’s challenging climate, from rainwater harvesting and permaculture design to pollinator-friendly landscaping and carbon sequestration.Â
At Corrales Classic Farms, attendees can learn about soil sponges for tree hydration. Last year, a lack of flood irrigation caused trees to drop pecans too soon.
“So what we’ve done this year is to put in soil sponges around the trees as a way to retain moisture after the flood irrigation and release it as the ground starts to dry out,†Thompson said. “So we’re hoping that will help get the trees through those long periods of no irrigation.â€
According to Thompson, soil sponges are a great way to care for mature trees.
Two former Pet Mayors, who call Aspen’s Acres home, will greet attendees as a special treat.
The other properties are Making Space for Pollinators, Mycelium on Mesquite and Making Room for Volunteers.
Tickets go on sale April 1, and Thompson said they plan to limit the number to allow attendees to explore the properties and attend extra sessions fully.
“Our thinking is that we’re going to limit the tickets so that people can spend as much time at the properties as they want and can attend the extra sessions because our real intent is for people to learn from this tour and not feel rushed because of large numbers of people,†she said.
Last year, the tour sold over 500 tickets, with proceeds benefiting the Corrales Main Street Pathways Project. Launched in 2018, the tour remains the project’s largest donor, raising about $8,000 annually.
For more information and to purchase tickets, visit visitcorrales.com/garden-tour.