The Los Alamos County Department of Public Utilities has funded the first outdoor exhibit at the Los Alamos Nature Center. Photo by Thomas Graves

Participating in the May 13 ribbon cutting at the Los Alamos Nature Center, from left, Beth Cortright, Jonathan Creel, Siobhan Niklasson, Sue Watts, Erick Peterson, Kate Barrere, Mary Carol Williams, Bob Walker, Selvi Viswanatha, Bob Dryja and Jack Richardson. Photo by Thomas Graves

PEEC News:

Thanks to support from the Los Alamos County Department of Public Utilities, the Los Alamos Nature Center has an outdoor sign dedicated to explaining the center’s raised-bed gardens. The ribbon cutting for this new exhibit “Landscaping for Our Climate,” created by the Pajarito Environmental Education Center (PEEC), was May 13 at the beginning of Bear Festival.

Members of the public and County staff joined PEEC staff, board members and volunteers to celebrate the new exhibit, the product of a collaborative effort between PEEC’s Landscaping Committee and the DPU. The exhibit also serves as a reminder of Dorothy Hoard’s legacy and reads: “These mesa gardens honor Dorothy Hoard, who inspired us to love the world around us.”

Jack Richardson, from the DPU, spoke about the water conservation efforts and successes in Los Alamos. He listed the days of highest water demand on record in the County; which in the past were more than 12 million gallons per day and are now hovering around 6 to 7 million gallons per day. Richardson also stated there has been a definite downward trend in the County’s water use over the last few years, a trend made possible thanks to conservation efforts throughout the County, spurred in great part by the education efforts of the staff and volunteers of PEEC.

Selvi Viswanathan had the privilege of cutting the ribbon. Viswanathan is a PEEC volunteer and living treasure who has dedicated countless hours to supporting PEEC and the raised beds and encouraging people to create urban wildlife habitats. Those in attendance shared her joy for the completion of a dream that was born before the nature center opened.

The nature center and the raised beds serve as examples of what is possible. PEEC hopes the new sign provides inspiration to those seeking to reduce their water consumption and fosters a culture of conservation.

The exhibit explains the different gardening styles that are successful in the local high desert environment. This new sign was funded by the DPU, which partners with PEEC to provide resource conservation education in the schools and the community.

PEEC was founded in 2000 to serve the community of Los Alamos. It offers people of all ages a way to enrich their lives by strengthening their connections to our canyons, mesas, mountains, and skies. PEEC operates the Los Alamos Nature Center at 2600 Canyon Road, holds regular programs and events, and hosts a number of interest groups from birding to hiking to butterfly watching. PEEC activities are open to everyone; however, members receive exclusive benefits such as discounts on programs and merchandise. Annual memberships start at $35. To learn more, visit www.peecnature.org.

From left, Kate Barrere, Mary Carol Williams, Bob Walker, Bob Dryja, Selvi Viswanathan cutting the ribbon and Jack Richardson clapping. Photo by Thomas Graves