Photo Courtesy Marisa Thompson

PEEC NEWS RELEASE

The Pajarito Environmental Education Center (PEEC) invites the community to a free hybrid presentation, “Native Plant Adaptations: Helping Them Thrive in Los Alamos,” on Monday, May 11, 2026, from 6 to 7 PM at the Los Alamos Nature Center Planetarium. Attendees may join in person or virtually.

New Mexico’s hot, dry, and unpredictable climate challenges plants to survive in remarkable ways. To help them thrive in our landscapes, Marisa Thompson will explore how New Mexico’s native plants adapt through structural, physiological, and seasonal changes. Discover the science (and beauty) behind these natural survival strategies and gain inspiration for choosing and caring for resilient plants.

Marisa Thompson (pronounced mah‐REE‐sah) connects people with plants through NMSU’s “Ready, Set, GROW!” webinar series, the “Southwest Yard & Garden” column, and hands‐on field research supported by dedicated volunteers. Her work spans mulches, shaded tomato production, wildlife habitat, fruit trees, and landscaping with native plants.

Before becoming a Master Gardener in 2008, Thompson worked in Albuquerque nurseries helping people find the right plants for their homes. She earned her M.S. in Horticulture studying pecan orchard floor management and her Ph.D. in Plant & Environmental Sciences researching pecan flowering mechanisms. Today, she brings her deep horticultural expertise to communities across the Southwest.