Living In Las Cruces- Spring/Summer 2008

LOCAL FLAVOR

By Jillian A. Mills
Photography by Bill Faulkner

Pat Montoya is a name every Las Crucen should know. Why? The answer is simple: Pat, a native Las Crucen who loves his hometown, has spent more than three decades making our fair city even more beautiful. It's like putting a beautiful woman in an elegant gown; it enhances her features; it makes you notice her with great admiration.

Known for the College of Agriculture and Home Economics, Pat could think of no better place than Las Cruces' own New Mexico State University to get his Bachelor's of Science in horticulture; he continued at the university to receive his master's in public administration. Upon graduation, Pat began working for the city, during which time he designed and developed many of the medians we drive by everyday on our commutes, as well as city parks.

As anyone who has bought a nonnative plant at some point only to see it bake to death in our hot, dry New Mexico sun knows: in a battle with Mother Nature, you are -- more times than not -- going down for the count. While some people are able to bring in tropical plants and boast success, it is usually not without a whole lot of effort, a ton of water and more time than you'd devote to a toddler. As a horticulturist, Pat had no illusions about the need to work with the environment for healthy, low maintenance plant material. However, he also realized that, though there was a lot of beauty in the plants that were common here, there were many more that were not represented.

Armed with The Western Garden Book by Sunset, or what Pat refers to as, "The Bible we use for this area," he began poring over the pages. In addition to the native plants he was installing, he began bringing in plants that were nonnative, but which possessed all of the characteristics of native plants, like drought tolerance and species that did well in direct sun. Once residents started seeing plants, shrubs, and trees around the city that they'd never seen before, the buzz began. People started calling and asking about where they could get a Texas Red Oak or a Texas Mesquite that Pat was using to replace the problematic, allergy-inducing, nonbearing Mulberry.

After 15 years with the City of Las Cruces, Pat decided it was time for a change and a new challenge and began work with the Marriott Corporation which eventually sold to Sodexho, where he has been for the past 18 years. In 1989, Sodexho won the bid for NMSU grounds maintenance, and Pat began serving as the landscape manager on the contract. Expiring every eight years, and very competitive, Pat and Sodexho have managed to renew the contract ever since landing the original; and, for those who've watched the landscape evolve over the years, it comes as no surprise. "I remember, before I started, you could always tell when it was Friday at the college because of the long, above-ground tubing that ran across the lawns for watering," Pat says. "That was the first thing I wanted to change. Now, we've gone from 40 percent to 90 percent automated. And, in addition to watering at night, we utilize 'smart watering,' which are moisture systems programmed to shut water off so it's not wasted." Of course he still loves introducing new plant materials - which he knows will acclimate well - to the region. "We know we set the example when we use something in our landscape," he says of the many calls of inquiry they receive. The campus also boasts 400 pecan trees that produce 4,000 pounds of pecans annually. These are packaged and processed in town and used as a networking tool and for other purposes discretionary to the university president.

Currently, in addition to maintenance and some other smaller projects, Pat and his crew are working on plans for a new soccer field that will host NCAA division one play. And, if this isn't enough to keep him on his toes, Sodexho takes advantage of Pat's skill to analyze other schools and universities throughout the West.

Because Pat's advice is so coveted, we felt we would be remiss not to ask for at least one tip for our loyal readers (and ourselves). Aristotle once said, "Nature does nothing uselessly." With this in mind, we give you Pat's tip: Compost. If you don't want to do it yourself, you can buy it commercially. However, if you're looking for that first step to 'going green,' composting is a great place to start because it's very easy - the sun does most of the work for you. It's a good way to commune with nature and keep excess material from going to the landfill. Besides, the first time you incorporate that nutrient rich material into your yard and your plants begin to thrive beyond your imagination, you will be hooked.

So, the next time you're with someone and they remark on a beautiful median or if you happen to be strolling through your neighborhood park or attending an Aggie game, just think of how impressed they'll be when you say, "It is beautiful and I know all about the guy who did it!"