Farm Life

In Memory of Mouse, Beloved Farm Cat

For many years, guests arriving at Los Poblanos were often greeted not only by lavender fields, gardens and cottonwood trees, but by the unmistakable presence of Mouse. Whether stretched out in the sun, making his rounds through the farm or accepting affection from admirers, Mouse became a beloved part of daily life here and a familiar companion to countless visitors and staff members alike.

This month, we said goodbye to our dear farm cat and friend. We invite you to join us in remembering Mouse and the joy he brought to Los Poblanos over the years.

Farm Journal: Shearing Season

Long before Los Poblanos became known for lavender fields, gardens and hospitality, this land was a working farm shaped by the agricultural traditions of the Rio Grande Valley. In its earliest years, the property grew alfalfa, oats, corn, barley and sugar beets. At the base of the Sandia Mountains, purebred rams were raised to help New Mexico sheep herders improve the quality of their flocks, a reminder that animals have always had a role in our story.

Arbor Day on the Farm: Celebrating the Trees of Los Poblanos

The DNA results are in, and our oldest fruit tree has a name. She is a Black Twig apple, a variety that dates to the 1830s, discovered as a chance seedling on a Tennessee farm. It is a tart apple, excellent for fresh eating, cider and baking, and one that grows sweeter with time in storage. Today it is considered a rare specialty variety, largely edged out of commercial production by modern cultivars. To have one standing here, planted likely during the Simms era of the 1930s, is something worth marking.

Farm Journal: Fresh Pastures

Good land stewardship sometimes means taking a step back to look at what the land is telling you. Last spring we took some time to evaluate and re-seed our animal pasture for the health of our sheep, alpacas and the soil itself.

Farm Journal: Early spring in the hives

In early spring, we watch the hives wake up as fruit trees blossom and daffodils emerge from the soil. As early flowers offer their first pollen, worker bees venture out on warmer afternoons, a welcome sight after months of winter quiet.

Garden season and Women’s History Month at Los Poblanos

Ruth Hanna McCormick Simms, Rose Greely and Penny Rembe are among the inspiring women whose creativity and vision have shaped the beauty of Los Poblanos for nearly a century. From architecture and garden design to present-day farming, their innovation and stewardship continue to guide how the land awakens each spring.

Early Spring Rose Care: Pruning and Feeding Tips

Roses of every color, scent and shape are one of the most beautiful markers of spring at Los Poblanos. From the historic Rose Greely Garden with its abundant beds, to the climbing roses, formal plantings and looser heirloom varieties that surround La Quinta and wind throughout the property, we anticipate their blooms all year.

Behind that display is careful early spring rose care.

Farm Journal: Garden season begins in the Rio Grande Valley

Welcoming spring in the Rio Grande Valley

Spring is always unpredictable in New Mexico, and this year we’ve seen record breaking warm temperatures early in the season. Buds and bees have been waking up almost three weeks earlier than usual. A late freeze or March snowstorm is always possible, but our farm and landscape teams are preparing for a warm, dry growing season ahead.

As farm and gardens awaken, our farmers and gardeners work alongside nature, tending soil, sowing seeds and shaping the landscape to ensure the health and beauty of Los Poblanos in the months ahead.

Botanical abundance and saving seeds

This year we have been blessed with an abundance of flowers thanks to our expanded cutting garden and the many botanicals planted to support the kitchen, bar, distillation and product operations. 

Report from the lavender fields

If you have visited the farm recently, you may have noticed that our lavender fields look a little different this year. While they may not be as full as in years past, there is a deeper story behind what you are seeing—one of natural cycles, climate challenges and the realities of regenerative farming in a complex environment.