June 29, 2008
Walter Braun, My Green Dad
Master Gardener Column 6/28/08
When I was a teenager, my dad retired and moved our family of six from Maryland to Donation, Pennsylvania, a rural burg of three churches, two cemeteries, a couple dozen houses, a grange, and lots and lots of cows. Shortly upon settling in, the farmer from up the way brought over a load of cow manure to secure my dad's vote to change an almost century-old law against selling alcohol in Oneida Township. My dad wasn't enticed so much with the purchase of alcohol as the free manure that would be delivered annually to his small plot of land for the next 25 years.
As a teenager, I was baffled and perplexed by this move to nowhere. I couldn't figure out what my dad would do with himself in rural Pennsylvania, much less myself. Now, I'm beginning to understand how this urbanite, a native of New York City, with a career as a ballistics engineer with the Army's Aberdeen Proving Ground, wanted to simplify his life, get back to the earth, tend his garden, grow lots of vegetables, and live at peace with the rhythms of nature. He had been "there and done that." Remembering that Braun is the German word for brown, in a way, he went from being Walter Braun to Walter Grün, becoming a master gardener without ever taking a class. Many of his gardening practices stemmed from his engineer's desire to figure things out, as well as concerns on how to send four teenagers off to college on a government pension.
Continue reading "Walter Braun, My Green Dad"
Posted by maxmaddy at 7:53 PM
June 27, 2008
The Flagstaff Garden Club
The Flagstaff Garden Club garden visits scheduled for July 12, August 2, August 9, and September 6. Mark your calendars for a summer of visits to inspiring gardens.
Garden of Tony Florez, 3718 Firefly Way in Fox Glenn
July 12, 10 a.m.
Phone: 774 3567
Enter through a front gate to a large fan shaped English style garden and walk slate paths through many flower beds.
Directions: Firefly Way is located right behind Canyon Chapel. From Soliere turn onto Fox Lair and make a quick turn to Deer Crossing. Firefly Way is the second cull du sac on the left.
Or go to Google Map for directions from your house.
Garden of Shannon Clark, 2465 E. Hemberg
August 2, 10 a.m.
Phone: 526 4625
Shannon has created three distinct gardens: a kitchen garden, a native plant garden and a new garden she describes as "southwestern Zen" which is very architectural and drought resistant.
Directions: from Linda Vista go North on Steves Blvd and then right on Hemberg. Shannon's house is the fourth on the right.
Posted by maxmaddy at 6:10 AM
June 26, 2008
Olivia White Hospice Garden Project
We had a large crew this week in the garden and we focused on cleaning up the south Inferno Strip and surrounding beds. Vicki Goodwin, Linda Guarino, Marcia Lamkin, David Hockman, Karen Kent and myself remove bindweed, clover, dalamation toadflax and a variety of other weeds. We also moved some plants and added a few replacements for plants torn out by winter plows and perennials that have passed their prime. The drip was checked and seems to be working efficiently now - soil moist when digging for new plants. Elsie Ellis came and cleaned birdbaths while watering the east gardens. Joe Harte placed a new birdfood hook and continued to prune the trees. Zane and David brought out several visitors from the house.
On our monthly Saturday workday Cynthia Katte organized a small crew (Gloria Bradshaw and her husband and a new master gardener) to clean the shed & garage, watered the east gardens and continued to weed. I arrived late after the "Run for Life" and worked on getting rid of flea beetles on the cleome (Neem oil).
On Sunday, Laura Davis was in town from Tucson. We spent the morning touring Red Rock Lavender Farms in Concho, AZ. For the next couple of weeks they are doing tours and allowing cutting before closing to harvest their crops for products. Check out their web site at www.redrockfarms.com.
Continue reading "Olivia White Hospice Garden Project"
Posted by maxmaddy at 8:22 PM
Volunteer Needed for Celtic Festival
The Northern Arizona Celtic Heritage Society (NACHS) Celtic is once again looking for volunteers for the Northern Arizona Celtic Heritage Society Celtic Festival. Their annual Festival will be place on Saturday, July 19th and Sunday, July 20th at Fox Glenn Park.
They have a special booth that is hosted by their organization at the Festival - "The Celtic Plants and Geo Display". Brenda Taylor (a volunteer coordinator) is looking for people in the Master Gardner's Program would help "man" this booth on July 19th or 20th. She requires only 3 hours of the gardener's time to volunteer at this lovely booth. The shifts are as follows:
SAT July 19th
9:00am to 12:00pm
12:00pm to 3:00pm
3:00pm to 6:00pm
SUN July 20th
10:00a to 1:00p
1:00p to 4:00p
Anyone interested in volunteering should call Brenda Taylor at (928) 526-3278 - that is her home phone and they are welcomed to leave a message.
Thanks
Brenda Taylor
NACHS
(928) 526-3278
Posted by maxmaddy at 5:00 PM
Flagstaff Chapter of the Arizona Native Plant Society
The 2008 Native Plant Garden Competition
The following general guidelines will apply to judging of gardens in this competition:
. Gardens are to demonstrate how plants native to the Colorado Plateau can best be used in a garden setting. A majority of the plants used should be native, with some adaptive plants permitted.
. Entries are to be located within the Greater-Flagstaff area.
. There should be a diversity of native plants, which are compatible with the microclimate, soil and water needs of the particular garden.
. Gardeners will be classified Professional or Non-Professional, with one winner and one runner-up in each category. Winners will receive garden plaques; runners-up will receive certificates.
. Entries may be an entire property or a portion of a property.
Continue reading "Flagstaff Chapter of the Arizona Native Plant Society"
Posted by maxmaddy at 5:42 AM
2008 Flagstaff Xeriscape Contest
Purpose:
The intent of the Flagstaff Xeriscape Council is to promote the use of Xeriscape principles including native and drought tolerant plants. Our goal is to raise awareness by recognizing and rewarding people who have created landscapes that are water efficient and aesthetically pleasing.
Xeriscape Principles:
• Water conscious landscape design
• Reduction or alternatives to water dependent turf
• Use of native and drought tolerant plants as seen in Flagstaff Fabulous Plants brochure
• Incorporation of water-harvesting techniques
• Soil improvement and appropriate use of mulches
• Appropriate and efficient irrigation methods (including grey water systems)
• Conducive to wildlife habitat
Continue reading "2008 Flagstaff Xeriscape Contest"
Posted by maxmaddy at 4:55 AM
June 25, 2008
9th Annual Highlands Garden Conference
Save these dates: Monday/Tuesday October 13-14th, 2008
The 2008 Arizona Highlands Garden Conference will be held Oct. 13-14. Yavapai County Master Gardeners is hosting. The conference will be at the Prescott Resort and the theme is Water Wise/Plant Wise.
Here's a list of some of the speakers:
Scott Calhoun from Zona Gardens in Tucson will give a talk titled 'Junque Yards: Gardening with Found Objects'
Trevor Hill, President and CEO, Global Water will speak on Arizona water issues
Chris Weisinger of The Southern Bulb Company will speak on bulbs
Janet Rademacher from Mountain States Nursery will talk about new adapted plants for your garden
MacRae Nicoll from High Desert Rain Catchment will give a presentation on rainwater harvesting & graywateruse
Adrian Grimaldi, a butterfly expert and educator, will speak about how to make a butterfly garden and plants that are good for attracting butterflies
Alaskan photographer Linda Lockhart will give a photography workshop
Chris Kline from Boyce Thompson Arboretum will give a talk on wildflower identification
Lisa Montgomery will teach a workshop on applying Feng Shui concepts in the garden
For anyone needing to get in some volunteer hours, I am looking for a few Master Gardeners to help collect items for the 'welcome' bags.
Hattie
Posted by maxmaddy at 7:02 AM
June 24, 2008
Women's Shelter Workday and Planning Meeting
Linda Chan reports that five volunteers worked hard this past Saturday and accomplished a lot in the way of cleanup at the Women's Shelter.
We will scheduled another workday to finish what we started and we have schedule a planning meeting.
Women's Shelter Workday
Saturday, June 28
9:00 am
2100 Walgreen's
Please bring plenty of water!! It is hot out there!
Women's Shelter Planning Meeting
Tuesday, July 1
5:00 pm
Linda Chan's office - 3500 N. Fanning
For more information, call Linda Chan at is 380-2612 and email her at Linda Chan.
Posted by hbraun at 11:04 AM
June 23, 2008
Olivia White Hospice Garden Project
On Thursday 6/19 we were able to complete many tasks with a large crew. Gus Delgadillo came and cleaned birdbaths/filled feeders. He also helped Vicki Goodwin weed a large area, put down weed cloth and covered it with mulch.
One less area to weed regularly.
David Hockman did his usual hole digging and planted some new drought tolerant plants in the Inferno Strip (Russian Sage, Galliardia, Coreopsis and Globe Mallow). Sara Clancy continued to help with annual plantings by the Gazebo, our succulent strawberry pot and a large pot on the back patio. She also found time to deadhead the many iris in the garden. Linda Guarino and Nancy Palmer worked on improving the drip emitters in the Faerie Garden.
Sara and Vicki also fed most of the roses in the gazebo gardens. I spent most of my time finding work for everyone to do and watering new plantings. Resolution for next year: wait to plant annuals until the monsoons arrive.
Continue reading "Olivia White Hospice Garden Project"
Posted by maxmaddy at 8:08 PM
June 22, 2008
Our Dog, Roxie, The Existentialist
Master Gardener Column 6/21/08
Our dog, Roxie, the existentialist, is neither a theoretician nor an historian. She doesn't deal with first principles or precedents, instead she lives in the moment. As I scratch her ruff, run my hands through the soft hair around her neck, and cradle her head, her pink nose glows with a moist luminescence, twitching in the breeze. As she and I luxuriate in the moment, we talk "of many things: of shoes and ships and sealing wax, of cabbages and kings." She's our therapy dog.
She has a few bad memories, the Dalmatian that attacked her after we adopted her and before that the car that struck her, depriving her of a front leg. Now and then, she whimpers in her dreams, but also in those same dreams she runs through the fields on all four legs. Other than that, her world is now which is also one of the blessings of gardening, gardeners being existentialists, too.
A dog's low forehead is a dead giveaway. They don't have much of a cerebral cortex. A consequence of our massive cerebral cortices is that we worry. We stew about our yesterdays and fret about our tomorrows. We worry so much that we forget to enjoy the now, walking by a bouquet of roses without stopping to smell them.
As with Roxie, gardening is therapeutic. It brings us back to the present away from our indignations, worries, and ideologies. Getting down and dirty is not only good for the body, but the soul as well.
Continue reading "Our Dog, Roxie, The Existentialist"
Posted by maxmaddy at 5:43 PM
June 16, 2008
The Treasure of Heirloom Seeds
If you are looking for a new gardening adventure, consider planting heirloom varieties with an eye towards seed saving next fall. Heirloom varieties produce an incredible array of vegetables and herbs with unique colors, shapes and flavors. With imaginative names like Veracruz Pepita winter squash, Glasnost Siberian tomato, Four Corners Jacob's Cattle beans, and Mrs Burns' Famous Lemon Basil, heirloom seeds provide a rainbow of genetic diversity, diversity that is rapidly disappearing worldwide. Seed saving allows you to participate in a centuries-old ritual of sustainability.
Most commercial seeds are hybrids bred anew every year by crossing two or more parent varieties. In contrast, open-pollinated varieties are grown out over several generations to ensure that they breed true-to-type. Heirlooms are open-pollinated varieties that have been replanted for generations, sometimes centuries. Over time, seed saving facilitates the evolution of new varieties that are best adapted to your garden's microclimates.
Continue reading "The Treasure of Heirloom Seeds"
Posted by maxmaddy at 8:33 PM
Olivia White Hospice Garden Project
On Thursday several of our regular crew (Karen Kent, Nancy Palmer, Elsie Ellis, Gus Delgadillo) continued work in the hospice garden. Karen worked in connecting emittters for several new plants and with Nancy on the drip emitters for the south Inferno Strip, Karen & Nancy are learning how to turn on 7 of the stations for the drip. Yeah! It is good to have back up in case I ever go on vacation again.
Sara Clancy,one of our new volunteers, spent most of her time planting annual pots and some of our CSA plants. We also had a donation of violets and lemon lilies from a family from the house we needed to find homes for. Gus spent his time with the bird feeders and baths and manage to find time to plant a new native elderberry tree. Elsie did her usual watering of the east gardens. As usual, I spent most of my time running from here to there, not finishing much of anything.
We had a visit from Joanne Mickleson whose family is building an arbor/bench for us. It should be ready by the Garden Party. The Soroptomists will be laying a brick path to the bench in the fall.
Continue reading "Olivia White Hospice Garden Project"
Posted by maxmaddy at 11:46 AM
June 10, 2008
Ethnobotanical Plant Walks Summer 2008
The Arizona Ethnobotanical Research Association (AERA) is celebrating our 25th anniversary this year! Thank you to everyone who has been there to support us since 1983. Phyllis Hogan began this important work at the request of indigenous elders who wanted help keeping cultural plant wisdom alive and thriving into the 21st century. We are glad that you see the value of our work in strengthening bonds between people, plants, and all webs of life.
Once again we will be leading a series of plant walks this summer in keeping true to the promise of passing knowledge on to caring people. Many of you have been requesting these, and we hope you will be able to join us in learning some traditional and modern uses of local plants. Phyllis and her assistant Jessa Fisher will be leading the walks, along with some
special guests.
Continue reading "Ethnobotanical Plant Walks Summer 2008"
Posted by maxmaddy at 6:20 AM
June 9, 2008
Local Food Benefit Concert
Orpheum Theatre Presents:
A local Foods Benefit Concert with Grammy-nominated
Adrienne Young and Little Sadie, with Tony Norris as opening act.
Sunday June 22
Local food activists and author Gary Paul Nabhan will mc the event, which will benefit the newly-launched Canyon Country Fresh Alliance, Slow Food Alta Arizona and other food groups in the region.
Doors will open at 7 pm and local non-profits will be featured until the music starts. Adrianne Young and Little Sadie are the National Spokes band for Buy Fresh Buy Local campaigns across the country, and are a contemporary bluegrass band with high energy and rural values.
Posted by maxmaddy at 8:12 PM
June 8, 2008
Women's Shelter Garden Clean-up
There will be a cleanup day at the Women's Shelter this Saturday, June 21 at 9:00 am. The shelter is located at 2100 Walgreen Street. Those who can come should bring gardening tools, gloves, clippers.
For more information, please contact Linda Chan at lsfarms@aol.com. Linda's cell # is 380-2612.
Linda would appreciate it if you could e-mail her and let her know if you are interested in helping with this project even if you can't come on Saturday.
Linda would also like to set up a meeting to start planning the gardens for the shelter. There is a small budget to work! Hopefully there weather will cooperate - for both the work day and for planning - unlike last winter!
Hattie Braun
Posted by maxmaddy at 6:26 AM
June 7, 2008
GROWING GREEN: the Right Plants in the Right Places
Master Gardener Column 6/7/08
As members of The Westerners, a gang of western history buffs with low dues who eat very well once a month at Thornagers, share camaraderie, and listen to enjoyable speakers on western lore, meine Überfrau and I have learned that the pioneers in the High Country were a hardy lot. We’ve also learned from the Master Gardening Program that the flora and fauna of the High Country are also a hardy lot. After a spring of two snows, high winds, a heat wave, and record high and lows, it is clear why the natives of the High Country are hardy and why gardens need hardy plants.
The Arizona Native Plant Society and the Flagstaff Xeriscape Council are two organizations concerned with both beautiful and successful gardening in the High Country. Each one of them sponsors a competition for the most attractive gardens in Greater Flagstaff using both native and water efficient plants. Before last winter’s heavy snow pack, there have been years of drought. We live in a land where only hardy people and plants do well.
Continue reading "GROWING GREEN: the Right Plants in the Right Places"
Posted by maxmaddy at 8:22 PM
June 5, 2008
Olivia White Hospice Garden Project
Our Thursday workday was busy as usual. Our regular gardeners (Karen Kent, Nancy Palmer, Marcia Lamkin and Elsie Ellis) came and Linda Guarino (MG), Gus Delgadillo and Sara Clancy a new volunteer from the recent hospice training also helped.
Karen did her usual pruning, deadheading and began to use her compost from the garden to plant some red runner beans (Aztec White) that were donated by Native Seed Search. The compost has done well considering our strange weather this year. We have a couple of open cinder block areas and some composters from the city of Flagstaff thanks to Karen's persistance.
Linda and Sara planted annuals in many of our pots and added some of the vegetables/flowers from the local CSA seedling project to existing beds and sensory pots. Linda also planted a large munstead lavender. We have been replacing artemesia in our rose garden with lavender. It helps to deter the deer away from roses and replaces a troublesome plant. The artemesias after a couple of years become sink holes and eventually die. Any advice on this plant would be appreciated. Gus came and cleaned the gazebo floor, replaced a brick and planted a "Nearly Wild" rose for his wife Lucy. Elsie watered the back garden and some new plants, and cleaned birdbaths. Marcia and Nancy worked on adding annual pots to the Faerie Garden. The 'black gold" Dana Prom Smith provided last fall did wonders for that garden. All the plants returned and look very happy to be there.
Zane and David brought some residents from the home out to visit.
Jacki Hainsworth stopped by to give us some starts from Mary Lou Parliman's greenhouse.
Continue reading "Olivia White Hospice Garden Project"
Posted by maxmaddy at 8:17 PM