August 26, 2008
Firewise Home Ignition Zone Course
The Greater Flagstaff Forests Partnership is sponsoring a Firewise Home Ignition Zone course with instructors from the Flagstaff Fire Department and University of Arizona Agricultural Extension Office.
This single course will be held at the Arizona Game and Fish Department 3500 S Lake Mary Road in Flagstaff on September 12th, 19th, and 26th from 08:30 to 12:30 each day.
A registration fee of $10 will cover snacks and drinks. Course materials will be provided by the Greater Flagstaff Forests Partnership. Space is limited to 35 attendees. Contact Mariel Watt at the Coconino County U of A Agricultural Extension office at (928) 774-1868 ext 10 for registration details and to find out if seats are still available.
For more information on this course or how your neighborhood can become a Firewise Community, contact Firewise Coordinator, Mark Brehl at (928) 556-1207 or by email at Mark Brehl.
Continue reading "Firewise Home Ignition Zone Course"
Posted by hbraun at 2:14 PM
August 24, 2008
Olivia White Hospice Garden Project
On Sunday the 17th of August we hosted a Garden Party to raise funds for next year. The gardens looked beautiful for an hour and then the rain/hail came for almost 30 minutes. Most of the damage was to large leafed vegetables like the zucchini, squash and cucumbers. The new lettuce planted at the end of July looked dead, but perked up after a couple of days of sunshine. The party was successful. With our auction/raffle and the sale of tickets to attend we will probably be able to fund the finishing of our drip, shelving the greenhouse and further development of our native garden. Joan White, Olivia's grandmother, who won the generous gift certificate to Native Plant and Seed, donated it to the garden. This will be used in creating our rock garden next spring. We also recieved a bin of Dana Prom Smith's compost from a couple of other bidders in the auction. We all got a little wet but really enjoyed Russ Mann's auction, wonderful food from Thornagers, and music from Jan Torney (harp) and Nancy Swan (violin). Thanks to all the donors who made this such a sucessful event.
On Tuesday, we attended the Native Plant Society Meeting and were given a special award for the Use of Native Plants in a Community Garden. They provided a beautiful plaque which we can post in the garden and a poster of AZ native plants.
On Thursday we had our regular workday and we worked on deadheading, cleaning up damage from the storm, some weeding, watering and filling the birdbaths and feeders. We had our regulars Karen Kent, Nancy Palmer, Gus Delgadillo, and some master gardeners from this years class.
Saturday, Cynthia Katte was in charge for our monthy Saturday workday. She had 7 people show up and they worked on cleaning up the garden, watering and weeding.
On Sunday, we hosted our open house for the Native Plant and Xeriscape contest. We had about 50 people come to visit our garden. Most were local but some were summer visitors from Phoenix.
Continue reading "Olivia White Hospice Garden Project"
Posted by maxmaddy at 9:47 PM
2008 Arizona Highlands Garden Conference: Beating the Water Odds
Master Gardener Column 8/23/08
Even at second glance, casinos and gardening appear to have nothing much in common, but they do. It's chance. Both are gambles, one against the odds of the house and the other against nature, especially the Colorado Plateau. While the odds are always against the gambler and the gardener, the 2008 Arizona Highlands Garden Conference will help gardeners beat the odds, especially the water odds. So it's apropos that the conference will be held this year at the Prescott Resort in Prescott which amongst other things is a casino.
Each October for the last eight years, gardeners from northern Arizona have met, mingled, and shared ideas about gardening at northern Arizona's 3,000 to 7,000 foot elevation, beating the odds of short growing seasons, unpredictable weather, and a dry climate. In addition to fresh ideas, gardening tips, new techniques, and time-tested solutions for gardening in the high country, this year's conference will provide all that and much more, like water-wisdom.
Continue reading "2008 Arizona Highlands Garden Conference: Beating the Water Odds"
Posted by maxmaddy at 9:28 PM
August 23, 2008
Calling all Weed Warriors & Thistle Thugs!
Northern Arizona Audubon is having another work day on the east Rio de Flag. We will be picking up trash and digging up non-native, invasive thistle and other noxious weeds.
Date:
Saturday, September 6th
Time: 9:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. (or whenever you get tired and decide to leave)
Directions:
From Flagstaff, go north on Hwy 89 toward Page, past the Mall
Turn right onto Townsend/Winona road
Go approx 4.5 miles and turn left onto dirt road. (If you get to Slayton Ranch Rd, you've just passed us).
Go left at the fork in the road and follow it down to the Rio (you'll see all the other cars there).
We will have a banner and a couple of folks out by the road at 9:00, so we shouldn't be hard to find.
Please bring:
Gloves, hat, sunscreen, water and a folding chair or bucket to sit on for lunch. Shovels, spades and other implements of weed destruction. I also recommend wearing long pants and a long-sleeved shirt.
County Supervisor Deb Hill has graciously offered to provide lunch for our volunteers, so PLEASE let me know if you are planning to come out and help, no later than Tuesday, September 2nd, so we can plan for enough food.
Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.
Kathie Satterfield
N. AZ Audubon
Volunteer Coordinator
928-522-0375
k.satterfield@yahoo.com
Posted by lunaticchick at 6:09 PM
August 19, 2008
McMillan Mesa Park Workday
Joe Harte from the 2008 Master Gardener class has set up a workday at McMillan Mesa Park. This is a nice little neighborhood park of 2.5 acres that needs some help with pruning, weeding, and cleanup.
An arborist from the City of Flagstaff will be on hand to give a pruning demonstration.
McMillan Mesa Park Workday
Wednesday, August 27
9:00 am - 11:00 am
1140 Ponderosa Parkway
Please join us. I will bring gloves, a couple of pruners, weeding shovels, snacks and drinks. Contact Hattie is you have any questions.
Posted by hbraun at 1:03 PM
August 16, 2008
The Slothful Gardener
Master Gardener Column 8/16/08
Before my recent knee surgery, my surgeon, Dr. Torey Botti, suggested I take it easy after the surgery, like wiggling my toes and bending my knee. I assured him that my favorite vice was sloth. However, it wasn't always so, when younger, I savored lust and gluttony, but as I've aged, lust's battery has run low. And then gluttony lead to a triple by-pass so I modified my intake down to a cardiac healthy diet which it turned out tastes as good as the artery-cloggers of yore.
Never big on greed because just making money is boring, and besides greedy people are dull and drink too much to escape their boredom. Jealousy and envy aren't attractive either because they're the only vices without a reward. Gluttony, greed, lust, and sloth have perks, but jealousy and envy yield only bile as in "it galls me." Bitterness is also boring. Fraudulently powerful, anger's, in fact, an act of impotence and takes way too much energy. Pride signals that inner dread of insignificance that haunts us all.
With sloth you can drop your clothes on the floor right where you took them off. You can put off to tomorrow what you don't want to do today. With age, sloth has loomed as an attractive vice, idly working a waste of precious time. Slothful gardening husbands one's energy. So what if I want a beautiful garden? Hardy, water-efficient perennials.
Continue reading "The Slothful Gardener"
Posted by maxmaddy at 8:21 PM
August 15, 2008
Olivia White Hospice Garden Project
Thursday was spent getting ready for our annual Garden Party on Sunday. The garden is really at it's peak with all the rain we have had this summer. We had a large crew that came to help clean, weed, and deadhead.
Laura Davis came all the way from Tucson to help us. She worked on the Tea Garden which has not had a lot of attention this year. David Hockman finished the Native Garden pathway and did some weeding for us. Gus Delgadillo filled all the bird feeders and baths and spread the last of the mulch that Leslie Penick brought this week. Karen Kent worked on the roses and the compost pile and deadheaded some other flowers. Vicki Goodwin transplanted some mat penstemon found in the wild part of the property into our perennial beds. She also did her usual weeding. Sara Clancy, Kay Clark , and Marcia Lamkin weeded. Nancy Palmer worked on the Faerie Garden and birdhouse trellis. Elsie Ellis watered and cleaned pots to be put away.
We had our usual bird visitors to the garden and Marcia brought a baby nighthawk that she is caring for. Zane was in the garden and luckily didn't notice as he was too busy looking for treats from Nancy.
Continue reading "Olivia White Hospice Garden Project"
Posted by maxmaddy at 5:22 AM
August 14, 2008
Women's Shelter Workdays
Before
After
As you can see, lots of progress has been made at Northland Family Help Center. Thanks to all who have participated and/or wished us well. We have several more work days scheduled.
Late Summer Workdays
Thursdays - August 14, 28, Sept 11
Saturdays - August 16, 23, Sept 6
We meet at 9:00 am and go until noon or until you have something else to do!
The Flagstaff Leadership Group has proposed a "work day" on Wed. afternoon, Aug 20, 3-6 pm.
By the way, one of the gardeners spotted a fox and a cat at the shelter. A staff person told us that the "couple" hangs out there.
Contact Linda Chan at 380-2612 or Linda Chan if you would like to help.
Posted by hbraun at 3:25 PM
August 11, 2008
Planting Biotrays Help Needed at Museum of Northern Arizona
The Museum of Northern Arizona needs your help planting biotrays.
Here at the museum we are constructing a new building that will have a living roof. We are in need of volunteers to help plant biotrays that will be installed on the roof after seedling establishment. Several Master Gardeners have been busy helping.
Volunteers are needed August 12, 13, 14, and 15 from 6 a.m. - noon and August 16 and 17 from 8:00 a.m. - noon (note the later hours on the weekend) at the research center campus across the street from the exhibit building - 3100 N. Fort Valley Rd. We'd like to have a big and final push and finish soon. If as many of your troops show up as they did the weekend of the 8th then we have a very good chance at being done by the 18th.
I think it's safe to say this roof would not be happening without the help of the master gardeners. If you have any questions please contact me. I hope you can join us.
Thanks,
Keri Stiverson
Coordinator
Native Plant Materials Program
Museum of Northern Arizona
3101 N. Fort Valley Rd
Flagstaff, AZ 86001
(928) 774-5211 x 216
KStiverson@mna.mus.az.us
Posted by hbraun at 1:39 PM
August 10, 2008
Olivia White Hospice Garden Project
On Thursday our garden crew worked on finishing a few projects and on sprucing up the gardens for our August 17th Garden Party. Karen Kent dead headed, worked on the compost pile and finished the Native Garden Walkway.
Vicki Goodwin also worked on the compost pile and did her usual weeding. Diane Adams, Gloria Bradshaw, Linda Guarino and Kay Clark also weeded. Gus Delgadillo filled feeders, cleaned birdbaths and spread the last of the mulch that Leslie Penick hauled for us. I helped Linda Guarino and Gordon Bradshaw gather rocks to finish lining the walkway. Elsie Ellis cleaned patios, watered a little and scrubbed a couple of birdbaths. David Hockman and Nancy Palmer stopped by for our last full meeting on the Garden Party planning. Joe Harte continues to help by watering Norm Erickson's beds in his absence.
With all the rain we have had it has been tough to keep up with the weeds - mostly elm seedlings and ragweed. Anyone who wants to join us for this last week of weeding before the Garden Party will be welcomed.
On Saturday, the Mickelson and Filleman families came to install a beautiful new arbor bench. It adds beauty, comfort for sitting, and a screen between the street and rose garden/gazebo. In the fall the Soroptomists will be installing a brick walkway to the bench.
Continue reading "Olivia White Hospice Garden Project"
Posted by maxmaddy at 6:50 AM
A Garden Party for the Gardens
Master Gardener Column 8/9/08
A visit to the Gardens at the Olivia White Hospice reveals the beauty of a well-tended garden as well as the volunteer gardeners and hospice residents enjoying the gardens. Hospices and gardens have a lot in common, both focusing on the value of life. Hospices deal with life at its most fragile, gardens with the joy of life. Ironically, the more fragile a life becomes, the more cherished it becomes. The Gardens at Olivia White Hospice Home ease that fragility with the joy of a garden's beauty.
Continue reading "A Garden Party for the Gardens"
Posted by maxmaddy at 6:04 AM
August 6, 2008
Arboretum at Flagstaff
August Events:
Garden Party...Celebrating Life in the Southwest
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Featuring our 2008 Artist of the Year
Roberta Rogers
Renowned watercolorist Roberta Rogers will join us as the Artist of the Year. Roberta has generously donated a few of her pieces which will be part of our live auction, and she will be our guest too!
Reception 5:30 pm
Hor D'Oeuvres & Wine/Beer/ Soda
Start of Silent Auction
Live Auction with Bill Blume 6:30 pm
Dinner 7:00 pm
The evening will be accompanied by live music and the birds of prey.
Please respond by August 2, 2008 (Call us: 928-774-1442 Ext. 124)
Generously sponsored by...
Harry and Betsy Easton, Peter and Cathy Jolma, Loven Contracting
Tickets $100 per person
Tables for 6 or 8 persons may be reserved
Call (928) 774-1442 x 101 for tickets
Continue reading "Arboretum at Flagstaff"
Posted by maxmaddy at 8:10 PM
Olivia White Hospice Home Garden Party
What: Garden Party
Auction/raffle
Hat Contest
Garden Tours
Food & Music
When: Sunday, August 17th, from 2:30pm - 5:00 pm
Where: Olivia White Hospice Home Garden
752 N. Switzer Canyon Drive
Parking available at the 1st Congregational Church on Turquoise just past Switzer Canyon Drive or on the east side of Turquoise
You can purchase raffle $3 each or 5 for $15 or party tickets ($25) at the Northland Hospice office.
452 N. Switzer Canyon Drive
928-779-5227
For more information contact Loni Shapiro (928-522-8635) maxmaddy@infomagic.net.
Posted by maxmaddy at 6:02 AM
August 5, 2008
AZNPS of Northern Arizona Educational Programs
Field Trip: Sunday, July 20 Growing Castillejas and Carrots in a Flagstaff Garden, led by Zack Zdinak. Just get us started on how we've grown carrots for years, or how we successfully transplanted dozens of paintbrush from a friend's construction site, and we won't stop. Zack and Robert welcome you to our modest downtown garden for those and other trials and errors with native and food plants. We'll have the coffee ready. Bring a pot luck item to share for a backyard picnic. Meet at Meet at the Arizona State Credit Union parking lot, corners of Beaver and Butler Streets, to carpool, or call Zack for directions to his downtown house: 774-4229 or wildlife@lifedraw.com.
Evening Program Talk: Tuesday, August 19 2008 Native Plant Garden Competition. The 2007 event was so successful and appreciated by the community, we decided to do it again! Photos and descriptions of the gardens and landscapes entered into this second AZNPS garden competition will be featured. The focus of the competition is for the home gardener to demonstrate how plants of the Colorado Plateau can best be used in a garden setting. AZNPS judges will have visited the entered gardens, selected the winners, first and second in non-professional and professional categories, and will share how their decisions were made. See page 6 for an entry form or contact Elaine Ferris at (928) 527-3702.
7:00 pm at LA 135 of the Liberal Arts building, NAU campus. Park in the NAU biology building parking lot at the corners of Franklin and Beaver Streets (free after 4:30). The Liberal Arts building is attached to and on the east side of the greenhouse, east of the parking lot. LA 135 is the auditorium in the northeast corner of the building.
Field Trip: Sunday, August 24 2008 Native Plant Garden Competition Tour. Entries in the Native Plant Garden Competition will be visited. Gardener hosts will guide us through their gardens, explain their garden designs and answer questions. Number of gardens and locations will determine length of trip; you can decide to visit one garden or all of them. More information will be released about the tour as the season progresses so check your email.
Posted by maxmaddy at 8:19 PM
August 4, 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 Dr. Mark Chapman,3015 N Boldt Drive
Saturday, September 6, 9 a.m NOTE: 9 A.M.
Mark's garden is proof that you can successfully grow food for your table right here in Flagstaff. The backyard setting for his vegetable garden is large. He just put in a new greenhouse as well.
Directions: Take Highway 180 (FORT VALLEY ROAD) north to Cheshire and turn Left at the 2nd entrance which is Peak View Street. Go south for 4 streets and turn right on Cooper. Go into Linwood Heights subdivision. Turn right on Boldt Drive (first street on your right). It will be the first house on your left. 3015 N Boldt Dr.
Thank you to Mark for the invitation and to Jacki Hainsworth for arranging the visit.
Garden of Hans and Jayne Lauridsen, 4927 Mt. Pleasant Dr.
Saturday, September 13, 10 a.m.
The Lauridsens have an acre of gardens that are terraced with lots of rock, various beds of shrubs and perennials, and water features. All the hardscape and planting work has been done by them.
Directions: Butler Ave. east to Mt. Pleasant, right (south) on Mt. Pleasant to 4927.
Thank You to Hans and Jayne for the invitation and to Molly Larsen for arranging the visit.
Continue reading "The Flagstaff Garden Club"
Posted by maxmaddy at 6:10 AM
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
August 3, 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
August 2, 2008
Botox Gardening
Master Gardener Column 8/2/08
When Ponce de León hit Florida's beaches in 1513 on his quest for the Fountain of Youth, he didn't know that a syringe filled with botox was waiting for him 494 years later in La La Land. In an attempt to "beguile time," as Lady Macbeth put it, this injectable elixir of youth paralyzes the facial muscles thereby faking the appearance of youth, much like faded plastic flowers emerging from winter's snow in a springtime graveyard.
As with gardening pesticides, botox is lethal, being one of the most toxic of naturally occurring chemicals. The scientific name for botox is a dead giveaway, Botulinum toxin. A satire on modern culture's fix on youth and its propensity for poisons, botox is one of the many poisons used in modern culture, ranging all the way from methamphetamine and nicotine to garden pesticides and herbicides. They're offered as solutions to problems, botox to the angst of aging, narcotics and alcohol to the stresses of life, and garden pesticides and herbicides to a healthy garden. The result of this quest for the quick fix is that people are poisoning themselves, their food, and their soil. The word is intoxication.
Continue reading "Botox Gardening"
Posted by maxmaddy at 7:46 PM
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
Registration forms are now available on-line for the 2008 Arizona Highlands Garden Conference at: http://ag.arizona.edu/yavapai/ahgc/
However, you still must registration the ol' fashioned way - print off the registration form and mail it along with your registration fee to:
Karen Pizzuto
U of A Yavapai County Cooperative Extension
840 Rodeo Dr., Bldg. C
Prescott, AZ 86305
Registration is limited to the first 150 people so don't delay if you are interested in attending.
Hattie Braun
Master Gardener Program Coordinator
University of Arizona Coconino Cooperative Extension
2304 N. 3rd Street
Flagstaff, AZ 86004
(928) 774-1868 ext. 17
Posted by maxmaddy at 7:02 AM
August 1, 2008
Olivia White Hospice Garden Project
When I arrived at 7am on Thursday, Diane Hoge was already busy weed whacking in the garden. Our regular crew had another busy and hot day in the Gardens of Olivia White. David Hockman and Karen Kent continued to work on the Native Garden Pathway. It should be finished next week. Linda Guarino worked on cleaning up the Interno Strip - weeding and deadheading - in preparation for the judging of the Xeriscape contest on Monday.Gus Delgadillo came and filled bird feeders and baths and finished up the day weeding the Native Garden. Sara Clancy and I moved some benches and raised a large pot with trailing wave petunias. She also watered and finished up her day weeding. Elsie Ellis watered and cleaned the sun porch. Nancy Palmer worked on weeding, watering and cleaning the Faerie Garden. Chrys Wells and Gloria Bradshaw continued their weeding in preparation for our Garden Party. Gloria's husband helped us to move some materials into the greenhouse and also weeded. Joe Harte popped in and out and managed to remove many elms from the garden, repair a bench, and watered yesterday in the absent Norm Erickson. I did some planting, watering, weeding and just running from here to there to keep people busy.
On Friday, I set up a table with Karen Kent downtown as a fundraiser for our garden. Because of the weather, the streets were very crowded. We had a chance to meet many hospice supporters from Flagstaff and throughout the country, while raising money for our garden. Thanks to all who stopped by.
Saturday, we had a very successful day at Warner's. They will donate 10% of their proceeds to the garden. Thanks to all who shopped for us on Saturday. Jan Busco and Terra Crampton spent time with their audiences talking about gardening in Flagstaff, while walking throughout the nursery. At our table we did some fundraising for our annual Garden Party and talked with many hospice supporters.
Continue reading "Olivia White Hospice Garden Project"
Posted by maxmaddy at 7:05 AM