CMGA General Info

The San Francisco Peaks as seen from Timberline 5 miles northeast of Flagstaff.
Photo by Cindy Murray.

Welcome to the Coconino County Master Gardeners Association blog. The mission of the Master Gardener Program is to create a corps of well-informed volunteers, and to deliver quality horticultural education programs adapted to our regional high elevation environment. The purpose of the association is to provide support for those volunteers and Master Gardener graduates, continuing education, and opportunities to participate in community programs that increase the visibility and participation in the Master Gardener Program.
The Coconino Master Gardener Association (2009) began in 2009. This blog contains information on:
-How to become a member
-Volunteer and Education hours reporting
-Calendar of Events
-General gardening information articles
-Master Gardener Association Documents and forms
-References and Resources
-Interesting Websites and Blogs
-Old Gardening Etcetera columns
-Recipes
-Book Reviews
-How to contact Board or Committee Members
Meetings are held monthly on the 2nd Thursday from 600pm - 8;30pm. We meet at the Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church at 1601 N. San Francisco. This includes continuing education and a business meeting.

Reporting Master Gardener Hours

All master gardener trainees and certified master gardeners need to report their hours.
Beginning in 2010 certified master gardeners need to have 6 Education hours and 12 Volunteer hours in order to maintain certification.The on line reporting system allows you to report Education or Volunteer hours. You can sign in to record hours in the right hand column under Recording Volunteer and Education Hours. Just click on the U. of A.
If you have any questions or concerns about the new reporting system, please contact Brenda Smith (A - M) or Sue Madden (N - Z). Their contacts are listed at the bottom of the blog under
Contacts.



Ideas for hours------
--Attend monthly meetings
--Work on an association committee
--Work at an informational booth for the Master Gardeners
--Be a speaker about gardening topics at a variety of venues

--Host a garden tour
--Work at a fundraising event (Plant Sale - Garden Tour).
--Work at a MG site (Olivia White Hospice, the Arboretum, Riordan Mansion, or school gardens (many others)). Check out the Assoc. Doc. & Forms under Volunteer Sites.
--Work in the Extension office
--Write an article for the newspaper column -Gardening Etcetera
-Volunteer with the Seed Library
Be creative! There are many ways to fulfill your hours. Just remember for volunteering it needs to be a non-profit endeavor or an approved for profit site.

Change in Contact Information

Have you moved or changed your e-mail address, but would still like to be contacted about high elevation gardening information from the Extension? The Coconino County Extension Master Gardener Program has a site that will let you change your information on-line.

Click here to change your contact information!

Event Calendar

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Master Gardener Assoc. Meeting Minutes 10/14/10

Murdoch Community Center
210 E. Brannen
6:30 pm – 8:30 pm

6:30pm-6:40pm Welcome – Agenda
Jim Mast
Brief review of agenda. Introduction of speaker
6:40pm-7:30pm Continuing Education
Gardening with Native Plants
Susan Lamb Bean – writer and naturalist

Synopsis of Sun, Wind, and Slope: Gardening the Microclimates of the Flagstaff Area
Susan began her power point lecture with the general climate of Flagstaff. With at least four seasons, it has one of the shortest growing seasons in the country, even over northern regions, with the number of growing days and the number of hours in the day. Within the seasons in each yard are microclimates determined by temperature, wind, rainfall, slope, rocks, and soil type. Using her own home and landscape as example, she showed the progression of plantings and their success or failure, and why. Trial and error provided answers as to what survived, or thrived. She stated that by providing a good environment, native plants moved in on their own. The program ended with pictures of various plants located in the microclimate they like, by season. Susan’s photography was excellent, with both plants and wildlife adding interest to her lecture.

7:30pm – 7:45pm Refreshments Thanks to Ann Eagan and Hattie for these tonight. Irene Matthews volunteered for Nov, pending a check with Linda if someone already signed up.

7:45pm -8:30pm Business Meeting 19 in attendance including 6 trainees who introduced themselves

7:45pm-8:00pm Overview of recent Executive Committee meeting - Jim Mast
Calendar Update---Ann Eagan stated that Old Town Shops are starting crafts/market fairs Nov 15
Blog Ideas---Now has a sitemeter with national hits
Venue Change---Checking Shepherd of the Hills church, fire stations were suggested
Membership Cards for 2011---$10 annual, Loni is checking for discounts at local vendors for cardholders
Voting for Officers—Jim opened floor for nominations; none given; said current board was open to continue their positions for next year; announced a new board position of historian taken by Val Bryant; she’s accepting photos and news items for scrapbook
Finance update– Ed Skiba
Balances in accounts---$424.46 in checking, $226.94 savings; presented first check to Hattie (UofA) of $787.84 for reimbursement of calendars; talked about use of funds and possibly closing the checking account as there is a fee for it

8:00pm-8:20pm Committee Reports:
Continuing Education-Dana Prom Smith (see schedule below)—Note change in venue below for May-July, 2011
Community Programs
Flagstaff’s Community Market – Julie Holmes/Molly Larsen---Molly asked market volunteers how the summer went with a positive response, even on slow market days; will add more days next summer on Sundays
Speakers Bureau–Jim Mast—This needs a coordinator; Hattie said she may replace the MG final test with a presentation to add speakers, currently there are 4 registered speakers
Home Show–Jim Mast—Faith Britton volunteered to coordinate this committee; Hattie will check first to see if the dome will be open then due to renovation
Coordination MG Projects–Linda Guarino---Hattie explained this committee and the form
Volunteer Support/Social – Hattie Braun/Crys Wells---Jim explained this committee and answered the question of 12 hrs volunteering and 6 hrs education to recertify annually.
December party---Val Bryant will host this in her home; it was decided to have it on Thursday, Dec 9, our normal meeting night, with a white elephant exchange. Details to follow.

8:20pm – 830pm What is it? Garden Problems/Questions
How to grow Indian paintbrush? Plant seeds with grama grass as it’s parasitic. How to treat powdery mildew and using cayenne pepper on ground to deter squirrels were other questions discussed.

Next meeting: November 11, 2010---2nd Thursday at Murdoch Center
Gardening with Leftovers
Speakers: Nancy and Jim DeBlois
Meeting adjourned at 8:40 pm.

Schedule for future meetings:
December Party - ?—Dec 9 at Val Bryant’s home
January 13, 2011 Bird Loving Plants – Bea Cooley, Audubon Society
February 10, 2011 Spiders of Winter – Freddi Steele, writer and former naturalist with the park service
March 10, 2011 Chaa Organic Farm in Belize - Linda Neff, anthropologist
April 14, 2011 Horticultural Therapy – Loni Shapiro
May, 2010 – Joan Abbott
June, 2011 – Art Babbott, Communitiy Markets
July, 2011 Sustainability – William Auberle

opportunities check out the blog – coconinomgassociation.blogspot.com

Monday, October 11, 2010

Agenda Master Gardener Assoc. Meeting 10/14/10

Murdoch Community Center
210 E. Brannen
6:30 pm – 8:30 pm

6:30pm-6:40pm Welcome – Agenda
Jim Mast
Brief review of agenda. Introduction of speaker

6:40pm-7:30pm Continuing Education
Gardening with Native Plants
Susan Lamb Bean – writer and naturalist

7:30pm – 7:45pm Refreshments

7:45pm -8:30pm Business Meeting
7:45pm-8:00pm Overview of recent Executive Committee meeting - Jim Mast
Calendar Update
Blog Ideas
Venue Change
Membership Cards for 2011
Voting for Officers
Finance update– Ed Skiba
Balances in accounts

8:00pm-8:20pm Committee Reports:
Continuing Education-Dana Prom Smith (see schedule below)

Community Programs
Flagstaff’s Community Market – Julie Holmes/Molly Larsen
Speakers Bureau–Jim Mast
Home Show–Jim Mast

Coordination MG Projects–Linda Guarino

Volunteer Support/Social – Hattie Braun/Crys Wells
December party

8:20pm – 830pm What is it? Garden Problems/Questions

Next meeting: November 11, 2010
Gardening with Leftovers
Speakers: Nancy and Jim DeBlois

Schedule for future meetings:
December Party - ?
January 13, 2011 Bird Living Plants – Bea Cooley, Audubon Society
February 10, 2011 Spiders of Winter – Freddi Steele, writer and former naturalist with the park service
March 10, 2011 Chaa Organic Farm in Belize - Linda Neff, anthropologist
April 14, 2011 Horticultural Therapy – Loni Shapiro
June 9, 2011 Sustainability – William Auberle

Continuing Education/Volunteer Opportunities:
Olivia White Hospice Garden Workday
October 21, 2010, 8am-12pm

Olivia White Hospice Garden Special Workday - bulb planting
October 23, 2010 9am-12pm

Olivia White Hospice Garden Workday
October 28, 2010 8am-12pm

The Arboretum at Flagstaff Fall Craft Classes
Dying for Yarn and The Art of Gourd - Saturday, 10/23/10 930am & 130pm

Flagstaff Flower & Garden Club / Pine Cone Workshop
Warner's Nursery, 11/1/10 5:30pm

Olivia White Hospice Garden Workday
November 4, 2010, 8am-12pm

Olivia White Hospice Garden Workday
November 11, 2010, 8am-12pm

Flagstaff Flower & Garden Club / Wreaths & Swags & Fireplace Mantels
Riordan Mansion 11/22/10 6:30pm

For details on above opportunities check out the blog – coconinomgassociation.blogspot.com

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

4th Weed Pull at the Pioneer Museum

Greetings to all Master Gardeners, Pioneer Museum volunteers, and Members of the AZ Native Plant Society,

Thank you, everyone, so much for participating in our three previous weed pulls at the Pioneer Museum. Congratulations, you have eradicated 42 (yes, 42) huge bags of Diffuse Knapweed. It is amazing to look at the grounds today and remember what is looked like a month ago, when we began our project. It's so-o-o-o satisfying.

Please join us for the 4th weed pull at the Pioneer Museum on Hwy. 180 on Monday, October 11, from 9 am until noon. Come when you can, leave whenever.

Hattie Braun from Master Gardeners will provide bags, gloves and tools. Bring tools, if you have some favorites. Please wear sun protection and sturdy shoes. The AZNPS will provide water and snacks. Please come prepared for the weather.

Please contact Hattie Braun (MG) at 928-774-1868 x 170, or Dorothy Lamm (AZNPS) at 928-779-7296 to volunteer. Or just show up. The more the merrier.

Plans are to have a weed management plan in place so hopefully this will be the last of the knapweed pulls at least at the Pioneer Museum.

Hattie Braun
University of Arizona
Master Gardener Program Coordinator
Coconino County Cooperative Extension
2304 N. 3rd St.
Flagstaff, AZ 86004

Phone: 928-774-1868 x 170
FAX: 928-774-1860

Meeting Reminder!

October meeting of the Coconino Master Gardener Association

When: Thursday, Oct 14th from 6:30-8:30
Where: Murdoch Community Center (please note new location)
Speaker: Susan Lamb Bean – Gardening with Native Plants
Susan is a local writer and naturalist.

A business meeting will follow the talk. Please join us!
All Master Gardeners certified or not are invited to attend the meeting and the community is invited to the lecture. The agenda will be posted on this blog after the Executive Board Meeing on Thursday, October 7th.

The Murdoch Center is located at 203 E. Brannen Ave. The building is on Butler Ave. about 1 ½ blocks west of Flagstaff Native Plant and Seed. You need to be on Brannen to enter the parking lot. From Butler Ave. turn north on S. Eldon (corner of Native Plant & Seed). Make a left onto Brannen Ave. The Murdoch Center parking will be on your left.


Hattie Braun
University of Arizona
Master Gardener Program Coordinator
Coconino County Cooperative Extension
2304 N. 3rd St.
Flagstaff, AZ 86004

Phone: 928-774-1868 x 170
FAX: 928-774-1860