CMGA General Info

Species tulips planted in fall. These appear in early spring. Olivia White Hospice Garden.
Photo by Loni Shapiro.

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

Sunday, July 25, 2010

MG Association Meeting 7/15/10

Master Gardener Meeting Minutes 7/15/10
Northland Hospice Office
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
Northern Arizona Microclimates
Lee Born
Lee started by defining microclimate. It’s the climate of the airspace near the surface of the earth. This varies dramatically over the Flagstaff area, but 500 feet above us, there is no different. Microclimate could also be defined as the. climate on a small scale. The major players in determining microclimates are: sun vs shade, directional exposure, slopes, air circulation, wind exposure, elevation, topography. Together these factors explain why the Fort Valley area is colder than other parts of Flagstaff (cool air drains off the Peaks into the basin) and why the Banana Belt is warmer (heat off rocks of Mt. Elden warms nearby area). The major factor in our weather is the Mogollon Rim, which is why we have colder weather and more precipitation than other parts of Arizona.

7:30pm – 7:45pm Refreshments
Thank you to Andrea and Galen Guerrette

7:45pm -8:30pm Business Meeting
7:45pm-8:00pm Overview of recent Executive Committee meeting - Jim Mast
Finance update – Ed Skiba reported that we have over $400 in our bank account. This is largely due to a generous donation from the Flagstaff Evening Garden Club, which is combining efforts with our MG Association.
Calendar update – Jim invited everyone to look at the proofs. All attendees agreed that the photos were beautiful and thought the price was reasonable.
Flagstaff Evening Garden club – Hattie will send emails regarding future tours.
Telephone at the extension – Hattie will work on getting a message on her extra line. Her extension is now 170 and the hotline is 190.
Highlands Garden Conference – Beverly Emerson attended the meeting to encourage Flagstaff gardeners to attend the conference, which is August 28 at the Casino in Payson with a garden tour the day before. Rates increase after July 30, so register soon if you plan to attend. Jim also asked Beverly to comment on the plant sale in Gila County because we may want to have one. Beverly said plant donations came from many gardeners, who also shopped at garage sales for garden related items to resale. Also tool sharpening was a big money-maker at the sale.

8:00pm-8:20pm Committee Reports:
Continuing Education-Dana Prom Smith
Speakers scheduled through January 2011. Check blog for updates. Dana has columns ready through the end of September, but always would appreciate more writers.
Community Programs
Flagstaff’s Community Market – Julie Holmes
Master Gardeners are making many contacts at the Wednesday markets. Only one additional volunteer was needed and was recruited.
Speakers Bureau
Need more speakers available
Home Show – We need to give 3 talks per day in exchange for a free booth. There will be more activity on this next year
Coordination MG Projects –Linda Guarino
Working on finalizing list for 2010. Two new projects need assistance. One is Ponderosa Pines; see blog for more information. Michele Lytle gave a brief description of Wayne’s house, an approved MG project that needs a new supervisor.
Volunteer Support/Social – The Fall picnic will be Sept. 12 from 4-6 pm. The MG association will provide the meat, attendees should bring a side dish to share (preferably something from your garden).

8:20pm – 830pm What is it? Garden Problems/Questions
One question about why zucchini fruits were dying. Hattie said they were not getting pollinated, it’s possible to do this by hand with a paint brush. Jim Mast said his feverfew plants were doing very well this year.

Next meeting: August 19, 2010 “Bugs” by Freddie Steele

Speakers for future meetings:
September 12 Recognition Picnic 4-6pm Potluck
October 14 Hopi Agriculture Susan Lamb Bean
November 11 School Gardens Sue Norris, Lyndsey Langsdale
December Holiday Party

Submitted by Linda Guarino 7/25/10

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Master Gardener Association Meeting 7/15/10

Master Gardener Meeting Agenda 7/15/10
Northland Hospice Office – 452 N. Switzer Canyon Drive
(Parking in front of the building or in the lot just north of it.)
6:30 pm – 8:30 pm

6:30pm-6:40pm Welcome – Agenda
Jim Mast
General Announcements
Maricopa County MGs - Jim
Warner’s 10% Day for Hospice - Linda
Introduction of speaker

6:40pm-7:30pm Continuing Education
Northern Arizona’s Microclimates
Lee Born

7:30pm – 7:45pm Refreshments
Andrea Guerrette

7:45pm -8:30pm Business Meeting
7:45pm-8:00pm Overview of recent Executive Committee meeting - Jim Mast
Finance update – Ed Skiba
Calendar update – Jim Mast
Update on Flagstaff Evening Garden club – Hattie Braun
Update on Telephone at the extension – Hattie Braun
Highlands Garden Conference/Payson – Beverly Emerson

8:00pm-8:20pm Committee Reports:
Continuing Education-Dana Prom Smith
Speakers scheduled through January 2011. Check blog for updates.
Community Programs
Flagstaff’s Community Market – Molly Larsen
Need volunteers for the Wed. markets
Speakers Bureau
Need more speakers available
Home Show
Coordination MG Projects –Linda Guarino
Michele Lytle – Wayne’s House
Ponderosa Pines Nursing Home looking for a master gardener volunteer (see blog for details)
Volunteer Support/Social – Hattie Braun
Fall Recognition Picnic – Sept. 12

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

Next meeting: August 19, 2010
Bugs Freddie Steele

Speakers for future meetings:
September 12 Recognition Picnic
October 14 Hopi Agriculture Susan Lamb Bean
November 11 School Gardens Sue Norris, Lyndsey Langsdale
December Holiday Party

Continuing Education opportunities and Events:
July 17 10% of Proceeds at Warners Donated to the Olivia White Gardens
July 17 Garden Club Visit – Judith Chaddock’s Garden
July 17 Full Moon Soiree – Arboretum at Flagstaff
July 18 AERA Summer Plant Walks – Kelly Canyon

July 20 AZ Native Plant Society – talk
Ethnobotany of the Hualapai
July 25 AZ Native Plant Society – walk
Elden Pipeline Trail
July 30-Aug.1 NAU Sustainable Communities Program
Permaculture Design Course
August 4 AZNPS Garden Contest Deadline
August 7 Garden Club Visit – garden of Christine Orr
August 8 AERA Summer Plant Walks – Little Springs Fern Mountain
August 12 AERA Summer Plant Walks – Griffin Springs
August 19 Coconino MG Association Meeting
August 25 AZNPS Awards
August 27-28 11th Annual Arizona Highlands Garden Conference – Payson, AZ
August 29 AZNPS Garden Tours
September 8 AERA Summer Plant Walks – Buffalo Park
September 12 Master Gardener Recognition Picnic
Oct 13-16 American Horticultural Therapy Association
Annual Conference – Chicago, IL
Oct 16 13th Annual School Garden Conference – Chicago, IL
Oct 14 Coconino MG Association Meeting
Nov 11 Coconino MG Association Meeting

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