CMGA General Info

Roadrunner: Although typically desert dwellers, roadrunners may also thrive in cold climates by fluffing feathers for insulation and by exposing their black back feathers to the sun.
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, September 29, 2010

Fall Craft Classes at the Arboretum

The Beauty of Grasses
Day: Saturday,Oct.9 | Time: 9:30 – 12:30 PM | Fee: $25 members /$30 nonmembers (materials included)

Join Arboretum Research Botanist Sheila Murray for a class that focuses on grass identification as well as making straw ornaments. Tour the gardens and learn how to identify native and not-native species of grasses. Participants will collect grasses and create Scandinavian inspired straw ornaments for the holidays.

Pine Needle Basketry
Day: Saturday, Oct. 9| Time: 1:30 – 4:30 PM | Fee: $25 members /$30 nonmembers (materials included)

Crafter/artist Dawn Moffet of Clarkdale, AZ will teach particpants some basic weaving techniques that can be used to turn the ponderosa pine needles littering your yard into lovely baskets.

Dyeing for Yarn
Day: Saturday, Oct. 23| Time: 9:30 – 12:30 PM | Fee: $25 members /$30 nonmembers ($10 materials fee)

Prepare natural dyes from native plants with instructor Katie Flint. Participants will prepare natural wool in a variety of colors and learn basic crocheting techniques to begin granny squares for scarves, blankets, etc.

Art of the Gourd
Day: Saturday, Oct. 23| Time: 1:30 – 4:30 PM | Fee: $25 members /$30 nonmembers ($10 materials fee)
Find out how you can turn a squash into a work of art. Dawn Moffet will guide the class through the process of cleaning the outside and inside of a full-sized gourd. She will also demonstrate a variety of media that can be used for decoration. Participants and practice techniques on gourd ornaments.

Call 774-1442 x110 (Rachel) to register.

Monday, September 27, 2010

Warner's Grownup Fall Festival

On Saturday, October 2, from 10am-2pm, Warner's Nursery will hold a fall festival with seminars, contests, and food. Check out their web site for details. Some of the events are:
10am - Color Bowl Seminar
11am - Salsa Competition
12pm - Pizza
1pm - Spring Blooming Bulb Seminar
2pm - Canning Seminar
10am-2pm Giant Veggie Contest

Sunday, September 19, 2010

Knapweed Weed Pull at the Pioneer Museum


Jeff Best with one large knapweed.

Greetings Master Gardeners and Members of the AZ Native Plant Society,

On Aug. 26 and again on Sept. 10, members of the Flagstaff Chapter of the AZNPS and the Master Gardeners combined forces to help the Pioneer Museum in its long fight against Diffuse Knapweed (Centaurea diffusa). So far we have had the pleasure of removing 21 big bags of this stuff. One particular plant had an outside diameter of 4 feet!

Many thanks to the volunteers for pulling and digging, and for making a nice dent in the population.

Unfortunately, there are more weeds to be removed. Please join us for the 3rd weed pull at the Pioneer Museum on Hwy. 180: on Monday, Sept. 27 from 8am until noon. Come when you can, leave whenever.

The native geraniums, Scarlet Gilia, and Blue Grama grasses that struggled to survive are so happy that there are now fewer weeds drinking all their rain water, stealing all the sun's rays, and choking them out.

Winners of the raffle on Sept. 10 were Jeff Best, Michele Collins and Mea Stees. Thanks you for your help.

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.

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

2011 Master Gardener Association Calendar

Beginning to look for a holiday gift for a friend who gardens, or looking for a way to support the master gardeners. We still have about 100 calendars left. Don't forget to purchase before they are all gone.

This is our first fundraiser and it contains photos of gardens, flowers, and art object from throughout the Flagstaff area. The photo above of the Bus Stop garden graces the cover.

We will probably do this again next year, so get busy and take those photos of your garden before the 1st frost comes. You may be selected for next years calendar. We are looking for digital photos that are landscape view, and at least 2000 pixtels. We need more pictures of gardens and less of individual flowers. Watch this blog around the 1st of April for requests for entries.

In the meantime stop at the County Extension Office and purchase your calendar for 2011. I will bring some to the annual Master Gardener picnic and recognition.

Thanks,
Loni Shapiro