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

Tuesday, December 3, 2019

Planting Garlic

Planting, Growing GARLIC

This works!!!
Plant in the fall and check for harvesting, starting in August. I dug up my last beautiful, big garlic bulbs in November!  High altitude and cooler weather is the reason for my waiting. I live at 7,900'!

PLANTING: In the Fall, Break Bulbs into individual cloves.  Push each clove into the soil, one at a time, pointy side up, about 2" deep and 4" apart into well prepared and amended soil. Water them once or twice in the fall and they begin to grow roots and may send a bit of a green shoot up after a few weeks, then they sit....hibernating. 

Mulch with straw to protect from the heavy weather. You'll notice them comig up and greening, early in the spring, because of the underground root development  happening over winter.  The garlic grows taller and taller as the days warm and lengthen.

Cut the water and harvest as soon as a few sets of leaves begin to dry.  Harvest the crop and allow it to cure for a few weeks in a warm and dry location. It is ready to use for the next 8 or so months.

I store mine in olive oil in the refrigerator too!
I was thrilled when I dug up my 1st bulb of garlic...it was MAGIC! 

I AM SORRY, I DO NOT KNOW the source of my resource for the planting of garlic.  I captured it from an email that I received last year from one of the farmers markets concessionaires.  I think it was from the farm in Chino Valley.


Susan Golightly <sgolight@earthlink.net> 928 607 2856

Monday, November 18, 2019

CMGA Annual Holiday Potluck


Coconino Master Gardener Association
Cordially invites you and a guest to our
Annual Holiday Potluck
Thursday, December 12, 2019 at 6:30 PM Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church 1601 N. San Francisco Street
Bring a wrapped, garden related item—new or lightly used for a     fun gift exchange
You may bring whatever potluck dish you want to serve 10
Or you may bring an item based on your birthday: 
Oct.-Dec. - Dessert                  Jan.-Mar.Appetizer  
Apr.-Jun. - EntrĂ©e                       July-Sept.– Salad

RSVP to Liz at lizgeorge928@gmail.com

Or call/text     928-308-9697

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

CMGA November Meeting Agenda

Coconino Master Gardener Meeting Agenda
Thursday, November 14, 2019 at 6:30pm
Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church—Benson Hall
1601 N. San Francisco, Flagstaff, AZ 86001

6:30-6:35pm    Welcome-Sue Madden, President   

6:35-6:40pm    Introduction of Speaker—Hattie Braun

6:40-7:45pm    Education: Frank Branham/Pine Needle Composting        
(15 minute break with refreshments)

7:45-8:00pm      Raffle Prize Drawing – $1 each or 6 for $5 - Must be present to win

8:00-8:25pm    Business Meeting 
MG Coordinator Happenings—Hattie Braun
      • Fall Master Gardener Classes
      • Beginning Gardener Classes for 2020
      • Coconino County Fair Wrap-up
      • Other Issues

Financial Report—Jeff Best, Treasurer will report

Nominations—Pam Garcia
    Secretary-Patricia Haeuser, 1-year term 2020

Committee Progress Reports: 
Continuing Education -Suggestions are welcome for presenters or subjects that would 
interest gardeners in Northern AZ. The board is planning to hold a brainstorming session 
to identify interesting topics and speakers for education at our meetings.  
Any and all are welcome to participate.
  • December 12, 2019—Christmas Party
  • January 9, 2020—2019 Grant Recipients Presentations   
Volunteer Support—Tim Ellsworth-Bowers will report volunteer hours.  
Social Chair – Liz George
Seed Library – Jackie Alston
Saturday Garden Etc column in the Daily Sun Jackee Allston and Cindy Murray
Blog/Communication – Loni Shapiro  
Historian—Tammy Valdovino—Reminder of end of year documents to Tammy.
Fundraising Chair—Sherline Alexander.  

8:25-8:30    Gardening Questions?  
Next meeting:    Christmas Party Potluck December 12.

Monday, October 7, 2019

CMGA Meeting Agenda


Coconino Master Gardener Meeting Agenda
Thursday, October 10, 2019 at 6:30pm
Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church—Benson Hall
1601 N. San Francisco, Flagstaff, AZ 86001

6:30-6:35pm       Welcome-Sue Madden, President         
6:35-6:40pm       Introduction of Speakers—Gillie Thomas
6:40-7:45pm       Education: Steve Alston/Bokhasi Composting                   
(15 minute break with refreshments)
7:45-8:00pm      Raffle Prize Drawing – $1 each or 6 for $5 - Must be present to win
8:00-8:25pm       Business Meeting
MG Coordinator Happenings—Hattie Braun
§  Master Gardener Hotline will begin when staff and volunteers are available.  Help Desk Coordinator and other volunteers needed.
§  Bus Stop Garden
§  Coconino County Fair
§  Fall Master Gardener Classes
Financial Report—Jeff Best, Treasurer will report
Committee Progress Reports:
Continuing Education - Gilli Thomas would welcome suggestions for presenters or subjects that would interest gardeners in Northern AZ.
·         November 14, 2019—Pine Needle Composting/Frank Branham
·         December 12, 2019—Christmas Party
·         January 9, 2020--TBD             
·         February 13, 2020--TBD
Volunteer Support—Tim Ellsworth-Bowers will report volunteer hours.
Social Chair – Liz George—Coffee cup issue
Seed Library – Jackie Alston--Seed Library and Saturday Garden Etc column in the Daily Sun
Blog/Communication – Loni Shapiro—Thanks to Lexi Leopold for tending the calendar for Loni for the month of August. 
Historian—Tammy Valdovino—Reminder of end of year documents to Tammy.
Fundraising Chair—Sherline Alexander. 
8:25-8:30              Gardening Questions? 
Next meeting:  Pine Needle Composting/Frank Branham November 14.

Monday, September 16, 2019

Master Gardener Recognition Picnic

Please join us for the 12th Annual Master Gardener Recognition Picnic 
Sunday, Sept. 22, noon-2:00 p.m. at Viola’s Flower Garden 
610 S. State Route 89A, Flagstaff All newly certified Master Gardeners will be recognized!
The Master Gardener Program will provide tableware, pulled pork and drinks. 
Please bring a dish for 8 people. May we suggest side (last name A-G), salad (H-Q),
 or dessert (R-Z), preferably something from your garden! 
Everyone is invited! This includes all certified MGs, MGs still working on hours, 
MG class participants, family members and friends. 
Please RSVP to Hattie at 773-6118 or by e-mail to hbraun@cals.arizona.edu  
with the number attending by Sept. 18.

Sunday, August 4, 2019

CMGA August Meeting


Coconino Master Gardener Meeting Agenda
Thursday, August 8, 2019 at 6:30pm
Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church—Benson Hall
1601 N. San Francisco, Flagstaff, AZ 86001

6:30-6:35pm       Welcome-Sue Madden, President         
6:35-6:40pm       Introduction of Speakers—Gillie Thomas
6:40-7:45pm       Education: Rosemary Logan/Permaculture                         
(15 minute break with refreshments)
7:45-8:00pm      Raffle Prize Drawing – $1 each or 6 for $5 - Must be present to win
8:00-8:25pm       Business Meeting
Art-full Summer Garden Tours/July 20—Thank you to Colleen Tucker and Jennifer Quarterman for the beautiful summer garden tour.
Summer Plant Sale/ Thank you to Judy Springer for the Summer Plant Sale in June.
CCC Garden/Lone Tree.  Welcomes volunteers to help with the garden.  They have an official garden that Master Gardeners may use for volunteer time.
MG Coordinator Happenings—Hattie Braun
§  Bus Stop Garden MG is looking good—irrigation in and plants doing well.  Beginning Gardening classes are using this garden as an example for the different techniques used in home gardening.
§  Master Gardener Hotline will begin when staff and volunteers are available.  Help Desk Coordinator and other volunteers needed.
Financial Report—Jeff Best, Treasurer will report
Committee Progress Reports:
Continuing Education - Gilli Thomas would welcome suggestions for presenters or subjects that would interest gardeners in Northern AZ.
·         September22, 2019—Picnic Potluck/Violas, 12-2pm
·         October 10, 2019—Bokhasi Composting/Steve Alston
·         November 14, 2019—Pine Needle Composting/Frank Branham
·         December 12, 2019—Christmas Party
Volunteer Support—Tim Ellsworth-Bowers will report volunteer hours.
Social Chair – Liz George—Sign-ups for the rest of the year are complete.
Seed Library – Jackie Alston—will report on Master Gardener grant projects, Seed Library and Saturday Garden etc column in the Daily Sun
Blog/Communication – Loni Shapiro—Lexi Leopold is tending the calendar for Loni for the month of August.  Send information to Lexi at lexileop@gmail.com.
Historian—Tammy Valdovino
Fundraising Chair—Sherline Alexander. 
8:25-8:30              Gardening Questions? 
Next meeting:  Picnic and New Master Gardener Recognition at Viola’s September 22, 12-2pm/Potluck.