Garden Tour

 

Arboretum fundraiser Aug. 23

Summer Garden Party

Keynote speaker - Peter Friederici

Food - Square Root Foods

Live Music - Two Hand Union

Tickets at thearb.org

Wildflower Walk Aug. 15

Edible Weeds Class Aug. 2

Learn how to identify common edible plant families, harvest techniques, nutritional properties, and cautions when foraging plants. This is limited to 15 participants, so sign up in advance at thearb.org.

Author talk Aug. 16

Author talk Aug

Learn about gardening with native species. 

Jack Dash and Luke Takata, the authors of the new Southwest Native Plant Primer, will be speaking at the Museum of Northern Arizona on Saturday Aug. 16 from 2 to 3 pm.  

The Southwest Native Plant Primer is oriented towards gardeners of all levels looking to learn more about growing plants native to their bioregion in their gardens. Come learn about some of the best native plants for Flagstaff yards.

 

 

Apricot trees available

Fruit trees available

 

Lily of the Field had a bumper crop of Navajo/Dine Apricot seedling this season and is trying to get them into home orchards and gardens.  They also have AZ Black Walnut, Chokecherry, Peaches, Cherries, Apples, etc. I hope you are all doing well and getting rain.

If interested, email flagstafflily@gmail.com

Help reforest east side of San Francisco Peaks

 Volunteers sought for tree planting on east side of San Francisco Peaks

Coconino National Forest silviculturists and partner organization Ecoculture will begin planting trees north of Flagstaff next month in the San Francisco Peaks area and are looking for volunteers to help in the efforts.

Roughly 3,000 acres of planted trees were lost over the course of the 2022 Tunnel and Pipeline fires. Those trees had been recently replanted to aid in the recovery of the 2010 Schultz Fire.

Upcoming replanting efforts will plant approximately 40,000 native ponderosa pine trees across 200 acres of Coconino National Forest land in the vicinity of Schultz Pass Road on the east side of the San Francisco Peaks.

“This planting is significant not only because of the visual aesthetics and cultural importance of the San Francisco Peaks, but also because it can help reforest areas that burned uncharacteristically hot and may not naturally regenerate for more than one hundred years,” said silviculturist Mark Nabel. “These planted trees will help reduce soil erosion and improve wildlife habitat while also restoring some of the timber base that was lost in these recent fires.”

 

 Ecoculture will be hosting community volunteer planting events from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. August 9 and 16. Volunteers will plant ponderosa pine seedlings (roughly 5-12" in height) using planting shovels, which will be provided. The planting area is about 11 acres and is generally flat. The parking area is roughly 300 feet (0.1 miles) from the planting site. 

 

Planting will begin around 9 a.m. after a brief planting demonstration is given. Volunteers are free to come and go as you please. There will be staff members available to give instructions if you arrive later in the day. The goal for the day is to plant 2,000 trees. There will be plenty of volunteers so there will be no need to rush putting the trees in the ground. Our goal is to provide a great opportunity for the public to give back to their public lands and be safe while doing so.

 

For more information or to sign up to volunteer, contact Wade Gibson at wade.gibson@ecoculture.us.

 

   What to bring:
-Water
-Sunscreen
-Sturdy footwear (no sandals please)
-Rain gear
-Work gloves
-Hat
-Snacks (if you get hungry)

 

Help pull weeds in Coconino County Parks

Harrenburg Wash: Saturday July 12 and Friday August 1

Fort Tuthill: Wednesday July 9 and Saturday July 19

Raymond County Park: July 15

All weed pulls will be from 8 am - 10 am. 

Please wear long pants and a long sleeve shirt. Bring water and sun protection.

Cooking from your Garden workshops

Everyone is welcome, but space is limited so please register to guarantee your seat.

For Registration/More Info, contact: Tess Crubaugh, email -tc874@nau.edu or call - 602-541-1683

 Weekly themes: 

June 15 - Local Gardening to Table with Frank Branham, "Southwestern Gazpacho"

July 2 - Reducing Food Waste to Stretch Your Food Dollar with Will and Avalynn Walker, "Frankensoup"

July 9 - Nutrients are Necessary with Willa McAuliffe "Mom's Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup"

July 16 - Flavorful Vegetables with Samantha Woods, "Coconut Curry Veggies"

These free workshops are offered through the Coconino County Cooperative Extension.

Flagstaff Tour of Artful Gardens July 19

Tickets are $12 per person and can be purchased only the day of the event starting at 8:30 am at Viola's Flower Garden, 610 S. State Route 89A, Flagstaff, AZ 86005. Maps of the garden locations are provided with the ticket purchase. Cash or check is preferred. The tour takes place rain or shine.

If you have questions, call Jenny at 720-560-7575

Culinary herb workshop June 21

 This hands-on workshop on Saturday, June 21 will provide you with culinary herbs and a planter that you get to take home! You'll learn about different herbs that grow well in Flagstaff and how to make them thrive. Tina will teach you how to plant and take care of your herbs so they come back year after year.

Join us and treat yourself to herbs, adult drinks, and fun!

Tickets: $50

Get your tickets here:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/blooms-bubbles-tickets-1355682776679

Located at Bushmaster Park (East side) in the Community/Large Ramada

Blooms & Bubbles is sponsored by Dervla O'Leary with Realty Executives of Flagstaff and will include adult drinks.

Urban Ag Field Day June 28

 Learn about amending soil with wool pellets!

 Register here for this hands-on learning and networking event at Rocking L3 Ranch.

June 20 Wildflower Walk

 Join knowledgeable Arboretum staff on this morning walk through the gardens to learn about the colorful varieties of Northern Arizona native wildflowers. These guided walks are limited to 15 people and tickets can be purchased in advance at thearb.org.

Zero Waste Ambassador Program

 

 Gain knowledge and practical skills to minimize waste throughout the community and promote zero waste living through engaging discussions, hands-on activities, and action planning.

 

Three courses will be offered, each with three learning sessions and volunteer service hour requirements: Expert Composter, Zero Waste 101, and Zero Waste Advanced.

 Learn more at Flagstaff ReThink Waste.

 

The program starts with the Expert Composter course, which consists of three 1.5 hour sessions (including field trips!) and volunteer service hours:

• 6/18 (12:00 - 1:30 pm) - Willow Bend (703 E Sawmill Rd)

• 6/24 (12:00 - 1:30 pm) - Restoration Soils (2661 N El Paso Rd)

• 7/1 (4:30 - 6:00 pm) - Bonito Community Garden (527 W Elm Ave)

Pollinator Week

 Celebrate Pollinator Week 2025!

See what the buzz is all about as we honor the important role of pollinators in our ecosystem.

Exploring Pollinators Art Contest (June 1–12):

Submit your pollinator-inspired artwork to the Downtown Library’s Youth Services Desk to be entered into the 4th annual art contest. All entries will be displayed at the Pollinator Fest at the Arboretum and in the library. Find guidelines and entry forms at the  Pollinator Week Website!

Pollinator Art Lab at the Downtown Library (Tuesday, June 10, 1:30 – 3:00 pm):

Drop in during the Summer Reading Challenge to create a pollinator-themed masterpiece (open to ages 3+). Supplies are provided and creativity is encouraged!

Pollinator Fest at the Arboretum (Sunday, June 15, 10:00 am – 2:00 pm):

Enjoy educational talks on pollinators, family-friendly activities, plant sales, a pollinator art display, and more. All ages welcome!

 

Native Plants Workshop & Planting (Tuesday, June 17, 5:30-7:30 pm)

Learn about Native plant species identification, planting, and which plants grow best throughout Flagstaff! There will be optional planting of Milkweed, which are beneficial plants for pollinators in the area. Sign-up at Volunteer Flagstaff - Native Plant Species Workshop.

 

For questions, email cami.brazell@flagstaffaz.gov or visit our Pollinator Week Website!

Watershed Cleanup Series starts June 4

 

June 4, July 12, Aug. 9, Sept. 13| 9:00 – 11:00 am

Thomas Elementary School (3330 E Lockett Rd)

Join us for the 2025 Watershed Cleanup Series, held on the second Saturday of each month from June through September! Connect with fellow community members and help care for the Rio de Flag by removing litter, woody debris, and invasive plant species. Register through Volunteer Flagstaff!

June 22 Mini Moss Art Workshop

 

Plantae is offering a Mini Moss Art Workshop at Drinking Horn Meadery (108 E Rt. 66, Flagstaff) on June 22 at 3 pm. The $50 fee includes tools, materials, and instruction. Register at PlantaeFlagstaff.com

Wednesday weed pulls at Picture Canyon

Invasive Weed Identification, Removal & Reseeding 

7-10 am on 6/4, 6/18, 7/2, 7/16,  7/30, 8/6, 8/20, 9/3, and 9/17

Come help us manage invasive weeds at Picture Canyon, to keep it the beautiful place that it is! Learn about invasive weeds, learn to identify them and the best ways to remove them, and help us spread native grass/flower seed to crowd out the invasives. We meet at the Picture Canyon trail head, 3920 N El Paso Flagstaff Rd. Come join the fun!

Sign-up and more info for all of these events is at https://volunteer.flagstaffaz.gov/Calendar

Terra BIRDS pop-up plant sales

  

Invasive Plant Species Workshop, June 3

 

Tuesday, June 3 | 5:30 – 7:30 pm

Dog Pound Rd (on the way to Coconino Humane Association)

Join the Climate Resilience Project and Parks, Recreation, Open Space & Events (PROSE) for an outdoor Invasive Plant Workshop!  Learn why invasive weeds matter, how to identify common species in northern AZ, and walk along the Rio de Flag to learn the best way to remove them. Register through Volunteer Flagstaff!

Help Shape the Future of Willow Bend

 

Give your opinions for Willow Bend's redesign
We’re thrilled to announce that Willow Bend Environmental Education Center has received a Creative Flagstaff 2025 Project Grant! With this support, we’re redesigning our space to be more welcoming, interactive, and engaging for all ages.

Your input is essential! Please take a few minutes to complete our Community Feedback Survey. Your responses will help us decide on future open hours, develop new programming, and create educational displays that reflect our community’s interests and needs.

Terrabirds Snack Drive

 Click here to donate online

Arboretum Summer Camps

Nevermore Gardens Plant Sales

See the plant order form here

 

CMGA Plant Sale & Festival

 

 Click for directions and map to parking

Click for Full Vendor List and Map

Plant Sale featured in Gardening Etc. column

 

Flagstaff Plant Sale and Garden Festival

Photo from the 2024 Plant Sale and Garden Festival

By MARILYN CANTELOUPE Special to the Daily Sun

May 15, 2025

 

Bees are humming, birds are chirping and hummingbird feeders decorate eaves all over Flagstaff. Signs of spring abound, and for all you gardeners, it’s time to plant! Now that snowfalls have come and gone (fingers crossed), our visions of lovely flowers and tasty vegetables are foremost in our minds.

 

To help get you started, the Coconino Master Gardener Association (CMGA) in partnership with the Coconino County Cooperative Extension's Master Gardener Program and the Museum of Northern Arizona are holding their free annual Plant Sale and Garden Festival on Saturday, May 24. Even if growing isn’t quite your thing, you’re sure to find something that delights! 

 

Read the rest of the Gardening Etcetera column

Tool Sharpening at May 24 Plant Sale

 Cutting Edge Professional Sharpening will be at the Master Gardeners Plant Sale on May 24. Bring garden tools and other items you need sharpened.

 

The Master Gardener Plant Sale goes from 10 am to 2 pm. Click here to see a list of other vendors.

Directions: Turn from Highway 180/Fort
Valley Rd into the Harold Colton Research Center. Park and follow the pathway to the gardens and plant sale.

Free Workshop May 17 - protecting plants with wire cages

Free Workshop - Protecting Plants with Wire Cages

May 17, 10 am to noon

in Colton Garden

 Pocket gophers and other hungry rodents can wreak havoc on plant roots and seedlings Help build wire cages to protect the plants in Colton Garden while gaining the knowledge so you can make more for your garden or other community gardens.

Please wear: Sturdy gloves, long sleeve shirts, and closed toe shoes. 

If you have them, bring pliers and wire cutters. 

Some tools, as well as the wire mesh, will be supplied.

 Directions to Colton Garden: From Highway 180/Fort Valley Rd turn up Winding Brook Rd. At the T, turn left and find a place to park. The garden is behind the buildings in the direction of the mountain.

Bird Walk at Kachina Wetlands May 17

 

Bird Walk at Kachina Wetlands

May is an excellent time to look for birds in Kachina Wetlands. Most of the summer residents have arrived, and there can still be species that are migrating through. Northern Arizona Audubon has two outstanding birders who will be leading the trip: Sky Schipper and Tom Hedwall.

 

Meet at the entrance to Kachina Wetlands. Bring  binoculars if you have them, and don't forget your sunscreen, hat, and water bottle.

Plant Sale Volunteers

 

To: Master Gardeners and Future Master Gardeners

The CMGA is starting to plan for the 2025 Plant Sale to be held on May 24.  We are in need of 15-20 volunteers to help with parking, general assistance for visitors, staffing a Q&A table, set up/tear down, and assisting in other ways. There are usually two shifts between 8 am and 3pm on Event day, plus prep work to be done on the two days prior.

 

This is an excellent way to get involved and to earn volunteer hours toward getting or maintaining Master Gardener certification. Plus, it is a lot of Fun!!!! 

 

For all inquiries and to sign up to volunteer please send your contact information( including phone number)  to us both at dnashmg2@gmail.com. and rguzley@sbcglobal.net    We will send you an acknowledgement that you are on the list within a week. 

 

Thanks so much,

 

Volunteer Committee Coordinators

 

Denbie Nash  832-527-2215  dnashmg2@gmailcom

 

Ruth Guzley   530-321-9926  rguzley@sbcglobal.net

Arizona Native Plant Society meeting May 20

At 7 pm on May 20, Dr. James Smith from the Snake River Plains Herbarium at Boise State University will present recent research on spring parsley (Pseudocymopterus) that indicates the spring flowering and summer flowering populations are separate species.

Arizona Native Plant Society talks are free and open to the public. This meeting can be attended via Zoom or in person at the NAU biology building third floor classroom. To attend via Zoom, register with this link: https://bit.ly/FlagAZNPS25

Spring parsley (Pseudocymopterus) is known to be highly variable morphologically and in its phenology. Dr. James Smith will present preliminary results that separate what we commonly call Pseudocymopterus montanus into several separate well-supported clades. Likewise there will be preliminary phylogenetic analyses that seem to separate most other species of Pseudocymopterus (P. beckii, P. macdougallii, and P. davidsonii) into spring flowering and summer (monsoon) flowering populations that have independently adapted to the different precipitation patterns.

This will be a virtual event with Dr. Smith presenting from Idaho. This presentation will not be recorded.

Dr. Smith is the Director of the Snake River Plains Herbarium at Boise State University. His research interests include the phylogenetics of western North American Apiaceae and using Sanger sequencing, and more recently Next generation sequencing techniques to discover cryptic or near cryptic species within many widespread species.

Native Herbfest on June 14

 

Arboretum Volunteer Opportunities for 2025

 The Arboretum held a morning gathering for anyone who wanted to volunteer at the Arboretum or who had volunteered in the past. Everyone had an opportunity to meet the staff and see what was planned for the season. If you didn't make it but are interested in volunteering attached are the opportunities and the person to contact.

Link

 Loni Shapiro

Forestdale Farm's CSA 2025

 

Forestdale Farm’s GardenShare CSA is back for 2025!

Sign up SOON to get $15 off your share of locally grown starts for your gardens this year!  You can sign up here

What you will get: We will provide over 25 varieties of vegetable, herb, and edible flower starts (40+ total plants per share) distributed from May-June. All seeds are certified organic with an emphasis on heirloom and open pollinated varieties. This includes cool and warm season crops. Extra starts and seeds for direct sowing will be available for purchase as well. We will also have garden supplies available such as potting mix, compost, frost cloth, etc at each pick up.   Early Sign Up (sign up before April 1st 2025): $150 Cost after April 1st: $165 We can also except EBT! ***Double Up Food Bucks are earned when buying starts from us   Please email farmforestdale@gmail.com for questions on EBT

Community Garden Plot Application

 

Community Garden Plot Applications are now open Plot applications for Bonito, Hal Jensen, and Southside Community Gardens are open. Returning gardeners can renew their plots before new applicants are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Priority is given to those without home growing space or who qualify for SNAP. Annual plot fees are $65, covering water, infrastructure, and resources. Need assistance? Full and half scholarships are available—just apply online! If you have any questions, please email gardens@flagstaffaz.gov!

Work days Galore on May 3

 Get on your gardening gloves

There are so many gardening opportunities  this Saturday its hard to keep track of them all:

Arboretum Volunteer Workday, 9 am to 11 Help out with some projects on our grounds. Bring a water bottle, sun protection and gloves. Extra rakes are welcome, too! If you are new to volunteering at The Arb, please fill out our volunteer form prior to attending. Please RSVP to gardens@thearb.org if you plan to attend.

Spring cleanup at Riordan Mansion 10 am to noon, bring a water bottle and your favorite hand tools.

Steady Harvest Workshop 10 am to 2 pm at the Arboretum; learn how to set up a Steady Harvest hoop house 

Ponderosa pine Root Camp, 10 to 11 am - Learn how to care for your Ponderosa Pine at

MNA Volunteer Gardener kick-off, 1 pm to 3 pm in the Museum of Northern Arizona exhibit building. Learn about the opportunities to volunteer in the Museum gardens this season, including Colton Garden.  Get signed up, win prizes, and get a free museum tour. Bring a smartphone, laptop or other device to get set up to log your hours. To RSVP or ask questions, email msoliday@musnaz.org

Southside Community Garden Kick-off rescheduled to May 9, 5-7 pm

 

Mother's Day Appreciation

 

Steady Harvest Workshop

 

Earth Day Celebration

Date: April 19, 2025 Time: 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM Location: Bushmaster Park (3150 N. Alta Vista Dr.) Dear Flagstaff community, Join us as we celebrate Earth Day this Saturday… rain or shine!This celebration is dedicated to bringing together the community and local organizations to discover ways we can get involved with protecting, conserving, and learning about our shared home.

Event Highlights Sustainable Exhibitions and Activities: Explore, learn, and enjoy activities for all ages from over 50 local organizations, groups, and causes! Free Workshops: Attend one of three workshops to learn practical tips for sustainable living: Garden Upcycling, Rainwater Harvesting, and Home Energy Efficiency and Electrification. Live Performances and Music: Enjoy musical performances by local performers: Side Project, Aaron White, and Cameron Jameson! Community Bike Ride: Bust out your wheels and join us to move another way! Meet us at the Flagstaff Visitor's Center at 10 am and ride to the Earth Day Celebration as a community.