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

 Interested in pumpkin & sheep production?

 Register here for this hands-on learning and networking event at Rocking L# 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!

Native Herbfest on June 14

 

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.

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.

Morel Mushroom Workshop

 

Adult Workshop: Morel Mushrooms with Mike Dechter Saturday, April 19th 9:00am - 11:00am   Join Arizona Mushroom Society Executive Director, Mike Dechter, for an in-depth exploration of morel mushrooms in Arizona. This workshop will cover where and when Morchella species grow, key indicators and tools to help you find them, and best practices for a successful hunt. To complete the experience, Mike will prepare a sample of delicious morels from last year’s harvest for participants to enjoy. Click here to register!

Cover Crops and Soil Amendments

 

Drop Off Day - City of Flagstaff

Upcoming Events

Dates:

Saturday, April 26th, 2025

Time:

10am-2pm

Location:

Coconino County Health and Human Services Building, 2625 N. King Street

Rules and Requirements  

Accepted

The following items were accepted during the last event:

• Aerosol cans
• Batteries
• CFLs & LEDs
• Fluorescent tubes
• Expired or unwanted medications, vitamins, or supplements 
• Medical syringes
• Electronics: computers, printers, flat-screen TVs, etc.
• Sensitive documents for onsite shredding (2 boxes/ person max)

Not Accepted

• No CRT TVs.
• Liquid waste such as paint, automotive fluids, and other chemicals should be taken directly to the Flagstaff Hazardous Products Center and will not be accepted at this event.
• No illegal drugs
• No electronic waste or paper from commercial sites
• No car seats

Mini Moss Workshop

 

AZ Native Plant Society Meeting

 

Amelia Blake - Propagating Native Plants

Growing uncultivated plant varieties can be challenging, they often have seed dormancy, unique soil needs and don’t grow well in containers. Because of this, many native plants are not available in the nursery industry and native plant enthuses are left to cultivate their own. Amelia will discuss strategies for successful native plant propagation.

Amelia Blake is co-owner Lily of the Field Nursery which focuses on growing native and heirloom plants that are especially well adapted to the Flagstaff area. Amelia spent her childhood working with plants at the NAU Research Greenhouse during her father’s stint as greenhouse manager. She received her B.S. in Plant Sciences from the University of Arizona in 2014. She then worked at Native Plant and Seed for 3 years before opening Lily of the Field Nursery in 2020 with her husband. She sells at most of the local markets, runs the Gardener’s Market in east Flagstaff each spring, and sells by appointment from their home in the Upper Greenlaw neighborhood.

The meeting will be held at 7 PM on the third floor of the NAU Biology Building on North Campus. For a map of campus, access below:
https://nau.edu/.../2019-GIS-Campus-Reference-Map_12.pdf

If attending virtually, register in advance for this meeting at:
https://bit.ly/FlagAZNPS25
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

AZNPS talks are free and open to the public.

Pathway to Sustainability

 

Restoration Soils Site Visit

 

Our site visit will be on March 13, 2025, from 3 to 4 p.m. Our site is located at 2661 N El Paso Flagstaff Rd. It is an open invite for all Master Gardeners, agriculturalists, and anyone else who would like to see what we do at the site. We will share what we do at Restoration Soils and answer any questions patrons might have. 

Restoration Soils invites you to an open house to tour our industrial composting facility on March 13, 2025, from 3 to 4 p.m. Our thermophilic facility is the first permitted operation in Northern Arizona, and we are excited to show you the progress we have made in building a more circular waste stream and producing nutrient-rich compost and soil amendments. Feel free to come out to the Restoration Soils site anytime between 3 and 4 p.m. Our site is located at 2661 N El Paso Flagstaff Rd. 

If you are interested, RSVP by emailing compost@restorationsoils.com.

Restoration Soils produces and sells nutrient-rich compost, garden soils, top soils, compost mulch, organic ground cover, boulders, and more! Let us help you regenerate your soils and improve productivity of your gardens and green spaces. Call or email for delivery options or on-site pickup for truck, trailer, or buckets. We also offer a monthly residential compost pickup program, where we pick up your compost at your residence twice a month for $20 a month. Visit our website www.restorationsoils.com for more information. 

Call or email us at compost@restorationsoils.com or (928)250-1040 if you have any questions or if you are looking to purchase from us. 

Thank you,

Grace Crothers 

Restoration Soils

AZNPS Meeting

From: Susan Holiday 

Title: Analysis of Potential Hazards to the Future Conservation of the Endemic Alpine Species Packera franciscana 

Bio: Catherine Young, a junior from the NAU School of Forestry, will be presenting the important conservation breakthroughs that she has made for the “Threatened” alpine sunflower Packera franciscana. The species is only found near Flagstaff, AZ above the tree line of the San Francisco Peaks. She successfully established the first captive population of these plants outside of a greenhouse setting. Her observations in the field suggest that a new hybrid zone has formed within the last 10  years. She has also created the first tissue culture protocol to produce genetically identical plants to those in the wild. The most recent developments are laying the foundation for her future project that will look to predict the response of the species to potential hazards such as climate change, competition with hybrids, and wildfire.

The meeting will be held at 7 PM on the third floor of the NAU Biology Building on North Campus.  Come to the door nearest the bus stop on 617 S. South Beaver Street at the corner of Beaver and Franklin. For a map of campus, access below:

https://nau.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019-GIS-Campus-Reference-Map_12.pdf 

See you there!