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.

Sustainability Earth Day Celebration

SPOTLIGHT: Earth Day Celebration Saturday, April 19 | 11:00 am – 2:00 pm Bushmaster Park (3150 N Alta Vista Dr) Join us in celebrating Earth Day with live musical performances, hands-on workshops, delicious food, and a chance to connect with dozens of local organizations through interactive activities for all ages. Don’t miss the new Bike Zone offering free tune-ups and electric bike demos! Looking for sustainable ways to get to the event? Mountain Line is offering free bus rides on all routes throughout April 19, or join the Community Bike Ride! Complimentary bike valet is provided for all cyclists.

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

Pathway to Sustainability

 

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!

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

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!

Community Garden Plot Application

 

Community Garden Plot Applications Open March 1! Get ready for the growing season! Plot applications for Bonito, Hal Jensen, and Southside Community Gardens are open during the month of March. 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! The plot application will be available on March 1, 2025. If you have any questions, please email gardens@flagstaffaz.gov!

 

Farmer & Rancher Resource Fair March 6 | 9:00 am – 2:00 pm AquaPlex (1702 N Fourth St) Calling all farmers and ranchers! Join the Sustainability Office, Flagstaff Family Food Center, and Foodlink for a day of networking, learning, and resource sharing. Connect with fellow farmers, explore local services, and hear expert presentations on food systems. Plus, enjoy a resources expo featuring agricultural agencies and organizations supporting local growers.   For more information, contact Steven Thompson at steven.thompson@flagstaffaz.gov.