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.

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

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.

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