Native Plant Society - Plant Press

Winter 2014 Plant Press available online!

Mexican Tansyaster Psilactis gentryi  Photo by: Bob Herrmann Winter 2014 Plant Press The latest beautiful edition of Plant Press is now available online! Settle in for a good Winter read and learn about native Arizona food plants, soils and their role in plant evolution, and so much more! Please find Plant Press online by following this link: http://www.aznps.com/documents/2014.12.PP.pdf Also, take the time to check out the Plant Press archives on our website. http://www.aznps.com  There are so many past issues to be discovered for the first time, or read all over again - enjoy! Happy Holidays!

Copyright © 2014 Arizona Native Plant Society, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you are a member of Arizona Native Plant Society Our mailing address is: Arizona Native Plant Society PO Box 41206 Tucson, AZ 85717 Post by Dorothy Lamb

Spring Master Gardener Class

Become a Master  Gardener!

 

Dates & Time:  Thursdays from 1:00– 4:30 p.m. February 5 — May 14, 2014 There will be no class on March 19 

Location: Northern Arizona Health Care 1000 N Humphreys (Left of Bashes) Cost: $250, limited scholarships available

Don’t Miss Your Chance, Register Early!      Class is limited in size.  Registration is on a first-come, first-serve  basis

The Master Gardener Program is a nation-wide program offered  through the Cooperative Extension network for those interested in learning more about the specific gardening and horticulture needs in their geographic areas.  The Coconino County Master Gardener Program emphasizes the needs and challenges of high elevation gardening.   The program involves both classroom learning and a hands-on volunteer  commitment to share gardening skills with the community.

For an application, call 928-774-1868 ext. 170 or  e-mail hbraun@cals.arizona.edu

CMGA Annual Christmas Party

Come join us for the annual CMGA Christmas Party on Dec. 11, at 630pm, at Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church. Check out this link for details:   link

AZ Highlands Garden Conference Mtg.

The first brainstorming meeting for the Arizona Highlands Garden Conference will be:

Thursday, Dec. 4,1:00, Coconino Extension Office.

This is the date that most people could join us.  Bring your ideas.  I’ll supply the coffee and tea.

If you can’t attend but want to get involved,  let Hattie hbraun@cals.arizona.edu or Jackie macandjac@aspect1.net know.

Thanks – Hattie and Jackie

Weed at Picture Canyon

Picture Canyon weeding daySunday 11/30/14, 9:30am-1pm

Hello! On Sunday, Nov. 30th there will be a volunteer day at Picture Canyon to remove mullein, thistle and knapweed. We will remove weeds from 9:30a to 1pm.

 

We'll meet in the parking lot off of El Paso Flagstaff Rd.

After the very rainy monsoon season this summer the mullein population exploded, and we need to remove the seed heads to control its reproduction. It is also important that we dig up Scotch and star thistle and knapweed.
Bags and tools will be available, but if you have garden loppers/clippers, please bring them. Also, bring a lunch and water.

Please come join us to remove these invasive species!

 

Killip School

Hi Friends of Killip School Garden -

 

This Monday, November 24th from 2:00 - 4:00 pm we are holding an End of Season Work Party.

If you feel like getting some fresh air, come on down to the Killip Garden.  Here are some things that we are working on:

• Move barrels out of greenhouse 
• Clean/replace floor of greenhouse to get toxic smell out
• Organize tools/supplies 
• Make an inventory of supplies
• Put supplies away
• Pull up irrigation system and put away
• Cover garden with mulch/leaves/manure (if we could organize a run out to the llama farm for Monday morning, we could spread that on beds...)
• Plant cover crop
• Work on Cold Frames

Let me know if you can come and help out.  

Thanks!

Elizabeth

AZNPS Winter Happenings

AZNPS Winter Happenings now available online! View this email in your browser

Winter Happenings now online! Please find the beautiful Winter 2014-15 edition of the AZNPS newsletter online: http://www.aznps.com/Happenings/Dec14Hap.pdf

AZNPS Winter Happenings now available online! View this email in your browser Winter Happenings now online! Please find the beautiful Winter 2014-15 edition of the AZNPS newsletter online: http://www.aznps.com/Happenings/Dec14Hap.pdf   Copyright © 2014 Arizona Native Plant Society, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you are a member of Arizona Native Plant Society Our mailing address is: Arizona Native Plant Society PO Box 41206 Tucson, AZ 85717

November 2014 Meeting Minutes

Master Gardener Meeting Minutes 11/13/14, Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church 1601 N. San Francisco

Introduction of speaker – Ed Skiba

Continuing Education Joe Costion presenting “Greenhouse Design and Construction”.  Joe Costion has been the Construction Technology Department Chair at Coconino Community College for 10 years. In 2000 he developed the Alternative Energy Associates Degree program, and in 2004 he initiated the Sustainable / Green Building Associates Degree Program at the college. Joe teaches courses in Solar Home Design, Rainwater Harvesting, Green Building, Solar Applications, and Solar Greenhouse Design. He is currently designing an Organic Gardening Certificate Program for local foods initiatives.  Joe is a Founding Board Member of the USGBC Northern Arizona Chapter; a Board Member and Northern Arizona Director of the Arizona Solar Energy Association; and a Founding Member of the Coconino County Sustainable Building Program. He has a Master of Arts in Vocational Education and a Bachelor’s Degree in Industrial Supervision. He is the Founder & President of the Board of Vocational Building Skills on the Navajo Nation and is on the Construction Trades Faculty for Northland Pioneer College. Joe is a 2003 graduate of the Flagstaff Leadership Program. He lives outside Snowflake, Arizona, and is actively gardening and developing a sustainable lifestyle. He is also the owner of Ashokala Gardens, a distributor of Soil Secrets Products.
A hat was passed to collect funds for the Highland Support Project fund for Teaching Sustainable Agriculture School in Western Guatamala. Joe and Kim have been teaching for this project. See First Giving for the details or if you want to contribute more:   http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/natalieprunty/sustainableagricultureschoolfundraisingpage

Refreshments provided by Kathy Hilton, Melissa Amberson and Barbara Johnson

Business Meeting – Hunter Kemmet

Are there any other officer nominations from the floor? No

Vote on officers; President - Jim Mast,    VP – Ed Skiba,   Treasurer - Sue Madden, Secretary – Sherline Alexander; New Officers elected for 2015 one year term.

Standing Committees There is a sign-up sheet on the table to show your interest for any of the following committees next year.  Continuing education, Volunteer Support, Community Support, Master Gardener Projects, Special Projects

We need volunteers to organize this year’s Christmas Party on Dec. 11 Church is reserved – regular meeting day.  $50 budget, but there are supplies available.  If you’re interested, there’s a sign-up sheet on the table.  Martha Davis and Patti Van Tuyl volunteered.

MG Coordinator Happenings - Hattie Braun.  Conference: Jackie Clark and Hattie Braun attended the conference meeting in Prescott.  Jackie has agreed to chair the planning committee for the next conference.  There will be a brainstorming meeting the first week in December.  There is a sign-up sheet for anyone interested in volunteering to serve on this committee.  Discussion will be about when to hold the conference, speakers, budget, ideas and forming the committees. Spring Class: Spring class starts 2-5-15. 1-4:30pm. Education rooms next to Basha’s, price the same.

MG badges and certificates: new master gardeners Emily Ross, Patti Van Tuyl, Marilyn Schwind, Martha Davis.

Financial report – Linda Guarino/Crys Wells Income $115.11 = 105 for aprons, 10 for membership, 0.11 for interest, expenses $598.36 = 500 for calendars, 98.36 for lunch for garden raffle volunteers, current balance = 3875.09 in checking, 141.35 in PayPal, total $4016.44.

Committee Reports:

Fund Raising

Aprons – Loni Shapiro – no aprons tonight, but will be available at the NAU South Campus Bazaar at the du Bois Center November 22nd and 23rd from 10 am to 4pm.

Calendars – Debi Stalvey - Calendars available for sale at Warner’s and Native Plant and Seed and tonight’s meeting $12 or 3 for $30. We will also sell them at the NAU South Campus Bazaar at the du Bois Center November 22nd and 23rd from 10 am to 4pm.  I need volunteers to help sit the table.  I am thinking two hour shifts.  Need 2-3 more volunteers. NAU requires a liability release will have to be signed by each volunteer. 

Sold 31 at the conference, sold 6 to others, have not checked with nurseries. Need 3 thank you cards for nurseries.

Give calendars to individuals who had a picture in the calendar.  

Hattie always takes (5) to the County Supervisors and (6) to the city council with a letter. 

One 2015 calendar to each speaker.  2015 speakers through May and 2014 speakers June to present.  Total of 10 calendars.

Continuing Education – Ed Skiba January – Grant Recipients reviews (not confirmed) will be contacting grant recipients 2014, then go back to prior years to fill the hour. February – Kim Howell-Costion Greenhouse soils and Soil Secrets (not confirmed) March – Ed; one hole at a time. April – Hattie on flowers.  We will be needing a volunteer to take over continuing education because Ed is now the clubs vice president.

MG Projects/Blog - Loni Shapiro – currently collecting receipts

Volunteer Support – Crys Wells 264.25 volunteer hours and 54 education hours. YTD totals are 3208.25 volunteer hours and 518.5 education hours

Gardening Questions? What do you do with raspberry after they have produced berries?  Cut growth after 2^nd year.  What can you do with sunflower carcass?  Shred them and use in compost or let them dry and use them as stakes.

Next meeting: Christmas Party, December 11, 2014

Volunter Opportunity

Greetings, All,

There will be a Plant Atlas Project of Arizona (PAPAZ) specimen mounting session on Thursday, November 20 from 1-3pm, at the Deaver Herbarium, Room 314.  Sessions will be ongoing through the winter months.
Experienced and new helpers are all welcome.   Training will be provided.

Deaver Herbarium is located in the Biological Sciences Building at 617 S Beaver Street.  Parking is difficult on or off campus, so consider taking public transportation. The number 10 bus stop is right in front of the building.

For more information and to sign up, please contact Gisela Kluwin at gkluwin2@gmail.com (preferred) or phone 853-9462. 

 

Posted by

D. Lamm 

Update from Jeff Best/Sunshine Rescue Mission

The garden at Dorsey Manor was very productive this past year.  We harvested 109 pounds of vegetables.  The harvest went to the S.R.M. kitchen for meals served from there.  I am planning on facilitating the garden next year.  Thanks to all who helped this year; Morrinda, Dawa, Tim, Mike, Alan, Ernie, Cameron and others.  We received funding this year from Warner's Nursery and Loni Shapiro.

Here is the break down:
Beans - 22 lbs.
Squash - 20 lbs.
Radish - 2 lbs.
Spinach - 1 lbs.
Onions - 1 lbs.
Lettuce - 10 lbs.
Carrots - 3 lbs.
Collared Greens and Kale - 7 lbs
Tomato - 43 lbs.
Chili pepper

Jeff Best

Coconino Master Gardeners Association

CMGA November 2014 Meeting Agenda

Master Gardener Meeting Agenda 11/13/14

Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church

1601 N. San Francisco

 6:30pm – 6:40pm               Welcome – Agenda – Hunter Kemmet

 Announcements                  Meeting Raffle – $1 each or 6 for $5 - Must be present to win

·         Drawing will be held after refreshments and before the business meeting                                             

6:40pm – 6:45pm               Introduction of speaker – Ed Skiba

 6:45pm-7:45pm                  Continuing Education

Joe Costion presenting Greenhouse Design and Construction

15 minute break

7:45pm-8:00pm                  Refreshments provided by Kathy Hilton, Melissa Amberson and Barbara Johnson

And Raffle Prize Drawing 

Daily Sun Article from Sunday About Bees

The buzz on native bees

                

mason bee

Photo courtesy of USGS

This is a penstemon-loving mason bee found in cooler, wetter climates. Mason bees are native to northern Arizona and, because of the microhairs on its body, a more efficient pollinator than the non-native honeybee. Photo courtesy of USGS

                

2014-11-08                                                
The buzz on native bees

By KAILEY ROBERTS
Special to the Daily Sun Arizona Daily Sun

22 hours ago

 

Here is a teaser from the Daily Sun. Check on the rest of the article from Sunday's paper.

http://azdailysun.com/news/local/the-buzz-on-native-bees/article_95e797ae-9d1b-5d78-8fe5-9a4eef84d75d.html

Loni Shapiro

                  

National Park Update

Viewing this on a mobile device? Click here to donate. Help us secure the protections our parks need to thrive in their second century. In just over a year, the National Park Service’s centennial will shine a spotlight on all of our national parks. And it should be a time for celebrating. But we all could be in for a shock if we don’t act now. Because if things don’t change fast, America’s national parks will be in a sorry state—with closed trails and visitor centers, cancelled programs, and Park Service staff unable to properly maintain the parks due to severe budget cuts. The countdown to the parks’ centennial is on in earnest and NPCA needs your support to press ahead with all of our work. We know there will be many battles to face ahead as we fight to secure proper funding and protect the parks from a host of outside threats.

Terroir Seeds - Butterfly Milkweed and other info

Trouble reading this email? View the online version! Butterfly Milkweed, Brussels Sprouts & Gardening for Birds Butterfly Milkweed We have another species of milkweed to help the Monarch butterflies! The Butterfly milkweed is very attractive and a hit in both the garden and as a landscape showcase, where it shows off the vibrant deep yellow to orange flowers dripping with butterflies in the late spring to early summer. Add this to your pollinator garden to draw in many different butterflies, bees and beneficial insects. It’s best to plant a variety of milkweed and pollinator attracting flowers that provide food for a diverse ecology of pollinators. You will not only be helping them, but they will visit your garden and the key to great production is excellent pollination, thus growing flowers in or around your garden will reap abundant harvests. Plant now for early spring germination!

Volunteering at the Deaver Herbarium

PAPAZ (Plant Atlas Project of Northern Arizona) mounting sessions will resume on Friday, November 7 and Thursday, November 20 from 1-3pm, at the Deaver Herbarium Room 314. Sessions will be ongoing through the winter months. 
All are welcome, no experience needed, no knowledge of plants required, training will be provided. 

Deaver Herbarium is located in the Biological Sciences Building at 617 S Beaver Street. 
Since parking can be difficult on or off campus, consider taking public transportation. The number 10 bus stop is right in front of the building.

For more information and to sign up please contact Gisela Kluwin at gkluwin2@gmail.com (preferred) or phone/text  853-9462.

Dorothy Lamm

Keep Sedona Beautiful Educational Programs

Building Great Soil

WITH STEPHEN SCOTT from Terroir Seed Saturday, November 8 10:00 am - 11:30 am   - Keep Sedona Beautiful 360 Brewer Road, Sedona, AZ 86336   Soil is the foundation of all of our food and health, but we have learned to treat it like dirt over the past 75 years. Healthy, fertile and vibrant soil produces weather tolerant, pest and disease resistant plants that grow incredibly delicious and nutritious food, providing a noticeable improvement to our daily health.   Come join Stephen as he explores the different ways you can improve your garden soil, no matter if it is a traditional garden, containers, planters or at the community garden.   Free to anyone in the community, donations are welcome.   CLICK HERE FOR MORE DETAILS >>

From the Daily Sun October 12

Contest winners' yard looks great

To the editor:
We were one of the lucky winners of the Coconino Master Gardener Association's Fall Yard Clean-up Raffle. On Oct. 4, six Master Gardeners descended upon our home and worked for three hours; and they worked hard. Our front and back yards look fantastic. We'd like to thank the Coconino Master Gardener Association for the fantastic drawing and for the fantastic clean-up of our yard. Specific thanks go to Michele Lytle, John Mead, Cheryl Boardman, Ed Skiba, Shirline Alexander, and Sherry Markel.
DANA and CAROLE MANDINO
Flagstaff

Highlands Garden Conference 2014

Highlands Garden Conference

Prescott, AZ

October 24-25, 2014

This past weekend I attended the annual Highlands Garden Conference. It began on Friday with tours of a variety of venues in the area. My tour was of Watson Woods Riparian Preserve which is funded by Prescott Creeks Members.  The 126 acre site has been under restoration for the last 25 years. We toured the site and observed many trees and shrubs, some which will be removed, such as tamarask and an abundance of Siberian elm, and many that others that added to the beauty and preservation of the site (3 species of cottonwood, several willows, AZ walnut, velvet ash, box elder, hackberry, and 3 leaf sumac). With good rain over the last 2 years and work on restoration Granite Creek flows through the property now. Many of the wildlife have returned with restoration. Seen on the tour were hairy woodpeckers and flickers are known to inhabit the area. It was late in the season for vegetation, but several native grasses were observed (deer grass, side oats gramma) and milkweed, yarrow, datura, and some asters. This is a long term project for this non-profit organization and a great place to visit. Admission is free. Check it out on their web site.

The highlight of the conference was the keynote speaker, Jeff Gillman, PhD. He has a masters in entomology, and a PhD in horticulture from the University of Georgia. He is a well known author of 5 books on gardening and the environment, and has been a professional researcher and educator for almost 20 years. His talks were both interesting and filled with new ideas for master gardeners. The first was on "The Truth About Organic Gardening". As it becomes more popular, gardeners need to take a critical look at techniques to determine whether they are as safe and effective as we would like them to be. My take from his talk was that some of the so called natural ingredients are not really safe for us or our pets. If it says organic on the label check out the ingredients, especially if they are listed as inert. He also gave a wonderful history of the development of organics. Check out his books on Amazon.

In the afternoon lecture he spent time talking about "The Truth About Garden Remedies". Some of his research in particular on Jerry Baker's home remedies was particularly useful and humorous.  One piece of advice that wasn't particularly welcome to me, was that the best weed control is doing the work by hand - oh well, it's good exercise. He also had some advise on the current trend in adding mycorrhizas to our soil. He felt that first we need to do a soil test to see what we have, and that one product does not fit the needs of all gardens, each one being unique, so we may be wasting money.

Flagstaff Foodlink - UA Downtown Lecture Series/Live Streamed in Flagstaff

For all those interested in growing and eating local foods for diversity and health.

I'm happy to announce that Rendezvous Coffee House has generously offered to stream the UA's Downtown Lecture Series which is focused on FOOD this year.

LIVE streaming will be taking place every Wednesday starting on October 15 and will go through November 12 at 6:30pm at Rendezvous Coffee House at 100 South San Francisco St. in Downtown Flagstaff.

Here is the schedule of the lectures:

Food for Pleasure, Vitality, and Health

November 12, 2014

Victoria Maizes, Co-Director of the UA’s Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine

FOR MORE INFORMATION about viewing in Flagstaff, email flagstafffoodlink@gmail.com   

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE LECTURE SERIES, visit http://downtownlectures.arizona.edu/2014-downtown-lecture-series
For questions, please contact Lydia Breunig, Director of Outreach, UA College of Social and Behavioral Sciences at 

(520) 621-1112 or lydiab@email.arizona.edu

Please spread widely,
Regan Emmons

Garden Starts CSA (community supported agriculture)

Flagstaff Foodlink (501c3)  Growing food, growing community
flaggardenstarts@gmail.com

http://flagstafffoodlink.com/

 

Flagstaff Foodlink cultivates and celebrates local, healthy, equitable, and resilient food systems in our community.