Grand Canyon Centennial

Hi, 

My name is Vanessa Ceja, I'm the Centennial and Community Outreach Coordinator for the park. Grand Canyon National Park will be celebrating it's Centennial in 2019 and we are starting to gear up for that this year. 

We are planning a Wildlife Day event at Grand Canyon on May 26 from 10 to 4 pm at the Grand Canyon Visitor Center plaza. Wildlife Day started a few years ago in memory of Eric York, a biologist who dedicated his life to the study of wildlife in the park. The event focuses on the biodiversity of plants and wildlife found in the park and surrounding areas. 

At the plaza we'll have different wildlife organizations, park partners, and activities. This is a great opportunity to reach a large number of visitors as well as community members. We wanted to know if this was something the Flagstaff AZ Native Plant Society would be interested in participating in? 

Let me know what you think. 

Thanks

Vanessa Ceja-Cervantes | Grand Canyon National Park | 928-638-7728 office | 928-266-6246 cell

CSA Vegetable Plant Starts

 

Our seedlings for our GardenShare CSA are coming along great!

     

We still have shares for sale so if you need vegetable garden starts be sure to sign up. First pick up will likely be at the end of the month! To purchase a share visit https://squareup.com/store/forestdale-farm

 

Food for Compost

Food for Compost and Livestock Feed

from the Flagstaff Family Food Center Warehouse

Flagstaff Family Food Center Warehouse collects food from grocery stores and warehouses to distribute to Northern Arizona families in need.  Overstock, over the hill or out of date food is made available to Flagstaff farmers, gardeners and ranchers for compost of animal food.  It can be picked up Mondays through Thursdays from 9 AM to 2 PM.  It is first come, first served.  The best times are Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from about 11 AM to 1 PM.  The warehouse is located at 3805 E. Huntington Drive.  There is a sign on the front that says Food Bank.  Pull around to the back of the building and ask for Monica, Sierra or Frank.  You can call Frank from the Master Gardeners Association at 928-856-1223 if you have questions or need further information. 

Wildflowers of Northern Arizona Botany Class at CCC

Here is some information about a new class that CCC is offering this summer on Wildflowers of Northern Arizona that I thought you may want to share with the Master Gardeners and visitors to the Extension Office. The class is a two week course: June 4^th through the 14^th and the class runs from 12 to 6:45 Monday through Thursday.

If you have any questions, I recommend contacting Wendy McBride at Wendy.Mcbride@coconino.edu because Wendy is the instructor on the course and will know more information about it than I do. If you would like a flier for the course, please let me know and I can forward that you as well.

Have a great day!

Nichole Gregory

Testing and Transitions Program Specialist Sr.

Academic Advisor

Coconino Community College

(928) 226-4301

From: Wendy McBride 

Hello All, I'm writing to advertise an upcoming field botany course offered through Coconino Community College this summer. The course is BIO 112 - Wildflowers of Arizona (preliminary syllabus attached here). The class will take place over the course of two weeks, M-Th June 4-7 and 11-14; we will meet from 12 pm - 6:45 pm each day.

This will be an intensive two week course that is a great introduction to botany. Throughout these two weeks we will explore the following:

• Basic plant morphology
• Basic botanical vocabulary
• Basic plant taxonomy
• Basic plant ecology
• Practice using a dichotomous key to identify plants
• Identification of plant families and species common to northern Arizona
• Proper collection, documentation, and processing methods for plant collection in the field.
• We may be contributing to the floristic inventory of a local site.

Class will include regular field trips to local destinations, and students should be prepared to hike up to approximately four miles at a steady pace across uneven terrain. Being in good physical condition is a necessary requirement.

Please share this information with anyone who might be interested and feel free to contact me with any questions.

Thanks!
Wendy

Free Garden Open House

We would like to invite any MG who would like to come to help.

WHAT:  Free Garden Open House.  (we will be mailing out 4500 flyers)

Our aim is to provide education, examples, and free things- to encourage folks to garden at their place of residence.

We will have a demonstration garden with examples of Hoop Housing, row covers, drip systems, raised beds, container gardening, children's Activities and free seeds, compost, and plants.

MG are invited to talk with the public (one on one) on any of the above items, or something else they would like (we will provide you a table/booth if you like).

WHERE:  East Valley Baptist Church 10655 N. US Hwy 89.  (Timberline area)

WHEN: Saturday, May 26, 2018, Come and go when you like from 9-11 am.

WHO:  East Valley Garden Club is behind this event.  Last year we had over 100 folks attend, and we except more this year.

We would encourage any MG students from the classes to come and help and gain some hours.

After the Open House, we will be at the garden every Saturday to answer questions, talk, or encourage folks.  MG are encourage to come if they can.

Come meet your neighbors, and make new friends.  Any questions please call me, Daryl Bennett, 928-527-8977.  I am pastor and MG class of spring 17.
Thank you,

Daryl Bennett

Highlands Center Prescott News

April-May 2018

Get Ready to Grow Native!

Annual Plant Sale will help fund the Center’s educational programs  Local experts will be on hand to help you pick the native plants that will be perfect to improve and enhance the natural beauty of your landscape. With ecological diversity comes an increased diversity of birds, butterflies, and bees that the native habitats support.  For a complete plant list.

Saturday, May 5th, 8:30am - 2pm Sunday, May 6th, 10am - 1pm Sponsored by the City of Prescott, Water Smart

Friday, May 4th, 2 - 6pm Registration requested. Not a member? Join today! Members Only! Pre-Sale Party FREE! Highlands Center Members are invited for the first pick of plants! In addition to a wide variety of native and adapted flowers, grasses, shrubs, and trees, we will have a cash bar and refreshments.

The Knee-High Lens Launch Saturday, April 28, 10-11am Run! Jump! Stretch! Bring your 3 or 4-year old to experience the Discovery Gardens in a new way at the Spring Launch of our Knee-High Lens! The Knee-High Lens is a printed interactive guide designed for parents to use with their 3 or 4-year old children when they visit the Discovery Gardens. A new Knee-High Lens will debut each season.

The event is free but requires an RSVP HERE. Free admission to the Discovery Gardens

Seed School in a Day is coming to Flagstaff this Saturday! Brought to you by the Rocky Mountain Seed Alliance, this event is tailored to all levels of experience. It will be a fun, hands-on learning opportunity. You won't want to miss it!

Sign up for the all day event here.

Plant Sale in Sedona

Flagstaff Home and Garden Show

Looking for some education hours for your yearly requirements for being a master gardener. You can easily pick up a few at the Flagstaff Home & Garden show. Here is the schedule:

Friday - April 13

10:30 – Identifying and Managing Invasive Plants in the Home Landscape –  Dorothy Lamm

11:30 – Gardening by the Month in Flagstaff – Jackie Clark

2:30 –Backyard Composting  –  Frank Branham 

3:30 – No Garden? Grow in a Bag – Sue Madden 

Saturday - April 14

10:30 – Good and Evil in the Garden: Using Rabbits and Chickens for Permaculture Gardening – Melissa Wilson

11:30 – Selecting and Growing Fruit Trees in Northern Arizona – Hattie Braun

2:30 – Build a Crevice Garden –  Linda Guarino

3:30 – Beginning Vegetable Gardening – Willa McAuliffe

Sunday - April 15

11:30 – Growing Berries – Hattie Braun

It is free every day and being held at the NAU Field House.

Pesticides, People, and Pollinators Free Webinar

Here's a webinar that Master Gardeners might find interesting. I am registered for the webinar and if you would like to join me, I will show it in our conference room on Thursday, April 12th at 10:00am. We will have a discussion about the content of this webinar afterwards. You can also register on your own.

Hattie

Pesticides, People, and Pollinators:

Answers to Tricky Pesticide Questions for Master Gardeners

Discussing pesticides with the public can be tricky, even for trained professionals. Master gardeners are on the front line, providing information directly to the public on a wide range of topics. In this webinar, pesticide specialists with the National Pesticide Information Center (NPIC) will provide resources that master gardeners can use to navigate these conversations. We will discuss topics including protecting pollinators from pesticides, comparing organic and conventional pesticides, how to minimize exposures to pesticides, and how individual risk perception influences behavior. Join us for live Q&A after the presentation. 

A recording of the webinar will be posted to the NPIC YouTube channel.

Thursday, April 12th at 1:00pm EST (10:00am PT)

Target audience: Master Gardeners, County Extension Agents, Universities
Presenters: Alicia Leytem & April Strid, Pesticide Specialists, NPIC
Duration: 1:00 hour

Cost: Free

To join:

Registration is required for this free webinar. 

Participants may join the webinar up to 10 minutes early.

To Register:

https://oregonstate.webex.com/oregonstate/onstage/g.php?MTID=e730999a7bf8a7580242869dc7c96dd02

Event number: 921 552 205

For audio by phone:

+1-415-655-0002 (US Toll)

Access code: 921 552 205

CMGA Meeting Agenda for April

Coconino Master Gardener Meeting Agenda

Thursday, April 12, 2018 at 6:30pm

Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church—Benson Hall

1601 N. San Francisco, Flagstaff, AZ 86001

6:30-6:35pm    Welcome-Sherline Alexander   

6:35-6:40pm    Introduction of Speakers—Gilli Thomas

6:40-7:45pm    Education:  Carol Chicci, Choosing and Caring for Roses in Flagstaff

       

(15 minute break with refreshments)

8:00-8:25pm    Business Meeting—Sherline Alexander

Galen Guerette has volunteered to head up the monthly raffle, but we still need a volunteer for fundraising chair/committee.  

Signups -  Earth Day, Fall 2018 conference and Community Market

MG Coordinator Happenings—Hattie Braun

• 2018 Flagstaff Home and Garden Show—April 13-15, 2018.  Will be in the Field House at NAU instead of the Walkup Sky Dome
• Fall into Gardening 2018
• MG Class in Flagstaff 2/6-5/8 9a-12:30p, Coconino Public Health Bldg.
• Earth Day—April 21 at Bushmaster Park, 11a-2p
• Flagstaff Monthly Garden Tours
• Milkweed Monarch Project

        Financial Report—Molly Larsen