CMGA General Info

Christmas Amaryllis with Orchid to the right. Below Ruth Benson's holiday bears.
Photo by Loni Shapiro.

Welcome to the Coconino County Master Gardeners Association blog. The mission of the Master Gardener Program is to create a corps of well-informed volunteers, and to deliver quality horticultural education programs adapted to our regional high elevation environment. The purpose of the association is to provide support for those volunteers and Master Gardener graduates, continuing education, and opportunities to participate in community programs that increase the visibility and participation in the Master Gardener Program.

The Coconino Master Gardener Association (2009) began in 2009. This blog contains information on:

-How to become a member

-Volunteer and Education hours reporting

-Calendar of Events

-General gardening information articles

-Master Gardener Association Documents and forms

-References and Resources

-Interesting Websites and Blogs

-Old Gardening Etcetera columns

-Recipes

-Book Reviews

-How to contact Board or Committee Members

Meetings are held monthly on the 2nd Thursday from 600pm - 8;30pm. We meet at the Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church at 1601 N. San Francisco. This includes continuing education and a business meeting.

Reporting Master Gardener Hours

All master gardener trainees and certified master gardeners need to report their hours.
Beginning in 2010 certified master gardeners need to have 6 Education hours and 12 Volunteer hours in order to maintain certification.The on line reporting system allows you to report Education or Volunteer hours. You can sign in to record hours in the right hand column under Recording Volunteer and Education Hours. Just click on the U. of A.
If you have any questions or concerns about the new reporting system, please contact Brenda Smith (A - M) or Sue Madden (N - Z). Their contacts are listed at the bottom of the blog under Contacts.

Ideas for hours------
--Attend monthly meetings
--Work on an association committee
--Work at an informational booth for the Master Gardeners
--Be a speaker about gardening topics at a variety of venues
--Host a garden tour
--Work at a fundraising event (Plant Sale - Garden Tour).
--Work at a MG site (Olivia White Hospice, the Arboretum, Riordan Mansion, or school gardens (many others)). Check out the Assoc. Doc. & Forms under Volunteer Sites.
--Work in the Extension office
--Write an article for the newspaper column -Gardening Etcetera
-Volunteer with the Seed Library
Be creative! There are many ways to fulfill your hours. Just remember for volunteering it needs to be a non-profit endeavor or an approved for profit site.

Wednesday, June 26, 2019

Picture Canyon Weed Pulls

Tuesday, June 11, 2019

CMGA Meeting Agends June 13, 2019

Coconino Master Gardener Meeting Agenda

Thursday, June 13, 2019 at 6:30pm

Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church—Benson Hall

1601 N. San Francisco, Flagstaff, AZ 86001

6:30-6:35pm Welcome-Sue Madden, President

6:35-6:40pm Introduction of Speakers—Sue Madden

6:40-7:45pm Education: Jeff Mielander/High Elevation Desert Gardening

(15 minute break with refreshments)

7:45-8:00pm Raffle Prize Drawing – $1 each or 6 for $5 - Must be present to win

8:00-8:25pm Business Meeting

Art-full Summer Garden Tours/July 20—Questions? Ask Colleen Tucker at (928) 853-0315 or Jennifer Quarterman at (720) 560-7575. Six gardens have been selected. One volunteer is still needed for the afternoon.

Gilli Thomas—Water Conservation for the City of Flagstaff. Gilli will continue to attend as the CMGA presence with other groups that have a stake in this issue. Nothing new to report.

MG Coordinator Happenings—Sue Madden

§ Summer Plant Sale, June 15. Vendors and plant sellers have been signing up. Volunteers still needed to assist. No food trucks, snacks will be available for sale. Sale starts at 8am for CMGA members and 9am for the general public.

§ Bus Stop Garden MG/Volunteer needed. Plants mostly in the ground now.

§ Master Gardener Hotline will begin when staff and volunteers are available. Help Desk Coordinator and other volunteers needed.

Financial Report—Jeff Best, Treasurer will report

Committee Progress Reports:

Continuing Education - Gilli Thomas would welcome suggestions for presenters

· June 13, 2019—High Elevation Desert Gardening/Jeff Mielander

· July 11, 2019—Vertical Gardening/Emily Melhorn

· August 8, 2019—Permaculture/Rosemary Logan

· September—TBD/Picnic and Recognition of New Master Gardeners

· October 10, 2019—Bokhasi Composting/Steve Alston

Volunteer Support—Tim Ellsworth-Bowers will report volunteer hours.

Social Chair – Liz George—Sign-ups for the rest of the year are complete.

Seed Library – Jackie Alston

Blog/Communication – Loni Shapiro—New calendar for the Blog

Historian—Tammy Valdovino

Fundraising Chair—Sherline Alexander. Sherline will be helping with logistics for the Artful Gardens Tour.

8:25-8:30 Gardening Questions? Can I volunteer even if I am not a Master Gardener?

Next meeting: July 11 with speaker Emily Melhorn/Vertical Gardening.

Sunday, June 9, 2019

3rd Annual Master Gardener Plant Sale and Garden Festival

June 15, 2019 - 9 am - 1 pm, Fort Tuthill County Park, Flagstaff, AZ

CMGA members only preview - 8 am - 9 am

The Coconino County Master Gardener Association (CMGA) and University of Arizona Coconino County Extension Office are pleased to present the third annual plant sale and garden festival. We'll have a master gardener table with experts to answer your gardening questions, gardening demonstrations and workshops, and children's activities. Runs with Scissors will be sharpening clippers, scissors, knives and other small items. Vendors will be selling vegetables, houseplants, ornamental and native plants as well as seeds and garden-related items including birding supplies, books and pottery. Our current list of vendors includes:

- Arboretum at Flagstaff

- Brightside Books

- Flagstaff Ecoranch

- Forestdale Farm Stewards

- Jay's Bird Barn

- Julie MacDonald

- NAU Clay Club

- Olivia White Hospice

- Peaks View 4-H Club

- Terroir Seeds

- Verde Valley School

- Willow Moon Nursery

Not all vendors will have the capability to run credit cards, so you are encouraged to bring cash.

Saturday, June 8, 2019

Plant Sale - Tomatoes Herbs & More

Flagstaff grown beautiful Tomato Plants, Herbs, and More
7905 N. Rain Valley Rd.
June 1 & 2, 8 & 9, 15, 22 & 23 - 830am-3pm

All plants grown from seed and Happy Frog container soil and organic fertilizers. She has 13 varieties of tomatoes, several chilies and peppers, and some herbs.

For more info call Erin Cunningham 928-699-3365

Coconino Master Gardener Association