Roots & Shoots - The University of Arizona · Roots & Shoots January 2010. EDITOR: Vineetha Kartha ASSOCIATE EDITOR: Carlene Warner COPY EDITORS: Meg Paterson, Karen ... Mon. & Thurs.

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Roots & ShootsRoots & Shoots

January 2010January 2010

EDITOR: Vineetha Kartha ASSOCIATE EDITOR: Carlene Warner COPY EDITORS: Meg Paterson, Karen Sankman CALENDAR: Karen Sankman WEBSITE QUESTIONS: Kristen Wagner 602/827-8200 x311 USPS MAIL QUESTIONS: Debbie Mauldin 602/827-8200 x308

Deadline is the 18th of the month prior.

Roots & Shoots, published monthly by & for Maricopa Co. Master Gardeners, is printed under the direction of:

THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA COOPERATIVE EXTENSION MARICOPA COUNTY OFFICE

4341 E. BROADWAY RD. / PHOENIX, AZ 85040-8807 PHONE 602/827-8200 FAX 602/827-8292

HOURS: 8:00AM-5:00PM WEEKDAYS maricopamastergardeners.org

STAFF: Monica Pastor, County Extension Director Kristen Wagner, Program Coordinator, Sr.

602-827-8200 x311 / [email protected] James Truman, Program Coordinator, Sr

602-827-8200 x306 / [email protected] Debbie Mauldin, Admin. Ass’t

602/827-8200 x308 / [email protected]

Roots & Shoots In this edition: Garden Spotlight MG Update Traveling Gardener Bug of the Month Desert Garden Institute And many more!!

Maricopa County Master Gardeners MG CONTACT LIST: For a complete listing, see the organizational chart under MG Business on the MG Central website East Valley Satellite: Wayne Hall -----------------------480-507-5422 Director at Large: Vacant Carl Rutherford ----------------- 480-325-1469 Educational Materials: Vacant NE Valley Satellite: Debbie Lyding ------------------- 602-789-7377 Demonstration Garden: Pam Perry 602-279-6250 Linda Belous ---------------------480-991-4306 MG Support: Cherie Czaplicki 623-975-5397 Linda Thiedke ------------------- 480-614-0150 Public Events: Vacant NW Valley Satellite: Mary Ann Garewal ------------- 623-388-4900 Public Training: Jim Oravetz 623-584-6068 Pat Greer ------------------------- 623-915-3337 Helen Zinn ------------------------623-271-7518 SATELLITE OFFICES: EAST VALLEY: 480-985-0338 NORTHEAST VALLEY: 480-312-5810 NORTHWEST VALLEY: 623-546-1672 Red Mtn. Multi-Generational Center Via Linda Senior Center PORA Office 7550 E. Adobe 10440 E Via Linda 13815 Camino del Sol Blvd Mesa, AZ 85207 Scottsdale, AZ 85258-6099 Sun City West, AZ 85375 Mon. & Thurs. 9:00a.m.-Noon Mon. 9 -12:30 p.m.; Thurs. 9 -4 p.m. Weekdays 9:00a.m.-Noon The University of Arizona is an equal opportunity, affirmative action institution. The University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or sexual orientation in its programs and activities. Persons with a disability may request a reason-able accommodation, such as a sign language interpreter, by contacting Kristen Wagner, Program Coordinator, at [email protected] 602-470-8086x311. Requests should be made as early as possible to allow time to arrange the accommodation. Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Ex-tension work, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, James A. Christenson, Director, Cooperative Extension, College of Agriculture & Life Sciences, The University of Arizona.

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Maricopa County’s Master Gardener Newsletter

R&S: Tell us a little about yourself and your garden. JR: An Arizona native in and out, I have been tending this garden for more than 10 years. I inherited the love of gardening from my parents. This garden has evolved over time, one remodeling project after another. Our current remodeling is based on a comprehensive plan that is focused on conserving water, creating safe and happy places for pets, growing edible plants and creating an interesting and lush xeriscape. I practice water harvesting and vermicomposting. My edible garden includes herbs such as parsley, rosemary, oregano, mint and vegetables including lettuce, spinach, cauliflower, broccoli. I also have a small collection of Father Kino’s heritage fruit trees—Sosa-Carillo Pomegranate, Allabadhi guava, Adelina apricot. R&S: What inspired you to offer your garden for the RGRP tour this year? JR: At the time RGRP was being planned, the comprehensive plan for this garden was coming together. In addition the tour was in central Phoenix. Registering this garden for the RGRP tour automatically gave the remodeling project a deadline. R&S: Tell us a little about your garden responsibilities and daily routine? JR: This garden is always changing, so I am always creating, rather than maintaining. My daily responsibili-ties include checking my vegetables to see if they need water. I compost regularly. I also check on my worms once or twice a week. RS: What are you excited to spotlight about your garden for the RGRP tour visitors? JR: I am excited to spotlight my alternative gardening practices. I harvest water from three different sources and have three different composters all together. I am also excited about the cat and the dog gardens. I be-lieve it is very important to live in harmony with your critters. R&S: What advice would you give to gardeners who want to create a garden such as yours? JR: Always have a comprehensive plan, but be sure to break it into smaller projects. R&S: What in your opinion is the importance of the RGRP tour for the master gardeners? JR: RGRP has three key elements—really good opportunity for MGs to learn, on the ground training for those working on the tour, and a good way to reach out to the public. If you would like to volunteer for the RGRP tour, please contact Kris Christensen at [email protected] or Linda Thieken at [email protected].

Jackie’s garden is a destination for inspiration seekers, pet lovers, plant enthusiasts and those interested in Father Kino’s heritage fruit trees. Both the rustic western front yard and the hard working back yard are constantly evolving with ideas and brand new projects. A perfect example of water conservation and alternative gardening practices, Jackie’s garden will be featured in the Maricopa County Master Gardener RGRP tour, to be held on Saturday, March 13, 2010.

Garden SPOTLIGHT Jackie Rich’s “Garden of Ideas”

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MG Update Trees, No Leaf Left Behind By Deb Sparrow Planting and Irrigation Practices &

Progress comes to mulching

WHO: Claud Cluff is horticulturalist for the City of Chandler and teaches Urban Horticulture at Mesa Com-munity College. He studied Plant Science at the University of Arizona. Claud is a Certified Nursery Profes-sional, a Certified Arborist, a Certified Landscape Professional and one of our fellow Master Gardeners. He's worked in the green industry for the last 33 years. Claud also works with the Mesa District Varsity Scouts and has shepherded many boys throughout their scouting careers and Eagle Scout projects. This is a chance to benefit from his many years of experience directing the care of trees in Chandler parks and teaching at Mesa Community College. Yes, there was a last minute change. Our bee speaker had a change of schedule and we hope he will come to us another month. Thanks so much to Claud for moving his talk up a few months. We were planning on having him later in the year.

WHAT: Trees, No Leaf Left Behind Planting and Irrigation Practices Maricopa County Master Gardeners have enjoyed Claud’s pruning and tree care demonstrations in our exten-sion gardens many times. Pam Perry, in writing the notices for these demos has noted; "Each time we weather a storm I again understand the importance of arborist care for maturing landscapes. Regular care is essential for the well being of our trees." Planting practices are also very important and irrigation plans should be incorporated into this process. Claud's lengthy experience with the many trees of Chandler parks has given him the opportunity to make some special observations resulting in practical applications. We are so lucky to have Claud share this with us. Progress Comes to Mulching Claud will tell us the saga of how the City of Chandler was persuaded to experiment with recycling chippings from city tree pruning as a ground cover in place of decomposed granite in some of their public parks. There are many pluses to this practice, among them, cost, fewer mountains crushed into little rocks, less fuel use to crush and transport the material. Claud will also tell us about other aspects, the impact on the trees and the parks themselves.

WHEN: Wednesday, January 13, 2010, 9:00 am

WHERE: at the extension office, 4341 E. Broadway Rd., Phoenix

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Diggings in the Garden by Pam Perry

This winter we should not be collecting debris from the MCCE roof off the desert trail! The building is getting a new roof! Saturday volunteer opportunities will be arranged to complement Tuesday afternoon opportunities. The class beginning in January meets out east, and I expect many students will be from there as well. Announcements will go out on list serve, and into the next issue of Roots and Shoots. Meanwhile, weeders are welcome in the front garden, where lupine grow and bloom. If you know the difference between a lupine and the winter weeds, you are qualified to remove the weeds and give breathing and growing space to the lupine. Over the years we have developed a pretty good seed bank of lupines and get a good spring show! Irrigation keeps the area moist so the weeds will part company with the soil. Weeding can be done anywhere needed along the Desert Trail, as well, should you want to get in some gardening time while the weather is cool and pleas-ant. Most of the heavy pruning is done for a while and basic garden maintenance is the kind of work needed these days. Yup, this is your formal invitation to come when you can and lend a hand! Winter greens are doing well in the vegetable patch. We have picked our first snow peas, or sugar snaps. The last of the summer crops were felled by frost. Composting is an ongoing activity, but the process is slower now as there is way more carbon sources than nitrogen in the pile. Real estate is reserved for toma-toes, peppers and eggplants. I am curious to see if our purple hyacinth beans survive winter and come back from the crowns, or if we will have to replant. Fava beans are looking good, and we will have a wonderful selection of lettuces this winter. Just shy of half an inch of rain fell a couple weeks ago. Hoping for more! We continue to garden on Tuesday afternoons, from mid afternoon to dusk. All are welcome to come and lend a hand with whatever happens to be on the agenda! The apple trees are slow to defoliate, but the peaches are just about bare. These are so much easier to prune when the branching is visible! Sara Ruhlen will again be leading the pruning for these plants. Her stewardship has had a noticeable impact on their well being! In the tropical and rare fruit area, a banana blooms with baby bananas, and one papaya still retains its fruit. Citrus is ripening, and the roses recover from summer trials. The chickens are eating way too many things in the Perennial Garden. Soon you may see some fencing go up to restrain them. The monthly Weed and Feed sponsored by the Herbies offers not only volunteer opportunities but a wonderful demonstration of the diversity an herb garden can offer! The passion fruits set a second crop this fall…. Mmmmm. See you in 2010!

Images courtesy MaryAnn Palmer and Sergio Vie

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Design Charrette We had another successful Charrette in December at Meg Gaeta's in Fountain Hills. Meg received many good ideas for her design and everyone had an enjoyable morning.

Our first Charrette of the New Year is in Scottsdale to help Arleen Rau with her garden on January 23 from 9:00AM until noon. Here's what Arleen has to say about her garden: “We live in a condo community and have a street side native desert plant landscape, a gated entrance court-yard that is our primary focus, and a covered patio facing southwest off our living and dining room areas. In the courtyard the challenge here is that it's mostly shady, except in the summer months when the sun is di-rectly overhead. We lost a tree there this year which has created a void. We'd like to find a way to incorpo-rate more color and texture into this space and create height in the corner of the courtyard. Over the summer we lost a yellow Carolina jessamine vine on the west-facing wall that needs a replace-ment. We do have bougainvillea on the long east facing wall, a Texas mountain laurel that has never bloomed, a good-sized fairy duster that is crowding the Texas Mountain Laurel, some agaves that seem to actually appreciate the shade, and a miscellaneous "hodge podge" of plants that were part of the original "flawed" landscape design in the spring of 1999. So we're ready to start over with a new landscape design, and are hoping the MG Design Charrette team can furnish us with new ideas to help create a welcoming and serene courtyard setting”. Remember, everyone is welcome, brand new and seasoned Master Gardeners alike. You do not have to be a designer to contribute. Each and every one of us has at least one idea that can help Arlene come up with a plan for her garden. The only requirement is to bring your imagination and a dish to share. Come enjoy the morning with fellow Master Gardeners. To reserve your spot please email us at [email protected] or call Beth Kirkpatrick on 480-275-4833.

Happy New Year!!!

The Design Charrette Team - Beth, John, Matt and Sue

Images from Meg Gaeta’s Charette, sent by Beth Kirkpatrick

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Anthurium derives from anthos, a flower and oura, a tail, from the shape of the spadix. The chief attraction of anthurium is its red, white, or spotted spathe that sets off the long spike of tiny flowers in white, red, orange or yellow. The spike is straight and yellow on the larger A. andreanum and curved and orange on the smaller A. scherzerianum hybrids. Spectacularly veined leaves indicate that you have A. crystalline. A. veitchii has leaves 3 feet long. The Anthurium that we often see for sale is A. andreanum also known as oilcloth flower or Painter’s Pallette. It is a large plant, 2 to 3 feet high. White, pink, orange and red varieties may be found. You may also find A. scherzerianum , also known as Fla-mingo Flower or Pigtail Plant which grows about one foot high and has a curly tail where the flower joins the stem. There is also A. crystalline with leaf color that changes from bronzy-purple to deep green with age. The foliage hangs vertically , displaying prominent silvery veins. All of the Anthuriums are native to the rain forests of America and the West Indies. Some of the largest and most colorful forms have been developed by growers in Hawaii. The flowers are brilliant oranges and reds or soft greenish or pinkish whites. Most of the color is in the heart shaped spathe surrounding the tiny flowers. All varieties love bright sun, humidity and warmth (60-65 degrees F) in winter but require protection from summer sun. A. scherzerianum is reasonably tolerant of ordinary room conditions. Protect your Anthurium from drafts. Water evenly and spray with non-alkaline water to provide humidity. Fertilize every 14 days, re-ducing water somewhat in winter. Repot every 2-3 years in spring, using loose humus-rich soil. Aphids and scale insects like these plants and if kept too moist and cool, grey mold and root rot may appear. You may find Anthurium plants for sale around the holidays since the majority of them have red waxy flowers and lance-shaped leaves and red and green seem to be the colors of choice during the wintertime.

Houseplant of the month—Anthurium by Pauline Marx

Fun Fact Jackie Rich

Go to: http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?CityName=Phoenix&state=AZ&site=PSR&textField1=33.4483&textField2=-112.073&e=0 This is a general forecast for Phoenix. If you click on appropriate icons on the map (the + to make it a big-ger scale) you can make it bigger until you can read the street names. Then move the map around using the arrow keys to find your part of town, click on your approximate house location and BINGO you will get weather for a few square miles that includes your house. Then be sure to make the page one of your fa-vorites (or bookmark it) so you don't have to do it again! Of course there may be discrepancies as you may have microclimates in your yard or other unknown factors, but it is nice to have. If you want to share this with your neighbors in another part of the state or country, go to: http://www.weather.gov/ and have them type in their city and state in the box on the left hand side of the screen. Then follow the instructions above.

Image courtesy Pauline Marx

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Traveling Gardener, wandering, wondering, noticing… Resolutions of the garden by Linda Larson

As the new year begins with resolve and good inten-tions we often focus on healthful pursuits such as exer-cise, reducing stress, and keeping a positive attitude. I believe enjoying gardens is a great way to keep one’s resolve for better living all year long. Asian philosophy has long believed one’s physical and mental health is nurtured by time in a garden. Western garden thought also stresses the garden as a healthful activity, The English Gardener in 1699 wrote, “… spend spare time in the garden….there is no better way to preserve your health.” Many a historical novel has the ingénue taking a turn in the garden to sort out her feel-ings. Today Richard Louv, author of Last Child in the Woods theorizes much of today’s stress on children’s physical and emotional lives is linked to the lack of time spent in nature. Paul Bloom, Psychology Professor at Yale University makes the case that natural happiness is achieved when we are surrounded by trees, water, ani-mals and sky. Phillipa Lewis, author of Everything You Can Do in the Garden Without Actually Gardening, asks ”do we become nicer human beings under the influence of being in a garden?” So how do you keep your healthful resolutions by en-joying gardens? Begin in your own garden. A blanket on the ground allowing you to gaze up into sky and tree can energize you at any time. A seat in a far corner of the garden can remove you from phone and computer and give you a different perspective of your little piece of earth. Find a public garden to visit on a regular basis (one is less inclined to prune when we are a visitor). Consider Phoenix’s own Japanese Friendship Garden at 1125 N. 3rd Avenue in Phoenix. One does not power walk through a Japanese Strolling Garden. Strolling gar-dens set you on a path around a pond with a hide and reveal principle that requires the visitor to walk to fully experience the garden. The path is designed to shape the visitors’ experience. The stepping stones of uneven size require you to slow down and focus close at hand. Slowing us down we observe the texture and pattern of the stones. As the stones even out you raise your head and focus on a larger view, noticing a particular scene framed to be observed from just that transition. A gravel path creates a different sound as your footsteps move you forward. When the path moves uphill requir-ing more effort you will likely find a bench placed to pro-vide rest and reflection overlooking the pond.

Images courtesy Rich Larson

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Traveling Gardener continued…

The sound of water may emerge providing a calming effect. The traditional curved bridge over the pond symbolizes transitions in our lives. The curved reflection of the bridge in the water creates a circle represent-ing the continuity of earth and sky, the cycle of life. The hide and reveal design layers sensory experience each step of the way. As with life we can’t see the entire picture of our future, the garden provides a meta-phor for navigating our own life in not racing through from beginning to end but to fully experience the path we tread. The Phoenix Japanese Friendship garden or Ro Ho En is the product and joint cultural vision of Phoenix and it’s sister city Himeji, Japan. Ro is the Japanese word for heron, a symbol of Himeji Castle, a major palace of Japan. Ho is the Japanese word for the phoenix bird and En means garden. The garden opened in 1996, and this garden’s design adapted for our local climate is a place of beauty and reflection covering 3 1/2 acres. Age is revered in Asian culture and even in this young Phoenix garden trees have been shaped to resemble ancient trees symbolizing the beauty that comes with time. Strolling through such a garden will provide physical exercise and space for reflection. Sitting for a while will provide mental release, reducing anxiety and stress. Most gardeners are aware of the Japanese gardens’ exceptional pallet of shades of green and the minimal blooms placed to surprise and delight us. The Zen gardens with raked sand representing the waves of water are meditative destinations inviting us to sit and reflect. Tea Gardens are for ceremonial rituals. Pond gardens are viewed from a distance or from a boat presenting an idealized view of nature with no hu-mans in the space. Now is the season of fresh starts and though we be gardeners resolve to allow some time to put down one’s spade and clippers and stroll through a garden. Perhaps especially in these difficult times we can keep those resolutions thanks to gardens.

Termite Facts: There are approximately 1,000 pounds of termites for every man, woman and child on earth. In Africa, termites eat more grass than all mammals put together. They are among the most formidable builders in the animal kingdom, and are the quintessential recyclers. Up to 30% of the gases implicated in global warming may actually come from termite flatulence. Termites have been around for over 140 million years. Termites are sometimes called “white ants,” but are in fact more closely related to cockroaches. Termites have a broad waist with antennae that look like chains of beads. Ants have a narrow middle, with antennae that have a distinct bend or elbow. Termites are light to a dark tannish in color, live in large groups, and have the ability to digest cellulose. There are over 2,000 species worldwide, with 17 occurring in Arizona: subterranean, dry-wood and damp-wood. They do not bite or spread disease. A large queen lays eggs, which hatch into nymphs. These develop into specialized individuals: soldiers with large jaws to defend the nest; wingless adult workers; winged reproductives that fly out to start new colonies and are the ones most usually seen. Lighting, temperature, humidity and barometric pressure can determine when the “fly out” takes place. Inspect your home annually for holes in wood, pellets or sawdust, piles of wings, swarming insects or, tap to check for the hollow sounds made by tunnels in wood. Different termites make their presence known in dif-ferent ways. The control method will depend on the type of termite involved and its location. It is difficult to do yourself, as a chemical barrier must be applied to the soil beneath and next to the foundation to prevent termites from gaining access. Your best bet is to call a licensed professional. Keep wood away from the house including wood chips and fire wood, screen all vents, repair water leaks and foundation cracks.

Bug of the month—Termites by Sue Hakala

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Gardening practices for Superior Tomatoes by Terry Mikel

Few things in life compare to the anticipation of the first vine-ripened tomato plucked carefully from your own plant. Research shows the reason most people grow a vegetable garden is for home-grown tomatoes. Cer-tainly, vegetables grown in the garden rank superior to store-bought and home-grown tomatoes in compari-son offer the greatest flavor difference. Growing large slicing tomatoes is an accomplishment offering even more rewards than flavor: it’s tougher to accomplish than that near-Nirvana place described so frequently, "Just throw seeds out and everything grows." Good tomatoes come from good gardening practices and good gardeners adding a twinge of pride to that wonderful flavor. It’s time to get going for this year's tomato growing (I know it seems cold now but in much of the country the mere thought of spring gardening remains a couple months and 60 to 70 degrees away). Get your organic matter decisions made now. It’s too late to start a compost pile for this year but if you have one, sift it all through 3/8" hardware cloth and toss the unsifted material back on the pile. If you do not have a compost pile, go to a nursery and purchase some form of organic matter. Bark materials, composts and/or peat moss are all acceptable. There are pluses and minuses for any organic matter so just decide and get it for the soil. Organic matter offers only small amounts of actual plant nutrition. They offer a tremendous 'buffet' for all the soil's micro- and macro-organisms which then makes the soil a living, breathing, dynamic medium for plant growth. While our native soil offers many of the mineral nutrients missing in those Nirvana soils the biggest limiting factor in our soil for annual gardens is Nitrogen (N) and, in particular Phosphorus(P). Phosphorus is critical for newly planted herbaceous plants in two arenas. Primarily, it is involved with the blooming-fruit setting cycles. Often overlooked is Phosphorus’s vital role in root initiation in young plants. So, for fruit setting and growing more roots more quickly it should be clear of the importance for phosphorus in vegetable gar-dens. Phosphorus does not move in our soils like more acid soils so get it dug in where the roots are going to be.

What is the best fertilizer? The answer remains as elusive as the ubiquitous query on how often to water. There are many factors to consider. Some of them are based on science and some are based on personal tastes i.e. organic v. chemical. Whatever your preference, the fertilizer chosen should be higher in Phospho-rous than the other nutrients to get the young plants seated in the soil more quickly. You can, and will add more of soil-mobile Nitrogen during the crop season.

The last consideration is the soil's pH being above 7, and sometimes well above 7, making it alkaline. Sulfur will temporarily buffer the alkalinity usually long enough to grow the crop. How much to use? As with any specific recommendation: read the label. It will be spelled out fairly specifically. If your soil is heavier (higher clay content) then Gypsum can ameliorate the potential effects of sodium on heavy clay soils. Dig it all in the soil and let it mellow and activate for a couple weeks before planting. We want the plants in as early as possible to beat the heat of summer but remember the soil will be cold so any tricks to warm the soil will help. Measures like not mulching the soil surface until early summer when we want to cool the soil with mulch or laying clear plastic on the soil to let the heat concentrate a bit more on the soil surface. If a couple cold nights threaten, then cover them with frost cloth or some old/used bedroom substitution mate-rial.

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Gardening continued...

Speaking of planting the tomato plants, what is the best variety? I have a favorite as does almost everyone who has grown tomatoes successfully in the low desert. My favorite is Pearson Improved for a larger slicing to-mato. I also believe the care given to soil preparation and cultural conditions while growing the plant brings more success than the best variety, with less care to growing and the soil.

Let's all make 2010 a great tomato year.

Image accessed at publicradiokitchen.org, accessed on December 30, 2009.

Here is a line up of the 2010 Desert Garden Institute public workshops: Saturday, January 16 with Carolyn Hills teaching “Backyard Chickens for Your Garden.” Learn everything you need to know to incorporate chickens into your backyard garden. Kitchen scraps and garden leftovers recycled through your hens become useful eggs for your family and manure for your garden. This comprehensive class teaches you how to properly care for your hens through their entire life cycle, in-cluding recommended breeds, city codes, coop design, basic equipment, feeding guidelines, and how to help them through our superhot low desert summers. Join Doreen Pollack on Saturday, February 20 for an introductory course in “Permaculture.” This workshop will demystify Permaculture and reveal the key to creating ecological systems that do not re-quire constant human intervention. Think edible gardens, rainwater harvesting, composting, backyard fruit tree orchards, natural pest and weed control. This session will also show you how to begin to observe your property to identify what you can do to create a more sustainable environment. Come learn how to replicate nature and reduce the use of outside resources, time and money! On February 27, John Minett returns with his popular “Landscape Design” class. Ready to overhaul, bulldoze, dig up and start over? Before you do, come learn the basics of converting your old landscape into a beautiful new outdoor space. Learn the benefits of site assessment and mapping tech-niques. Bring your drawings, pictures and ideas to this educational hands-on workshop. Classes are taught at the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension, on Saturdays from 9 a.m. until noon. Cost: $25 or 5 sessions for $100, Public/ No charge to Master Gardeners & Interns Location: Palo Verde Room, University of Arizona Extension, 4341 E. Broadway Road, Phoenix. To register: 602/470-8086 x308 For complete Institute schedule, go to the Master Gardener website: http://cals.arizona.edu/maricopa/garden/dgi.htm

Desert Garden Institute 2010 by Louise Wakem

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Historically, people used and reused what they had on hand. The following is a list of readily available mate-rials for use in home composting. Except for human and pet waste, any organic material can be composted. Pet waste may include organisms parasitic to humans. Cat droppings may contain Toxoplasma gondii, a one-celled organism that can cause brain and eye disease in unborn children. Toxocara cati is a roundworm also found in cats that can be con-tracted by children. Bird droppings have similar hazards and dropped seed can introduce unwanted weeds into the garden. Large pieces of wood, oyster shells, clam shells, large quantities of pine needles, rags, brush, cornstalks, and heavy cardboard will not decompose easily. They should be shredded first. Pine needles and oak leaves are highly acidic and large amounts should not be used unless the acid is first neutralized with limestone. Acidic compost, however, can be produced with these materials for use on acid loving plants. Diseased plants can potentially contaminate the compost. High temperatures must be sustained for a lengthy period of time to kill off the disease organisms. Weeds can be composted, but high temperatures are needed to kill any weed seeds. Quack grass and Can-ada thistle should be avoided entirely. Large amounts of grease and oil attract animal pests and inhibit the biochemical processes of decomposition. Plant debris from roadsides may contain high levels of pesticides or lead emissions from passing traffic. Green grass clippings are very high in nitrogen and will heat up on their own if piled. Because of their high water content, however, they pack down and become slimy. Avoid this by adding clippings in thin layers be-tween leaves, garbage, manure and other materials to prevent them from clumping. Break up matted grass in the pile with a garden fork or spade and layer back into the pile. Grass clippings and leaves can be turned into finished compost in 2 weeks if the heap is chopped and turned every 3 days. Two parts grass clippings mixed with one part manure and bedding can also be turned into compost relatively fast, even without turn-ing. Brown clippings have lost much of their nitrogen, but are still a valuable addition to compost because they provide an energy source and absorb excess moisture. Leaves on average have twice the mineral content of manure, but are relatively slow to decompose. The cel-lulose in leaves, however, improves soil aeration and the crumb structure of most soils. To shorten compost-ing time, shred and add to compost before the leaves dry out. Supplement with extra nitrogen to provide sufficient food for bacteria. A mixture of five parts leaves to one part manure will break down within several weeks. Glossy paper and full color newsprint can contain toxic materials and should be avoided. Paper printed with soy inks is the best choice. Buy organic manure if at all possible. Manure’s main advantage is the microorganisms in the material, but compost starters and alternatives such as alfalfa and kelp work well and do not odor. Kelp sprays help deter garden pests.

Composting Materials by Kellie Gutridge

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Composting continued...

Peat moss is partially decomposed plant material and has acidic properties. It is a valuable garden material, but is not recommended, because most naturally occurring peat bogs have been over-harvested. (Britain has lost eighty to ninety percent of its supply.) Happy Gardening!

The Environmental Division of Surprise Public Works is pleased to bring back a series of landscape workshops in 2010. “Trees-the Backbone of Your Landscape” Tips for caring for trees during xeriscape conversions, correct watering and pruning techniques shared. Saturday, January 23, 2010, 9 a.m. -11 a.m. Speaker: Kris Coates, certified Desert Landscaper and Master Gardener with over 30 years of experience with native and desert adapted plants. “Irrigation Basics: What’s this black hose doing in my yard?” Learn all of the components that make drip irrigation possible and why it is a valuable water saver. Wednesday, February 10, 2010, 6 p.m.-8 p.m. Speaker: Sterling DePriest, Master Gardener and owner of Xerizona Landscapes. “Landscape Watering by the Numbers” This hands-on class will teach you how to set your sprinkler/irrigation timer and how to take control of your landscaping issues. Saturday, March 20, 2010, 9 a.m.-11 a.m. and Wednesday, April 22, 2010 6p.m.-8p.m. Speaker: London Lacy, Surprise Water Conservation Analyst, Master Gardener and Certified Landscape Irriga-tion Auditor. “To Convert Or Not To Convert Your Landscape and How To If You Are” A program on xeriscape conversions, correct watering after xeriscape conversion, when and how to kill grass, etc. This would be particularly good for HOA's, as well as individual home owners. Saturday, April 17, 2010, 9 a.m. -11 a.m. Speaker: Kris Coates. “Landscape Design in a Nut Shell” Includes basic design concepts for a landscape, lots of photos of possible plants design ideas, and how to develop a low maintenance and low water use landscape. Wednesday, May 12, 2010, 6 p.m. -8 p.m. Speaker: Kris Coates. All classes will be held in the Surprise Public Safety Building Auditorium, 14250 N. Statler Plaza. To register for any of the classes, please call London Lacy at 623.222.7023 or email at [email protected].

2010 Landscape Classes– City of Surprise

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The Cancer-Fighting Kitchen Nourishing, Big-Flavor Recipes for Cancer Treatment and Recovery By Rebecca Katz with Mat Edelson Celestial Arts, Berkeley, CA 2009, 978-1-58761-344-9 Hardcover, 222 pages One Bite at a Time (Second Edition) Nourishing Recipes for Cancer Survivors and Their Friends By Rebecca Katz with Mat Edelson Celestial Arts, Berkeley, CA 2009, 978-1-58761-344-9 Hardcover, 222 pages The Cancer-Fighting Kitchen caught my eye in the Scottsdale Public Library because my mother struggled to prepare meals for my father, during and after his cancer treatments, for several years before his death in 2008. My mother’s efforts were hampered by my father’s lack of appetite and historical limited interest in food. (My father was a dedicated meat-and-potatoes man and had no enthusiasm for culinary adventure.) My mother now deals with several friends who suffer from cancer and the side effects of their treatment. I found The Cancer-Fighting Kitchen to emphasize flavor, nourishment and boosting the immune system using fresh, organic ingredients and many herbs and spices. Rebecca Katz offers The Cancer-Fighting Kitchen as a toolkit for helping cancer patients overcome the rigors of treatment, directing the reader to meals specifically timed for before, during and after treatment. Various chapters and recipes are offered to counter specific symptoms: anemia, constipation, dehydration, diarrhea, fatigue, nausea and vomiting, neutropenia (abnormally low amount of a specific type of white blood cell), sore mouth and difficulty swallowing, and weight loss. Rebecca addresses each patient’s “transient taste change” by adjusting the balance of fat, acid, salt and sweet (FASS) in each recipe. She also views her ingredients as a culinary pharmacy. The chapters include: cancer-fighting tool kit, strategies for thriving during treatment, nourishing soups and broths, viral vegetables, protein-building foods, anytime foods, tonics and elixirs, dollops of yum!, and sweet bites. Rebecca Katz began acquiring her knowledge by being a professionally trained chef, operating an organic restaurant in San Francisco, and preparing meals for her cancer-stricken father who had difficulty swallowing. Later she served as a visiting chef at the Commonweal Cancer Help Program, and nearly three decades with the Block Center for Integrative Cancer Treatment. I thought why should tasty, nourishing meals be restricted to cancer patients? When I searched for this book on Amazon I found an earlier cookbook from Rebecca Katz on the same subject, One Bite at a Time. I ended up buying two copies of each cookbook, one each for my mother and for my wife, Patricia, and me. One Bite at a Time develops the same themes, including more than 85 recipes in the following chapters: the FASS factor, nourishment in a bowl, vegetables and variations on the theme, protein-building foods, comforting sides, anytime foods, sweet bites, dollops of yum!, how friends and family can help, sustainable nourishment, nutrition at a glance, pantry rehabilitation/seasonal foods, and culinary terms of endearment. I have found no duplication of recipes between the two volumes! Both books enjoy glowing reviews from patients, physicians and nutritionists. I wish we had had these cook-books for my father.

Book Review by Jerry Wooldridge

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Community Exchange Table by Ron Bravo

Several months ago Cindy Gentry of the Downtown Phoenix Public Market approached Arizona Homegrown Solutions about a partnership to create a community table for the public. Cindy had been receiving several requests from customers about a way for them to sell their extra produce created from backyard and com-munity gardens. The solution was to create the Community Exchange Table.

The Community Exchange Table is a booth that has been set up at the market to allow members of the com-munity to sell their extra produce and home made items. Simply register with the table, drop off your pro-duce, and return at the end of the day to pick up what is left and see what you sold. The table also takes do-nations in terms of volunteer time, monetary donations, and donations of produce or home made items that can be sold at the table. Cindy and the Downtown Market have been kind enough to provide a physical location for the booth and Ari-zona Homegrown Solutions is providing the operational support. The table does charge an operation expense to the vendor of 20% of their sales. We work very hard to try and keep costs as small as possible. Together the Downtown Market and Arizona Homegrown Solutions hope that this is a service that will be of great use to the public.

If you are interested in more information, please visit one of the following links: www.azcommunityexchange.org - The main homepage for the Community Exchange www.azhomegrownsolutions.org/group/interestmarketgrowers - The Community Exchange discussion group You can also email us at [email protected].

Items in green denote an event sponsored by the Maricopa County Cooperative Extension Service,and/or an opportunity for volunteer hours.

January 2010 Events CalendarSubmit events to Karen Sankman

Feb. 22-Mar. 17

Now Registering for Smartscape Workshop

4 -6:30 pm, every Mon and Wed from Feb. 22-Mar. 17, Maricopa County Co. Ex., 4341 E. Broadway Rd., Phoenix. $60. This is a training and certification program created specifically for nursery and landscape professionals in Central AZ. Info/Register/Contact

Sat 2Arizona Herb Association Weed and Feed

8:30 am, Maricopa County Co. Ex, 4341 E. Broadway Rd., Phoenix. Everyone is welcome! Fun, hands-on experience. Carolyn Hills, AZ Herb Assoc

Sat 2 Master Gardener Q&A Session

10 am-2 pm, Northwest Regional Library located in the Surprise Recreation Complex, 16089 N. Bullard Ave, Surprise, AZ. Marianna Hancin. Bring plant or pest samples for ID and advice.

Sun 3 Plants of the Bible Guided Tour

1:30 pm, Boyce Thompson Arboretum, 37615 U.S. Highway 60, Superior, AZ. Learn about botany, history, and scripture on this slow-paced walk led by Queen Valley Bible Student Leda Fide.Info

Mon 4 Desert Pointe Garden Club Meeting

9-11:30, Ahwatukee Recreation Center, 5001 E. Cheyenne Dr., Phoenix. Topic: Roses with Mike Jepson, rosarian. Judy Tolbert(480) 961-1768

Mon 4 Ask a Master Gardener

10 am-noon, Sun City Library, Bell Branch, 16828 N. 99th

Ave, Sun City. Bring plant or pest samples for ID and advice. Cherie Czaplicki or Antje Schneider

Mon 4 Scottsdale Garden Club Monthly Meeting

11:30 am, McCormick Ranch Golf Club, 7500 E. McCormick Pkwy, Scottsdale. RSVP for luncheon to Karen Kelley or (602) 942-4848, Scottsdale Garden Club

Mon 4 Valley of the Sun Gardeners Meeting

6:30 pm, Valley Garden Center, 1809 N. 15th Ave, Phoenix. Orvalita Hopkins

Mon 4 Orchid Society of AZ Monthly Meeting

7-9 pm, Arizona State Veteran Home, 4141 N. 3rd St, Phoenix. Julie Rathbun or (602) 843-0223. Orchid Society of Arizona

Tue 5 NE Valley Satellite Diagnostic Clinic

10 am-noon, Via Linda Senior Center, 10440 E. Via Linda, Scottsdale. Debbie Lyding. Bring plant or pest samples for ID and advice.

Tue 5 Tuesday in the Garden

3 pm-dusk, Maricopa County Coop Ex, 4341 E. Broadway, Phoenix. Bring gloves and tools that you like to help with maintenance in the vegetable garden. Pam Perry or (602) 279-6250


Tue 5 Down to Earth Toastmasters

6-7:15 pm, Maricopa County Coop Ex, 4341 E. Broadway, Phoenix. Contact: Olivette Aviso, or (480) 235-5989. Down to Earth Toastmasters

Tue 5 Sun Country Iris Meeting

7 pm, Valley Garden Center, 1809 N. 15th Ave, Phoenix. Info: Ardi Kary at (480) 949-0253, Sun Country Iris Society

Tue 5 Phoenix Bonsai Society Meeting

7:30 pm, Valley Garden Center, 1809 N. 15th Ave, Phoenix. Contact: Elsie Andrade at (602) 995-3870. Phoenix Bonsai Society

Thu 7 NW Satellite Office Diagnostic Clinic

10 am-noon, 13815 Camino del Sol, Sun City West (623) 546-1672, MaryAnn Garewal. Bring plant or pest samples for ID and advice.

Thu 7Arizona Herb Association General Meeting

7-9 pm, Maricopa County Co. Ex, 4341 E. Broadway Rd., Phoenix. Carolyn Hills, AZ Herb Assoc.

Thu 7 East Valley Garden Club Meeting

7-9 pm, Mesa Community College at 1833 W. Southern, Kiva Room in the basement of the Clock Tower Building. Neva Coester or (480) 832-2613

Thu 7 Rose Society of Glendale

7 pm, Glendale Adult Center, Rm. 104, 5970 W Brown St., Glendale Rose Society of Glendale, Gerry Mahoney or (602) 616-3137

Fri 8 Main Office Diagnostic Clinic

8 am, Maricopa County Cooperative Extension, 4341 E. Broadway, Phoenix. Bring plant or pest samples for ID and advice.

Fri 8 Washington Garden Club

9:30 am, Valley Garden Center, 1809 N. 15th Ave, Phoenix. Orvalita Hopkins, Washington Garden Club

Fri 8 Desert Designers Monthly Meeting

10 am-noon, Pyle Adult Center, 655 E. Southern, Tempe. Marylou Coffman, Desert Designers

Sat 9 Phoenix Pond Society 9 am, Member home. Contact for address: Susan Sithwick (480) 654-2107. Phoenix Pond Society

Sat 9 or Thu 14

Volunteer Orientation Class: DBG

9 am-1 pm, Desert Botanical Garden. All new volunteers must attend an orientation class. Contact Nancy White (480) 481-8197 to schedule an informational interview and to register for orientation.

Sat 9 Scottsdale Rose Society Demonstration

1 pm, Public Rose Garden located at 2nd St and Marshall Way, just off Goldwater Blvd on the grounds of the Scottsdale Artists School. This is a winter pruning and rose care demonstration for the public. Info: Michael at (480) 206-3806


Sat 9 Edible/Medicinal Desert Plant Guided Walk

1:30 pm, Boyce Thompson Arboretum, 37615 U.S. Highway 60, Superior, AZ. Learn about native desert plants have fed, clothed, and healed indigenous peoples for millennia. Info

Sat 9 Harvesting Rainwater for Your Landscape

1:30-3 pm, Red Mountain Branch Library, 635 N. Power Rd, Mesa. Free, no registration required. Info: (480) 644-4400

Sun 10Pruning Roses, Fruit & Landscape Trees and Shrubs

10-11 am, Gardener's World, 3401 E. Baseline Rd., Phoenix, Reservations at (602) 437-0700, ext. 120 or #2

Sun 10 Vegetable Gardening Economics


Mon 11 ‘Herban’ Wildlife6-9 pm, Desert Botanical Garden, $30 mem/$38 non-mem. Kirti Mathura talks about using herbs to attract birds and insects. Info/Register

Tue 12 Master Gardener Training Class

9:30 am-12:30 pm, Desert Breeze Police Substation, 251 N. Desert Breeze Blvd, Chandler. Terry Mikel will talk about botany.

Tue 12 Desert Sun African Violet Society Meeting

10 am, for location contact: Ann Stoetzer or (623) 872-9020. Desert Sun African Violet Society



Tue 12 Rainwater Harvesting: Getting Started

6-9 pm, Desert Botanical Garden, $30 mem/$38 non-mem. Speaker: Paul Holdeman. Info/Register

Tue 12 Arizona Native Plant Society Meeting

7-9 pm, Webster Auditorium at Desert Botanical Garden. Arizona Native Plant Society, Doug Green or (480) 998-5638

Tue 12Sonoran Desert Iris Society Monthly Meeting

7 pm, Valley Garden Center, 1809 N. 15th Ave, Phoenix. Contact: Darol Jurn or (623) 932-3412

Tue 12 West Valley Rose Society Meeting

7 pm, Landscape Mart, 8028 W. Thunderbird Rd, Peoria, AZ Heidi Leavitt (602) 971-0179, West Valley Rose Society



Wed 13 Master Gardener Update

9 am-noon, Maricopa County Cooperative Extension, 4341 E. Broadway, Phoenix. Horticulturist Claud Cluff talks about planting,irrigation, and mulching. Deb Sparrow


Wed 13 RGRP Tour Meeting 12:30-2 pm, Maricopa County Cooperative Extension, 4341 Broadway, Phoenix. Linda Thieken

Wed 13, 20, Sat 23

Desert Landscape Shrubs

6-9 pm Wed, 8-10 am Sat, Desert Botanical Garden, $60 mem/$72 non-mem. Speaker: Kirti Mathura. Info/Register

Wed 13Scottsdale Rose Society Monthly Meeting

7:30 pm, Eldorado Community Center, 2311 N. Miller Road, Scottsdale (480) 926-3064

Thu 14 Volunteer Orientation Class: DBG

9 am-1 pm, Desert Botanical Garden. All new volunteers must attend an orientation class. Contact Nancy White (480) 481-8197 to schedule an informational interview and to register for orientation.

Thu 14 Tolleson Gourd Patch Monthly Meeting

2:00-4:30 pm, Tolleson Senior Center, 9555 W. VanBuren, Tolleson, AZ. Contact Lana Hinde or (602) 843-9015, Tolleson Gourd Patch

Thu 14 Spirit of the Desert Gourd Patch Meeting

4:30-6:30 pm, Sewing Room at the Sun Lakes Oakwood Arts & Crafts Center at the intersection of Riggs Rd and EJ Robson Blvd, Sun Lakes. Sally Kiste (480) 895-7638 or Barbara Crossland(480) 802-6891, Spirit of the Desert

Thu 14Mesa East Valley Rose Society Monthly Meeting

7 pm, Mesa Community College Library, 1833 W. Southern Ave, Mesa. (480) 807-3475. Mesa East Valley Rose Society

Thu 14 AZ Rare Fruit Growers Monthly Meeting

7:30 pm, Palo Verde Room at Maricopa County Co. Ex, 4341 E. Broadway, Phoenix. AZ Rare Fruit, Patrick Hallman (602) 348-5576



Fri 15, 16, 17

Maricopa County Home and Garden Show

10 am-7 pm Fri and Sat, 10 am-5 pm Sunday, AZ State Fairgrounds, 1826 W. McDowell Road, Phoenix. Home & Garden Show

Fri 15 Heirloom Beans of the Southwest

6-8:30 pm, Desert Botanical Garden, $48 mem/$58 non-mem. Speaker: Martha Burges. Info/Register

Sat 16Mesa East Valley Rose Society Deadheaders

8:30 am meeting/ refreshments, pruning at 9 am, Mesa Community College Rose Garden, 1833 W. Southern Ave, Mesa. Bring gloves and pruners/shears. Carol Poe or (480) 895-7793, Mesa East Valley Rose Society

Sat 16 Backyard Chickens for Your Garden

9 am-noon, , Maricopa County Coop Ex, 4341 E. Broadway, Phoenix. $25. Info/Register


Sat 16 Desert Sun African Violet Society Meeting

10 am, for location contact: Ann Stoetzer or (623) 872-9020. Desert Sun African Violet Society

Sat 16 Heirloom Beans of the Southwest

10 am-12:30 pm, Desert Botanical Garden, $48 mem/$58 non-mem. Speaker: Martha Burges. Info/Register

Sat 16 Ask a Master Gardener

10:30-1:30 pm, Civic Center Library, 11350 W. Civic Center Drive, Avondale. Bring plant or pest samples for ID and advice. Tish Carpenter

Sat 16 Bonsai of Scottsdale 1:30 pm, Granite Reef Senior Center, Rm 7, 1700 N. Granite Reef Rd, Scottsdale. Bring small potted X-mas tree to turn into a bonsai plant. Pat Mitchell or (480) 575-5649.

Sat 16 Plants of the Bible Guided Tour

1:30 pm, Boyce Thompson Arboretum, 37615 U.S. Highway 60, Superior, AZ. Learn about botany, history, and scripture on this slow-paced walk led by AZ State Park volunteer, David Oberpriller. Info

Mon 18Phoenix Permaculture New Volunteer Orientation

7-8 pm, Pink Spot Coffee & Ice Cream, 53 W. Thomas Rd, Phoenix. Info/Register


9:30 am-12:30 pm, Desert Breeze Police Substation, 251 N. Desert Breeze Blvd, Chandler. Terry Mikel will talk about soils.

Tue 19 West Valley Gourd Patch Monthly Meeting

1:30 pm, Glendale Library at 59th Ave. and Brown. Contact Joanne Griner or (623) 937-3268, West Valley Gourd Patch



Tue 19 Down to Earth Toastmasters

6-7:15 pm, Maricopa County Coop Ex, 4341 E. Broadway, Phoenix. Contact: Olivette Aviso, or (480) 235-5989. Down to Earth Toastmasters

Tue 19Desert Vegetable Gardening for Beginners

6-8:30 pm, Desert Botanical Garden, $32 mem/$40 non-mem. Speaker: Mary Irish. Info/Register



Tue 19 Phoenix Rose Society Meeting

7:30 pm, Valley Garden Center, 1809 N. 15th Ave, Phoenix. Phoenix Rose Society, Jeannie Cochell or (602) 493-0238


Wed 20 Brown Bag Water Speaker Series

Noon-1:30 pm, Maricopa County Coop Ex, 4341 E. Broadway, Phoenix. Jim Field, U of A professor of Dept. of Chemical and Environmental Eng. Will present “Nanoparticle Interaction with Biological Wastewater Treatment Processes.” Free and open to the public. Bring your lunch. RSVP Nancy Crocker (602) 827-8200 x335

Wed 20 AZ Gourd Society Monthly Meeting

7-9 pm, Maricopa County Co. Ex, 4341 E. Broadway Rd., Phoenix. Contact Cheri Williams or (623) 322-5660, AZ Gourd Society

Wed 20Phoenix Chrysanthemum Society Meeting

7:30 pm, Valley Garden Center, 1809 N. 15th Ave, Phoenix. Contact: Wayne Wight or (602) 943-7418

Thu 21 NW Valley Gourd Patch Monthly Meeting

3:30-5:30 pm, Nadaburg School in Wittman, AZ. Contact Judy Moody or (623) 544-6866, NW Valley Gourd Patch

Thu 21 Desert Valley Orchid Society Meeting

6:30 pm, Scottsdale Senior Center, 10440 E. Via Linda, Scottsdale. Steve Grass, or (602) 508-1808, Desert Valley Orchid Society



Fri 22 Wallace Desert Garden Tour

9 am-Noon, Desert Botanical Garden, $30 or $40 w/transportation for mem/$40 non-mem or $60 with transportation. Includes lunch and snacks. Info/Register

Sat 23 Design Charrette 9 am-noon, at a Scottsdale home. Contact Beth for address and to reserve your spot.

Sat 23 East Valley Citrus Clinic

9 am-noon, Greenfield Citrus Nursery, 2558 E. Lehi Rd, Mesa. Info/Tickets

Sat 23 Trees-the Backbone of Your Landscape

9-11 am, Public Safety Auditorium, 14250 W. Statler Plaza, Surprise, AZ. Free. Register at London Lacy (623) 222-7023, Info

Sat 23 Drip Irrigation Design and Installation

9 am-noon, Desert Botanical Garden, $30 mem/$38 non-mem. Speaker: Jeff Lee. Info/Register

Sun 24Pruning Roses, Fruit & Landscape Trees and Shrubs


Sun 24 Vegetable Gardening Economics



9:30 am-12:30 pm, Desert Breeze Police Substation, 251 N. Desert Breeze Blvd, Chandler. Terry Mikel will talk about soil/plant/water relationships.




Tue 26 Vermiculture Workshop 6-9 pm, Desert Botanical Garden, $50 mem/$60 non-mem. Speaker: Brandi Eide. Info/Register

Wed 27 RGRP Tour Meeting Noon-1:30 pm, Maricopa County Cooperative Extension, 4341 Broadway, Phoenix. Linda Thieken

Wed 27, Feb 3

Caring for Your Desert Garden

6-9 pm, Desert Botanical Garden, $60 mem/$75 non-mem. Speaker: Kirti Mathura. Info/Register

Thu 28Lower Colorado River Horticulture Conference

7 am- 5pm, in Lake Havasu City, AZ. Presented by UA Mohave County Cooperative Extension. Open to all landscape professionals, arborists, horticulturists, and master gardeners. Key note speaker is Terry Mikel. $40, Info/Register

Thu 28 New River Gourd Patch Meeting

9-11:30 am, New River Senior Center, 48606 N. 17th Avenue, New River, AZ 85087. Camille Massey or (602) 708-0416



Sat 30 Northwest Valley Citrus Clinic

9 am-noon, Truman Ranch, west of Cotton Lane and the Loop 303 off of Greenway Road, Waddell. Info/Tickets

Starting Jan. 30, 2010

Spring 2010 Permaculture Design Course

Info/Register, $750.

Sun 31 Sonoran Desert Ecology

1-4 pm, Desert Botanical Garden, $30 mem/38 non-mem. Info/Register

Sun 31Central Arizona Cactus and Succulent Society Meeting

2 pm, Dorrance Hall at Desert Botanical Garden. . Central Arizona Cactus and Succulent Society Judy Braun-Brody at (480) 481-8129

Roots & Shoots - The University of Arizona · Roots & Shoots January 2010. EDITOR: Vineetha Kartha ASSOCIATE EDITOR: Carlene Warner COPY EDITORS: Meg Paterson, Karen ... Mon. & Thurs.

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