November 2018
Established in 1980 
In this issue you will find:

  • Message from the President
  • Upcoming Events
    • Seminars
    • Member Tours & Events
  • Feature Articles
    • GVG's "Plot to Plate" Cookbook
    • Annual Board of Directors Election
    • "In Your Plot"
    • Tidbits from Club Archives
    • Make a Donation to GVG via AmazonSmile
  • Project Updates
    • Allen J. Ogden Community Garden
    • Arid Garden
    • Garden at Posada Community Center
    • Desert Meadows Park
    • GVG Gardens at Historic Canoa Ranch
  • Committee Updates
    • BBQ
    • Plant Sale for members
    • Looking for Gardens
    • Membership
Would you like to submit an article or a photo for the November newsletter? Please submit it to [email protected] by November 28.
MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
A few club updates at the conclusion of a very busy October.  First, Mark Thompson, Membership Committee Chair, reports that the membership for the club is at 492, an increase so far in 2018 of 120.  We continue to grow and are reaching a point where the Board of Directors may need to reassess how well that growing membership is being served.  I invite both ongoing members and new members to not hesitate to contact Board members including myself with suggestions for better serving you. 
 
With regard to the club's gardening cookbook, "From Plot to Plate: Growing Tips and Recipes from the Green Valley Gardeners", Marilee Crumley, cookbook marketing coordinator reports that 225 books have been sold.  If you have not taken a look at the cookbook, I encourage you to do so.  Our cookbook not only provides recipes for a variety of vegetable and fruit crops but provides year round gardening tips. Copies of the book are available at all club events including seminars and member activities.   The cookbook is available at the Book Shop next to the Busy Bee Printers, Native Bloom Nursery in Green Valley Plaza next to La Placita Family Restaurant and the Green Valley Chamber of Commerce on Continental. The cookbook will remain available online on the club web site [www.greenvalleygardeners.com].  The cost at all sites remains $15.
 
The Fall plant sale concluded Saturday, 10/27 with a tentative profit of $4772.
Kathy Stone and Christa Ryan along with a host of member volunteers ~ 62 members volunteered ~ are to be congratulated for another successful plant sale and very important club fundraiser.  Plants will be available to members at the November 3 club BBQ to held at Desert Meadows Park.
 
The cl ub's annual Board of Directors election continues.  For the first time the election it is being  done electronically using OpaVote, a secure web-based election service.  Bill Carley, Chair of the Nominating Committee, along with Craig Surprise [web site manager]and Cynthia Surprise [E-Blast coordinator], have done a very good job making the transition from postal mail balloting to a much more cost efficient electronic ballot. As of October 28, a total of 142 ballots have been received out of 451 sent to members. I encourage those of you who have not voted to do so before the election deadline of November 7".


UPCOMING EVENTS
Seminars  by Bill Carley
  • November 1 ~ Desert Hills Seminar ~ club member, Kristee West, will educate us about growing Iris in Arizona.
  • November 8 ~ Desert Hills Seminar ~ 'BUGMAN' aka Carl Olson will speak about insects and Integrated Pest Management.
  • November 29 ~ Desert Hills Seminar ~ Pinau Merlin will enlighten us with her "Home Is Where the Hole Is" lecture.
  • December 6 ~ Desert Hills Seminar ~  Rodger Putney of Green Things Nursery will discuss the care of holiday plants.
The committee is finalizing 2019 Spring schedule which we will publish at the end of November.

As always , seminars are free and open to the public. They are held at GVR Desert Hills auditorium, 2980 South Camino del Sol from 9:30 to 10:30.  Doors open at 9:00 for coffee and treats. Master Gardeners will be present to answer your gardening questions. Special treat this year -- copies of the club cookbook, "Plot to Plate: Growing Tips and Recipes from the Green Valley Gardeners," will be on sale for $15.00 before the seminar starts.

Seminars topics are listed on the Activities Calendar posted on our website .


Member Tours & Events      
 
  • November 2 ~ Day of the Dead at the Barrio Garden, Desert Meadows Park
  • November 3 ~ Annual BBQ at Desert Meadows Park
  • November 15 ~ Member tour of Tucson Botanical Gardens
Be on the lookout for separate eblasts providing details for each of these seminars and member activities.

Visit our website for a complete calendar of events
FEATURE ARTICLES
Green Valley Gardeners' "Plot to Plate Cookbook"

With the holidays approaching, the cookbook committee wants to suggest that our gardening cookbook would take care of many of the names on your gift list. If they're into gardening, canning, preserving or just eating it would make the perfect gift. At only $15 it will be one of the most reasonable gifts you'll be buying this Christmas season. Plot to Plate would also make great hostess gifts, thank you gifts, and welcome to the neighborhood gifts for any new neighbors, especially if they're new to gardening in the southwest. 

  How to purchase:
  • Members and non-members can purchase copies online for $15 per copy, as well as at our seminars and at member events. Copies purchased online can be picked up at club seminars, Desert Meadows Park on Wednesdays or the Arid Garden on Fridays. The books will not be mailed. 
  • Click here to purchase your cookbook from our online store and view details for pickup options.
Please support this important club fundraiser and help your garden thrive!
 
Thanks to the Cookbook Committee, comprised of Marilee Crumley, Rena Duffy, Lorna Mitchell and Christa Ryan, for their hard work and dedication to make this valuable resource a reality.
Annual Board of Directors Election

The seven candidates for Board of Directors are: John Bergstrom, Steve Curtis, Christa Ryan, Patricia Simpson, Jon D. Smiley, Kathleen Stone, and Mark Thompson. 

PLEASE VOTE!

Deadline to respond to the electronic ballot sent to you is November 7th.

"In Your Plot"   by Lorna Mitchell

HAIL, can you believe it? It was like a weather channel video from somewhere else! Hail large enough to strip leaves, penetrate peppers, pound small seedlings, and knock scores of green tomatoes to the ground at Ogden Garden. Actually, October has a history of bad storms here over the years but it's been a while.

Some of the damaged seedlings are putting out new growth and will re-establish with a few weeks of warm afternoons. If you have damaged tomatoes, eggplant, or peppers harvest them before they rot and consider pulling the plant if its leaves are completely shredded. It's disappointing to say the least, but it's more room to plant new seeds!

And as gardeners we are always looking ahead! November often means frost by the end of the month. Frost has some welcome benefits; it will reduce the grasshopper population and the cabbage loopers, it gets rid of the mosquitoes, it kills some of the weeds, and it makes our carrots sweet and tender. Frost also means more work for us to remove dead summer plants before they rot to prevent disease and pests.

Preparing for frost means covering your faucet and clocks to prevent freezing and breakage. Insulate the faucet upright with pipe foam then an old blanket or large towel wrapped around the whole thing and tied or taped in place. Cover the entire unit with a bucket, bin, or something waterproof to keep out moisture; because if it gets wet it is no longer effective. The tubes leading to the plants will not retain water so they will not break with a freeze.

Seeds of radishes, turnips, lettuce, peas, carrots, beets, kohlrabi, kale, and parsley can still be put in; the sooner the better.

Plants of broccoli, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, cilantro, Swiss chard, spinach, parsley, and kale can be put in; the sooner the better. Garlic cloves can still be put in for harvest next May or June.

Onion plants go in this month through January. I prefer to plant them in November to allow plenty of time for foliage growth before they "bulb" in the spring. Onion plants of short day varieties are the only ones that will yield large bulbs. Allow about six inches between plants for bulbs to expand. Plant one plant in each hole, no deeper than one inch, and keep green tops above soil line. Harvest will come next May, though they may be pulled and eaten at any stage. The ideal onion has 13 leaves, but it only grows one at a time; the more leaves the bigger the onion. Prepare the soil with organic amendments and 10-20-10 granular fertilizer (for bulbs) and make sure each plant will receive adequate water supply. Visit www.dixondalefarms.com for complete information on onion growth and cultivation as well as choosing onion plants.

Those are my plot thoughts for now - happy gardening!
Tidbits from Club Archives

In October of 1995, the 2-day Fall Plant Sale grossed $760.


Shop AmazonSmile and Benefit the Garden Club  

Green Valley Gardeners is now listed on AmazonSmile. When you shop Amazon, log into AmazonSmile, use your existing personal account login information, select Green Valley Gardeners as your non-profit of choice. The club will receive a small donation for each qualifying purchase you make. Thank you!

To shop AmazonSmile go to  http://smile.amazon.com/ .
PROJECT UPDATES
Allen J. Ogden Community Garden  b y George Stone  




           I'm taking a break. Currently on medical leave. 
Josephina Javelina ready to go Trick-or-Treating at the Arid Garden. (Thanks go to volunteer Mary Beth Stevenson.)
Arid Garden  by Mary Kidnocker 

If weather statistics interest you, the garden has received (per rain gauge)
3.2 inches of rain during October through the 26th... and 14.65 inches since June 15, the beginning of monsoon season. Swollen cacti, lush greenery, and
zillions of bright flowers tell the rest of the story! Stop by and look us over.
 
With the expertise of friend-of-the-garden Henry Garcia and the flair of our  Art Director Linda Gregory, volunteers are currently in the process of "planting" the garden's unique and eye-popping centerpiece. A hint: it's in  the Inflorescence rustica genus !


Because of recent rains, the Arid Garden has turned into a lush oasis.
Kristee West in the Marley Iris Bed at Posada Community Center.
Garden at Posada Community Center (formally Casa de Esperanza)
by Mary Kidnocker

During October, iris devotee Kristee West and a group of club volunteers spent a morning dividing and cleaning out the Marley Iris Bed in this  small garden. Anyone interested in knowing more about growing this  beautiful flower in the desert should contact Kristee (561-2759) to join future work parties.
Friends who meet and greet in the park remain happy, healthy and fit for many a day!
Desert Meadows Park  by Chuck Parsons

If you visited the park this month you might have seen the volunteers installing a second flagstone sculpture. This one was donated by Pam and Dick Duchaine. They recently took a 5-month around the world cruise visiting many sights. At a garden on the tour they saw this sentiment and thought it appropriate for Desert Meadows Park. The engraving was done in Tucson on White Mountain flagstone. You'll find this piece near the Library Garden.

We recently received a new order of signs. Volunteers will be placing these in the next couple of weeks. We'll label the new gardens and most of the new plants that have been established in the last couple of years.

Carmen Johnson has assumed responsibility for the Barrio Garden. She invited members to participate in a Day of the Dead celebration. The first of this two-part event took place Monday October 29th. A perfect evening for a delightful event. The final part will take place on Friday November 2nd at 5:30 pm. It will be dark in the park at the conclusion so bring a flashlight if you plan to attend.
 
Carmen Johnson is in the center with a red waistband. 
Herbs for Members: Volunteers in the community garden at Desert Meadows Park maintain an herb garden. As a member you are invited to snip fresh herbs when you visit for your personal enjoyment. The herb garden is in the two large, black, raised-beds in the middle of the garden. 

GVG Gardens at Historic Canoa Ranch (HCR)  by Raydine Taber, Bill Carley, and Jack Davis (emeritus)

We thank everyone who volunteered for or attended Anza Day. Thanks to all of you, it was a success. The highlight of the day was a conversation with Ann (Manning) Feigen the daughter of Howell Manning, Jr. and Louise "Deezie" Manning. Ann indicated that the courtyard and the Junior House, window box planter, located in the dining area had never before looked this good. She thanked all of us for restoring the gardens. This one compliment makes all the years we have worked there worthwhile.
 
We still need to complete our cooler weather plantings and add a few more plants in the butterfly garden. Our butterfly garden is relatively small but it is stuffed full of plants that the butterfly needs and love. We also switch our annuals to match with the seasons.    
 
We have submitted our application to be recognized as a Monarch Butterfly Waystation. With some loving care this garden has flourished in the last year.
 
Our next change in decorations or plants will take place end of November or first of December. As we have done in the past, we will decorate Junior house living and dining room with festive holiday plants. The little red wagon, at Grijalva house, will also be decorated for the upcoming season.
 
We invite all of you to join us on our Tuesday gardening adventures at "the ranch". We meet at 7 a.m. at the Sr. House Herb Garden.
COMMITTEE UPDATE S
Member Activities  by Marita Ramsey and Cathy Merritt

Annual BBQ at Desert Meadows Park ~ Saturday, November 3, starting at 1 p.m.

November 15 ~ Tucson Botanical Gardens  
Sign up at November seminars or contact Marita Ramsey
Fall Plant Sale ~ continues

Unsold plants from our fall plant sale have been taken to Desert Meadows Park. They are on tables next to the greenhouse. These can be purchased by members for 50% of the marked price. All sales made here will add to our profit from this important fundraiser.

Mark Thompson will be available to take credit card purchases prior to and following the Member BBQ on November 3rd.  We will not have a cash box at the park.  

You can purchase these and DMPark propagated plants at other times if you can catch either Elissa or Chuck at the park. They will not have a cash box or credit card capability, so require check or exact cash (you can round up on cash purchases ~ the money will go to a good cause!).

Thanks to all the club members that volunteered to help with this sale ~ pre-sale, sale set up, sales and take down! 
Looking for Gardens

We are still looking for a few good gardens to include in the April 2019 Spring Garden Tour. This year we are concentrating on areas around Canoa Ranch and along or off of Camino del Sol. If you know of any gardens that might be good additions to the tour please contact either  Stacie Meyer [email protected] or  Cynthia Surprise [email protected].
Membership
 by Mark Thompson

Well, it certainly has been quite a month. We have set a new record again. A whopping total of 27 folks joined our club in October. There were 14 who joined during the plant sale. The engraving machine is burning up making these name tags:
 
            Judi Flannery
            Annemarie Poulin
            Kelly Pyeatt
            Dan and Shawneen Schmitt
            David Messick
            Judy and Todd Restad
            Terry and Don McLemore
            Erin Walker
            David Campbell
            Dorothy Douglas
            Kay Grask
            Marilyn and Todd Horness
            William Huggins
            Charles Martin
            Del and Gary McGowan
            Myles Moutoux
            Susan Schmuck
            Patty Trujillo
            James Ayers
            Ruth Belnap
            Joanne and Pat Atkisson
            Alison Mead
 
And, with regard to the plant sale, 71 of our members took advantage of the members only sale on Wednesday afternoon and spent over $2800. We thank you all and look forward to seeing many of you at the BBQ this week.
Editor: Linda Gricius | Green Valley Gardeners | [email protected]  | www.greenvalleygardeners.com
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