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March 2019
Established in 1980
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In this issue you will find:
- Message from the President
- Upcoming Events
- Seminars
- Nominating Committee
- Member Tours & Events
- Feature Articles
- GVG's "Plot to Plate" Cookbook
- "In Your Plot"
- Tidbits from Club Archives
- Make a Donation to GVG via AmazonSmile
- Project Updates
- Allen J. Ogden Community Garden
- Arid Garden
- Desert Meadows Park
- GVG Gardens at Historic Canoa Ranch
- Committee Updates
- Membership
- Spring Garden Tour
- Art-in-the-Park/Spring Fair
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MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
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On February 4 the Green Valley Gardeners Board of Directors held an all-day retreat focusing on how to better provide education and gardening skill building for the membership. In addition, the recruitment and development of new Board of Director members was discussed and a process was developed to facilitate members who aspire to be members of the Board. In the past, the nine Board of Directors, with the exception of the President, Vice President, Treasurer and Secretary did not have specific expectations for serving on the Board. Now a set of written expectations have been developed for all Board members including specific assignments to act as liaisons to each of the Clubs four venues (i.e., Allen J. Ogden Community Garden, Arid Garden, Historic Canoa Ranch and Desert Meadows) and 14 committees requiring volunteers for their operation. The liaison roles are intended to facilitate committee/venue communication with the Board and are not intended to be an oversight of operations. Considerable discussion was had relating to how to design and implement small group education activities, member resource sharing and with the changing demographics of our membership, year-round programs. With regard to our annual nomination and election process for new and/or continuing Board members, a proposal is being drafted to start the recruitment and nominating process in January rather than May. By starting the process earlier, it is believed more members will be in residence in the greater Green Valley area. A second By-Law proposal is being drafted to have the Club's budget approved and in place prior to the start of the fiscal year. Currently, the budget isn't approved until the January Board meeting. Both By-Law proposals will be distributed to the membership for voting during the October Board election. A written summary of the Board Retreat will be finalized by the end of March and made available to the membership either by an
E-blast or on the Club's website.
I urge all Club members to communicate with Board members, including myself, about your interests, concerns and expectations for the upcoming years. Board member contact information can found on the Club web site. Please, do not hesitate to contact any and all members of the Board.In my opinion, the Club can only be effective and proactive if the membership takes an active interest and involvement with its governance and policy determination
Thank you for your continued involvement and personal best wishes to you for the upcoming year 2019.
Bill Berdine, President
Green Valley Gardeners
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Seminars
by Bill Carley
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Seminar Time |
Attendance for 2018-2019 seminars as of this writing is 2088. The committee wishes to thank all the members who have attended the seminars this season and we hope you will attend and enjoy the remainder of the seminars,
Seminar Topics
- March 7 "Plant Sale Preview"
Alex Shipley
Richard McPherson
- March 28 "Gardening in Pots"
Deborah North
Debbie Mounce
At the March 7thseminar the Seed Library at Joyner-Green Library will have a table set up for informational purposes. Stop by and learn about the seed library.
The "Aquaponics" seminar is as much about aquaponics as it is about what McPherson has done with his students in the last 7 years. This is a must see.
The "Gardening in Pots" seminar is what we do in the desert. Who does not have a pot?
The seminar will be held at Green Valley Recreation Desert Hills auditorium, 2890 South Camino del Sol. It starts at 9:30 a.m. and ends at 10:30 a.m..
Come as early as 9:00 to be assured of a seat and for coffee, goodies and socializing. The club's new cook book and growing guide titled Plot To Plate: Growing Tips and Recipes from the Green Valley Gardeners will be
available for purchase at all seminars while supplies last.
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BOARD CANDIDATES WANTED:
"As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands - one for helping yourself, the other for helping others."
- Audrey Hepburn
The Nominating Committee is looking for members interested in serving on the Green Valley Gardeners Board of Directors.
Board members have the very important responsibility of establishing and administering club policies and giving direction to the president. The board also provides input as to the programs and projects the club undertakes.
The term of office for board members is three years. Board members are elected in October and take office in November.
If you would be willing to serve or would like to nominate a member, please contact Bill Carley at custom.bill@att.net 920-344-6563 or Dave Crumley at
crumley99@msn.com
520 404 8773
Copperview Elementary School
The Green Valley Gardeners are looking for volunteers to spread rock at Copper View Elementary School on Friday, March 1, starting at 9:30 AM. We'll be spreading about 7 yards of 3/4 rock. It shouldn't take much time. Please bring a shovel and rake.
If you can help, please contact Steve Curtis at
520-820-2985.
The Club has been involved with Copper View and its gardening program for the past three years, including funding for raised garden bed materials and two summer youth workshops on gardening and nutrition held at our J. Allen Ogden Community Garden.
The school is located at 350 W Sahuarita Road (West side of Sahaurita Road, just down from the McDonald's, Taco Bell and the US Post Office).
Member Tours & Events
No Tours for March, Attend the Plant Sale instead.
Be on the lookout for separate eblasts providing details for each of these seminars and member activities. And v
isit our
website for a complete calendar of events
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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
Plot to Plate makes a great 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.
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Winter in Green Valley |
"In Your Plot"
by Lorna Mitchell
This has been the first "real winter" for our area for many years. Snowing for seven hours straight and staying around for days is something to remember! The only consistent thing about weather that I've learned in all the years I've been here is - June is HOT. Everything else is up for grabs.
Your winter vegetables should have survived just fine and be giving plentiful harvests - cabbage, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower, turnips, peas (harvest still future), carrots, chard, collards, beets, kohlrabi, and lettuce. Onions are surviving and growing, but slowly. They need a certain number of warm hours to put on a new leaf, and the number of leaves it has before the bulbing process begins determines the size of the onion bulb. Our warm hours are way behind this winter and so is the number of onion leaves. They will start to bulb based on day length as spring comes on.
Soil must be prepared before planting by digging in composted steer manure and balanced granulated fertilizer. Examine irrigation systems and plan for water delivery to new plantings. Consider a splitter coming off the faucet so you can work two clocks with different settings; perhaps one to onions and mature Brussels sprouts and another to rows of beans, zucchini, cantaloupe seeds, etc. that go in soon. Visually inspect batteries in clocks to make sure they are not corroded - replace it before it ruins the clock. Also, check fittings for leaks and drip emitters for volume as they easily plug up with our hard water; try removing the end plug and flushing the tube. Keep coverings on faucets and clocks as freezing nights can still come upon us in March.
If you have started your own tomato, eggplant, and peppers for transplanting give them as much full sun outside as temperatures above 60°F allow. Continue to move them inside at night and in cool weather.
If you buy plants look for vigorously growing ones that are not root bound. Inspect them carefully and remove any hitchhiking pests. Decide if you want indeterminate (main stem continues to elongate bearing new fruit all season) or determinate (growth stops and all fruit ripens about the same time) tomatoes. They can go into the garden after the middle of March ifthere are no frosts predicted. As you put them in the ground bury the stem up to the first true leaves and it will grow new roots. Consider providing a cover which allows light transmission (such as a gallon milk carton with bottom and cap removed) for a couple of weeks to ease the transition. Black plastic laid on the soil around the plants can warm the soil making for more root growth. Be sure water is getting under the plastic, and removethe plastic by the end of April. Eggplant and peppers like warmer temperatures so wait at least until the middle of April to transplant those.
Many summer crops can be directly seeded into the garden mid-month and later: beans, corn, summer squash, melons, chard, radishes, and leafy greens. Some like warm soil and prefer to wait till next month like hard squash, okra, and cucumbers. Seeds will germinate faster if soaked in water overnight before planting. A covering of light weight cloth that allows light and water to penetrate may protect seedlings from predators and moderately cool nights.
Those are my plot thoughts for now, Happy Gardening, Lorna Mitchell
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Tidbits from Club Archives
To assist with club projects, The Men's Garden Club of Green Valley in 1982 formed the "Women's Auxiliary". Dues for the ladies was 25 cents
per meeting, or $3.00 annually.
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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/
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Allen J. Ogden Community Garden
b
y George Stone
Cool weather persists at the garden which dampens some of our spirits to get out there and plant something. I figure another 3 weeks and we will be done with this cold weather stuff. In the meantime, the garden looks good with the vegetables that are in the ground. Make sure you read Lorna Mitchells article.
Saturday February 9th, seven Ogden gardeners spread 10 tons of gravel in the Humming Bird section. The job was completed in 3 hrs. with many thanks going to Jack for him and his bob cat high loader and to our volunteer members.
February 17thsaw construction begin on our dwarf Hotot rabbit hutch. On May 25, Tucson will host The American Rabbit Association's annual convention. A Hotot breeder from Michigan who plans on attending is bringing us 3 Hotot's (2 does & 1 buck). These little cuties are so hard to come by and we feel lucky for the arrangements we have made. The garden kids will be having a naming contest upon their arrival. Soon we will have chicken and rabbit manure available for the garden plots.
We are looking for a volunteer who has artistic ability AND who would volunteer some time to visit our little garden and paint something appropriate on the hutch. We all would be grateful. Beats me tacking up some metal signs.
I have decided that on April 1st. Ogden gardens will be open to the public Tuesday's through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. to visit the garden and enjoy George Jr. and his friends. There will always be someone on hand to answer your questions if you so desire. Closing date has not been decided upon.
Onions!!!! Yes, we have onions growing. Sale date is still set for May 2nd, 3rdand 4th. Don't forget us. We will be at Desert Meadows.
Pig Roast? I have been asked if we plan on having another. The answer is ---YES. Must touch base with the members activity managers to see if we can squeeze it in this year. If not -next
year for
sure.
The garden is full up and we have a waiting list of 2.
George Jr. (our Tortoise educational ambassador) goes on his summer tour starting in March. Call George Stone at 343-9690 to arrange a visitation from him.
Until next month-----hope to see you in the garden.
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Bundled up on a cold morning, at the Arid Garden, are
"members of the Arid Garden family",
Byron Hinton, Sarah Hein and Sally Sherbina.
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Arid Garden
by Mary Kidnocker
Volunteers have been busy with the late-winter trimming we do each year. During February sheared were: dyssodia, lemon dalea, trailing indigo, and many ornamental grasses. Pruned more severely were desert honeysuckles, yellowbells, and desert cassias. Currently waiting to be trimmed are the large aloysia bushes, lantanas, birds-of-paradise, cape honeysuckle, both blue & white plumbago, and a number of the Texas rangers. So far the only winter damage suffered in the garden was that expected, no surprises.
Appreciation to Byron Hinton for the three beautiful Agave Colorata youngsters from his yard, which he also planted for us... and yes, he was wearing shorts.
Blooming this month have been: Gopher plants, a few Lupine and Penstemon, Fleabane, Globe Mallow, Moss Verbena, Mexican Honeysuckle, Desert Verbena, and several Mammillaria cactus. With volunteer Penstemon popping out of the soil throughout the garden, make sure you do not miss a visit in another few weeks when weather reliably warms... should be a sight to behold!
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Desert Meadows Park
by Chuck Parsons
Strange weather this month! A challenge for the volunteers to keep up with maintenance chores. But in spite of the frosty mornings or the rain, we've kept the park in great shape for all visitors. We continue to get many more visitors this year than last. Bookings for the various picnic areas has increased this year too.
Volunteers are also preparing for the Art-in-the-Park event this coming April.
Taken February 22nd in the morning, just after having recorded over an inch of rain the previous night. Let's try to remember this image when it hits 104 this summer!!
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GVG Gardens at Historic Canoa Ranch (HCR)
by Raydine Taber, Bill Carley, and Jack Davis (emeritus)
A new addition, to the Fireplace hearth; in Manning Junior House, will be two, potted rubber tree plants.
According to one of the living room pictures; during the Manning era, there were two of them sitting on the hearth.
The Canoa tour docents, tell the story that back in the history of Canoa Ranch, there were rubber tree plants grown. In 1916, Levi Manning, president of Canoa Ranch Company, sold the northern half of the Canoa grant (including water and ditch rights) to Agricultural Products Corporation of New York. The sale was connected to Intercontinental Rubber Company's attempt to grow rubber trees called guayule as a rubber substitute during World War I. This experience failed.
After some research, we discovered that the ornamental, tropical rubber tree (Moraceae ficus elastica), used on the hearth and the guayule rubber tree (Parthenium argentatum) grown in the field are totally different plants.
This is Guayule
(Parthenium argentatum), the desert rubber plant. It is a small woody, flowering shrub native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico.
Latex can be produced from the bark of the plant. The
guayule latex, as opposed to the
tropical rubber tree plant latex, is hypoallergenic. The guayule has been a source of rubber since the pre-Columbian times when the Mexican Indians used it to form game balls.
Guayule is adapted to hot desert environments, and sites with well-drained calcareous soils with very little nutrients.
For some time, the University of Arizona has been studying the guayule plant and there could be the potential, after the latex removal for the remainder of the plant (stems and branches called bagasse), to be used as a source for energy. Indication is that the bagasse will provide 8,000 to 9,000 Btu per pound, about the same as charcoal.
Guayule is being considered as a new commercial crop in Arizona because it uses less water than traditional crops. Just a glimpse into another one of our amazing desert plants. Looks like Levi Manning was way ahead of his time growing rubber tree plants and conserving Arizona water.
Remember to set aside some time onMarch 9th, for Canoa Ranch's Heritage Fair, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Antiques and Collectibles, fine art and crafts, local foods, lectures, music dancers and demonstrations.
Want to be a part of our garden restoration,
join us, on Tuesday's for our gardening adventures at "the ranch". We meet at 8 a.m.; at the Sr. House Herb Garden. You are, at any time, welcome to join us.
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Membership
by Mark Thompson
February was another busy month for new members as we welcomed 14 more to our group:
Anita Kerssen
Shirley Miller
Kathleen Spratt
Suzanne Voeks
Marilyn Watt
Don Fern
Judy Hedges
Jeff Davis
John Van Veldhuizen
Monchel Mayes-Oswalt
Michael Oswalt
Diane and Stephen Stewart
Julie York
These new members will be able to pick up their name tags at the Membership Table during any seminar.
The end of February also marked the end of a successful Membership Renewal Campaign. We are beginning our new 2019 Membership with 427 members, which is 12% more than last year. Those who did not renew will be removed from our communications and are missing out on yet another benefit of membership: Desert Bloom Nursery in the Green Valley Mall is offering 10% off to GVG members. Just show them your GVG Name Badge. And, don't forget the very important plant preview sale on Wednesday afternoon, March 20th for members only. Watch for the announcement and remember to bring your credit cards or checks. No cash accepted at this special members only sale. See you at the Plant Sale.
Don't forget to get your fresh herbs from the Desert Meadows Park Community Garden or pick up another plant at their greenhouse.
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Spring Garden Tour
Beginning March 1,
tickets for the Spring Garden Tour will be on sale. The tour will be on Saturday, April 13 from 9 to 3. It is a self-guided tour of 5 unique gardens in Green Valley. Something for everyone to enjoy, from lush flowering perennials, unusual cactus and succulents, container gardens, examples of water harvesting and irrigation that can be monitored online, to creative artwork and use of found objects in the garden. There will be different musicians playing at some of the gardens throughout the tour.
Tickets will be available at each seminar through April 11, and at the March Plant Sale. At the seminars, tickets will be $10 for members and $12 for nonmembers. Tickets will also be available on the GVG website, at the Chamber of Commerce, Desert Bloom, The Happy Quail, Nancy Pantz and Native Gardens. Online tickets and tickets purchased from one of the vendor sites will be $12 for everyone. On April 13, tickets may be purchased at Desert Meadows Park at the Art-in-the-Park.
Come enjoy the gardens, get some inspiration for your own garden, and celebrate the Spring season.
If you are able to help in any capacity with the tour, we need your help. Please contact
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| Items being donated for the Silent Auction |
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Art-in-the-Park
This event takes place at Desert Meadows Park in conjunction with the Spring Garden Tour. Same day,
Saturday, April 13th.
We will need several volunteers. Sign-up sheets will be at the March seminars and at the park on Wednesday morning.
SILENT AUCTION
Are you a member of a GVR club? Especially interested in Camera Club, Clay Studio, Ceramic Studio, art clubs, Gourd Club ~ would you be willing to donate a piece to the auction? Do you know another club member that would donate a piece to the auction? If so, please let Judy Christensen or Chuck Parsons know.
christensen
Do you have a piece of pottery, garden art, art piece, etc. that you no longer need. Perhaps it would make an excellent auction item. If so, please contact Judy Christensen or
Chuck Parsons.
GARDEN CLUB BOOTH
GVG will have its own booth at the Art-in-the-Park, selling donated plants and other garden related items. You can help us raise funds for the Club by donating any of the following items:
- Plants
- Decorative Pots
- Garden/yard art and decor
- Gardening tools, supplies and accessories
Donations can be left in the Desert Meadows Park greenhouse, starting now. Please contact Elissa Dearing if you have any questions. Elissa can be reached at 520-268-2725.
All items should be in usable condition and fit for sale. Unsold items (other than plants) will be donated to the White Elephant.
James Tyrer has begun propagating plants for the Club's booth. James would welcome your help. You are welcome to join him on Wednesday mornings at Desert Meadows Park. He can be found around the greenhouse and Orphan's Nursery. James can also meet with you at a specified time for you to learn the process. Once you learn the process, you can work at home or at the park on your own schedule. Contact James to volunteer.
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The Spring Plant sale is scheduled for March 21, 22 & 23. We will be setting up March 20 early in the day. Please consider volunteering on Thursday, Friday or Saturday, as sales support. The times are 8 to 11am, 11am to 1pm, 1pm to 3pm and 3pm to 5:30pm Thursday and Friday. Saturday times are 8am to 11am and 11am to 1pm. Sign-up sheets will be at each seminar prior to the sale or contact Christa Ryan via email at chrstrn4@cox.net. We will again have our Members only sale on the afternoon of March 20 from 1 to 3:30pm. Cash, check and credit cards will be accepted.
Alex Shipley, from Civano, will give us a plant sale preview at the March 7 seminar.
New for this sale:
1. Pots from by Quality Pottery and Pottery Blow Out will be for sale. Kathy Stone will be available to pot your cactus or succulent in the new pots.
2. Vegetable starters and dwarf citrus trees will be available for sale.
3. The Master Gardeners will have a table and will be selling shade cloth, frost cloth and compost etc. They will also be available to answer your gardening and drip system questions.
4. As in past years, we will again have orphans for sale.
Please come out and support your club.
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If you have some favorite photos you've taken at one of the club's projects, please submit them prior to the 28th of the month to be included in the newsletter for all to enjoy.
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| Daikon Radishes from my Desert Meadows Park garden plot. by Patricia Simpson |
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| Guitar made by Michael Dearing will be available for bid at the Silent Auction April 13th |
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