February 2020
Established in 1980
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In this issue you will find:
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Happy Valentines Day! |
- Message from the President
- Upcoming Events
- Seminars
- Member Tours & Events
- Spring Garden Tour
- Art-In-The-Park
- Work Calendar
- Feature Articles
- "In Your Plot"
- Make a Donation to GVG via AmazonSmile
- Expectations of the Board of Directors
- Project Updates
- Allen J. Ogden Community Garden
- Arid Garden
- Desert Meadows Park
- GVG Gardens at Historic Canoa Ranch
- Elementary Schools
- 40th Anniversary Project
- Committee Updates
- Member Photos
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MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
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We had a good turnout for the New Member Round Table, with several new volunteers. Then we had a wonderful annual banquet, which was my first event as president. Marita Ramsay, Chuck Parsons and Mark Thompson did a great job planning and everyone enjoyed themselves. I rounded up a few more volunteers at the banquet.
When I started with Green Valley Gardeners, back in 2016, all I wanted to do was to have a garden plot. In order to have a garden plot you must be a Green Valley Gardener. I kept seeing requests for volunteers for different committees. I told my sister, who also is a member and plot owner, "I am retired. I don't want to be responsible for anything." Then I started noticing how well all of our events are run and how wonderful the gardens are. A light bulb went off. I thought, How do you think all of this happens? It doesn't happen by people not wanting to get involved.Someone has to keep things running smoothly. So I agreed to run for the board. I didn't win but was asked to fill a vacancy. Then I volunteered to do the newsletter. Call me crazy but I like doing that. Bill Carley kept asking me to run for office again, to which I agreed. I won and was elected Vice President by the board of directors. Then came the resignation of President Bill Berdine (due to health issues), who had just been re-elected. Bill has done a great job and has been a valuable mentor to me. He was at almost every event we had and I am beginning to see all the work he did that most people don't know about. We owe Bill a big thank you for his volunteer service.
So, in this newsletter there are several requests for volunteers. Check it out and see what fun you can have.
I want to take this time to welcome our new Board members: David Duffy, Vice-President, Linda Gregory, Director and Rhonda Rinn, Director. I also want to welcome our new committee chairs: Erin Walker, Ogden Garden, Kendra Rogers-Lee, Ogden Garden, Phyllis Barbosa, Median Green Project, Ruth Tamminga, Median Green Project and William Olsen, Website. These committee chairs volunteered to manage or co-manage their projects.
So here we are today. We have a great board and we are all volunteers. If you would like to volunteer for any committee or have an idea that would enhance the club, please let me or any board member know.
Email to: pats@greenvalleygardeners.com
Patricia Simpson, President
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February Seminars are as follows:
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2/6/2020
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WATER HARVESTING
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Susanna Eden
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2/13/2020
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TOP 20 POLLINATOR PLANTS
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Carianne Campbell
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2/27/2020
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BULLET PROOF PLANTS
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Debbie Mounce
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The 'Water Harvesting' seminar will cover the basic concepts of water harvesting for garden irrigation. The 'Pollinator Plants' presentation will highlight native plants that attract birds and other wild life to your home landscape. The 'Bullet Proof Plant' talk is a revised edition of a presentation from early 2000's.
The committee has posted a Mr. Pack Rat presentation, and Glenn Wright's new Citrus slide show on GVG's web site. We have also updated/removed some of the older presentations.
The seminars will be held at Green Valley Recreation Desert Hills auditorium, 2980 South Camino del Sol. It starts at 9:30 and ends at 10:30. Come as early as 9:00 to be assured of a seat and for coffee, goodies and socializing.
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MEMBER ACTIVITIES
by Marita Ramsay
Upcoming Member Tour:
Mission Gardens February 20, 2020 9:00 AM
As usual we will carpool from El Rodeo parking lot in Green Valley meet at 8:15 am.
Contact Marity Ramsay, maritasandpoint@yahoo.com 208-290-7770
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Spring Garden Tour
by Cynthia Surprise and Stacie Meyer
Spring will be here before we know it and so it is time to plan for the Spring Celebration to be held April 4, 2020 from 9 am to 3 pm. The celebration includes a garden tour of five private and unique gardens in the local area. We appreciate all those members who have stepped up to volunteer. We still need volunteers to help sell tickets at the weekly seminars beginning in March, at the Spring Plant Sale in March, and at Desert Meadows Park and the United Methodist Church on the corner of La Canada and Esperanza the day of the tour. If you are able to help please contact
Stacie Meyer
Cynthia Surprise
Make your plans now to visit these wonderful gardens. The plants will be labeled and there will be knowledgeable hosts at each garden to answer your questions. Enjoy the beauty of the gardens, the musicians playing in the gardens and the opportunity to learn more about gardening in our corner of the world. Tickets will go on sale March 2, 2020. They are $10 for members and $12 for nonmembers . Tickets will be available at the weekly seminars. They are also available online at the GVG website, and at these locations
Chamber of Commerce
Desert Bloom
Nancy Pantz
Native Gardens
The Happy Quail
See you in the gardens!
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Donations and Volunteers Needed
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.
SILENT AUCTION
We need a chair or co-chairs to oversee the solicitation of auction items.
Geneva Halliday has volunteered to prepare bid sheets, organize the event and conduct the auction. We will need some volunteers to help set-up and close out the auction. Information needed by Geneva for the bid sheet ~ donor's name and contact information, artist name, name of piece if any, history if pertinent, a minimum bid if one is recommended by the donor.
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?
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 you have an item to donate or are willing to help, please contact
Judy Christensen: judycpharmd@gmail.com or call or text 231-499-8794
. Judy also says she can pick up items or you can leave at Chuck's house the week before the auction.
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"IN YOUR PLOT"
by Lorna Mitchell
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Harvests of cabbage, Brussel's sprouts, kale, cauliflower, turnips, carrots, beets, chard, fennel, greens, and broccoli should continue for many weeks; but spring will come and we want to be ready for it.
If you haven't started your tomato, eggplant, and pepper seeds at home; do so very soon. There is a tremendous potential inside a tiny seed and it is great fun to watch it grow! Use paper cups, yogurt containers, or 2" pots on a tray to grow your own seeds of the varieties you want this summer. Pre-soaking the seeds in a little water overnight helps them wake up. Choose a fine textured potting soil and put some in a bucket, stir in water to pre-moisten it then fill the cups. Put one seed in each cup and label it. I cut strips from plastic milk jugs and write on them with a fine Sharpie marker and slip it in the edge of the pot for labels. Keep the soil moist but not soppy and keep them warm in the house, on thick old towels to insulate the roots. Try a heated seed mat for better germination success. When green shoots appear give them as much sunshine as temperature allows keeping them above 60° F (they prefer over 70° when very young). Carrying them outside to your warm brick patio for a few hours then bringing them inside as it cools is ideal.
As they grow at home, prepare open sections of ground at the garden by digging in amendments. We have used composted steer manure and granulated vegetable fertilizer for years (with good success) but last year we added mushroom compost which gave a real boost to the plants. Pace your work load because major plantings will take place the end of March or early April.
Irish potatoes go in the garden this month. They are not a root at all, but a tuber - a specialized fleshy part of an underground stem that stores food and they produce a better harvest if more of the stem is under the ground! "Seed" potatoes may be ordered for more varieties or use one from your pantry if it is growing sprouts; they will grow and produce tender little new potatoes.
Dig a trench a foot deep and mix in organic matter with a little fertilizer containing phosphate. Cut the growing "eyes" from a potato, but not too close, and set them in the bottom about 8 inches apart. Cover with 2 inches of soil; irrigate. As the green shoots grow up a couple inches, cover them with soil again. Repeat this until the trench is filled or even mounded up a little. The young shoots should do fine even through the expected cold spells yet to come. DO NOT plant sweet potatoes until May.
Freezing nights could yet occur so keep your faucets covered with dry towels or blankets; it's easier than fixing a broken pipe or clock because it froze. And check irrigation for leaks.
Those are my plot thoughts for now,
Happy Gardening,
Lorna Mitchell
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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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Through Amazon Smile, the GVG has earned $97.12 this year. Thank you all for the support!
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Expectations of the Board of Directors:
We want to provide this information in case you are wondering what the Board of Directors do or if you have interest in serving on the board.
Directors provide overall policy, planning and financial guidance to the organization. They are expected to be an advocate and spokesperson for the organization in the community, and always be on the lookout for potential members, volunteers, donors and board members.
Directors should plan to spend on average 1-2 hours per week on GVG business. Many activities peak near the date of each major event. Club activities are especially busy in March and April. Responsibilities include:
- Attend Board meetings. They are held September through May, usually on the 2nd Tuesday of the month, 1-2:45 pm at Friends in Deed.
- New Board members take office at the end of the November Board of Directors meeting.
- Attend the annual Board Retreat (Fall) and Annual Meeting (January).
- Commit initially to a 3 year term (unless otherwise stated). The Bylaws allow board members to be re-elected to serve a one additional 3 year term, if interested.
- Serve on at least one board or other committee or serve as an officer. In addition, volunteer for one or more GVG projects. Serve as a Board Liaison to at least one other committee or project.
- Committee work can involve, but is not limited to, phone calls, emails, meeting with volunteers, committee meetings. Some planning may take place during the summer.
Board Committees:
Executive - Board officers (President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer)
Financial Review- Treasurer, Assistant Treasurer, one additional board member
Board Development & Bylaws Review - Vice-President + 1-2 additional directors
Other Internal Committees:
Membership
Member Activities
Technology-Communications (Sand 'n' Seeds- E-blasts, Website, E- Ballots)
Nominations/ Elections
Major Community Projects:
Seminars Committee and Seminar Hospitality
Arid Garden
Ogden Garden
Historic Canoa Ranch
Desert Meadows Park
Fund Raisers:
Spring and Fall Plant Sales
Garden Tour
Art-In-the-Park
Onion Sale
Other projects:
Median Green
Education Committee
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Allen J. Ogden Community Garden
b
y Erin Walker
After a long winter nap George Jr, our educational ambassador, is ready to go back into the community. So far, he is scheduled for one appearance in April and if anyone has suggestions for George Jr, or---think you may want to be a part of his care team, please contact
erinwalker822@gmail.com. ---to care for this wonderful creature.
So far, our onions have been in the ground for ten weeks and the little onions are looking happy happy happy. Our onion sale this year has been moved from the first week of May to the last week in May due to late planting. This worthwhile fund raising event provides a valuable exposure to not only Ogden garden, but the club as well so please take a look at your schedule to see where you may fit in. There will be harvesting, prepping and transporting, as well as sale opportunities for everyone.
Last but not least, I'd like to take this time to introduce myself and my friend Kendra Roger-Lee as moving into the position of Manager for the Ogden Community Garden in Sahuarita. We have been plot holders at the Ogden Garden for several years and have been part of the "Critter Care Team" along with other members. George Stone has done a fantastic job for the last 9 years; far longer than he ever expected to be manager, but now it's time to pass the torch. We look forward to working with everyone to keep the garden going and growing and getting to know all of you.
Happy gardening
! Erin Walker
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Arid Garden
by Mary Kidnocker
Garden volunteers have kept busy in January with trimming of Mormon Tea, Dicliptera, Autumn Sage, Artemisia, Plumbago, and Dalea; more deadhead-ing of Dyssodia and Verbena wildflowers; as well as beginning to cut back various ornamental grass clumps.
Linda Gregory has kept busy with her annual "bonsai-sculpturing" of our three small Vitex trees. Sue Schmuck has been ably assisting and learning more about this technique of pruning.
The volunteer Penstemon crop is dense throughout the garden. These plants are all volunteers and appear thicker each spring, currently 4 to 6 inches high and thriving. Plan an early spring visit to the garden... it will be spectacular!
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Youngest Vitex Tree at The Arid Garden after getting its "haircut."
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Linda Gregory, Master Sculpturer (Sulpturess), putting finishing touches on the oldest of The Arid Garden's Vitex Trees.
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| Winter-blooming Bush Germander at The Arid Garden. |
Footnote
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Ever suffer from "FOPA" (Fear-of-Pruning Ailment) ?
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Desert Meadows Park
by Chuck Parsons
Lots of seasonal maintenance taking place at the park as you might expect. Preparation for Art in the Park is also consuming a lot of time. You will see notices in this issue soliciting items for both the plant/garden sale area and the silent auction. Both are good contributors to this club fundraiser.
Kathryn Stevens is busy taking artisan reservations, Sally Richards is signing up nonprofits and Marilee & Dave Crumley are selecting the food trucks for this year. We have created 47 spaces for this years' event ~ we had 26 spaces in 2018. The Pima County permit application has been submitted. A traffic plan has been prepared and shared with SAV and the Sheriff. Contracts have been signed for musicians, shuttle service and the silent auction tent. We are doubling the size of the silent auction tent this year.
Mike Jensen has developed a detailed layout and procedure for parking on Prestige property. Several volunteers have been clearing shrubs and small trees from the property to improve traffic flow and increase the number of parking spaces. Mike is signing up volunteers to prepare the lot on Friday, April 3rd and to work shifts during the event on April 4th.
Lots of action taking place in the nursery too. James Tyrer is getting help from volunteers to propagate plants to sell at Art in the Park. This year the Art in the Park event is just 2 weeks following the Spring Plant Sale. This requires some careful planning and coordination with Christa Ryan and her plant sale committee/team.
James has organized the nursery area to accommodate plant sales year-around. Some tables have plants that are priced allowing park visitors to purchase plants and deposit the money in a locked mailbox. During 2019 this has proven to be a good source of income to support the nursery at the park. We have used the funds to purchase soil, potting supplies and display benches.
Money collected from plants sold at the park is used to fund the nursery operation as stated above with two exceptions. First ~ Art in the Park is a fundraiser for the garden club, thus money from plants sold during the event ~ both those propagated at DMPark and the leftover plants from the March Spring Plant Sale ~ go into the club treasury. Second ~ We are working with Christa to provide DMPark plants for the Fall Plant Sale. We are considering setting up a special table on Friday and Saturday ~ after the craziness of Thursday. Money collected from plants sold from the table go into the plant sale receipts.
Eleven GVR Clay Studio members participated in 2019. We understand that fifteen will be participating in 2020
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GVG Gardens at Historic Canoa Ranch (HCR)
What is a canoa? A canoa is a slender, open boat, tapering to a point at both ends, propelled by paddles (or sometimes sails). Traditionally, they are of light framework covered with bark, skins, canvas or formed from a dug-out or burned-out logs. Canoas were used by the indigenous, primitive tribes of the southwest. The area where Historic Canoa Ranch is located was used by travelers and locals to cross the Santa Cruz river. For travelers, this was a well-known location to acquire water and to cross over. The Modern day canoas are called canoes. During the December holiday event, several canoas were donated and used to display native plants and other holiday decorations. We will continue to use them for displaying plants. They are, presently, sitting along the wall of the Tradesman's house with the originally displayed plants.
Could spring really be just around the corner? A week ago, this bird's nest was not in the plum tree. When we do some minor trimming, on that plum tree, we will be sure not to disturb the new residents.
All our plants are enjoying the rain and the warmer temperatures. The lettuce is looking like an excellent candidate for a salad. We might be able to get another crop lettuce in before it gets too warm.
Pima County, Natural Resources, Parks and Recreation are holding several events for Pima County school children. The event Life on the Ranch demonstrates what life was like in the earlier days of a working ranch. Particular attention is given to the role children played. The event is very interactive allowing the children to experience many chores on the ranch. They learn about home life by identifying antique tools, roll-playing the household chores, learn what a brand is and how to read them and they even get an opportunity to learn calf roping. Each student gets to try their hand at lassoing. It appeared that the games of Marbles and Jacks were the biggest hit. Once the children leaned what to do, they were fully into the games. Laughing and trying to best their classmates. The other event, for school children will be Southwestern Primitive Peoples. This is a new event offered to the schools. Some of what they will learn is how the primitive peoples, of this area, lived. The focus will be on the natural resources and plant life used in their everyday lives.
Projects for 2020:
Foreman's House: Potted plants in the screened porch
Grijalva House: Potted plants on the front porch, warm weather veggies/herbs on the north wall and raised beds and a few annuals added to the butterfly garden
Junior House: Sun porch plants to be divided and repotted
Tradesman House (Welcome Center): Landscape with native plants
Orchard: Several new trees
Ongoing Tours at Historic Canoa Ranch
Birding 8:30a- 10:30a Every Saturday
Historic Tours 10:30a - 12p Every Tuesday, Friday and Saturday
Anza Tour - Second Wednesday f the Month (Feb. 12) 10a - 11a
Gardens of Canoa Tour - Third Wednesday of the month (Feb. 19) 10a - 11:30a
February Event
Stargazing Party & Lecture 6-7p Lecture 7-9p Stargazing
Preregister at
:
https://webcms.pima.gov/cms/One.aspx?pageId=1507
Country Market 9a - 1p Every Thur.
Events Upcoming in March
Heritage Fair - Sat., March 7 - 9a - 3p
Antique & Vintage Fair - Sat., March 21, 9a-1p
Historic Canoa Ranch offers an enormous assortment of gardening venues. If you are interested in, want to learn about or you are an expert with vegetables, ornamental plants, indoor plants, herbs, cacti, native plants, succulents, plants for the pollinators and/or fruit trees, then, for you, Historic Canoa Ranch is the right venue. We have a variety of plants and gardens to meet everyone's preference. You can choose to work on all the gardens or just the one you prefer. Want to be a part of our project team? J
oin us, on Tuesday's, to play in the dirt, meet gardening friends, learn something new, have some gardening adventures and be a part of restoring Canoa Ranch to its past splendor. Our early birds arrive around 7:30 a.m., at the Sr. House, Herb Garden. You are welcome, at any time, to join us.
HCR Project Manager: Raydine Taber and Jack Davis (Emeritus)
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ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS
by Steve Curtis
Steve is on medical leave for a few weeks. We hope he heals quickly and can get back to work at the schools.
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40th ANNIVERSARY PROJECTS
MEDIAN GREEN PROJECT
The 40th anniversary project will be to renovate the medians 16, 17 and 25 and 26 on Abrego, from Esperanza to Continental. The plans are approaching finalization and submission to Pima County for approval. We hope to start work early this spring. Desert Meadow, Green Valley Gardeners and Fairways, as well as private individuals have donated funds for this special project. In addition to money the most important element of this whole project is the wonderful volunteers who so generously give of their time. This is a great opportunity to be involved with a project that benefits and beautifies our community. It is also a fantastic way to interact with other gardeners. If you are motivated to join our project with time or money contact one of the co-chairs, Phyllis Barbosa at swiftdoe@comcast.net, or Ruth Tamminga at taminaz@me.com.
FLOAT IN THE WHITE ELEPHANT PARADE PROJECT
To help celebrate the Green Valley Gardeners' 40 years of community service, the club plans to participate in one of Green Valley's biggest community events: the annual White Elephant Parade. The parade takes place on the last Saturday in October and this will be the first time the club has participated.
Many volunteers are needed to plan and work on our float and to march or ride with us in the parade. It's a great opportunity to become involved in the club and have fun.
We will be holding a brief organizational meeting for all volunteers on February 13 right after the Thursday Gardeners' seminar at the Desert Hills GVR Recreation Center, 2980 S Camino del Sol. Please attend and bring your ideas!
We need volunteers to :
- Come up with a creative idea for our entry. All ideas are welcome. We will start planning in the next few weeks.
- Work on creating and decorating the entry.
- Marching or riding with the club in the parade.
If you are interested in volunteering to help with this first-time project please contact the co-chairs for the Parade Committee: Cynthia Surprise (857-209-1978 or cisurprise@verizon.net) or Marita Ramsay (208-290-7770 or maritasandpoint@yahoo.com)
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Membership
by Mark Thompson
We are half way through our 2020 Membership Renewal Campaign, which will end this month. Your membership dues make up 20% of our operating budget. Your renewal membership, along with our several fund raisers, is necessary in order for us to continue to support the work Green Valley Gardeners do at the Ogden Garden, the Arid Garden, Desert Meadows Park, Historic Canoa Ranch, the 40th Year Community Service Project, and our Seminar Series. Without your continued membership, we would be hard pressed to continue all this fine work. If you have already renewed your membership, we thank you. If you have not yet renewed, please take the time now to do so. You can pay online, mail a check, or pay at the next seminar. For any changes to your contact information, or in the event you have decided not to renew for whatever reason, please contact me at
memberships@greenvalleygardeners.com
. In accordance with our By Laws, members not renewing will be removed from our rolls on March 1. Thanks for your continued support.
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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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| Lifetime Membership presentation to Jim Campbell and Mary Kidnocker by Patricia Simpson and Mark Thompson, photo by Linda Gregory |
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