SAND'n'SEEDS
February 2022
Serving Our Community Since 1980
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Message from the President
By Marilee Crumley
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Happy Valentine’s Day on the 14th, Presidents Day on the 21st. American Heart Month, Black History Month, Great American Pie Month, National Cherry Month, National Grapefruit Month, Tucson Gem & Mineral Show Month, and Winter Olympics Month! Celebrate all these great days and months.
In my indoor garden I’ve got little tomato plants growing for later spring planting. My Christmas Cactus decided to wait until now to be blooming, so we’re enjoying the delicate apricot blooms. My African Violets have produced huge colorful blooms since January. Outdoors we look forward to signs of spring from our bushes and trees.
Green Valley Gardeners’ seminars continue this month. Put on your mask and come visit with gardening friends at three seminars – the 3rd on pecan orchards, the 10th on succulents and cacti grown at Arid Lands Nursery in Tucson, and the 24th on roses. We have a hospitality table with coffee, tea, water, and yummy goodies. I’d love to see more people attend our seminars.
Happy gardening!
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Volunteer Opportunities for You
We have some volunteer opportunities for you to get involved in the club.
Watch for the sign-up opportunities for our spring events – the plant sale in March and the Garden Tour in April.
Do you like to get involved with artists and crafters in our area? This volunteer opportunity might be just what you’d enjoy. We need an Art in the Park Coordinator for our fall event. This person would need to start soon making contacts with a list of artist/crafters to get those people in our October event. If interested see Julie J. in the Desert Meadows Park nursery on any Wednesday morning for more info.
Committee volunteers needed for the Memorial, Education, Nomination, Semnar, and Website Committees. We already have committee chairpersons in place, but need helpers. None of these require physical work, just a chance to help your club, meet new people, and have fun doing it. If interested please contact me at Info@greenvalleygardeners..com
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We Accept
Charitable Donations
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You will be asked for an amount, your contact information and credit card information.
Donations go toward operating expenses. If you want your donation to go to a specific project or in honor of an individual, please indicate your intention in the comment area.
You also can mail in a donation to:
Green Valley Gardeners
PO Box 86
Green Valley, AZ 85622-0086
Donations to a 501(c)(3) are tax deductible. Please check with your tax accountant for more information on this deduction.
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Would you like to help, have fun and meet new people?
Arid Garden:
Fridays at 7:30 a.m.
Contact: Mary Kidnocker
520-648-7959 or
Canoa Ranch:
Tuesdays at 7:30 a.m.
Contact: Raydine Taber
Desert Meadows Park:
Wednesdays at 7:30 a.m.
Contact: Chuck Parsons
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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
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GVG Seminars ... By Rhonda Rinn
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February 3rd- Rich Walden a 3rd generation orchardist from FICO Pecan Orchards. We see the orchards almost every day in Green Valley but do we really know anything about how pecans are grown or harvested? Come to the seminar to find out.
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February 10th- Bob Webb from Arid Lands Greenhouses in Tucson. Bob and Toni have traveled the world looking for and photographing succulents. Attend this seminar to hear interesting stories and see beautiful pictures of succulents taken from their world travels
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February 24th. Master Gardener, Deborah North will share her knowledge of Growing Roses in the Sonoran Desert.
Reminders will be sent via Sand'n'Seeds, Green Valley Gardeners Website and in eblasts.
We hope to see you there!
Rhonda Rinn
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In Your Plot ... By Lorna Mitchell
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Ahhhh! The blessing of warm sunshine in the afternoon; that’s why we live in Arizona in February. But while we are at the garden, pool, and tennis courts the birds of the desert are busy building nests. This is the beginning of spring! |
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Harvests of Brussel’s sprouts, kale, cauliflower, turnips, carrots, beets, chard, fennel, greens, and broccoli should continue for many weeks and cabbage is almost ready in a number of plots. Peas lost their flowers and growing tips in the frost but most are making a strong comeback and are setting nice pods. Careful thinning of carrots can provide a good meal and allow room for those left behind to enlarge. For Brussel’s sprouts remove the lowest leaves then twist off one sprout at a time from the bottom up. Remove the cauliflower plant after taking the head because it won’t grow another head but keep the broccoli plant because new shoots will produce smaller shoots of tender broccoli. |
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If you want to grow your own tomato, eggplant, and peppers from seeds but haven’t put them into soil – do so right away. There is a tremendous potential inside a tiny seed and it is great fun to watch it grow! Find some little pots (if you saved some 6-packs from your cauliflower seedlings that’s ideal), put in some fine textured potting soil and plant one seed per pot. Keep them warm and moist inside on a thick old towel; they would really like a heated germination mat. When green shoots appear give them as much sunshine as temperature allows; keep them above 60° F (they prefer over 70° when very young). The full sun of outside is better than sun filtering through a window. If all goes well they will go into the garden the first week of April. |
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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 can freeze so a light covering with a cloth might save them. DO NOT plant sweet potatoes until May.
Freezing nights can still be expected 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
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Arid Garden …
By Mary Kidnocker
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Because our old garden has a number of original trees, every couple of years we feel it is necessary to have a certified arborist do a “walk through” evaluation of any problematic issues. Because of this periodic exam our four oversize Afghan Pines, two soaring Velvet Mesquites, and the wandering African Sumac are kept in prime condition so we do not need be concerned about liability or plant damage. To take place soon will be selective thinning and general shaping of the trees, as well as their periodic low pressure injection of fertilizer to keep them healthy. |
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Winter volunteer and master woodworker Hans Hohle has removed and is now re-working the 15-year old garden pergola topping the main entry. The partially rotted beams prove once again that wood is not a preferred material for the desert.
For several Fridays, Volunteer Richard Ludka and his helpers have been working on removal of the dense grassy weeds along the garden’s Camino Encanto yard wall. Notice when driving by how much neater the area now appears.
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A special thank you for the gift of a lovely new bench given to the garden by Hans and Phyllis Hohle. With winter visitor numbers increasing, it has been getting lots of comments and appreciative use!
Come by anytime and enjoy the seasonal cool and sunny delights in this special place!
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Desert Meadows Park …
By Chuck Parsons
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The volunteers are taking on projects to engage park visitors as we go into 2022. These include:
- Creating a demonstration garden for Groasis technology.
- Establishing a bird list for the park. This may include informational cards available throughout the park for novices.
- Enhance plant identification signage. The intent is to provide attributes of the plant as well.
- “Find Me” treasure map for kids, probably 3 to 6 years of age.
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Sparrow installed 5 Groasis devices along the Anza Trail in January. Each is intended to provide appropriate moisture to young salvia plants to get them established during the next 2 years. Once established they should survive without irrigation. Next time you are in the park take time to read the information about this technology ~ where it originated, how it works. Over time you will be able to observe the plants as they become established. If interested in using this technology in your own yard or for your HOA, please contact Chuck. Sparrow will donate the devices and provide instruction. |
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Sparrow finalizing the installation of a Groasis device. |
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The Groasis display along the Anza Trail at the park |
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If you have an interest in working on either the other two projects ~ birding list and/or plant identification ~ please contact Chuck. Monte Hudson has developed a “treasure map” to keep your grandkids or great-grandkids entertained while you visit the park. There will be 8 metal Sonoran critters to be found ~ while looking for these, the kids might actually see a live specimen because they all reside in the park. Dave Crumley welded the metal cutouts to stakes. They will be hidden in pots around the park. The kids will be challenged to find them and mark them off their “map.” Sheets and pencils will be located on a post in the park.
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The “Treasure Map” ~ a sheet of paper showing the 8 metal cutout, Sonoran critters to be found stuck in pots around the park. |
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Sometimes it pays to take an early morning walk in the park! |
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Historic Hacienda de la Canoa ...
By Raydine Taber
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The Environmental Educational (EE) division of Pima County’s NRPR has begun their lecture series being held at the Ranch. The first two, in this series, have been completed and were well attended. A few of the other lecturers are Dr. Deni Seymour, Scott Dyke, David Yetman, Homer Thiel, Tom Sheridan, Dan Judkins, Patricia Preciado-Martin and Amanda Castillo. Both Patricia and Amanda are Children of Canoa. To register for a lecture (seating is limited), visit WWW.pima.gov/CanoaRanch. Lectures began in January and will continue into April.
Once again, EE is holding their Life on the Ranch classes for the schools. Presently, four sessions are scheduled. Most of the students are astonished to learn what life was like back in the day. No TV, no cell phones, and everyone had a job to do. The students learn the history of the area, cattle branding, reading brands and roping. They get to brand (not heated) in some clay and try to rope a steer (hay bale and model steer head). In one of the sessions, they must guess what a few household and ranch items were used for. You should hear the giggles. The children even get to learn a couple of games that were played more than 100 years ago. They not only learn but they have fun while taking the class.
It is almost February and that means Valentine’s Day. In October of 2020, we planted a Valentine Emu in the Welcome Center, front landscaping. Below is that same Emu and it has drawn many questions about what plant it is. I am biased but this is one excellent winter blooming plant.
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Welcome Center Valentine Emu |
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We are almost done with the pruning. Pima County, Natural Resources, Parks and Recreation (NRPR) are responsible for Canoa Ranch development and maintenance. We were asked to prune the Pomegranates, surrounding the Manning, Jr. House, back enough to insure none of the visitors would walk into their branches and get injured. A little more pruning than we wanted to do but, apparently, someone walked into them during the holiday lighting display.
Our next challenge is cleaning up the Caretaker’s House trees and begin to design what new plants will go where. Almost all the plants for this house will come from the old Cactus Garden and Pima County, Native Nursery. Most all will be native to Arizona. If you have been to the ranch, you might have noticed there are no Saguaros. Not sure if this is due to the micro-environment or past grazing and activity destroying them. The Caretaker’s House is going to be our test site for future Saguaros. Additionally, we already have two Indian Fig, Prickly Pear plants the are presently close to 15 feet tall. They were brought up from the south acreage which had been a leased, Quarter Horse Training Ranch. Some new and exciting things to work into the Ranch’s plant life.
I just got back from a short trip with Sonoran Desert Museum and need to pass along that several people were thanking us for what we do to bring Canoa Ranch back to life. One gentleman indicated that he was amazed at the changes since he first visited the Ranch. Nice to get compliments
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We meet on Tuesdays at 7:30 a.m. Please join us! If you want more information call me at 520-625-0961 or email rs_taber@msn.com
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Allen J Ogden Community Garden ...
By Bob Laux-Bachand
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The garden took on a new look in January as work progressed on several projects. Manager Harry Jepkema and his assistant finished clearing the site for a new patio and trimming chinaberry trees that overhang the chicken coop and former tortoise enclosure. On Jan. 13, a shipment of 16 yards of DG (decomposed granite) was delivered by Green Valley Decorative Rock, and work began immediately on the patio. |
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A volunteer, Todd Lutze, was in charge of setting up the job and helped the Ogden crew in leveling the ground. DG served as the base and Todd installed most of the pavers, which had been donated to Ogden last year. A redwood bench built by Ogden gardener Phil Anderson has been placed in the patio in honor of the late George Stone, the longtime manager. The rest of the DG is being applied to paths between the plots. Anderson, and gardeners Michael Oare, Fred Mitchell and Julie York are among those who have gotten their shovels into the mini-mountain of DG.
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With sunny skies and relatively mild temperatures in January, most of the active plots are doing well. Some are producing “endless lettuce,” and good-sized heads of cauliflower and broccoli are ready for harvest.
We are happy to welcome back Doug Yoes, who has taken over Plot No. 9; he shared his memories of Ogden in a message to his fellow gardeners last week. With Yoes on board, two 10- by 40-foot plots are still available. Club members who desire to “grow their own” are invited to join us.
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Ogden Garden has two (1) 10 x 40 (in ground) plot available!!!
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School Projects ...by Barry Gillaspie
Steve Curtis schools project manager for the Green Valley Gardeners worked with grant applications to successfully secure a $3000 dollar grant from Freeport McMoRan to install raised bed planters and associated irrigation at Copper View Elementary School. Chuck Parsons assisted with instruction on the installation of the planters.
The project had several elements to include: building a patio, getting quality garden beds, and running irrigation lines in an area inside the atrium of the school.
Copper View teachers, parents and school maintenance personnel all pitched in to complete the project!
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Kindergarten class planting their seeds
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The 1st grade classes planting their seeds.
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Membership ... By Mark Thompson
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We are well underway with our two month renewal period. My thanks to all who have renewed their membership as your annual dues and continued support are what makes our garden club special.
If you have not renewed yet, please do not put it off any longer as we need you now. Remember, in accordance with our bylaws, any member not renewing will be removed from our roster on March 1st. This means that you will stop receiving all messages from us as of that date.
Since the first of the year, we have welcomed the following new members:
Sarah Sheehan
Mary Morrow
Lynn Liebling
Cheryl Johnson
Rod and Roxanne Henning
Alan Triplett
Leah Spilchen
Deanie Johnson
Loretta Jensen
Heidi Blackburn
Remember, if you have not renewed, please go now to our website, click on “membership” on the top bar and follow the prompts to renew by credit card. Or, send a check to PO Box 86, 85614, or see me at the next seminar. Thanks for your continued support.
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Mailing Address:
PO Box 86,
Green Valley, AZ 85622-0086
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