Maricopa County’s Master Gardener Newsletter University of Arizona Cooperative Extension October 2008

In this issue:

AHA Weed and Feed

A Traveling Gardener

Design Charrette

Diagnostic Clinics:

‘Treeage’ for Valley

Gardeners

Diggings in the Garden

Monsoon 2008: Advice for

Tree-Planting

Moths

News from the NW Valley

Roots & Shoots: Editor

position open

Waxplant

...and more!

Roots & Shoots

Master Gardener Update ~

Field Trip:

Japanese Friendship Garden

Wednesday October 8, 10:00 a.m. ~ Margaret T. Hance Park, Phoenix

The Japanese Friendship Garden is 3 ½ acres of tranquility in the middle ofdowntown Phoenix. The traditional Japanese Stroll Garden, tea garden and teahouse contain over 50 species of plants, selected to suit both our desert climateand the design requirements of a Japanese garden. Stone footbridges overflowing streams and rocks carefully chosen in Arizona quarries from Jerome toFlorence give this garden a cool appearance even on hot days. Over 50 archi-tects participated in this Sister Cities project of Phoenix and Himeji, Japan.

The Japanese Friendship Garden is part of Phoenix’s Margaret T. Hance Park.It is run independently with its own set of dedicated volunteers including a fewof our own Maricopa County Extension folks. This garden offers classes in avariety of areas, including traditional Japanese pruning techniques.

This garden must be experienced. People familiar with it speak of serenity andsolace. Design values that afford this experience are worth learning about.

Meet at 10:00 a.m. at the Japanese Friendship Garden located at Margaret T.Hance Park, 1125 N. 3rd Ave, atop the I-10 tunnel in downtown Phoenix. Thegarden and park are on 3rd Ave. north of Roosevelt and south of McDowell. It’sbest to access 3rd Ave. from Roosevelt as it’s a one-way street going north.

The garden is on the east side of the street. You can park right there.

Carpoolers can meet at 9:00 am to leave by 9:20 a.m. at the Extension office,4341 E. Broadway Rd., Phoenix.

Fees: $3 per person at the gate. This is a discounted price. A special effort hasbeen made to provide knowledgeable volunteers to lead this guided tour.

No Food: Please do not bring food into the Japanese Garden. Margaret T.Hance Park is open for picnics if you wish.

For a map and more info: www.japanesefriendshipgarden.org

-Deb Sparrow

2 Maricopa County Master Gardeners

ROOTS & SHOOTS

Editor: Donna Walkuskidwalkuski@deru.com

Associate Editor: Carlene Warner

Copy Editors: Meg Paterson, Karen Sankman

Calendar: Karen Sankman, jnjmom1@yahoo.com

Website Questions: Cathy Munger 602-470-8086

USPS Mail Questions: Debbie Mauldin 602-470-8086

Submission deadline is the 18th of the month prior

Roots & Shoots is published monthly by and for

MARICOPA COUNTY MASTER GARDENERS

and is printed under the direction of:

The Maricopa County Cooperative Extension Office

4341 E. Broadway Rd. / Phoenix, AZ 85040-8807

Phone 602-470-8086 FAX 602-470-8092

Hours: 8:00A.M. - 5:00p.m. Weekdays

www.maricopamastergardeners.org

STAFF:

Terry Mikel, Extension Agent

Kristen Wagner, Program Coordinator

602-470-8086 x311 krwagner@cals.arizona.edu

Debbie Mauldin, Administrative Assistant

Hours: Mon - Wed 8A.M. - 5p.m.

602-470-8086 x308 dmauldin@cals.arizona.edu

Cover photo by Donna Walkuski

A new season beckons for Roots & Shoots...

The Master Gardener community offers a rich harvest of news, information, and stories about gar-dening here in our valley. As editor for well over a year now, I’ve had the pleasure of gathering thatharvest and serving it up to our readers. I’m grateful for the opportunity. I’ve had lots of fun puttingeach issue together, benefitted enormously from having a great editing team (Meg Paterson, KarenSankman, and Carlene Warner), and been privileged to work with way too many wonderful contribu-tors to name.

Other responsibilities are calling me, however, and as summer winds down into fall, I’ve decided thatit’s time for my duties as editor to wind down as well. I’ll definitely miss my favorite creative-project-of-the-month, but my loss will be someone else’s gain.

Editor position open

Are you interested in working with great people? Enjoy writing, or more importantly, editing, andhave computer skills? As editor, you’ll make a vital contribution to the MG program. You can get yourvolunteer hours in from the comfort of your own home, which is a sweet deal when it’s 110 outside.You’ll also have a team behind you to help with specific tasks, and I will be pleased to help you getyour feet under you.

If you’re interested, have questions, or want more details, please e-mail me at dtw@deru.com or call602-956-4878.

- Donna Walkuski

Red okra thrives in the Demo Garden

Sue OBrien

October 2008 Roots & Shoots 3

Diagnostic Clinics Offer ‘Treeage’ for Valley Gardeners

by Bobbie Haws

When your neighbors and friends find out you’re a master gardener and you are bombarded withquestions such as why their cottonwood tree is dying, or why there are yellow spots in their lawn,how do you respond? What do you do when the malady is affecting your own outdoor paradise?An informative and entertaining group meets every Friday, 8 a.m. at the Broadway ExtensionOffice to discuss landscape woes and victories. This clever group of experienced Master Gar-deners is conducted by Terry Mikel and is a treasure of interesting facts and knowledge of plants,bugs, and botanical diseases that cohabitate with desert dwellers.

The phone rings daily and certified Master Gardeners field a range of questions fromhomeowners and business owners about their landscapes. Sometimes questions need furtherinvestigation and the Master Gardener will ask for a sample to be sent into the office for furtherresearch. Samples are transported to the office with a completed questionnaire that aids thediagnostic group in indentifying the problem. Each sample is carefully discussed with the groupto identify signs of any weed, bug, or disease affecting the sample and propose solutions. Theresults are assigned to one of the Master Gardeners, who calls the homeowner to share thegroups findings and hopefully resolve their concerns.

Each month and season brings new problems. In the month of August, for instance, several lawnsamples have landed in the diagnostic clinic for evaluation with yellowing spots rapidly spreadingthroughout turf. On careful examination it didn’t take long for the group to recognize the pres-ence of pearl scale. This is an awful affliction that is especially prevalent in August. Pearl scale isa small insect that attaches itself to the roots of the grass, literally sucking the life out of it. It isdifficult to eradicate because it forms a small white shell, resembling a pearl, around itself asdefense system. This hard shell cannot be penetrated with chemicals, making it especiallydifficult to eradicate after the shell has formed. It is only vulnerable during a short time of the yearin the crawler stage before the shell has developed; several months previous to the symptomsbeing visible as yellow spots in the lawn. Because of the abundant rainfall and increase inhumidity this last month, several spore samples have also been submitted for identification. Theygenerally are recognizable in mushroom form, but can also appear in other forms. They feedheavily on organic matter, and manifest where there has been increased moisture. With all of thedesert rain, multiple weeds have also arrived and several samples have been sent for ID to thediagnostic group, including spurge, nutsedge, and witch’s broom. The diagnostic clinics are asplendid way to observe realistic landscape afflictions and their resolutions. It is especiallyrewarding to be a part of such a distinguished group of people that solve real problems forperplexed valley gardeners.

Clinics are an enjoyable way to supplement your volunteer hours. They are extremely beneficialto the public and an urgently needed service for the many newcomers and beginning gardenerswho come and attempt to adapt their gardening practices to our unique desert landscape. If themain extension office is a bit distant for you, there is a schedule for travelling Diagnostic Clinicsthat may be closer to you. They are as follows:

· 1st Thursday of the month at the NW Valley Satellite Office

· 2nd Thursday of the month at the NE Valley Satellite Office

· Every Friday at the Main Office

For more information and maps for these locations visit http://cals.arizona.edu/maricopa/garden/mgcentral/diagnostic.php , or check with Kristen Wagner.

4 Maricopa County Master Gardeners

News from the Northwest Valley

There were 21 Master Gardeners and 2 visitors at the September 4th Diagnostic Clinic. Jo Cook joined us andpresented an online demonstration of the features of the new program she developed for AMWUA – our favor-ite “pink book” – Landscape Plants for the Arizona Desert is now available online. It is a very user friendly,searchable database that Jo is continuing to develop and refine. Awesome Jo! Thanks.

The next Diagnostic Clinic will be on Thursday, October 2..Jim will teach Cactus and Succulent Care. All MGsand the public are welcome.

Jim and Mary Ann joined Kristen and London and we visited the Canyon Ridge Elementary School in Surpriseon Sept. 4th – the site of the next MG class. We were very pleased with the facility and our reception there.They even have an outdoor area set aside for some gardening activities and we expect the new class to bepart of developing that.

Jen Nachtigal has graciously agreed to work with Carol Stuttard as the Mentor to the Mentors and RoomMonitors for the January MG class in Surprise.

Six MG volunteers responded to questions from 23 visitors to our Saturdays at the Library session September6th in Surprise. We were pleased to have the event noted on that morning’s front page of the Home and Gar-den section of the Arizona Republic.

On Saturday, Sept. 20th, our very own Jim Oravetz was featured in a two-page spread on the front of the Homesection of the Arizona Republic! In one picture he’s holding one of our Master Gardener Press books. Contactinformation for Master Gardener Resources was included.

Two MGs responded to Jan D’Atri’s invitation to provide an Ambassador/Q&A session during her radio show onSat. Sept 20th. Jan invited listeners to come into Liberty Buick in Peoria where the shows are currently beingproduced and speak with the MGs. We had three visitors this time – good for a start. For future events, Jan willannounce our presence the week before the event so that may increase the response. The next events at thislocation are scheduled for October 18, November 15, and Dec.20. Volunteers will be recruited via thelistserves. Interns/Associates are welcome.

Four MGs from the NW Valley joined the ANA Fall Nursery Tour to visit nurseries and growers in Tucson onFriday, Sept 26th.

We have two new library “Ask a Master Gardener” events scheduled to begin in October. The first Monday ofeach month we will be at the Bell Branch of the Sun City Library and the third Saturday of each month we willbe at the Avondale Library, Civic Center branch. These are both exciting new opportunities for volunteers. TheAvondale event is a great opportunity for MGs in the Southwest Valley! More information went out via thelistserves.

-Mary Ann Garewal

October 2008 Roots & Shoots 5

Waxplant

Houseplant of the Month by Pauline Marx

Hoya carnosa is called Waxplant because of the waxy texture of its flowers and leaves. Its native habitat isSouthern China, Malaysia and Australia. It is an excellent houseplant which may live for years. Shoots of thisplant can be very long and can reach 8 feet and need to be trained on bent wire. The flowers are star shapedand very waxy. The first time I saw one blooming I thought the flower was an artificial one. The flowers areproduced in many-flowered auxiliary clusters, each flower originating from the same base and about ½ inchacross, white with a pink center. The leaves are opposite, leathery and lustrous. Hoya blooms from April toNovember. Do not remove stems that have blooms because those stems will bloom again. Other parts may bepruned to shape the plant which can be trained to climb with support.

Keep potbound for best bloom. Cooler and drier conditions during winter dormancy will prevent aphids. Alsowatch for mealybugs, mites, nematodes and scale. They can be eliminated with insecticidal soap forhouseplants. Poor drainage can cause root rot. Overfeeding may cause the buds to drop.

Place it in a good light, screened from brightest sunlight. Water moderately and allow soil to go almost drybetween waterings. Hoya can easily be propagated from cuttings.

Hoya carnosa ‘Compacta’ is a smaller variety. There are two varieties with multicolored foliage: ’exotica’ and’variegata.’ Hoya bella has trailers which can reach 4 feet and looks best in a hanging pot. Place it in a slightlyshady location.

Other species are H. lacunose, a spring bloomer, and h. multiform with greenish yellow flowers.

Design Charrette

Saturday, October 25, 9:00-Noon

We’re off to a help Janice McGoldrick get a plan for her lush, flood-irrigated horse property in Gilbert. She’s already redone her “glorifiedfarmhouse” all by herself, but needs our help on the grounds. Thinkoutside the box on this one. We need to keep costs down while thinkingsustainability and energy conservation. She’d like some trees - fruits andnuts will do and needs to create some privacy around a pool and hopesto hide her neighbor’s RV. Remember, she does all the work herself! Talkabout a challenge!

Remember, everyone is welcome, brand new and seasoned MasterGardeners alike. Each and every one of us has at least one idea that canhelp Doreen come up with a plan for her garden. The only requirement isto bring your imagination and a dish to share.

Come enjoy the morning with fellow Master Gardeners and earn yourhours.

To reserve your spot email Designcharrette@hotmail.com or call CarolParrott at 602-438-4003.

6 Maricopa County Master Gardeners

Diggings in the Garden

by Pam Perry

Greeting Gardeners.

This has been a particularly satisfying summer.Sustained efforts of dedicated gardeners are appar-ent throughout the grounds. Along the north side ofthe building, the ‘Desert Trail’ truly looks like some-one cares, an effect I have been working to accom-plish for several years now. Citrus has been fertil-ized; orchard is weeded, mulched, and fed; and wehave all feasted on the best crop of figs.

The composting workshop rendered much of thesummer’s exuberance manageable, and clearedground for both the continued replacement of dripirrigation in the veggie bed, and room for fall andwinter planting. It will be interesting to watch theartichoke as it again finds itself exposed to the sun.

At the suggestion of both Charlie Stephens and MaryAnn Garewal, I will plant some multicolored cauli-flower. These cauliflower have merit in their attractive-ness, and both gardeners report they were sweet andflavorful! I think perhaps this might be the year for acabbage crop as well...

As announced on the list serve, and mentioned in thecalendar in this newsletter, Tuesday gardening isnow afternoons; beginning around three and workuntil dusk. Anyone one willing to get their hands a mitedirty, plant a few seeds, pull a few weeds and share inthe conversation is surely welcome!

Bring a clean shirt, and stay for Toastmasters some-time. They meet at the Cooperative Extension Tuesday evenings; all the details for this are in our calendarsection of this newsletter. This is another venue for gardeners to develop skills, and we have plenty of opportu-nities for speakers. When all is said and done, you will have certainly earned enough hours to make it worthyour while!

Come down to MCCE on the 4th of October. The herbies will be weeding and feeding. There is a plant sale!!!Bring a few plants to share and sell, pick up some newplants and enjoy the gardens!

Thank you Interns!

Since July, interns have been active in the DemoGardens weeding, pruning, moving mulch, fertilizingcitrus, apples and peaches, preparing soil for fall plant-ing and making compost. Great strides are made inreclaiming our landscape-gone-wild with each newclass of interns, as well as necessary regular garden-

Sue OBrien

Sue OBrien

Sue OBrien

October 2008 Roots & Shoots 7

ing chores and this class was no exception! Theyhave worked with the Herbies on Weed andFeed Saturdays, and have helped collect andpackage seed for the Fall Plant Sale. They comeinside to help with Updates, Desert GardenInstitute programs and the Growing and Preserv-ing workshops sponsored by Sharon Day. Otherdemonstration gardens have benefited from theirassistance, Glendale and Tovrea in particular.They have discovered continuing educationopportunities at Updates and Diagnostic Clinics.They have supported Ambassadors and Speak-ers Bureau at Home and Garden shows andassisted Kristen with program administration.And that is just the stuff I know about! By now,they have a feel for the scope of our program.

I thank them for all their good-humored efforts that havesuch a positive impact, and hope fervently that in themidst of all this flurry of focus on ‘getting the hours,’ theynow have a feel for the kinds of opportunities MasterGardeners offer as education and support to low-valleygardeners. The hope is that as interns participate,they find a niche where ongoing participation wouldbenefit them personally as well as benefit MasterGardener programs. The smorgasbord of projectsbrought to their attention is to whet their appetite andprovide experience that can be built upon. I hope theyrealize that!

Once we leave the classroom and are left to take advantage of volunteer opportunities or wait for another oneto come along it is too easy to let the days and weeksslide by without signing or showing up for variousprograms. Being an active Master Gardener takes acertain amount of “self-starter-type-initiative” to maintaininvolvement! No one needs be as obsessive as I.Those days when I worked a many-hour week, I limitedmy activity to the Speakers’ Bureau and found plenty ofopportunities to get my hours with that. I had a niceniche in those days...

Congratulations Graduates, and congrats to thosegetting badges. You have participated in making realcontributions as Master Gardeners educating folksabout gardening in the low desert. Now, follow somepath you have found and become part of an ongoingexperience! Thank you all so much!

Dig up good gardening advice for this month at http://cals.arizona.edu/maricopa/garden/html/t-tips/oct.htm

Pam Perry is the Director of the MCCE Demonstration Gardens.

Charlie Stephens

Charlie Stephens

Sue OBrien

8 Maricopa County Master Gardeners

A Traveling Gardener

Text and photos by Linda Larson

A seat in the garden

Gardeners love mornings, especially Arizona gardeners. Earlymorning is an inviting time to be among the blooms, buds andshrubs, enjoying the changes each day brings to our own littlegardens. Morning is the time for me to take a cup of coffee to myfavorite seat in the garden. I have a little bench that I return to againand again. Seated here, I can watch the sunrise and the sky changecolors between the branches of the 30 year-old olive tree in the eastcorner of my back yard.

The problem is that in my own garden I never seem to sit very long. Isee a spent bloom that needs deadheading, a weed that sprouted up

where it simply can’t stay. I grab pruners, a trug for collecting bits of leaf and bloom that require tending and Istart! A little clean up, a check of the soil for moisture, and on and on I go. A seat in a garden is my favoriteplace to be yet it is so hard to sit!

When traveling, it can be hard to sit still. After all, traveling implies moving forward. By its very name it encour-ages you to keep moving. It is tempting to scan the map and set your course to find the best route to cover allthe trails to special gardens sites. You check your time, and head out, aiming to fly through every setting so youdon’t miss a thing. Wandering through a garden, following paths, discovering the perfect combination of colorand texture is a must for any visit, yet finding a seat, slowing down, and quieting your thoughts invites sur-prises.

In public gardens there is an array of seats with amazing variety of pleasures to enjoy. So when I travel I seekout a seat in the garden. Benches are the primary form of seating and some are simply better than others. I likea seat with cover, a great tree that can provide shade or a vine-covered arbor ranks high with me. If too, thatseat offers a great view, perhaps over a body of water and beyond, that is a fine quality. Some seats frame theview through architecture that defines a space in the setting. When traveling I don’t have my pruners or mywatering can, I know the gardening work is under someone else’s charge (often greatly assisted by mastergardeners) and as a visitor I am here to simply notice and enjoy all that is around me. I will confess though tooccasionally pulling a weed that I spy.

When I allow myself to find that seat in a garden, I settle in listen intently, lookclosely, and deeply inhale the scent of bloom and earth.

In the Wichita Botanical gardens there is a section of the garden withwrought iron butterfly benches. Seated here you wait for the colorful flyingresidents of the garden to flutter by.

In the Japanese Garden of the Memphis Botanical Garden there is a benchthat allows you to gaze downhill over the water. In front of a brightly paintedred bridge, the ducks and swans swim in the sun. Sitting here brings surprisevisitors as a robin scratches in the soft ground.

In Shreveport, La., at the “Gardens of the American Rose Center” one of the 65designated garden spaces is a privately funded memorial prayer garden. In acircular space several secluded benches are place along the pathway provid-ing a seat with all the best elements. There is shade from a hot Louisiana sun,solitude, a scent of roses and birds in song in the surrounding trees. A centersculpture is surrounded by Rose of Sharon, daylilies and hydrangeas in bloom.

Continued on next page

October 2008 Roots & Shoots 9

The lines “the kiss of the sun for pardon, the song of the birds for mirth” quickly come to mind.

A sense of quiet settles in, senses alert, I unplug from the busyness of life and hear new songs, birds whistle,screech and rat-a-tat-tat. The doves coo, hummingbirds chortle and mockingbirds sing an ever-changing song.A green-black beetle digs in the dirt; the breeze blows aside the leaves toreveal a heart shaped limb in a nearby tree. The family that endowed thisgarden sends a gardener every day just to attend to the loveliness of thisspecial place.

The “Gardens of the American Rose Center” have a similar blooming seasonas here in Maricopa County. A burst of Rose blooms in October, and again inApril is a highlight of the garden. If you aren’t traveling soon to Louisiana youcan enjoy beautiful roses at the Mesa Community College Rose Garden.Mesa’s Rose garden has over 7000 rose bushes I all varieties and colors andthere is a great bench of stone and iron donated by the American Federation ofGarden Clubs in honor of their 50th anniversary, where you can sit a while andenjoy the pleasures of the garden. (PHOTO 4)

Whatever inspires you sitting in a garden will allow you a view that might bemissed if you only keep traveling or tidying your own little garden. Sit down,slow down and find your surprises.

Fall Plant Sale

The University of Arizona Cooperative Extension Maricopa County Master Gardeners are pleased toannounce their Fall Plant Sale on Saturday October 4, 2008, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the University ofArizona Cooperative Extension Office located at 4341 E. Broadway Road in Phoenix.

This is a joint plant sale, in conjunction with the Arizona Cultivar of the California Rare Fruit Growers(AZCRFG), and the Arizona Herb Association (AHA).

Admission is free and presentations by Master Gardeners will provide valuable guidance for gettingyour garden back in shape after our hot, dry summer. Fall is an excellent time for planting and the plantsfor sale have been grown right here in the valley by MGs. Food and refreshments will be available forpurchase.

During the sale, take a tour of our demonstration gardens and attend presentations on the followingtopics:

9:00 – 9:45 a.m. Tropical and Subtropical Fruits in the Valley in the Ocotillo RoomSoil, Sun & Water: Preparing Soil for Fall Gardening in the Palo Verde Room

9:00 – 10:30 a.m. Overseeding Your Winter Lawn at the outdoor turf plots

10:00 – 10:45 a.m. Pomegranates in Arizona in the Ocotillo Room orFall Herb Gardening in the Palo Verde Room

11:00 – 11:45 a.m. Grafting 101 in the Ocotillo RoomGreat Culinary Herbs for Container Gardening in the Palo Verde Room

12:00 – 12:45 p.m. Growing Bananas in Arizona in the Ocotillo RoomFall Vegetable Gardening in the Palo Verde Room

1:00 – 1:45 p.m. Drip Irrigation Basics in the Ocotillo RoomSquare Foot Gardening in the Palo Verde Room

10 Maricopa County Master Gardeners

Weed and Feed at the Herb Demonstration Garden

Photos and text by Jane Lucien-Scholle

I have seen the newsletter invitations to sign for the Weed and Feed – But what isa ‘Weed and Feed’ anyway? With my gimp knee, I didn’t wonder further until myhusband signed up to go last September 6. We usually come as a package so Iknew I was about to find out.

The two acre plot now serving as the Demonstration Herb Garden was given to theArizona Herb Association (AHA) in 1989. It is part of the University of ArizonaExtension property divided into additional demonstration gardens for Vegetables,Tropicals, Bulbs, Children’s, Heirloom Roses, as well as turf grass plots, citrustrees, and a desert trail that turns into a boisterous wildflower display each spring.The balance was sold to commercial businesses which surround this little oasis onBroadway in South Phoenix.

Each garden is maintained by its devotees. The Herb Garden, maintained by theAHA and the adjacent Vegetable Garden by the Master Gardeners, has continuedto grow and change depending on the interests of members and volunteers. The

Herb Garden 180 yards by six feet around the perimeter of the vegetable garden. Naturally they are somewhatintertwined. There are many definitions of what constitutes an herb; one definition is any plant that benefitshumans. An herb plant can be used for culinary, medicinal, cosmetic purposes as well as for dying foods, clothand other goods. Herbs are also grown for artistic, cultural and historical merit. The Herb Demonstration Gar-den has plants in all of these categories divided into ten sections and is a beautiful illustration that herbs can begrown in the low desert with full sun:

Kitchen Garden Alice’s Corner Peace Garden Salsa Garden Desert GardenMedicinal Garden Provence Revisited Male/Female Garden Aromatherapy Garden Dye Garden

Only herbal remedies are used on any pests in the garden and all weeds are removed with human hands.

Today, both Herbies and Master Gardeners (there is a great overlap) and MG interns are out in force to removeweeds, lay down fresh new mulch, plant new seedlings and ensure there is water to every plant. It is 91 de-grees at 9:43 a.m. Heads are down under many-colored sun hats, hands are busy, and tools are clicking andclanking. Over 20 bags of mulch get distributed throughout the garden and two bags of manure around plantsthat need a little extra boost, like the lemongrass and basil. Margaret Storms plants vincas and chamomile inthe Medicinal Garden. Judy Bates, Lee-Ann Aronson, and Lizbeth Hayden plant a whole array of new culinary

plants in the Kitchen Garden including l’itoi onions, French tarragon, flat and curlyparsley, variegated oregano, sages, thymes and basils of the Spicy Globe, Holyand Purple Ruffle varieties.

Over in the Dye Garden, Linda Overby, Donna Lorch and Penny Pugh add a realboost of color with scarlet coreopsis and marigolds, as well as seeds of calendulaand zinnia. A new Spanish lavender called “Hot Pink Coco” and winter savory gointo the Provence Revisited Garden. Dianthus is dotted throughout.

It takes a brave and hardy soul to tackle the enormous, sharp edged vetiver grassand fortunately Larrie Bates is on tap to give it a substantial haircut. Larrie alsodoes a yeoman’s work picking up everyone’s cuttings and weeds. Pam Perry,(didn’t we just see her presenting to MG interns on vegetables?) is everywhere,managing the Master Gardener intern volunteers and, as always, enthusiasticallyoffering useful information. I am admiring the beauty of a plant with tall spires and

Lee Ann ArAronson

Sesame plantContinued on next page

October 2008 Roots & Shoots 11

white florets and Pam explains it is actually sesame – as in sesame seeds. Amazing. Another most welcomeface at this Weed and Feed is clearly David Lopez, back in the Demo garden after his heart surgery, who putsin a yeoman’s effort controlling the licorice root in the Medicinal Garden.

What would any Herb gathering be without Carolyn (President of the AHA) and Mike Hills? Carolynorchestratesall this activity with her characteristic exuberance. She just received her badge for 5 years MGservice and Top 10 Volunteer Hours for 2006. Her brother Mike is a gentle giant with a truly encyclopedicknowledge of horticulture which he shares freely with great wit and humor. Mike, who just celebrated 10 yearsof MG service, is on hand as one of the journeyman who created and sustained this garden since its inceptionalmost twenty years ago. He recalls with a smile:

When we were given the border of the garden to create our herb demonstrationgardens in 1989, it was a mess of sweet potato vines, Bermuda grass, weeds andwild thorny seedling Mexican palo verde trees – a real mess with hard clay soil thathad not had any regular water, fertilizer or mulch nor any tillage for years and years.We used Herbie monies to build the initial raised walls out of thick wood beams andboards, and bought some topsoil and organic soil amendments which we added andtilled in. Then we added an irrigation system, again at our young group’s expense.

What an incredible transformation. Mike outlines two key challenges for the demonstra-tion garden going forward. The first is getting in place a lead volunteer to championeach of the ten sections. (If you would like to further enhance, develop and expand anyone of the sections, this could be the perfect opportunity for you.) The second chal-lenge is keeping every plant clearly labeled. Sunlight fades almost any labelingmethod. There are plans to work with the Desert Botanical Garden to create new plant

labels for the collection. (Any suggestions you have would be gratefully received.)

After a morning of hard work, in traditional Herbie style, a lovely picnic of goodies is rolled out. I ask severalpeople why they volunteer for the Weed and Feed. “We love the people here”, says Larry Bates, “and workingtogether in a garden is just a wonderful experience”. Larry also likes the ‘can do’ approach and said no oneever says they can’t or won’t – everyone just gets on and does whatever needs doing. Larry did not start out asa gardener but followed his wife’s Judy’s passion post-retirement and through her caught the spirit. His wife,Judy, says “the people are so kind” as she opens her basket of cheeses and salami to share. Herbie Lee AnnAronson, (a serious gourmand cook as well as an accomplished Toastmaster, by the way) who has brought herbean and almond pate and fresh mango gazpacho, says she loves to work in the Herb Garden because sheenjoys the people volunteering with her and she learns so much that she can share with others as a MasterGardener. AHA clearly does not easily forget its volunteers; I was quite touched by the memorial to the lateAnne Fischer (May 2005) in the form of a picnic table near the garden.

As a newcomer to the valley, I left with certain awe. Doing something for community, tilling the earth, enjoyingeach other’s company in a love of herbs and earth…. whatever the motivation, these people are doing some-thing quite special. This little piece of our planet is blessed – it gives of Mother Nature’s wonders abundantlyand teaches us equally abundantly through the cycles of life of each season with the grace of volunteers. I cansee why people would want to give to and to share this energy.

The next Weed & Feed is Saturday, October 4th, starting at7:30 a.m. Since that is also the same day as the big plant salein the Extension Office’s parking lot, why not come and pullsome weeds and then treat yourself to some great plants! AHAmembers, along with members of the Rare Fruit GrowersAssociation and Master Gardeners will also be teachingclasses and giving tours of the demonstration gardens. What abusy and fun morning at the Extension! We’d love to see youthere! Bring hand tools, sun protection, water and a dish toshare if you’d like to stay for the “Feed”. No need to RSVP, justcome on out!

Mike Hills

Break Time

12 Maricopa County Master Gardeners

Monsoon 2008: Advice for Tree-Planting

by Jim Potts

The storms of August 2008 caused extensive damage to the urban forest in the southeast part of the Salt RiverValley, but much of the damage caused could have been avoided by following a few simple steps.

First, select a quality tree with good trunk taper, good attachment and spacing of branches, and no root prob-lems associated with being in the container too long. Quality trees should be available from a reputable nurs-ery, and they should never have a problem with you being very vigilant in the selection of your tree.

After you have chosen your new tree, use caution when transporting it home; always support the truck, lay itdown carefully and support the crown and trunk with a soft material such as bags of mulch or rolled up carpet.

Keep the crown out of the wind; if you are transporting it in the bed of a pick up or the trunk of a car wrap thecrown in a burlap tarp or a bed sheet to keep the leaves protected from the hot, dry winds.

Select a location that will fulfill the needs of the tree at maturity; it tree may be small in stature now, but it is veryimportant to know the size at maturity.

Be aware of the root growth patterns, some trees have very aggressive buttress roots and can do substantialdamage to sidewalks and structures.

Avoid planting in grass areas if possible; this promotes shallow root systems and blow-down problems.

Plant the tree correctly. After you have selected your tree and decided on a location its time to put it in theground. Excavate the planting hole twice as wide as the root ball but no deeper, the top of the root flair shouldbe 1.5"-2" above finish grade. Fill the hole with water and allow to drain, the water level should drop at least 1"per hour to insure proper drainage. Carefully remove the tree from the container by laying it on its side, cut thecontainer away from the root ball and carefully set the tree in the planting hole insuring the depth is correc. Donot set the tree in the hole by holding the trunk, completely support the root ball and trunk.

Backfill the hole. Do not amend the soil with mulch or any foreign material, backfill with native soil filling thehole half way and add water to remove any air pockets. Continue backfilling the hole to grade level. Do notbury the root ball any deeper than where the soil line was when the tree was in the container and water again.

Stake the tree. Remove the nursery stake from the trunk if it has one, and support the trunk during this process.Install tree stakes in line with the prevailing wind direction, usually east and west of the tree.

Select two good branches; 1/3 from the top and 1/3 up from the bottom and install cloth tree tie above thebranch to the stake, 4 tie points in total.

Do not draw the ties up tight; allow some movement in the wind to encourage trunk growth.

Provide water to the new tree. Install the irrigation in such a way as to get the proper amount of water to pro-vide for the trees needs while it’s young, and be able to expand it later in the trees development.

When you install the irrigation system, set the water supply close enough to the tree to wet the root ball and thesoil surrounding the tree.

As the tree matures, move the irrigation out to, and just beyond the drip line of the crown, (tips of thebranches,) and increase the duration of water to insure proper water penetration into the root zone, wateringonly often enough to insure good growth and development.

Follow up with preventative maintenance. After the first year of growth you should be able to remove the treestakes, loosen the ties a little at a time to allow the tree to acclimate and build strength.

Monitor the growth habit of the tree removing small problem branches before they become big problems.Crossing and rubbing branches should be removed at planting.

With proper care and commitment, you will have a beautiful tree for years of enjoyment.

October 2008 Roots & Shoots 13

A Workshop Series at Ro Ho En

Japanese Friendship Garden of Phoenix is pleased to host the

2008 Pruning Workshop Series

Japanese Garden Design: Pruning Techniques

For Beginners and Beyond

Workshops run from 8:00 am to 12:00 pm on the Saturdays of October 18 and 25,

2008

Workshops will include handouts, demonstrations, lecture and hands-on

techniques A Certificate of Completion will be awarded for those attending both

workshop sessions

This is not a City of Phoenix sponsored event. Funds for this project were provided by the Urban

and Community Forestry Financial Assistance Program administered through the State of

Arizona Forestry Division Urban & Community Forestry, and the USDA Forest Service.

Japanese Garden Design:

Pruning Techniques for Beginners and Beyond

WHEN: 8:00 am 12:00 pm

October 18 October 25

COST: $60.00 per Workshop

Or $100 for Both Sessions 20% Discount to JFG Members Sessions Free to JFG Volunteers

WHERE: Ro Ho En

1125 N. 3rd Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85004

Call 602.256.3204 to Register www.japanesefriendshipgarden.org

14 Maricopa County Master Gardeners

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 reasonableaccommodation, such as a sign language interpreter, by contacting Kristen Wagner, Program Coordinator, at krwagner@cals.arizona.edu 602-470-8086x311. Requests should be made as early as possible to allow time to arrange the accommodation.

Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension 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.

SATELLITE OFFICES:EAST VALLEY: 480-985-0338 NORTHEAST VALLEY: 480-312-5810 NORTHWEST VALLEY: 623-546-1672Red Mtn. Multi-Generational Center Via Linda Senior Center PORA Office7550 E. Adobe 10440 E Via Linda 13815 Camino del Sol BlvdMesa, AZ 85207 Scottsdale, AZ 85258-6099 Sun City West, AZ 85375Mon. & Thurs. 9:00a.m.-Noon Mon. 9 -12:30 p.m.; Thurs. 9 -4 p.m. Weekdays 9:00a.m.-Noon

MG CONTACT LIST:East Valley Satellite: Wayne Hall ----------------------- 480-507-5422

Carl Rutherford ----------------- 480-325-1469NE Valley Satellite: Debbie Lyding ------------------- 602-789-7377

Linda Belous --------------------- 480-991-4306Linda Thiedke ------------------- 480-614-0150

NW Valley Satellite: Mary Ann Garewal ------------- 623-388-4900Pat Greer ------------------------- 623-915-3337Helen Zinn ------------------------ 623-271-7518

Director at Large: Carol Stuttard 480-551-7291Educational Materials: VacantDemonstration Garden: Pam Perry 602-279-6250MG Support: Cheri Czaplicki 623-975-5397Public Events: VacantPublic Training: Jim Oravetz 623-584-6068

For a complete listing, see the organizational chart under MG Business on the MG Central website

Maricopa County Master Gardeners

Continued on next page

Moths

Bug of the Month by Sue Hakala

There are about 142,000 species of moths in the world, outnumbering butterflies 15 to l. Male moths areacutely attuned to their species’ female’s pheromone as it waifs through the air. Some males have as many as1,700 hairs on each leg with 2,600 olfactory pores on each hair so he can’t miss much. A female moth candraw in males from more than one mile away. Once catching the scent, a male will fly in a zigzag patternhoning in on the source. Upon arriving, the male, in some species, fans his own chemical cocktail over hisintended sweetheart that smells, to her, like her favorite flowers. She judges his acceptability on the quality ofhis smell.

Most moth species feed on toxic plants as caterpillars as a way to make themselves unappetizing to predators.Females search out mates that have the most poison accumulated in their bodies, as the poison will be trans-ferred to the eggs as protection against predators. Males put about 11% of their body mass into the spermpackage, roughly equivalent to a 180-pound man with a 20-pound ejaculate. A female will mate with manymales, but will choose one sperm package and jettison the rest. She lays about 1,000 eggs on plants. Mothsgo through four stages: egg, caterpillar, pupa, and moth.

It’s in the caterpillar stage that mothball-flinging humans most hate moths. Caterpillars are the primary food forsongbirds, and are eaten by everything from shrews to grizzly bears. Parasitic wasps, attracted by the scent ofthe wounded leaves that the caterpillars are feeding on, swoop in and snap up the little eating machines, usingthem as food for their own young. Many caterpillars eat only one plant with egg hatching timed with the plant’sflowering. Many caterpillars mimic the host plant, changing mimic patterns as they grow to continue to blend in.Caterpillars like the most toxic plants the best as the ingestion of the plant toxins make them less attractive topredators. The Florida ornate moth caterpillar feeds on a plant with an alkaloid toxin strong enough to kill acow. Not something birds and other predators will want to try. This undesirability is communicated with bright,colorful (at least to our eyes) markings.

October 2008 Roots & Shoots 15

To defend themselves from ravenous caterpillars, some plants enlist the help of ants to defend them, rewardingthe ants with a sweet secretion. Some caterpillars that favor these plants reward the ants for not eating them byexuding sweet glandular secretions. And so it goes…

The caterpillars are driven by hormones as to when it’s time to spin a cocoon to pupate. First, it will find an out-of-the-way protected spot. Then, spin a silken pad to connect to. Next, it spins the cocoon around itself. Somespecies simply wrap themselves up in a leaf, and any number of other strategies. If you were watching thecocoon all the time, it would seem lifeless except for an occasional twitch. It tries to blend in looking like a deador alive leaf, branch or bark as the days, and in some species, weeks go by.

When it’s time, the cocoon begins to break open at the head, splitting along the back. It can take 20 minutes toseveral hours for the moth to emerge, and for the wings to harden ready for flight.

When metamorphasized into moths, they continue to eat by sipping the nectar of the toxic plants that theychewed on as a caterpillar. Moths just love toxic plants as it makes them so unappealing. Spiders know theirrep as most will cut toxic moths out of their webs and set them free.

Moths are important pollinators. Moths widely disperse and will sip nectar from just about any plant they can. Inthe Sonoran Desert, moths don’t have an exclusive relationship with hardly any plant. Yucca moths are anexception to this.

The small, white yucca moth spends most of its life with yuccas. A female uses her unique mouthparts to gathera pollen ball from yucca anthers. She takes the pollen ball to another yucca plant flower, lays some eggs in theflowers ovaries, and stuffs the pollen ball in. Wa-lah, the yucca is pollinated, and the moth has assurance hercaterpillars will have food in the way of young seeds to eat. Both are entirely dependent on the other for repro-ductive success.

Moths fly at night primarily, it is believed, to avoid birds. They spend their day trying to blend in with their sur-roundings: some mimic dead leaves, lichen, peeling bark or, bird poop. Bats pose a threat to moths so mothshave evolved a defense. They can hear a bat’s echolocation signals from one hundred feet away and can thentake evasive action. Some moths also send out an ultrasonic signal advertising the poisons they’ve picked upas caterpillars saying, “I taste icky, you won’t want me.”

Moths rest with their wings out flat, butterflies closed over their back. It is somewhat comforting to know thatonly the larvae of the Tineidae family like eating wool. Lining sweater drawers with cedar, available in a pack-age at home stores, will put an end to it.

A Personal Note on Moth Mania: It began about sundown during the spring of the El Nino year. I was in PuertoPenasco, Mexico enjoying the after glow of the sunset, when we started noticing many moths in the air. Soonthere were thousands, then tens of thousands. It looked as though the sand was alive as so many were emerg-ing. We went scrambling for the door. The entire house and windows were completely covered by them, yescompletely. We put the light on and saw maybe mil-lions all flying east in a frenzy. The swarm continueduntil we went to bed. We didn’t see any during thenext day, but did see many thousands of stragglersthat night, then, they were gone. Were they looking forlove or migrating? I don’t know.

What I do know is that moths deserve better pressthan they get. Many people recoil in horror if a mothlands on them, but squeal with delight if a butterflydoes the same thing. Moths could benefit from somegood PR, perhaps a moth garden (like butterflieshave) or, a postage stamp, and definitely someecotourism. Moths do pollinate so many plants andfood crops; we should love them more than butterflies.I guess it’s just hard to embrace something that lookslike bird poop.

Dr. Bill May: US Forest Service

Yucca moths

October 2008 Events Calendar Submit events to Karen Sankman

Wed 1 Water Wise Landscaping Class

6:00-7:30 pm, Surprise Community and Senior Center, 15832 N. Hollyhock St, Surprise. Free, Info, Register at London Lacy or (623) 222-7023. Two Master Gardeners, 2 interns are needed to help out. Contact Mary Ann Garewal if you can volunteer.

Wed 1 Potted Plants in the Landscape

6:00-8:30 pm, Granite Reef Senior Center, 1700 N. Granite Reef Rd, Scottsdale. Kirti Mathura teaches the basics of choosing pots and plants, putting them together, and caring for them. Free to Scottsdale residents. Register at (480) 312-5690. Scottsdale Water Conservation

Thu 2 Thursday Mornings in the Garden

Starting between 6:30 and 7 am, 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

Thu 2 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 2 Fall and Winter Color Splashes Workshop

5:30-7:30 pm, Peoria Development & Community Services Bldg, Point of View Room, 9875 N. 85th Ave, Peoria. Speaker: Kirti Mathura. Register, Peoria Water Conservation , (623) 773-7286

Thu 2 Composting

6:00-8:30 pm, Granite Reef Senior Center, 1700 N. Granite Reef Rd, Scottsdale. Tyler Storey talks about desert soils, methods for making and using compost in the home garden. Free to Scottsdale residents. Register at (480) 312-5690. Scottsdale Water Conservation

Thu 2 Pruning Basics 6-8:30 pm, Avondale City Hall, Sonoran Conference Room, 11465 W. Civic Center Drive, Free. Instructor: Cathy Rymer, Arborist and Horticulturist. Register at Esmie Avila or (623) 333-4422 Info

Thu 2 Tree Selection and Placement

6-9 pm, Desert Botanical Garden. $30/Mem, $38 Non-mem. Instructor: Arborist John Eisenhower. Info and Register or (480) 481-8146

Thu 2 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 2 Arizona Herb Association General Meeting

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

Thu 2 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 3 Glendale Xeriscape Demonstration Garden Volunteer Maintenance

7:30-9:30 am, on the grounds of Glendale Main Library, 5959 W. Brown St., next to Sahuaro Ranch Park. Meet at white shed on south end of parking lot. Info, RSVP to Joanne Toms (623) 930-3535

Fri 3 Main Office Diagnostic Clinic

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

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

Fri 3

Desert Designers Monthly Meeting

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

Fri 3 and 10 Designing Hardscapes: Walkways, Walls and More

6-9 pm, Desert Botanical Garden. $60/Mem, $75 Non-mem. The pros and cons of concrete, stone, brick, adobe, tile, wood, metal, etc will be reviewed. Info and Register or (480) 481-8146

Sat 4 Arizona Herb Association Weed and Feed

8:00 am, Maricopa County Co. Ex, 4341 E. Broadway Rd., Phoenix. Everyone is welcome! Fun, hands-on experience. Carolyn Hills, AZ Herb Assoc

Sat 4 Perennial Divide Plant Sale and Exchange

9 am-2 pm, Maricopa County Co. Ex, 4341 E. Broadway Rd., Phoenix. Info, Mike or (480) 695-2053, Amber or (623) 764-8041

Sat 4 Plant Materials Workshop 9 am-1 pm, South Tempe Police Substation, 8201 S. Hardy Drive, Tempe. Ron Dinchak talks about plants suitable for the desert. Info, Register at Richard Bond or (480) 350-2627

Sat 4 Master Gardener Q&A Session

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

Sat 4 Tin Can Flowers 10:30 am, Southwest Gardener/Info , 2809 N. 15th Ave, Phoenix, $28, Register at (602) 279-9510. Learn to use aluminum cans to make decorative flowers.

Sat 4 Composting in the SW Desert

10:30 am-noon, Phoenix Public Market Mtg Room, 721 N. Central Donation: $10. Instructor: Jim Muir. Info, Jennifer Wadsworth or (602) 252-8977, RSVP at Phoenix Permaculture Guild

Sat 4 Bonsai of Scottsdale 1:30 pm, Via Linda Senior Center, 10440 N. Via Linda, Scottsdale. Pat Mitchell or (480) 575-5649

Sun 5 Making Bokashi-Microbial innoculator and stimulant for soil

10:30-noon, Dolce Verde, 2017 N. Laurel Ave, Phoenix. Donation: $10. Instructor: Jennifer Wadsworth. Info, Jennifer Wadsworth or (602) 252-8977, RSVP at Phoenix Permaculture Guild

Mon 6 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 6 Scottsdale Garden Club Monthly Meeting

11:30 am, McCormick Ranch Golf Club, 7500 E. McCormick Pkwy, Scottsdale, $20 for lunch/program on plumerias. RSVP Karen Kelley or (602) 942-4848, Scottsdale Garden Club

Mon 6 and Mon 13

Environmental Challenges of Desert Gardening

6-9 pm, Desert Botanical Garden. $60/Mem, $75 Non-mem Learn how to work with the unique soils, temperature extremes, bi-modal rainy seasons that impact your plants. Info and Register or (480) 481-8146

Mon 6 Valley of the Sun Gardeners Meeting

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

Mon 6 Orchid Society of AZ Monthly Meeting

6:45-8:45 pm, Encanto Park Club House, 2605 N. 15th Ave, Phoenix. Julie Rathbun or (602) 843-0223. Orchid Society of Arizona

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

Tue 7 Master Gardener Training Class: Citrus

9:30 am-12:30 pm, Fountain Hills Community Center at 13001 N. La Montana Drive, Fountain Hills. Speaker: James Truman, Farm Manager of U of A Citrus Agriculture Center

Tue 7 Citrus Greening/Asian Citrus Psyllid Seminar

10 am-noon, Arizona Department of Lands Auditorium-Lower Level, 1616 W. Adams St, Phoenix. Free. Dr. Tim Gottwald, USDA Agricultural Research Service will talk about citrus greening disease and its impact on the Florida citrus industry, and its potential movement towards AZ. RSVP to Mike Wallace or (602) 542-0950.

Tue 7 Tuesday Afternoon 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 7 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 7 Beyond the Basics-Water Efficiency in the Home

6:30-9 pm, Town of Gilbert Public Works, 525 N. Lindsay Rd, Register Online or (480) 503-6098, Info

Tue 7 Pruning and Maintaining Your Landscape Workshop

6:30-8:45 pm, Chandler Senior Center, 202 E. Boston Street, Chandler. Cathy Rymer talks about plant selection, planting, staking, pruning. Free to Chandler utility customers. Register at (480) 782-3580, Chandler Water Conservation

Tue 7 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 7 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 .

Wed 8 Master Gardener Update

10 am, Japanese Friendship Garden at Margaret Hance Park, 1125 N. 3rd Ave. Carpoolers meet at MCCE office, 4341 E. Broadway Rd at 9 am to leave by 9:20 am. $3/person at the gate for a guided tour. RSVP so Deb can get a headcount as soon as possible. Deb Sparrow , Japanese Friendship Garden

Wed 8 Bright Nights Workshop

6:00-8:30 pm, Granite Reef Senior Center, 1700 N. Granite Reef Rd, Scottsdale. Kirti Mathura reveals the secrets of creating an enchanting night garden. Free to Scottsdale residents. Register at (480) 312-5690. Scottsdale Water Conservation

Wed 8 Scottsdale Rose Society Monthly Meeting

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

Thu 9 Thursday Mornings in the Garden

Starting between 6:30 and 7 am, 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

Thu 9 NE Valley Satellite Diagnostic Clinic

10 am-noon, Via Linda Senior Center, 10440 E. Via Linda, Scottsdale (480) 312-5810, Linda Thiedke. Bring plant or pest samples for ID and advice.

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

Thu 9 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 9 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 9 Landscaping for Small Spaces Workshop

5:30-7:30 pm, Peoria Development & Community Services Bldg, Point of View Room, 9875 N. 85th Ave, Peoria. Speaker: Kirti Mathura. Register, Peoria Water Conservation , (623) 773-7286

Thu 9 All About Grass 6:30-8:30 pm, Glendale Main Library, Large Meeting Room, 5959 W. Brown St, Glendale. Learn to care for and maintain your winter lawn. Register (623) 930-3760, Glendale Water Conservation. Free

Thu 9 Mesa 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 9

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 10 Main Office Diagnostic Clinic

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

Fri 10 through 26

Boyce Thompson Arboretum Fall Plant Sale

8 am- 5 pm, Boyce Thompson Arboretum, 37615 U.S. Highway 60, Superior, AZ.

Fri 10 Washington Garden Club 9:30 am, Valley Garden Center, 1809 N. 15th Ave, Phoenix. Orvalita Hopkins

Sat 11 Salad Bowl Gardening 10:30 am, Southwest Gardener/Info , 2809 N. 15th Ave, Phoenix, $55. Pam Perry will show you how to grow salad greens/herbs in a pot. You will take home a salad bowl garden. Register at (602) 279-9510.

Sat 11 Fruit Trees in the Desert 10:30-noon, The Urban Farm, 6750 N. 13th Place, Phoenix. $10 Donation, RSVP at Phoenix Permaculture Guild or Jennifer Wadsworth (602) 252-8977 Info

Sat 11 Phoenix Pond Society Meeting

9-10 am, home in Chandler. Contact Tom Briggs at (480) 510-2403 for info and address. Phoenix Pond Society.

Sat 11 Drip Irrigation Design, Install, Maintenance

9 am-1 pm, South Tempe Police Substation, 8201 S. Hardy Drive, Tempe. Ron Dinchak talks about drip irrigation. Info, Register at Richard Bond or (480) 350-2627

Sat 11 Fall Herbs, Vegetables, Flowers

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

Sat 11 Raised Planter Beds 11-noon, Gardener's World, 3401 E. Baseline Rd., Phoenix, Reservations at (602) 437-0700, ext. 120 or #2

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

Tue 14 Desert Sun African Violet Society Meeting

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

Tue 14 Tuesday Afternoon 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 14 Drip Irrigation Design and Installation

6:00-8:30 pm, Granite Reef Senior Center, 1700 N. Granite Reef Rd, Scottsdale. Jeff Lee teaches basic irrigation layout, zoning, pipe sizing. Free to Scottsdale residents. Register at (480) 312-5690. Scottsdale Water Conservation

Tue 14 Plant Care and Maintenance for Desert Landscapes

6:30-9 pm, Utilities Dept. Bldg, Community Room, 640 N. Mesa Drive, Mesa. Free to Mesa Residents. Register by e-mail or (480) 644-4400. Info: Donna DiFrancesco at (480) 644-3334

Tue 14, 21, and 28

Southwest Landscaping: Three-Class Series

6:30-8:45 pm, Chandler Senior Center, 202 E. Boston Street, Chandler. Ron Dinchak teaches the concepts of design, planning for small spaces, desert plant palette, plant selection. Free to Chandler utility customers. Register at (480) 782-3580, Chandler Water Conservation

Tue 14 West Valley Rose Society Meeting

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

Tue 14 Sonoran Desert Iris Society Monthly Meeting

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

Tue 14 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 14 Master Gardener Training Class: Native American Vegetable Gardening

9:30 am-12:30 pm, Fountain Hills Community Center at 13001 N. La Montana Drive, Fountain Hills. Speaker: Frank Martin, Master Gardener and Owner of Crooked Sky Farms

Wed 15 A Taste of the Sonoran Desert…and More!

6-8 pm, Desert Botanical Garden, $20/Mem, $25/Non-mem. Eric Garton talks about the amazing uses of desert plants. Sample desert foods. Info/Register Online or (480) 481-8146

Wed 15 Plant Selection Workshop

6:00-8:30 pm, Granite Reef Senior Center, 1700 N. Granite Reef Rd, Scottsdale. Cathy Rymer talks about the right plant for the right place. Free to Scottsdale residents. Register at (480) 312-5690. Scottsdale Water Conservation

Wed 15 Gifts from the Garden with Doreen Pollack

6:30-8:00 pm, Downtown Phoenix Public Market Meeting Room, 721 N. Central Ave, Phoenix. $10 Donation, RSVP at Phoenix Permaculture Guild or Jennifer Wadsworth (602) 252-8977 Info

Wed 15 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 15 Phoenix Chrysanthemum Society Monthly Meeting

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

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

Thu 16 Thursday Mornings in the Garden

Starting between 6:30 and 7 am, 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

Thu 16 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 16 Desert Valley Orchid Society Meeting

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

Thu 16 Valley of the Sun Plumeria Society Meeting

7 pm, Valley Garden Center, 1809 N. 15th Avenue, Phoenix, Valley of the Sun Plumeria Society

Fri 17, 18, 19

Desert Botanical Garden Fall Plant Sale

7am-5pm Fri (members only) and Sat, 9am-5pm Sun, Desert Botanical Garden

Fri 17 Main Office Diagnostic Clinic

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

Sat 18 Mesa East Valley Rose Society Pruning

8 am meeting/ refreshments, pruning from 9-noon, Mesa Community College Rose Garden, 1833 W. Southern Ave, Mesa. Carol Poe or (480) 895-7793, Mesa East Valley Rose Society

Sat 18 and 25

Japanese Garden Design: Pruning Techniques for Beginners and Beyond

8 am-noon, Japanese Friendship Garden, Ro Ho En, 1125 N. 3rd Ave, Phoenix. $60 for one workshop or $100 for both days. Workshops include handouts, demonstrations, lectures, hands-on techniques. Register at (602) 256-3204. Japanese Friendship Garden, Info: Michael Apostolos or (602) 432-5070

Sat 18 World Water Festival

9 am-1 pm, Rio Salado Habitat Restoration Area, 2439 S. Central Ave, Phoenix. This is a rehabilitated habitat with demonstration ponds, a reservoir, and wetland ponds with miles of trails. The festival celebrates the anniversary of the Clean Water Act. Free. Info. If you can volunteer, contact Park Ranger Liz Smith or (602) 262-6863

Sat 18 Desert Sun African Violet Society Meeting

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

Sat 18 Fruit Trees in the Desert 10:30-noon, Downtown Phoenix Public Market Meeting Room, 721 N. Central Ave, Phoenix. $10 Donation, RSVP at Phoenix Permaculture Guild or Jennifer Wadsworth (602) 252-8977 Info

Sat 18 Ask a Master Gardener 10:30-12:30 pm, Civic Center Library, 11350 W. Civic Center Drive, Avondale. Bring plant or pest samples for ID and advice. Tish Carpenter

Sat 18 Gardens at Carefree Town Center Seminar

9:30-noon, Town Council Chambers at Carefree Town Hall in the U.S. Post Office Building at 100 Easy Street. Free. Topic: Thrashers, Thrushes and Towhees, Oh, My! by Cathy Wise, Environmental Educator at Audubon Arizona; Naturalist. Sue Plosker (480) 513-9765

Sat 18 Bonsai of Scottsdale 1:30 pm, Via Linda Senior Center, 10440 N. Via Linda, Scottsdale. Pat Mitchell or (480) 575-5649

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

Sat 18 Valley of the Sun Plumeria Society Meeting

5 pm, Check website or contact Michele for location. Valley of the Sun Plumeria Society, Michele or (480) 544-2388

Sun 19 Trees of Arizona Tour 1:30-3:30 pm, Boyce Thompson Arboretum, 37615 U.S. Highway 60, Superior, AZ. Take a guided tour and learn about trees that grow in AZ.

Tue 21 Master Gardener Training Class: Plant Pathology, Problem ID

9:30 am-12:30 pm, Fountain Hills Community Center at 13001 N. La Montana Drive, Fountain Hills. Speaker: Terry Mikel

Tue 21 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 21 Tuesday Afternoon 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 21 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 21 Rejuvenate Your Landscape Workshop

6:00-8:30 pm, Granite Reef Senior Center, 1700 N. Granite Reef Rd, Scottsdale. Judy Mielke presents design ideas and tips to update the mature landscape. Free to Scottsdale residents. Register at (480) 312-5690. Scottsdale Water Conservation

Tue 21 Pruning Trees 6-9 pm, Desert Botanical Garden. $30/Mem, $38 Non-mem. Instructor: Arborist John Eisenhower. Info and Register or (480) 481-8146

Tue 21 Phoenix Rose Society Meeting

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

Tue 21 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 .

Wed 22 Bold and Beautiful Accent Plants

6:00-8:30 pm, Granite Reef Senior Center, 1700 N. Granite Reef Rd, Scottsdale. Mary Irish talks about adding impact and color using agaves, cacti, and succulents. Free to Scottsdale residents. Register at (480) 312-5690. Scottsdale Water Conservation

Wed 22 Fruit Trees in the Desert 6:30-8 pm, Downtown Phoenix Public Market Meeting Room, 721 N. Central Ave, Phoenix. $10 Donation, RSVP at Phoenix Permaculture Guild or Jennifer Wadsworth (602) 252-8977 Info

Thu 23 Thursday Mornings in the Garden

Starting between 6:30 and 7 am, 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

Thu 23 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

Thu 23 Landscape Watering Class

6-8 pm, Surprise Community and Senior Center, 15832 N. Hollyhock St, Surprise. Free, Info, Register at London Lacy or (623) 222-7023. Two MGs , 2 interns with irrigation timer knowledge are needed to help out. Contact Mary Ann Garewal if you can volunteer.

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

Thu 23 Landscaping for Small Spaces

6-8:30 pm, Avondale City Hall, Sonoran Conference Room, 11465 W. Civic Center Drive, Free. Instructor: Kirti Mathura, Horticulturist. Register at Esmie Avila or (623) 333-4422 Info

Thu 23 Irrigation Timer, Clock, Controller Workshop

6:00-8:30 pm, Granite Reef Senior Center, 1700 N. Granite Reef Rd, Scottsdale. Bill Casenhiser will show how to adjust and set an irrigation clock during this hands-on workshop. Free to Scottsdale residents. Register at (480) 312-5690. Scottsdale Water Conservation

Thu 23 Desert Vegetable Gardening for Beginners

6-9 pm, Desert Botanical Garden. $32/Mem, $40 Non-mem. Instructor: Mary Irish. Info and Register online or (480) 481-8146

Fri 24 Main Office Diagnostic Clinic

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

Fri 24, 25, 26

Great Pumpkin Festival Desert Botanical Garden

9am-noon Fri, 9am-3pm Sat, Sun, Desert Botanical Garden. Take a hayride to the pumpkin patch where children 12 and under can choose their own free pumpkin.

Sat 25 Design Charrette 9 am-noon, Charrette at a Gilbert home. Reserve at Carol Parrott or (602) 438-4003.

Sat 25 Home Depot: Green Awareness/Energy Conservation Event

9 am-3 pm, Home Depot, 5902 W. Peoria Ave, Glendale. Contact Mary Ann Garewal if you can volunteer.

Sat 25 What to do in Your Garden in November

10:30-noon, Downtown Phoenix Public Market Meeting Room, 721 N. Central Ave, Phoenix. $10 Donation, RSVP at Phoenix Permaculture Guild or Jennifer Wadsworth (602) 252-8977 Info

Sat 25 Fall Herbs, Vegetables, Flowers

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

Sat 25 Raised Planter Beds 11-noon, Gardener's World, 3401 E. Baseline Rd., Phoenix, Reservations at (602) 437-0700, ext. 120 or #2

Sat 25 Glendale Xeriscape Demonstration Garden Volunteer Maintenance

7:30-10:30 am, on the grounds of Glendale Main Library, 5959 W. Brown St., next to Sahuaro Ranch Park. Meet at white shed on south end of parking lot. Info, RSVP to Joanne Toms (623) 930-3535

Sun 26, Nov 2, and 9

Native Plants-The Elegant Solution

1-4 pm, Desert Botanical Garden. $75/Mem, $95 Non-mem Info and Register or (480) 481-8146

Sun 26 Central Arizona Cactus and Succulent Society Meeting

2 pm, Wildflower Pavilion at Desert Botanical Garden. Annual Silent Auction. Central Arizona Cactus and Succulent Society Judy Braun-Brody at (480) 481-8129

Mon 27, Nov 3, and 12 Design Basics 6-9 pm, Desert Botanical Garden. $75/Mem, $95 Non-mem An

introduction to design concepts. Info and Register or (480) 481-8146

Tue 28 Master Gardener Training Class: Final and Graduation

9:30 am-12:30 pm, Fountain Hills Community Center at 13001 N. La Montana Drive, Fountain Hills.

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

Tue 28 Tuesday Afternoon 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 28 Irrigation Maintenance, Troubleshooting, Repair

6:00-8:30 pm, Granite Reef Senior Center, 1700 N. Granite Reef Rd, Scottsdale. Instructor: Jeff Lee. Free to Scottsdale residents. Register at (480) 312-5690. Scottsdale Water Conservation

Wed 29 Landscape Plants for Small Spaces

6:30-8:30 pm, Glendale Main Library, Auditorium, 5959 W. Brown St. Glendale. Learn to create an exciting landscape with interesting plants for small spaces. Register (623) 930-3760, Glendale Water Conservation. Free

Thu 30 Thursday Mornings in the Garden

Starting between 6:30 and 7 am, 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

Thu 30 Question and Answer Session by Master Gardeners

6-8:30 pm, Avondale City Hall, Sonoran Conference Room, 11465 W. Civic Center Drive. Free. Get answers to your questions on plants, trees, turf, watering, and irrigation. Register at Esmie Avila or (623) 333-4422 Info

Fri 31 Main Office Diagnostic Clinic

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

November

Sat 1 Metro Tech Fall Garden Festival

8 am-2 pm, Metro Tech HS, 1900 W. Thomas Road, Phoenix. Presentations by Master Gardener’s will help get your garden back in shape after a hot, dry summer. Mary Throop

Sat 1 Walk and Talk in the Garden with Mary Irish

8-9:15 am, Glendale Xeriscape Demonstration Garden, 5959 W. Brown St, Glendale, south entrance of the Glendale Library. Register (623) 930-3760, Glendale Water Conservation. Free

Sat 1 Cactus Care 101

9:15-10:30 am, Glendale Xeriscape Demonstration Garden, 5959 W. Brown St, Glendale, south entrance of the Glendale Library. Learn about proper cacti and succulent care. Register (623) 930-3760, Glendale Water Conservation. Free

Sat 1 Pruning of Trees and Shrubs

10:30-11:45 am, Glendale Xeriscape Demonstration Garden, 5959 W. Brown St, Glendale, south entrance of the Glendale Library. Learn proper timing and techniques for pruning your trees and shrubs. Register (623) 930-3760, Glendale Water Conservation. Free

Tue 4 Drip Irrigation Installation Workshop

6:00-8:45 pm, Chandler Senior Center, 202 E. Boston Street, Chandler. Instructor: Jeff Lee. Free to Chandler utility customers. Register at (480) 782-3580, Chandler Water Conservation

Wed 5, 12 Caring for Your Desert Garden

6-9 pm, Desert Botanical Garden. $60/Mem, $75 Non-mem. Learn about installing and care for desert plants. Info and Register or (480) 481-8146

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