Friday, January 13th, 2012

10:30 Vegetable & Flower Gardening with Pam Perry
We can successfully plant and harvest vegetables every month of the year here. Come learn some of the secrets to a successful, colorful vegetable garden, which includes flowers to attract pollinators, for cutting and just plain fun.

11:45 Growing Tomatoes 101 with Pam Perry
A tomato planted in February will bare sun ripen fruit May through June and perhaps into July. Learn how to select and grow tomatoes in our desert climate.

1:00 Tree Selection, Planting & Care with Carl Rutherford
The following topics will be presented: deciding on the right tree for you, selecting your tree at a nursery, planting and initial care, watering, and caring for sick trees and frost damage.

2:15 Pruning Trees with Carl Rutherford
This easy to understand presentation for home owners will cover: reasons to prune, general rules of pruning, specific techniques, subordination & common mistakes in pruning.

3:30 How to Water Your Yard with David Haase
Learn how to properly water outdoor trees, shrubs, and lawns to keep them healthy and beautiful by using water efficiently. You will receive a copy of the Landscape Watering by the Numbers: A Guide for the Arizona Desert.

4:45 Citrus Selection & Care with David Haase
Best practices for success with citrus in the low desert; selection, planting, watering, fertilization, pruning, and pest management will be covered.

Saturday, January 14th, 2012

10:30 Rose Selection, Planting, & Care 101 with Chuck McGoldrick
Roses provide splendid color during the months of March to June and October to February. January and February are the best time to plant roses. Chuck will give you tips on choosing roses to plant, how to plant them and basic rose care.

11:45- 4 weeks to a New Spring Garden with Doreen Pollack
Learn how to create a garden for the spring or summer with these easy steps. Garden placement, soil preparation and knowing what to plant will help ensure a successful garden. Spreading the gardens tasks over a series of weeks will make the work easier on your back!

1:00 To Prune or Not to Prune Trees & Shrubs with Lenora Stewart
Improper pruning of trees & shrubs will weaken plants and can look hideous. Learn the reasons for or not, how to, and when to prune to have healthy, good looking plants. Rejuvenating and salvage sheared shrubs will also be covered.

2:15 Composting with Jo Setliff
Learn the basics of backyard composting, how to reduce your contributions to the waste stream and how to generate the “black gold” the gardener pays real money for!

3:30 Butterflies and How to Attract them to Your Yard with Adriane Grimaldi
Arizona has fantastic array of butterfly species! Learn about the lifecycle of these amazing insects, from egg, to caterpillar, to chrysalis, to butterfly. Find out what plants you need as nectar plants to attract butterflies to your yard. The class includes tips on where to see butterflies in Arizona, suggested books for learning more about butterfly gardening and hands-on butterfly examples. Handouts are provided.

4:45 Winter Lawn Care with Sharon Dewey
Topics will include how to water properly and efficiently, fertilize, and mow to have a beautiful, healthy lawn. What to do when for a successful transition from winter ryegrass to bermudagrass will also be covered. Includes “At a Glance Turf Care Guide” handout.

Sunday, January 15th, 2012

10:30 Selection & Care of Fruit & Nut Trees with Debora Moritz
Many delicious fruits and nuts grow well in the low desert. Our focus will be primarily on the planting, pruning, fertilization and irrigation of fruit and nut tree varieties that have been proven successful in the low desert. For the more adventurous gardener we will also cover fruiting vines and subtropical fruits that can be grown here.

11:45 Agaves/Aloes and More with Debora Moritz
Debora will share some succulent solutions for your arid landscape challenges. It will be an overview of some of the huge array of alternatives provided by succulents in your landscape. Consider some striking plants that are easy to grow and will adapted to our low desert environment.

1:00 Soil Preparation for Herbs, Vegetables & Flowers with Olivett Aviso
When planting non-desert plants, particularly herbs, vegetables & flowers it is important to add soil amendments and work our soils. Olivett will help you to understand the what, the how and the why.

2:15 Great Yard! with Jo Cook
Get to know 10 great, low water use plants as well as planting guidelines, shade, wildlife, pruning and choosing the right plant for the right place.

3:30 Winter Lawn Care with Sharon Dewey
Topics will include how to water properly and efficiently, fertilize, and mow to have a beautiful, healthy lawn. What to do when for a successful transition from winter ryegrass to bermudagrass will also be covered. Includes “At a Glance Turf Care Guide” handout.