June/July 2003 MASTER GARDENER JOURNAL University of Arizona Cooperative Extension Maricopa County from ME to Y O U Master Gardeners Are Making a Difference
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE: 6 Children Know Once They Grow 8 Landscaping Responsibly 12 Summer Corn: ATempting Tradition 16 Going to Bat for Bats 18 The Prickly Pear: Handle with Care! 22 Tra veling Garde n e r : Summers Past Far m INSIDE THIS ISSUE Master Gardener Journal From Me to You: Master Gardeners are Making a Difference 3 Calendar of Events 4 Things to Expect & Do 5 Children Know Once They Grow 6 Better Landscape Design: Landscaping Responsibly 8 Special Feature: Of Blue Skies and Brilliant Sunsets 11 Computer Corner 11 A Bountiful Garden: Summer Corn, ATempting Tradition 12 Creature Comforts: Going to Bat for Bats 16 Ask a Gardener: Underappreciated Desert Trees 17 Meet the Natives: The Prickly Pear, Handle with Care! 18 Neophyte Nook: Birds in the Garden 20 Summer Tree Care: Watering & Plant Care Tips for Summer Sizzle 21 Garden-Smart Tips 21 The Traveling Gardener: Summers Past 22 Word Wise 23 Maricopa County Master Gardeners: Cultivating Plants,People & Communities since 1980 Master Garden volunteers are trained by University of Arizona faculty and staff during a 17-week course. Th e y provide educa- tional leadership to the community with res e a r ch-based horticulture knowledge.Volunteers promote efficient use of wat e r , fe r - ti l i z e r s , and pesticides, and pres e r vation of our desert envi ro n m e n t . Ed i t o r : Candice Sherrill, [email protected] Co p y Editors:Vicki Bundy, v i c k i 2 5 0 1 @ c o x . n e t ,B a r b a ra Hamilton, [email protected] De s i g n / L a you t : Donna A t wo o d ,a t wooddesign.com Web s i t e : Jo Cook, he m i s p h e re s i n t e r n e t . c o m The Master Gardener Jou r n a l , published 6 times a year by Maricopa County Master Garde n e r s , is printed on rec ycled paper under the direction of the Maricopa County Cooperative Extension Office, 4341 E. Bro a d way Rd., Ph o e n i x , AZ 85040-8807. Phone 602-470-8086 Ext. 30 1 . Fax 602-470-8092. Hours: 8 a.m.-5 p. m .w e e k d ay s . Home page: http://ag.arizona.edu/maricopa/garde n / Subscriptions: Available to the public for $18 for 6 issues.Rate for active Master Gardeners $15 or free online at http://ag.arizona.edu/maricopa/garden/html/pubs/mgjournal.htm.Send name,mailing address,and a check payable to University of Arizona.Mail to: Maricopa County Cooperative Extension, ATTN: MG Journal Subscriptions,4341 E.Broadway Rd.,Phoenix,AZ 85040-8807. Northwest Valley Satellite location: Property Owners & Residents Association (PORA) Office 13815 Camino del Sol Blvd.,Sun City West,AZ 85375.Phone 623-546-1672.Hours: 9 a.m.-1 p.m.Monday-Friday. East Valley Satellite location: East Mesa Multigenerational Center 7550 E.Adobe Rd.,Mesa,AZ 85207.Phone 480-985-0338.Hours: 9 a.m.-noon,Mondays and Thursdays. Northeast Valley Satellite location: Via Linda Senior Center 10440 E. Via Linda,Scottsdale,AZ 85258.Phone 480-312-5810.Hours: 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Tuesdays and Thursdays. Urban Horticulture Staff: Lucy K.Bradley, Extension Agent,602-470-8086 Ext.323,[email protected] Kathleen Moore,Instructional Specialist,602-470-8086 Ext.306,[email protected] Kelly Young,Program Coordinator, 602-470-8086 Ext.311, [email protected] Trade names given herein are supplied with the understanding that no discrimination is intended by the University of Arizona and no endorsement or criticism of similar products is implied. Persons with a disability ma y request a reasonable accommodation, such as a sign language interpret e r , at all events sponsored by the University of Ar i z o n a . Call 602-470-8086. Requests should be made as early as possible to allow time for arran g e m e n t s . Cover Photos: (clockwise from top left) Xeriscape and Prickly Pear by Candice Sherrill, Kid’s Garden courtesy Cooperative Extension, Indian Corn by Donna Atwood Lucy Bradley,Extension Agent,Urban Horticulture Page 2 June/July 2003 MASTER GARDENER JOURNAL University of Arizona Cooperative Extension Maricopa County FROM ME TO Y O U Master Gardeners are Making a Difference by Lucy K. Bradley, Extension Agent, of Nutrition Services to bring 543 Arizona Community Tree Council. Urban Horticulture students from 10 schools to the • Working Group Grant - Jun i o r Extension Office Outdoor Learning Master Gardener Statewide Trai n i n g , ith over 3 million people in Center for a Five-A- Day/ G a rd e n $5 , 7 3 1 , University of Ar i z o n a WMaricopa County, a large per- Nutrition Prog ra m . “The kids love d Co o p e r ative Extension. centage of them newcomers to the the hands-on experience and I was • Arizona Department of Education, So n o r an Desert, the need for public glad that they were able to learn $5 , 5 0 0 , Pr i n t i n g , Pos t a g e , education reg a r ding appropriate selec- about plants in a new setting. Th e Re g i s t r ation Pac k e t s . ti o n , placement and care of plants is trip was really well orga n i z e d . ” • National Junior Master Garde n e r tre m e n d o u s . The Master Gardener pro- (Anna Shetty, 3r d grade teacher, Of f i c e , $9 9 0 , to sponsor Award s . gr am seeks to improve the health of Hamilton Elementary School • Arizona Department of Health plants and people, while prom o t i n g 11 / 1 / 0 2 ) . Se rv i c e s , $5 0 0 , to Underwrite env i r onmental responsibility in the gar- • Planned Interpretive Trail: Began to Sp e a k e r . de n . This includes the efficient use of cr eate an envi r onmental education • World Hunger Ecumenical Ar i z o n a wat e r , fe r t i l i z e r s , and pesticides, and the in t e r p r etive trail based on wat e r , Task Forc e , $2 0 0 , to sponsor speaker. reduction of green was t e . pl a n t , and nitrogen cyc l e s . A hearty and sincere thanks to each of • Enhanced the Youth Gardening Web YOUTH GARDENING/ you who have had a part in this signifi- Si t e . GR O WING AWAR E N E S S cant and impressive group of accom- • Supported the Youth Gardening List Maricopa County Master Garde n e r s pl i s h m e n t s . I look forwar d to all we will Se rv e , which enables 115 subscribers make a difference by working to continue to achieve in 2003. ■ connected with youth gardens to in c r ease the knowledge, skills and sh a r e information and find answers mo t i v ation of teachers, p a re n t s ,a d m i n- to their questions. is t ra t o r s , and community members to • Cr eated and maintained a database (1) manage effective, sustainable you t h of school gardening contacts: We and community gardens and (2) use continue to maintain and expand a the gardens as a tool for experiential “Of all human activities, database of 1,800 orga n i z a t i o n s , learning of life skills (including health ag e n c i e s , sc h o o l s , and individuals apart from the procreation and nutrition, res p o n s i b i l i t y , cr i t i c a l in volved with youth garde n i n g th i n k i n g , planning and much more) , of children, gardening is the ef f o r t s , and shared res o u r ces and academic subjects, and envi ro n m e n t a l expertise to make these prog ra m s most optimistic and hopeful. st e ward s h i p . ex c e l . IN 2002, MASTER GARDENERS: The gardener is by defini- • Responded to 455 individual phone, GRANTS AND GIFTS RECEIVED: tion one who plans for and mail, email, and in-person requests. • Digging Deeper - Statewide You t h believes and trusts in a • Co o r dinated annual Youth and Ga r dening Training Institute, Community Gardening Conferen c e $100,326 USDA via Ar i z o n a future, whether in the short for 250 participants.“This was SO Department of Education. much more than I expected - What a • Food Stamp Matching Funds, or the longer term.” t re a t ! ! ”( S u rv ey Response 2002). $9 8 , 9 8 0 , Arizona Nutrition Networ k . — SUSAN HILL • Taught 60 participants in wor k s h o p s • Env i r onmental License Plate Fund, and trai n i n g . $3 0 , 0 0 0 , State Land Department. •Par t n e r ed with Maricopa County • Master Gardener Tour - Real Department of Public Health Office Ga r dens for Real Pe o p l e ,$ 8 , 0 3 0 , University of Arizona Cooperative Extension Maricopa County MASTER GARDENER JOURNAL June/July 2003 Page 3 P L A N N I N G A H E A D Calendar of Events JU N E , 20 0 3 showcase of gardens and ens into a rich, sweet syrup.