Gardening in Alaska presents big challenges, whether it's the extra effort in finding plants tough enough to survive our Zone 2-4 climate, communicating with like-minded Alaska gardeners, or keeping up with the latest trends, issues and solutions. We'll try to help with that. We'll also tour gardens from Homer to Anchorage to Wasilla to Willow whenever we get the chance, and post the best garden photos around. Presenting a forum about cold-weather gardening and for cold-weather gardeners is what we are all about. We hope you'll join us on the Talk Dirt garden blog.
Photographer and gardener Fran Durner (fdurner@adn.com) writes the blog.
A member of the Garden Writers Hall of Fame, Jeff writes a weekly column on gardening in Alaska.
RECENT COLUMNS
Timelapse garden through a season
Splitting dahlias with Amelia Walsh
Deadheading and seed collecting
Harvesting herbs from your garden
Bugs of Summer: The good, the bad and the squishy
Municipal Greenhouse Gardeners
Alaska Peony Growers Association
Alaska Society of Outdoor and Nature Photographers
Alaska Farmers' Market Association
Alaska Natural Heritage Program
Alaska Plant Materials Center:
Evergreen Nursery and Garden Center
Fairbanks Georgeson Botanical Garden
Palmer Hay Flats State Game Refuge
Pyrahs Pioneer Peak U-Pick Farm
South Anchorage Farmers Market
Review: The NEW Low-Maintenance Garden - 11/22/2009 5:20 pm
Reflections of the past summer - 11/18/2009 4:46 pm
Holiday flower show warms the day with blooms - 11/17/2009 4:04 pm
Stock up for Thanksgiving - 11/17/2009 10:05 am
Colorado based grocer operates own farm - 11/15/2009 3:48 pm
Review: Hardy Succulents - 11/12/2009 3:58 pm
Timelapse of a garden season - 11/11/2009 5:29 pm
Two forums of interest to gardeners this week - 11/10/2009 5:14 pm
First snow was a surprise - 11/9/2009 3:42 pm
Lesson learned - 11/8/2009 12:13 pm
Moose-free garden? - 11/5/2009 8:23 am
Book review: Black Plants - 10/29/2009 3:46 pm
November Garden Calendar - 10/28/2009 2:49 pm
Fall means apples and winter veggies - 10/26/2009 6:12 pm
Botany of Desire airs on Wednesday - 10/25/2009 5:39 pm
Some changes proposed for muni Horticulture Section - 10/22/2009 11:47 am
Verna and Frank Pratt recognized - 10/20/2009 10:35 am
Birds are gardeners' companions - 10/18/2009 6:58 pm
Anchorage is one of the best cities for community gardens - 10/14/2009 3:18 pm
Fall colors Outside - 10/14/2009 11:26 am
Take advantage of the sun to mow your leaves. - 10/12/2009 4:09 pm
A gardener's conundrum - 10/11/2009 5:00 pm
Posted: October 30, 2008 - 12:06 pm
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Sing holiday songs and watch Town Square light up on the day after Thanksgiving. Bob Hallinen/ADNMake sure you buy LED lights to wrap on your trees and shrubs. LED lights emit less heat than the old bulbs and cost less to light as well.
November 2, Sunday, 2pm. BACKYARD BIODIESEL BASICS. Biodiesel Educator Will Taygan provides an overview on how to make any diesel petroleum-free. Participants will explore the science behind biodiesel and SVO (Straight Vegetable Oil) systems, compare emissions, learn how to collect oil responsibly, and make a test batch of biodiesel. At the Eagle River Nature Center. Free; $5 parking fee for non-members.
November 4, Tuesday DON'T FORGET TO VOTE!
November 4, Tuesday, 6:30pm. Monthly meeting of the North Root Big Lake Gardeners. Call Linda Lockhart for location info, 892-8119.
November 4, Tuesday, 7pm CENTRAL PENINSULA GARDEN CLUB monthly meeting. Rock Garden Construction with Jaime Rodiguez. Jaime will present his power point program on the rock part of constructing a rock garden, introduction of basic ideas and design, specific construction techniques, and good plants for Alaskan Rock Gardens. At Cook Inlet Aquaculture Assn. Building on Kalifornsky Beach Road near the Bridge Access Road Intersection in Soldotna. Meetings are open to the public. Refreshments served. Sometimes door prizes. Bring one! Call (907) 283-4632 for more info.
November 6, Thursday, 7pm. Monthly meeting of the Anchorage Garden Club. At the Pioneer Schoolhouse, 437 E 3rd Avenue (3rd & Eagle). Contact AGC hotline, 566-0539.
November 7-9, Friday-Sunday, Holiday Food & Gift Festival. 12noon-6pm Friday; 10am - 6pm Saturday; 11am-6pm Sunday. At the Dena'ina Civic & Convention Center downtown. An old-fashioned holiday bazaar with hand-crafted ornaments, baskets, quilts, candles, antiques and collectibles. Enjoy carolers, choirs, brass ensembles, live nativity performances, Santa and fun activities for the kids. Free admission and parking.
November 13, Thursday, 10am. Wildflower Garden Club monthly meeting. Wonders of Rhubarb presented by Julie Riley, Extension Horticulture Agent. There will also be an Alaskan Thanksgiving potluck to follow. Everyone should bring a dish made from something truly Alaskan: fish, wildlife, berries, or vegetables you have grown. Bring recipes to share. Central Lutheran Church (15th and Cordova Street), contact Liz Rockwell 277-7150.
November 13, Thursday, 3:30pm. CANWIN monthly meeting of Citizens Against Noxious Weeds Invading the North. At the BLM Field Office on Elmore Road. Help them celebrate their 501(c)(3) certification! Call or email Lori Zaumseil, 245-2373 or AKCANWIN@Aol.com for more info.
November 15, Saturday, 2pm. Monthly meeting of the Alaska Rock Garden Society. Alternating locations between Anchorage and Palmer. Call Carmel Tysver for location and information, 522-3490.
November 16, Sunday, 2pm. TREE DISEASES. Lori Trummer, plant pathologist, presents an overview of the current issues surrounding diseased trees in Southcentral and Interior Alaska. She will show samples and slides of tree rot, stem decay, cankers and other diseases, followed by a question and answer session. At the Eagle River Nature Center. Free program, $5 parking for non-members.
November 17, Monday, 7pm. Anchorage Master Gardener Association monthly meeting. Master Gardeners vs. Moose with a special MG panel, UAF Cooperative Extension Service in Anchorage at 2221 E. Northern Lights, room 130, contact 786-6300.
November 18 & 19, Tuesday from 1:00 pm-6:00 pm and Wednesday from 10:00 am-6:00 pm. Anchorage Garden Club Annual Holiday Flower Show. There will be a Holiday Tea with music on Tuesday. At the Wells Fargo Bank lobby on Northern Lights and C Street. Anchorage Garden Club hotline, 566-0539.
November 19, Wednesday, 7pm. Alaska Rose Society monthly meeting. At UAF Cooperative Extension Service, 2221 E. Northern Lights, room 130. Contact Debbie Hinchey at 278-2814 for more info.
November 19, Wednesday, 7pm. Predators and Prey in Denali National Park. At the Campbell Creek Science Center. Come spend the evening by the fire listening to a timely tale about science in real life. Please join Layne Adams, a wildlife researcher with the USGS-Alaska Science Center, as he describes of his ongoing research on the interactions of predators and prey in Denali National Park. All programs are free and open to the public. Complimentary hot drinks and cookies.
November 22-23, Saturday-Sunday. Christmas Arts & Crafts Emporium. 10am-6pm Saturday and 11am-6pm Sunday. Free. At the Dena'ina Civic & Convention Center. One of the largest craft events in Alaska with artisans from all parts of the state.
Baskets made from birch bark. Erik Hill/ADNNovember 23, Sunday, 2pm. MINIATURE BIRCH BASKETS. Make a miniature birch bark basket or ornament for the Christmas tree. At the Eagle River Nature Center. $10. Limited to 10 adults (ages 16 and up) who register at 694-2108. Additional $5 parking for non-members.
November 23, Sunday, 2pm. Monthly meeting of the Homer Garden Club. At the Homer City Hall on Pioneer Ave.
November 25, Tuesday, 7:30pm. Monthly meeting of the Alaska Orchid Society at Central Lutheran Church at the corner of 15th Avenue and Cordova Street. If you are bringing plants for Show-and-Tell you can set up at 7:00. There will be a door prize in the form of a flowering orchid. Be sure to attend the meeting to see if you are the lucky winner this month! Guests are always welcome at our meetings.
HAVE A LOVELY THANKSGIVING!
November 28, Friday. The Anchorage City of Lights holiday season officially begins starting at 5pm with carol singing at Town Square Park. The lighting of the trees will happen closer to 6:30pm.
November 28-30, Friday-Sunday. 10am 6pm Friday and Saturday, 12noon-5pm Sunday Crafts Weekend and ReadAlaska Book Fair at the Anchorage Museum. Some of Alaska's most distinctive and unique gifts can be found at this annual event, which includes the ReadAlaska Book Fair. The "Wonderland of Toys" exhibition of Dolls and Toys from the Museum’s Collection transforms the atrium, where more than 100 dolls dressed in costumes from around the world adorn a giant evergreen tree.
November 29, Saturday, 10am-3pm. TROT OFF THE TURKEY HIKE TO DEW LAKE. Join volunteers Bob and Ann Fisher for a 6.5-mile round trip hike. Hikers should be in good shape, but may be beginners. The trail is fairly level with a total elevation gain of about 800 feet. Hikers are advised to bring a daypack with lunch/snacks, water, wind/snow clothing and warm layers. Snowshoes and/or ice cleats may be needed. Call the Nature Center for trail conditions. The hike is free but limited to the first 12 people (at least 18 years old) who register by calling 694-2108. Well behaved dogs are welcome on the hike. Please provide a contact phone number and email address at the time of registration. Start at the Eagle River Nature Center. $5 parking for non-members.
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