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Christmas lights wrap a small tree near the Borough Building in Palmer last year. Stephen Nowers/ADNDecember 1, Tuesday, 10:30am. Valley Garden Club Christmas party. At the old Catholic Church on Bogard Rd. in Wasilla. Bring a gift for the Chinese Auction and a dish for the wonderful potluck. Bring gifts, food etc. for families that VGC sponsors for the holidays. Call Fran for more info at 745-7676.

December 1, Tuesday, 6:30pm. North Root Big Lake Garden Club December meeting at the Big Lake Library Community Room. Christmas potluck and mini-silent auction. Linda Lockhart will have information on a travel package for the Northwest Flower and Garden Show in February. Everyone is welcome. Call Linda Lockhart for more info, 892-8119.

December 1, Tuesday, 7pm. Central Peninsula Garden Club monthly meeting. First Comes the Dream, the history of Trinity Greenhouse presented by Ron and Dan Sexton. Beginning with “Trinity Campers” in the 1960’s and their greenhouse adventure, Ron and Kathy Sexton and Dan and Juli Sexton built their businesses over many years to what we see at Trinity Greenhouse on Kalifornsky Beach Road today. Learn about some of the new features planned for the 2010 growing season. At the Cook Inlet Aquaculture Bldg., on K-Beach Road in Soldotna. Open to the Public. Refreshments and sometime door prizes. Call Marion Nelson for more info, (907) 283 4632.

December 2, 3, 8, 9 and 10, from 7-9pm and December 5 from 11am-1pm. Make your own Christmas Wreath at Dimond Greenhouses. $25 includes all materials. Email dimondgh@gci.net to register or call 349-2552 for more info.

Ice Castles on the Green at last year's event. Photo courtesy Valley Arts AllianceDecember 12, Saturday. Colony Christmas and Ice Castles on the Green. The Valley Arts Alliance sponsors ice sculptures behind the Dahlia Street Market, at 320 E. Dahlia Street in Palmer. Gardeners are wanted to help create the sculptures between 2-4pm. Christmas carolers will perform at 4:30 and 6pm. You can shop the Garden Gate and warm up at the Red Beet Cafe at the same time. The ice sculptures will be on display through the month of December. Contact Carmen Summerfield at carmen@valleyarts alliance.com for more info.

December 12, Saturday, 10am. and December 13, Sunday, 1pm. Wreath making workshop in Soldotna. At Alaska Pioneer Photos in Soldotna, with instructor Elizabeth Eskelin. Registration forms will be available at the Central Peninsula Garden Club December 1st club meeting. All will leave with a completed wreath. Wire and spruce boughs supplied. Please bring decorations and wreath frames. Workshop fee: $16. Call Marion Nelson for more info, (907) 283 4632.

December 13, Sunday, 2pm. WHAT IS EARTHWATCH? Join volunteer Ruth Fitzpatrick as she shares her many experiences volunteering on expeditions with the Earthwatch Institute (most recently in Africa), whose mission it is to engage people worldwide in scientific field research and education to promote the understanding and action necessary for a sustainable environment. Free program (indoors), $5 parking for non-members. At the Eagle River Nature Center. Free program; $5 parking for non-members.

December 19, Saturday, 11am-noon. Make a Christmas Centerpiece at Dimond Greenhouses. $15 includes all materials. Email dimondgh@gci.net to register or call 349-2552 for more info.

December 19, Saturday, 3pm and 5pm. 14th ANNUAL LANTERN WALK & WINTER SOLSTICE CELEBRATION Lantern-making inside the Eagle River Nature Center starting at 3pm. Lantern Walk begins behind Nature Center at 5pm. The Nature Center staff and volunteers invite you to join us for this beautiful candle-lit event. Bring your own lantern or make one at the Nature Center (bring a half-gallon cardboard milk or juice container, and we’ll supply the rest). Please bring finger foods or desserts to share. Bob & Ann Fisher will be serving hotdogs and marshmallows at the bonfire. Dress for being outside. At the Eagle River Nature Center. Free program; $5 parking for non-members. Interested in volunteering for this event? Contact Doris Ivory at admin@ernc.org.

A common redpoll eats seeds at a feeder in a tree. Fran Durner/ADNDecember 20, Sunday, 2pm. BIRDS AT YOUR FEEDER. Naturalists will be available on an informal basis to help you understand the basics of bird watching and identify winter birds. We hope this introduction will entice you to join us for the annual Eagle River-Chugiak Christmas Bird Count on Sunday December 27. These annual worldwide counts help scientists track the health of bird populations and our ecosystems. At the Eagle River Nature Center. Free; $5 parking for non-members.

December 21 at 8:47am. Winter Solstice Yippee! Days are getting longer now....

The Town Square Christmas Tree. Photo by Fran DurnerDecember 25, Merry Christmas to everyone!

December 27, Sunday, 9am. CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT. Come and help gather data for Audubon’s Annual Bird Count across the globe. Join in the fun of observing and counting birds in the Chugiak-Eagle River area. You can cover a predetermined area or even do it at your own bird feeder. Meet at Jitter’s in downtown Eagle River at 9am for assignments. Then meet back at Jitter’s at 4pm for a potluck as the group tallies and reviews the total number counts. Bring a dish to share. Contact coordinator Doris Ivory at admin@ernc.org or 694-2108 for details or to volunteer.

GARDEN CLUBS AND ASSOCIATIONS
NOTE: Please check websites and contacts to confirm meetings.

Alaska Native Plant Society: First Monday of each month October through May, at 7:30pm. At the Campbell Creek Science Center. Contact admin@aknps.org for info.

Valley Garden Club: First Tuesday at 10:30am at the Old Catholic Church on Bogard Road. A short business meeting and an education program followed by a potluck lunch. It is a great time to catch up on all the gardening events and happenings in the Valley. All are welcome. Contact fpotter@mtaonline.net for more info.

North Root Big Lake Gardeners: First Tuesday, 6:30pm. At the Big Lake Library. Everyone is welcome. Call Linda Lockhart for more info, 892-8119.

Central Peninsula Garden Club: First Tuesday at 7pm at Cook Inlet Aquaculture Bldg., K-Beach Road. Everyone welcome. Contact Marion Nelson at mmkn@ptialaska.net

Anchorage Garden Club: First Thursday at 7pm at Pioneer School House basement, corner of Third Avenue and Eagle Street. Call the AGC hotline for program information, 566-0539.

Alaska Rose Society: Second Tuesday at 7pm. During the summer, we conduct outdoor workshops, take field trips and visit gardens. Locations vary, depending on the activity. Visitors and guests are welcome to all our summer activities. During the winter, education programs are presented at each meeting. Our meetings and educational programs are open to the public - visitors and guests are always welcome. Our winter meetings are usually held at the Central Lutheran Church, 1420 Cordova Street, on the corner of W. 15th Avenue and Cordova Street. Contact info@alaskarosesociety.org for info.

Wildflower Garden Club: Second Thursday at 10am at Central Lutheran Church, 15th Avenue and Cordova Street. Summer meetings are field trips. Go to their website for more information.

CANWIN (Citizen's Against Noxious Weeds Invading the North.) NOTE: Day of week and time have changed. Second Wednesday, 3-4:30pm, at the BLM’s Anchorage Field Office, 4700 BLM Road. (Another note: the street address has changed but it is still the same location.) E-mail or call Lori Zaumseil at AKCANWIN@aol.com, or call 245-2373 for more details.

Alaska Master Gardeners: Third Monday at 7 PM at UAF Cooperative Extension Service, 2221 E. Northern Lights Blvd. Summer meetings are field trips. 786-6300 for info.

Willow Garden Club: Third Thursday at 7 PM, Willow Community Center.

Alaska Rock Garden Society: Third Saturday at 2pm, September through March. Meetings alternate between Anchorage and Palmer. Anchorage contact, 522-3490; Wasilla contact, 1-907-357-2747. Call to find out meeting location and program.

Alaska Orchid Society: Fourth Tuesday at 7:30pm at Central Lutheran Church at the corner of 15th Ave.and Cordova St. Show and tell of orchid plants. Free and open to public.

Homer Garden Club: Fourth Sunday at 2pm. at the Best Western Bidarka Inn conference room. The public is welcome. Contact Neil Wagner at nlights@xyz.net or 235-6953 for more info.