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Talk Dirt To Me

Do you love to make mud pies, grow a houseplant, eat veggies, or stop to smell the bouquet on your co-workers desk? Everyone enjoys a bit of green growing around him or her and then there are those that are passionate and needy when it comes to dabbling in the dirt. With this blog, we'll try to satisfy those needs and tell you about what's going on with the Anchorage gardening scene. You know, as I finally learned, it's all about the dirt.

Photographer and gardener Fran Durner (fdurner@adn.com) writes the blog.

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A Chance For More Garden Speakers

Posted by talkdirt

Posted: April 28, 2008 - 6:37 pm

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Ciscoe Morris will speak at the Alaska Master Gardeners Conference in Anchorage on Friday, May 9th and then again on July 19, at the Alaska Garden & Art Festival at the State Fairgrounds in Palmer. Photo courtesy Mary Morris.Last week's trip to Homer was not all snowed out. Part of the reason for the trip was to take in alpine plantsman Harry Jans' talk, "Plant Hunting on the Roof of the World - Tibet," and to rub shoulders with Peninsula gardeners. Jans' is a member of the Dutch Rock Garden Society.

Had a delightful dinner before the talk at Cafe Cups (rockfish rocks!) with Rosemary Kimball and Kathy Wartinbee, both whom I met for the first time in person. Rosemary had suggested by email that we toss around ideas at dinner for organizing a statewide group that would work towards funding and bringing up well-known Outside speakers, but we gabbed about too many other things to get onto that subject.

However, it's an idea worth discussing. Various clubs and organizations, such as the Alaska Botanical Garden and the Alaska Master Gardeners have been bearing the financial brunt of bringing leading horticultural voices to speak in Alaska. Recently the Homer Garden Club stepped forward on their own to host one of the most respected and well-known, Dr. Allan Armitage, who will visit Homer July 26. The Alaska Botanical Garden will host him in Anchorage on July 28. His complete schedule is still being firmed.

Dr. Allan Armitage will lead walkabouts at the Alaska Botanical Garden as part of his Anchorage appearance. His expertise is hard to replicate. Photo courtesy Allan Armitage.Armitage doesn't come cheaply. The Homer Garden Club does not expect to break even with his appearances. With several big events already on their calendar this year, the ABG is hoping that other area clubs will help to host him in Anchorage. So far, I haven't heard that that's going to happen. I am hearing grumbling that he is too expensive, that we shouldn't encourage speakers to charge so much for an appearance. I find that very confusing. If someone is in demand, they can charge whatever people are willing to pay. Various garden clubs in Anchorage have a fair bit of dough in the bank. When I pay dues to a club, this is the sort of thing I'd like my money to be used for.

If Alaskan gardeners can't get to one of the big shows Outside with scores of speakers, then having them come here is the next best thing. And I don't think we get enough of that.

So what do you think? Would you be willing to contribute a few bucks towards a new fund dedicated to bringing up a garden speaker or two every year? Good idea or not?

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2 May 1, 2008 - 5:02pm | brendaadams

Dr. Alan Armitage and Internationally Known Speakers

Yes, Dr. Armitage is expensive, but he was kind enough to work with the Homer Garden Club and reduced his normal honorarium to a level we could afford. To underwrite his visit we will charge for his lecture on July 26th at 7PM ($15), the two Walkabouts he will lead ($25) and will hold Open Gardens ($15) at six local gardens from 11AM to 5PM on July 27th. With some good weather on open Garden Day, we expect to break even or nearly so. You are all invited! Tickets will be available for all the events through the Homer Bookstore and the Homer Chamber of Commerce after June 15th.

On the broader topic of inviting nationally or internationally known speakers to Alaska, I totally agree with Fran. We have many local and Alaska wide stars speak to us and find these presentations very informative and entertaining. Sometimes, though, it's nice to broaden our horizons.

Several years ago the Homer Garden Club set as a goal to have at least one nationally or internationally well-known speaker. Rather than try to fund such events with dues, which we've kept at a modest $10 per year, we have raised money several other ways. We wrote a book called Kachemak Cultivating from Seaside to Summit which provides the reader an enormous amount of local knowledge and information on a broad range of topics including soils, garden pests, perennials, starting plants from seed, trees, shrubs, roses, food crops, season extenders and much more. We also hold a plant sale every spring. This year it is May 31st at 11AM at Homer City Hall.

The reward for all this effort is in the past few years we've hosted Dan Hinckley (fabulous), Lauren Springer, Brent Heath, Stephanie Cohen (twice) Scott Ogden, Steve Schmidt, Dan Heims, Graham Nicholls, Harry Jans, Lee Reich and shortly, Alan Armitage. All these famous folks in little ol' Homer! Granted we unabashedly trade on the beauty of our little piece of paradise, but all of these folks just wanted to come to Alaska. The world is intrigued by us and our environs. Take advantage of it.

The Homer Garden Club stands ready to co-operate with other clubs and organizations to bring special speakers to Alaska.

Brenda Adams
President, HGC

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1 April 30, 2008 - 11:15am | rosmarinus

Outside Speakers

My experience has been that garden clubs husband their $$ and are somewhat reluctant to let it go. We need to stop being so tight. Alaska should be a choice destination for Outsiders because we are interesting and adventurous gardeners.
Some speakers can be talked into lowering their fees as the clubs are non-profits... I can't do it but I know a couple people who can and that's all it takes!

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