May Garden Calendar

Posted by talkdirt

Posted: May 1, 2008 - 9:33 am

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May is known as Poppy Month. Each year American Legion Auxiliary volunteers distribute iconic red paper poppies in exchange for donations to assist disabled and hospitalized veterans and their families.Photo by Fran Durner.

May 1st, Thursday, Opening Day of Jaime Rodriguez's The Alpine Garden Nursery specializing in perennials and alpine plants. 450 Hyer Road, Wasilla. "We grow most of our plants from seed or divisions from our own gardens. We offer a specialty selection of plants not found in the big box stores or mainstream nurseries. Much of our seed stock comes from seed exchanges, specialty seed catalogs and seed collection expeditions."

May 1st, Thursday. Annual Weed Awareness Workshop at the Kenai River Center, Funny River Road, Soldotna. 9:00am-3:30pm. This annual workshop will host a variety of topics and speakers on Invasive Plants and Native Habitat. Free. For more information contact Janice at (907) 262-5824 or Tara @Homer Soil & Water, (907) 235-8177.

May 2nd, First Friday, Botanicals and Food For the Soul. Quilt Artists Kathy Harte and Judy Wedemeyer. Terra Bella Bakery and Cafe (Next to Bed, Bath & Beyond on Dimond) Opening reception 5:30-8pm. Kathy and Judy are active members of the internationally recognized Studio Art Quilt Association and long time guild members of Anchorage Log Cabin Quilters. Judy is also an Anchorage Master Gardener (2005) Their current body of work focuses on a passion for gardening and creative play. Quilts on display through May.

May 2nd, First Friday, 5:00 p.m. Kinley's Restaurant at 3230 Seward Highway, next to the Moose's Tooth Restaurant. Join photographer Carl Johnson for a celebration of Nature's Details. There will be a First Friday reception. The show explores more of the macro side of nature, from ice to flowers, ferns to lava. The exhibit will be on display at the restaurant for the month of May.

May 3rd, Saturday. Opening Day of the Farmers Market! Every Saturday, 9am-2pm, in the Central Lutheran Church parking lot at 15th and Cordova.

May 3rd, Saturday, 11 am. Clean up at the Big Lake Library Grounds. Annual spring garden bed cleaning and re-planting. Bring gloves, plastic garbage bags, pruners, trowels, rakes and help spruce up the garden beds for summer. This year we will also be taking an inventory of local plants for inclusion in a large round planter for the Jordan Lake Project so we can plant a "native habitat plant identification garden" for the area. Need more information? Linda Lockhart at 892-8119.

May 3-4, Saturday and Sunday, 10am-4pm. Natural History Workshop. Registration required. Eagle River Nature Center. Naturalists Ute Olsson, Doris Ivory and Giselle Bergeron conduct a 2-day introduction to the natural history of South Central Alaska. The program is free to candidates (please register) currently enrolled in the Interpretive Naturalist Certification Program of Alaska (INCPA). Non-INCPA participants pay $25 per day, or $40 for both days. Limited to 15 participants ages 16 and up. Registration required by all by calling 694-2108.

May 4th, Sunday. Check out the Anchorage Daily News special Home & Garden section inside the paper. Included will be a calendar of events for all upcoming gardening programs, sales, garden tours, etc., throughout the summer as well as topical stories.

May 9th and 10th, Friday and Satuday. Alaska Master Gardener Conference & Garden Market, 8 am-5 p.m., Anchorage Sheraton Hotel. Call 696-2015 to check on space. Cost: $165 or $95 for one day. Garden Market is FREE and open to the public, 20 vendors including garden art, water features, plants and more.

The Central Peninsula Garden Club is sponsoring several workshops in May:
May 10, 10am-1pm (brown bag lunch), Landscape planning with Nancy Casey.
May 17, 1:30pm. Home Greenhouse Management with Rosemary Kimball and Kathy Wartinbee.
May 24, 2pm. Raised beds with Chris Cook.
May 31, 10am. Large container planting with Mark White.
Some are over half full already but may still have room. Workshops are free for members, $5 for non-members. All workshops take place in the Kenai, Soldotna, Sterling area. Contact Marion Nelson at 398 8669 or email mmkn@ptialaska.net for more info.

May 10th, Saturday, 9am-2pm. Purchase bundles of 20 tree seedlings for $20. Locations: REI, Sears Mall, Carrs Huffman, Carrs Wasilla. Any pre-orders need to be picked up at the REI location only. Species: Lodgepole pine, Siberian larch, Colorado Blue spruce and white spruce. Seedling sales benefit forestry scholarships at UAF. Sponsored by the Cook Inlet Society of American Foresters. Call 269-8460 for more info or click here.

Photo by Fran DurnerMay 10, Saturday, 10 am-6 p.m., Aurora Borealis African Violet Society Plant Sale. Mother's Day Craft & Exhibit Fair, Northway Mall, Gottschalk's Courtyard.

May 10th, Saturday, Creek Cleanup Day. 9am til noon. There will be Creek Honchos set up at Westchester Lagoon, Cheney Lake Park, Goose Lake Park and Potter Marsh among other hotspots, to give instructions, provide bags and gloves, and cheer you on! A Celebration will be at Valley of The Moon Park, from noon to 2pm. Sponsored by the Anchorage Waterways Council. Check their website for more info.

May 10th, Saturday, 1pm. Garden Planning Workshop III at the Big Lake Library Community Room. Free. A continuing workshop to help local gardeners develop their gardens in a planned fashion. A discussion of soils, sun, location, and plant materials as well as hands-on sketches of garden areas. Bring photos of problem areas, as-built survey, or just a sketch of property (roughly to scale) to help determine solutions. Call Linda Lockhart at 892-8119 for info.

May 11th, Sunday. Happy Mother's Day!

May 11th, Sunday, 2pm. Mother's Day Tea. Families are invited to bring Mom to the Eagle River Nature Center for a beautiful stroll to the Beaver Pond, followed by an old-fashioned sit-down tea at the education yurt. We'll provide the food, drink and a potted plant to decorate for Mom. $5/person (Mom is free!) or $15 maximum per family. Call 694-2108 to register.

May 13th, Tuesday, 6-7:15pm. Start your own Seedlings Learn about seed starting techniques in this hands on workshop. Easy to grow flowers and vegtables, soil and containers will be discussed. This is a class for beginners with a focus on using recycled materials. Anchorage Parks and Recreation Bittner House, 316 Lynwood Dr. Contact 343-4217 for more info.

May 13th & 14th, Tuesday and Wednesday. Certified Pesticide Applicator Training. 9:00 am-4:00 pm, initial certification and recertification for most categories including Cat. 4, Turf & Ornamental. Taught by Bob Gorman, UAF Cooperative Extension Service in Anchorage. Participants must pick up course materials at least 48 hours prior to workshop. Cost: $40, call CES at 786-6300 to register.

May 15th, Thursday, 6-7:30pm. Lettuce Baskets. Create a lettuce basket of easy to row greens. Plant types, soils and conatiners will be discussed. Preregistraion is required. This is a class for beginners with a focus on using recycled materials. Anchorage Parks and Recreation Bittner House, 316 Lynwood Dr. Contact 343-4217 for more info.

May 16th and 17th, Friday and Saturday. Spring Clean Up at the Alaska Botanical Garden.10am-3pm. 4601 Campbell Airstrip Rd.

May 17th, Saturday. Annual 4-H Tree Sale, 11:00am-3:00pm, Soldotna Creek Park on the Sterling Hwy. in Soldotna. Bare root trees and shrubs include varieties such as Larch, Norway Spruce, Blue Spruce, Mountain Ash, Mock Orange, Lilacs, Roses, Peonies, Currants, Aronia, Sea Buckthorn, Apple, and Cherry, to name a few. (907)262-5824 for more info.

May 17th, Saturday, 9am-4pm. Alaska Rock Garden Society Plant Sale. 7435 Old Harbor Ave. 333-8237 for info

May 17th, Saturday, 10 a.m.-noon. Alaska Wildflower Garden Club Service Project. Help renovate the wildflower beds at the Alaska Botanical Garden. Participants should bring kneepads, gloves, scissors, insect repellent, some garbage bags, and your favorite weeding tools. Meet in the ABG wildflower garden, 4601 Campbell Airstrip Road. Contact Liz Rockwell 277-7150.

May 17th, Saturday 12 p.m. Wattle Fence Workshop at the Alaska Botanical Garden (Meet at the ABG entrance) $10.00 (or free to all ABG Spring Clean-Up Volunteers.) Join us for Spring Clean Up at the Garden Friday & Saturday and attend the Saturday workshop to construct a new wattle fence for the ABG entry beds. All materials provided. 4601 Campbell Airstrip Rd.

May 17th, Saturday. Opening day of Lorri Abel's In The Garden Nursery, 7307 O'Brien Street, West of Lake Otis, off 72nd Street. Noon -5pm. Regular hours: Tues-Friday 10-5, Sat-Sun 12-5.

May 17th and 18th, Sat and Sun, 8am-5pm. "The Colors of Spring." Part 1. Come learn about African Violets, Cacti, Succulents and floral design. Nationally accredited instructors will teach about growing and exhibiting container grown plants. Full and part time attendance available. Registration forms can be found at communitynews.adn.com/agclub or call 566-0539. Full Time $90 Part Time $45. At the Pioneer Schoolhouse, 437 E 3rd Avenue. Sponsored by the Anchorage Garden Club. See below for Part 2.

May 18th, Sunday, 2pm. Rock garden clean-up at the Alaska Botanical Garden. Postponed from May 3rd due to lingering snow cover. Bring garden tools and any small plants you'd like to place in the rock garden. 333-8212 for info.

May 18th, Sunday, 2pm. Spring Greens. Andy Anderson Smith, president of the Alaska Native Plant Society, leads this spring plant walk down the Rodak and Albert Loop Trails at the Eagle River Nature Center. This is the first in a series of walks, looking at native plants through the growing season. Free program, $5 parking for non-members.

May 18th, Sunday, 1pm. Basket Workshop at McGuire's Greenhouse in Big Lake, Mile 2.5 South Big Lake Road, left on Southpark, right on Maplewood. $29.95 per basket. Create your own custom hanging or sitting, sun or shade, basket(s) with personal assistance from Rebecca McGuire of McGuire's Greenhouse. Price includes basket and plant selection specific to your needs. Call Linda at 892-8119 to reserve your spot at the planting table.

May 19th, Monday, 2pm. Alaska Arbor Day at Rabbit Creek Elementary School. FREE. Anchorage Garden Club, ConocoPhillips and Municipal Parks and Recreation will be celebrating a tree planting ceremony at Rabbit Creek Elementary School @ 13650 Lake Otis Parkway. Ceremony will be in front of the school weather permitting or in the gym. Two evergreen trees to be planted.

May 21 - May 25th, Wednesday - Sunday, 10:00 A.M.- 5:00 P.M. Hiland Mountain Correctional Center Plant Sale. See our stunning new combinations and varieties for hanging baskets and garden planters. Fresh herbs and perennials as well. Hiland Mountain Correctional Center, 9101 Hesterberg Road, Eagle River, AK. Turn right on frontage road before the Eagle River Campground entrance.

May 21st, Wednesday. Making Do: Garden Design on a Budget, 7-8:30 p.m., taught by Herb Spencer, Master Gardener, UAF Cooperative Extension Service in Anchorage, 2221 E. Northern Lights, room 130. Free but call CES at 786-6300 to register.

May 21st and 22nd, Weds and Thurs, 8am-5pm. "The Colors of Spring" Part 2. Come learn about Daffodils, Pelargoniums and floral design. Nationally accredited instructors will teach about growing and exhibiting these plants. Full and part time attendance available. Registration forms can be found at communitynews.adn.com/agclub or call 566-0539. Full time for credit $100 Part time $40. At the Pioneer Schoolhouse, 437 E 3rd Avenue. Sponsored by the Anchorage Garden Club.

May 22th, Thursday. The Anchorage Daily News Garden section begins. Look for it every Thursday!

May 24th, Saturday, Noon-4pm. (Members-Only Preview: 10a.m.-noon) Grand re-opening of the Alaska Botanical Garden. The ABG Shop-in-the-Garden retail nursery & gift shop will be transformed this spring with new merchandise and a totally new look! Fabulous botanically - inspired jewelry and housewares. Beautiful hand-made baskets and metal work, botanically-themed art cards. 4601 Campbell Airstrip Rd.

May 24th, Saturday, Valley Garden Club annual plant sale from 9am-3pm at Burchell High School in Wasilla. This plant sale traditionally marks the start of the Valley gardening season. Shoppers can find everything from annuals, perennials, shrubs, garden art, and probably a group of folks willing to take surplus pots off your hands for next year's sale. ( 376-5390 or 745-4036).

May 24th, Saturday. Alaska Rock Garden Society Plant Sale in Palmer. Snowfire Gardens, 10am - 4pm. 376-5390 for info.

May 24, Saturday, 10am-4pm. Hike the Turnagain Arm Trail (Registration required). Sponsored by the Eagle River Nature Center. Join volunteers Bob and Ann Fisher for a 9.4-mile traverse hike from Windy Corner to the Potter Trailhead. Hikers will meet at the parking lot just past the Chugach State Park Headquarters to organize transportation. The parking lot is located at mile 115.2 on the right side of the Seward Highway. There is a $5 parking fee (AK State Park day passes honored). The hike involves numerous elevation gains and losses, including one climb of 850 feet in a one mile stretch. The trail may be muddy in places, but offers spectacular views of Turnagain Arm. Hikers should be in good shape and have completed a hike of similar nature. Hikers are advised to bring a daypack with lunch/snacks, water and wind/rain clothing. Call the Nature Center for trail conditions.The hike is 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.

Painted concrete hosta leaves. Photo by Fran Durner.May 24th, Saturday. Two Part Workshop: How to Make a Concrete Leaf Impression. Part 1: 2pm Saturday, May 24th. Create your own leaf casting. Part 2: 6pm Wednesday, June 11th. Paint and seal your leaf. Everyone will create at least one extra casting for the ABG Shop-in-the Garden. Meet in the Alaska Botanical Garden nursery. $30 includes all supplies. To register call 770-3692.

May 25th, Sunday. Parking is free on the last Sunday of every month at the Eagle River Nature Center. Now there are no excuses left for staying indoors!

May 31st, Saturday. Lobelia Basket Workshop. 10 a.m.- 12 p.m. Anchorage Garden Club fundraiser. Pre-registration required, $50. Call hotline for details, 566-0539

May 31st, Saturday. Wildflower Garden Club Plant Sale. 9am-4p.m. 7435 Old Harbor Ave. 333-8237 for info

ONGOING PROJECTS: Turpin Park, Abbott Loop Park, Lions Fairview Park, Lyn Ary Park, Little Campbell Creek Park. Please pencil in some time in your calendars this summer to help water, weed and general maintenance in the above parks. Email TREErificAnchorage@yahoo.com to let us know which days you can help.

May 25th through September 13th, Wednesdays. Alaska Botanical Garden Guided Tours, 1:00 pm. daily with an evening tour at 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays, Meet in the ABG nursery, 4601 Campbell Airstrip Road, contact 770-3692 (administrative offices).

GARDEN CLUBS AND ASSOCIATIONS MEETIINGS

Alaska Native Plant Society: First Monday of each month at 7:30pm at the Campbell Creek Science Center in Anchorage. October - May. May 5th, Stan Vlahovich, Verna Pratt and Beth Baker will speak. Open to the public.

Valley Garden Club: First Tuesday of each month 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.

North Root Big Lake Gardeners: First Tuesday, 6:30pm, at the Big Lake Library. September - May. May 6, The Chemical Free Garden. Monica Thomas presents the case for a more natural environment. Research from the University of Alaska and others indicate lawn and garden chemicals as culprits that can lead to all kinds of human and pet ills. ALSO, plant swap, tomato culture, and speed composting. Linda Lockhart at 892-8119 for info. Everyone welcome.

Central Peninsula Garden Club: First Tuesday, 7:00 p.m. at Cook Inlet Aquaculture Bldg., K-Beach Road. Everyone welcome. Curtis Stigall, ISA certified arborist will give a presentation on Tree Care for the Homeowner. Contact Marion Nelson at mmkn@ptialaska.net

Anchorage Garden Club: First Thursday at 7pm (new time) at Pioneer School House basement, corner of Third Avenue and Eagle Street. May 1st program will feature Stephen Nickel speaking on trees and the Alaska Community Forester Program. Everyone is welcome.

CANWIN (Citizen's Against Noxious Weeds Invading the North): Second Thursday of the month, 3:30pm, at the BLM's Anchorage Field Office, 6881 Elmore Road. E-mail or call Lori Zaumseil at AKCANWIN@aol.com, or call 245-2373 for more details.

Wildflower Garden Club: Second Thursday at 10am at Central Lutheran Church, 15th Avenue and Cordova Street. September - April. No meeting in May. Contact phone no. is 441-8736.

Alaska Pioneer Fruit Growers: Second Thursday at 6:30pm in Anchorage at the BP Energy Center, Coop Ext Room. 907-745-2043

Alaska Master Gardeners: Third Monday at 7 pm at UAF Cooperative Extension Service, 2221 E. Northern Lights Blvd. September - May. May program on May 19th features Getting a Feel for Your Soil with Jeff Smeenk and Julie Riley. 786-6300. Open to the public.

Willow Garden Club: Third Thursday at 7pm, Willow Community Center. Everyone welcome.

Alaska Rock Garden Society: Third Saturday of the month at 2pm alternating between Anchorage and Palmer. September - March. No meeting in May. (Anchorage contact, 522-3490; Wasilla contact, 1-907-357-2747)

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

Anchorage TREErific: Wednesday, May 28. Orchard Tree Tour at Bob Boyer's greenhouse @ 5pm - 8pm. May's meeting will be a work and pizza party at Bob Boyer's orchard located near Dimond and Old Seward. The greenhouse is off East 81st/Old Seward - at the end of the road. Plan to start by attacking the weeds around the trees and do a little pruning and then go into the greenhouse where Bob Boyer will talk about the type of fruit trees he has in the inside and outside orchard. Bring gloves/pruners. Pizza donated by the Moose's Tooth will be provided to the hard working weed warriors.

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