July Garden Calendar

Posted by talkdirt

Posted: June 30, 2009 - 4:52 pm

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Late blooming tulips at a business near the Park Strip at the end of June. Fran Durner photo
ONGOING

Through August 30, 1-2:30pm. DAILY NATURE WALKS on the RODAK NATURE TRAIL. Join professional naturalists, 7 days a week, for a ¾ mile walk on the Rodak Nature Trail at the Eagle River Nature Center to learn more about the history, flora and fauna of the Eagle River Valley. These hikes are free to the public. Participants should sign up at the front desk 10 minutes prior to the start time. Parking is $5 for non-members, but the walk is free. These walks are not intended for organized groups. For group walks, please contact naturalist@ernc.org

Fridays at 7pm through September. Themed garden tours at Tryck Gardens led by Doug Tryck. Please call 345-2507 for reservations, weekly theme, and instructions on how to get there. Donations of non perishable food items for the Food Bank are gladly accepted.

Through September 12, Tuesday-Sunday, 1pm. Guided Tours of the Alaska Botanical Garden, with ABG docents, groups of more than 10 people should call ahead to schedule, meet at ABG’s Shop-in-the-Garden, 4601 Campbell Airstrip Road, 770-3692.

Through September 2, Wednesdays, 6pm–7pm. Storytime in the Garden at the Alaska Botanical Garden. Nature stories for kids ages 3-5 with a caregiver. Meet in the Lower Perennial Garden, 4601 Campbell Airstrip Road. Cancelled if raining.

Adopt a Patch of invasive weeds in your local park before they become too large to control. Volunteers commit to removing a selected patch of invasive weeds and monitoring the area once/month. Volunteers will receive proper tools (gloves and bags) and be asked to keep track of their hours. To Adopt a Patch, contact Wade Collins, Volunteer Coordinator, Anchorage Parks & Recreation, CollinsWA@muni.org or 343-4460

The Anchorage Park Foundation and the Parks & Recreation Department are partnering to plan volunteer activities for this summer. From neighborhood park fix-it to invasive weed pulls, it's time to get involved! Join us this summer to get outdoors and make a difference in our community. For a full list of upcoming activities, please click here to check out the Quarterly Activity Guide.

JULY GARDEN CALENDAR

Onions at the Farmers' Markets. Photo by Fran DurnerJuly 1, Wednesday. Opening day for both the Wednesday Market at the Northway Mall, 9am-4pm and the Wednesday South Anchorage Farmers Market, 10am-4pm, behind the Dimond Center, in front of the Dimond Center Hotel. Fresh produce and breads, jams, etc., an extra day of the week!

July 1, Wednesday, 6- 8pm. Hypertufa Workshop. Led by Carmel Tysver at the Alaska Botanical Garden. Each participant will create their own hypertufa trough for planting. 4601 Campbell Airstrip Rd, Anchorage. $30. 770-3692 for registration and info.

July 1, Wednesday, 10am-noon. CANWIN Citizens Against Noxious Weeds Invading the North. Moose Flats Portage Weed Pull. Contact Betty Charnon with the Glacier Ranger District at 907-754-2326 or bcharnon@fs.fed.us for more info.

July 1, Wednesday, 7pm. Great Horned Owls. Great horned owls are one of the biggest owls in Alaska—and a fairly common sight on Campbell Tract. Come meet a captive great horned owl and learn more about these magnificent hunters from Gina Javurek. Free and open to the public. At the Campbell Creek Science Center, 5600 Science Center Drive. Info at 267-1247.

July 2 – August 20, Thursdays, 4-5:30pm or 5:30–7pm. Secret Garden Series sponsored by the Alaska Botanical Garden. Tour seven private gardens, chat with the owners in an unhurried atmosphere and learn secrets of their success. Cost $120, ABG membership required, non-members may join at the time of ticket purchase. Call 770-3692 for more info.

July 7, Tuesday, 6-7:30pm. Green Thumb Series Composting 101. The how, what and why of composting in Alaska. Learn how to enrich your soil without breaking the bank. At McPhee Community Garden. For ages 12 and older, free. Contact Margaret Timmerman with Anchorage Parks and Recreation, 343-4217 or timmermanma@muni.org

July 7, Tuesday, 6:30-8:30pm. WORMS & WORM COMPOSTING with Ellen Vande Visse of Good Earth Garden School. "Wriggle into a seat and learn about: Worm bins purchased or home-made? Setting up your bin; What kind of worms will work? What to feed them? What to do if…? How to harvest the compost." $10. At the VCRS (Valley Community for Recycling Solutions) on Palmer-Wasilla Highway . Seating is limited, sign up to reserve a place by email at information@goodearthgardenschool.com or 745 0758.

Harvested apples fill baskets outside Dan Elliott's home last year. Stephen Nowers/ADNJuly 7, Tuesday, 6:30pm. All About Apples. Join the Valley Garden Club and the North Root Big Lake Gardeners for a tour of Dan Elliot's orchard. Mile 4.85 Fairview Loop Road. Call Fran Potter at (907) 745-7676 or Linda Lockhart at (907) 892-8119 for more info.

July 8, Wednesday, noon-1pm. TREErific Lunch and Learn Tree Walk at Springer Park. This is a great opportunity to hear about the common insects in the Anchorage Bowl, hone up on your tree ID skills, learn about planting for design, sustainability and functionality and get answers to your questions about how to care for your trees. The tree walk will be led by Anchorage’s Municipal Forester Scott Stringer, Cooperative Extension Service’s IPM Technician Michael Rasy and Alaska Division of Forestry’s Stephen Nickel. Please be dressed for the weather. Springer Park is located on the east side of Arctic Blvd between 36th and 41st. Meet in the parking lot. Click here for a map. Contact stringerst@muni.org or stephen.nickel@alaska.gov. for more info.

July 9, Thursday, 6-7:30pm. Green Thumb Series Composting 101. The how, what and why of composting in Alaska. Learn how to enrich your soil without breaking the bank. C St Community Garden at 19th Ave. For ages 12 and older, free. Contact Margaret Timmerman with Anchorage Parks and Recreation, 343-4217 or timmermanma@muni.org

July 9-12, Thurs-Sunday. Food and Medicine at Your Backdoor. A plant spirit medicine retreat in Homer, led by Nancy Lee-Evans, director of the Anam Cara Program. Explore the healing and medicinal power of plants in a secluded peaceful setting. Learn to identify local wild plants and their medicinal properties. Make herbal oils and tinctures, and salves for an herbal first aid kit . Learn local wild edible plants and use them as food during the retreat. Dinners, breakfasts and camping/camper space are provided. $350. For more info call 345-6760, or nancy.lee.evans@gci.net.

July 10, Friday, 3–7pm. Lighthouse Gardens Tea Explore a private garden with beautiful views at a riverfront home in Eagle River. Enjoy a light meal and live music. Cost $30 per person to benefit the Alaska Botanical Garden. Reservations required. Contact the ABG or call 770-3692.

July 11, Saturday, 11am–6pm. Alaska Garden & Art Festival. Speakers, garden tours, exhibits, food. Jennifer Bartley author of Designing the New Kitchen Garden is the keynote speaker. $5. At the Alaska State Fairgrounds in Palmer.

July 15, Wednesday, 7pm. Anchorage Master Gardener Association field trip, Anchorage Pioneer Home gardens drive-by, 923 W. 11th Avenue, gardens designed, planted and maintained by Master Gardner volunteers. Meet at the Delaney Park Rose Garden, between 9th and 10th at N Street, Alaska Rose Society members will be present to answer questions. For information contact the Cooperative Extension Service at 786-6300.

July 15, Wednesday, 10am-noon. CANWIN Citizens Against Noxious Weeds Invading the North. Girdwood Airport Weed Pull. Contact Betty Charnon with the Glacier Ranger District at 907-754-2326 or bcharnon@fs.fed.us for more info.

July 15, Wednesday, 6–8pm. CANWIN. Citizen Weed Warriors event at Goose Lake. For details, contact Wade Collins, Volunteer Coordinator, Anchorage Parks & Recreation at CollinsWA@muni.org or 343-4460

July 16, Thursday, Noon-2 pm. Insect lab class held at the Cooperative Extension Office in Anchorage. Free and open to the public. Call 786-6300 to reserve a seat.

Nomocharis also known as Himalayan stars in bloom in Les Brake's garden. Photo by Les Brake.July 18–19, Saturday 10am–5pm, Sunday noon–5pm. Coyote Garden Tour hosted by Les Brake as a benefit for the Willow Garden Club and the Alaska Rock Garden Society seed collecting expedition. $7 suggested donation. Off Fishhook-Hatcher Pass Rd. in Willow. For information call 495-6525

July 18, Saturday, 10am. Willow Garden Tour. This progressive tour starts at the Willow Community Center. Bring a brown bag lunch. Call Dorothea Taylor for more info, 495-1005.

July 22, Wednesday, 6–8pm. CANWIN Citizen Weed Warriors event at Kincaid Park. Meet at the park entrance along the road. For details, contact Wade Collins, Volunteer Coordinator, Anchorage Parks & Recreation at CollinsWA@muni.org or 343-4460

July 22, Wednesday, 10am-noon. CANWIN Citizens Against Noxious Weeds Invading the North. Alyeska Weed Pull. Arlberg road leading to Catholic church parking lot. Contact Betty Charnon with the Glacier Ranger District at 907-754-2326 or bcharnon@fs.fed.us for more info.

July 23, Thursday, Noon-1:30pm. Slugs and Snails class held at the Cooperative Extension Office in Anchorage. Free and open to the public. Call 786-6300 to reserve a seat.

July 24-26, Friday and Saturday. Kachemak Bay Watercolor Field Journal with Andie Thrams. Rough it in style at an Alaskan wilderness camp. Learn field-friendly techniques for working outdoors to capture gesture, detail and color on shore and in the forest. At Across the Bay Tent and Breakfast, Kasitsna Bay, Alaska (907) 235-3633 for info and reservations.

July 26, Sunday, Noon–5pm. Traditional day for the Annual Citywide Garden Tour sponsored by the Anchorage Garden Club. As of June 20, only one garden was signed up. Call Marge Olson at 333-5868, if you have a garden you would like to open for the tour. Watch the Talk Dirt Garden Blog or call the AGC hotline for more info, 566-0539.

July 26, Sunday, 2pm. WILDFLOWER WALK. Join naturalist Ute Olsson on a walk around the Albert Loop to learn about native wildflowers and berries. At the Eagle River Nature Center. Free program; $5 parking for non-members.

July 29, Wednesday, 7pm. Incredible Insects. Learn more about the world's most diverse group of animals from Michael Rasy of the UAF Cooperative Extension Service. We'll discover the characteristics insects share and then hunt for insects in the woods and fields of Campbell Tract. Free and open to the public. At the Campbell Creek Science Center, 5600 Science Center Drive. Info at 267-1247.

GARDEN CLUBS AND ASSOCIATIONS

NOTE: Many clubs suspend regular meetings during the summer months. 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.) Second Thursday, 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.

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.

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.