There was an important week-long celebration last month that you might have missed. Tucked in between the new federal Juneteenth holiday and the 4th of July is Pollinator Week, an international event to spread the word about bees, birds and butterflies and their importance to all of us. How important are they? It’s estimated that more than 85% of Earth’s plant species require pollinators to exist. One out of every three bites of food you consume comes from plants made possible by honeybees … [Read more...] about Keeping the Buzz Going for Pollinators
Garden
Tips and Tools for a Bumper Tomato Harvest
With a short growing season, Northern Arizona is often tricky for garden edibles. But, with a little planning, the right selection, and an eye on protecting your crop, there’s no reason why you can’t grow juicy, delicious tomatoes straight from your backyard or patio. Step one is taking care to select a seed or tomato that either grows quickly or does well even in cool climates. Some of our favorites live up to their names, like Early Girl, which produces meaty tomatoes early in the … [Read more...] about Tips and Tools for a Bumper Tomato Harvest
Attracting Wildlife You Want to Your Garden
One of the rewards of creating your garden is being able to sit back and enjoy the nature it attracts. There’s nothing like seeing butterflies float around your plants, bees grabbing pollen from flowers and birds filling up your space with song. In addition, when you bring these insects and birds into your space, you are helping the ecosystem. But you can also draw animals that will wind up making your garden their feeding patch, destroying it in the process. Mammals like deer, rabbits and … [Read more...] about Attracting Wildlife You Want to Your Garden
How Gardening Fits Into the Root-to-Stem Movement
Here’s one of those statistics that just leaves your mouth hanging open in disbelief: According to the Environmental Protection Agency, people in the United States generate an average of 4.4 pounds of trash per person per day. Now, on the plus side, about one and a half of those 4.4 pounds gets recycled or composted. The bad news is that almost three pounds (per person! per day!) is destined for an incinerator, a landfill or the ocean. This has led to increased interest in two of the new … [Read more...] about How Gardening Fits Into the Root-to-Stem Movement
Planting for Beauty All Season
Welcome to spring! After the winter we’ve had (goodbye, record-breaking snowstorms) I hope you are all looking forward to beautiful blooms in garden beds and containers that will add so much to your backyards, patios or windowsills. One of the tricks to having a garden that gives you pleasure all season long is knowing that what you plant in early spring, when the temperatures are moderate and evenings are cool, might not thrive in the dog days of summer. So, you need to plan out what … [Read more...] about Planting for Beauty All Season
Extending Your Garden’s Life Throughout the Fall
Even in Northern Arizona, where frosts come as late as mid-June and as early as September, gardening does not have to be a summer-only activity. There’s a lot of life left in your garden at this time of year and plenty to do, including enjoying what you’ve already planted, getting some new flowers and vegetables in the ground for fall abundance, and planning for next year. First, take a look at what you’ve already got in your garden. You’ll probably have flowers and veggies that are still … [Read more...] about Extending Your Garden’s Life Throughout the Fall
Garden-Tainment: Taking the Party Outside this Summer
Believe it or not, summer will technically be over next month. You can already feel it now – the days are getting shorter and there’s that nip of chill in the air first thing in the morning. To paraphrase the poet, now is the time to gather ye summer memories while ye may. And the best way to do that is to take advantage of your backyard and garden and make them the place to meet. In our industry, this is known as “Garden-tainment” – moving the party outside to take advantage of beautiful … [Read more...] about Garden-Tainment: Taking the Party Outside this Summer
Make a Little Garden Out of Life
Every day, we are challenged with busy schedules, deadlines, never ending technology and social media avenues. We often rush through our daily routines and then think, “Where did the day go?” We go home to our family, friends, pets and neighbors. We spend quality time with them and then prepare for the next daily adventure. My husband, Richard, and I were having a coffee talk on the porch this week. He brought up the fact that so many folks are disconnected from nature with technology, the … [Read more...] about Make a Little Garden Out of Life
Viola’s Flower Garden Transplanting to Highway 89A
Regular commuters on Flagstaff’s east Route 66 may well miss seeing the vibrant colors of Viola’s Flower Garden. In June, Viola’s owners Robyn Walters and Art Escobedo were told the property had been sold and they needed to find a new location. Although this was not the first time the couple had to transplant their business, they are hoping it will be the last. Named after Walter’s grandmother, Viola, who loved to garden, the home-grown, family-based business took root in 2001 in a small … [Read more...] about Viola’s Flower Garden Transplanting to Highway 89A
Children’s Garden Beginning to Blossom at Foxglenn Park
The development of a whimsical and meaningful Children’s Garden is taking shape and on schedule at Foxglenn Park in Flagstaff, the result of a successful capital campaign. Organizers say fundraising efforts will continue to complete the project by next summer. Currently, phase one of the JLB (Jack’s Little Brother) Project is underway, which includes the infrastructure for the garden. Large boulders are in place that set the foundation for the gathering space by the memorial wall, … [Read more...] about Children’s Garden Beginning to Blossom at Foxglenn Park
