Garden information series returns for 17th season
CAREFREE – The quiet beauty of Carefree Desert Gardens has been enchanting and educating visitors and residents to the wonders of the desert landscape since its creation in 2002. Now in its 17th season, the Town of Carefree is pleased to announce the return of its popular annual garden seminars, to be held monthly from Jan.–April 2020 on various Saturdays of the month beginning at 9:30 a.m. in the Town Council Chambers, 33 Easy St.
Each seminar focuses on a gardening topic of interest, and features an expert speaker:
Saturday, Jan. 11
Desert Gardening Simplified
Guest Speaker: Noelle Johnson, aka “AZ Plant Lady” and writer of the popular garden blog, Ramblings from a Desert Garden.
Do you look out your window and think you live in a parched wasteland? Do you long to step out into an inviting space to relax and de-stress? Desert residents can create, grow and maintain a beautiful garden with little fuss. Ms. Johnson will share how to avoid and fix mistakes, and provide tried and true strategies for creating an enticing, long-lasting outdoor space.
Saturday, Feb. 8
Garden Insects: Friends and Foes
Guest Speaker: Carol Stuttard, adjunct professor in the Horticulture Department at Mesa Community College, and instructor at Desert Botanical Garden.
In the U.S. alone, there are approximately 91,000 species of insects, and to date we have lost 40% of the world’s bug population. Insects are our benefactors, providing us with food, clothing and dyes, but some are destructive. Ms. Stuttard will introduce attendees to the fascinating world of insects, discerning which ones are garden allies and which ones are its enemies.
Saturday, March 14
Blending Hardscape with Landscape
Guest Speaker: Judy Mielke, Senior Landscape Architect with Logan Simpson.
Using a variety of hardscapes, including walls, pavers, seating, ramadas, fireplaces and water features, combined with beautiful plants which provide shade, color and even food, it may be surprising how fun and easy it is to create an inviting landscape. Ms. Mielke will also discuss mulch materials, both rock and organic, and water harvesting ideas.
Saturday, April 18
Gardening for Fragrance
Guest Speaker: Jacqueline Soule Ph.D., a Tucson native holding numerous degrees in Botany, as well as an award-winning author and public speaker.
Fragrance is often neglected when selecting plants for the landscape, yet smell is the most evocative of the five senses. Whether from foliage or flowers, a fragrant garden is alluring, inviting us to explore its sweet and delicate scents. Dr. Soule will introduce attendees to some of the many fragrant plants that thrive while adding enchanting scents to Southwest desert gardens.
Programs traditionally include a plant raffle, and a suggested minimum donation of $5 is requested for the continued support of these programs. Early attendance is recommended.
For information, visit Carefree.org, or call 480-488-3686.
