Gardening workshops, Seminars and Activities

 

Current as ofMay 11, 2010; Additional sessions will be added when scheduled.

May 11, Tuesday - Pruning Roses
Where: Montrose Post Office
When: 1 p.m. – 3 p.m.
Learn how to proper prune roses.  Bring your pruning equipment.

May 18, Tuesday - Identifying and correcting problems with your lawn’s sprinkler system
Where:  First Congregational Church, 5th and Kennedy in Grand Junction
When: 9 a.m. – noon - $5 per person registration fee
Learn how to identify and correct problems with your lawns irrigation’s system. This is a hands-on learning experience.

Pre-register at the Mesa County Extension office at the Mesa County Fairgrounds - 244-1834.

May 19, Wednesday - Master Gardener Training
Housecall and Diagnostic Training Workshop
Delta County
Open to Active CSU Master Gardeners; Contact Susan Rose at 244-1841 for information.

May 20, Thursday - Irrigation Audit Program
Where: Bill Heddles Recreation Center
When: 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. - $5 registration fee
Lerarn how to determine the water pressure at critical locations in your system, irrigation application rate and distribution uniformity for your sprinkler system. Locating and identifying irrigation system problems will also be covered. We will do an actual audit of one of the Heddles Rec Center systems so you will have some practical experience to help you learn.
Pre-register at the Delta CSU Extension office on Dodge Street - 874-2195. . Limited to 35 participants.

May 21, Friday - Master Gardener Training
Housecall and Diagnostic Training Workshop
Where:  Mesa County
Open to active Colorado Master Gardeners
Contact Susan Rose at 244-1841 for information.

May 22, Saturday
Western Colorado Lavender Association Meeting
Where: Sagebrush Room, Mesa County Fairgrounds
When: 10 – 2 p.m.
"The Feasability of Alternative Enterprises in Agriculture" by Rod Sharp, CSU Regional Economist

Contact Kathy Kimbrough, President, WCLA jkknkak@bresnan.net for information.

May 29: Saturday: Drip Micro Irrigation Workshop 
Where: Stolte Shed and Pioneer Town Visitor Center Garden, Cedaredge.
When: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. $10 per person registration fee.
Time out for lunch – bring your own lunch. 

Register by calling the Delta Extension office at 874-2915.

June 4, 11, & 18, Fridays - Native Plant Master Course
Where: Black Canyon of the Gunnison, South Rim
When: 8:00 to 12:30

Native Plant Master courses are field classes on three consecutive weeks, focusing on native plant identification, family characteristics, using a dichotomous key, invasive weeds and their effects on native habitats, and stewardship.  Call 244-1841 for further information.

June 4 – 5th, 2010, 9:00 AM – 3:30 PM
Colorado Native Plant Society, Plateau Chapter
Lone Mesa Field Trip
Leader: Peggy Lyon, Botanist with the Colorado Natural Heritage Program
Location: Lone Mesa State Park, between Norwood and Dolores
Description: Lone Mesa State Park is a “hotspot of biodiversity” and narrowly endemic plants.  It is home to two recently discovered species, cushion bladderpod (Physaria pulvinata) and Lone Mesa snakeweed (Gutierrezia elegans), with a couple of others that are awaiting publication.  In 2007 and 2008, CNHP, with the help of Al Schneider and the Southwest Chapter of CONPS, we prepared a complete species list for the park, and in the process found the snakeweed, a species new to science. We will be on a moderately strenuous hike (3 – 4 miles) to view the different plant species of the park. Avid botanists and novice plant enthusiasts are welcome. We plan to camp Friday night nearby, then explore the park and surrounding area on Saturday. This park field trip is limited to 11 people. No cost.
Contact: Gay Austin) or call 970-641-6264 for registration and directions.

June 5  and 6 - Grand Valley Garden Tour
Where:  Select Grand Valley Gardens
When: 9 a.m. – 4 pm.
Tickets will be available at local nurseries, garden centers, the Western Colorado Botanical Gardens and the CSU Extension office.  The Ute Ethnobotany Learning Gardens is on the tour.

June 11 & 12, Friday & Saturday - Mini-PowWow- Ute Ethnobotany Learning Garden
Where: CSU Extension, Mesa County Fairgrounds
When: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Ute Indian students will erect a wickiup, and install cooking/heating  hearths from different archeological eras. Learn about native plants and how they were used by Native peoples. Visit the teepee and learn about its significance to the Ute people that made Western Colorado home for hundreds of years. Docents will be present to guide you through the garden. Native crafts and food vendors will be available.

June 12th, 2010, 9:30 AM – 12:00 PM
Colorado Native Plant Society, Plateau Chapter
Montrose-Ouray Weed Pull
Leader: Amanda Clements, BLM Ecologist
Location: Montrose and Ouray areas.
Description: a yellow starthistle (Centaurea solstitialis) and absinthe wormwood (Artemisia absinthium) weed pull and dig!  Come learn what these highly invasive Colorado noxious weeds look like and how to help control them. Afterwards we will have lunch and visit the Ouray Hot Springs.  Snacks and refreshments will be provided.
Contact:  Gay Austin or call 970-641-6264 for registration and directions.

June 19th, 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Colorado Native Plant Society, Plateau Chapter
Tamarisk Seminar & Field Trip
Leader: Mike Drake, Executive Director of Painted Sky Resource Conservation and Development Council
Location: Delta, Colorado
Description: Seminar and field trip on the tamarisk beetle introductions for control of tamarisk in the Delta area. Come learn about the history of the beetles and the results. Easy walk along the Confluence Park trail looking at control sites. Wear sturdy walking shoes and bring a lunch. No cost. Limited to 15 people.
Contact: Gay Austin or call 970-641-6264 for registration or more information.

June 22, Tuesday - Master Gardener Training
Housecall and Diagnostic Training Workshop
Where:  Mesa County
Open to active Colorado Master Gardeners
Contact Susan Rose at 244-1841 for information.

June 24, Thursday - Master Gardener Training
Housecall and Diagnostic Training Workshop
Where:  Montrose County
Open to active Colorado Master Gardeners
Contact Susan Rose at 244-1841 for information.

June 25 & 26, Friday & Saturday
Special Advanced Training Session for Native Plant Masters and Learning Garden Docents. Contact Dr. Swift if you are interested in learning more. 

July 9, 16, & 23, Fridays - Native Plant Master Course
Where: Grand Mesa
When: 8:00 to 12:30
Native Plant Master courses are field classes on three consecutive weeks, focusing on native plant identification, family characteristics, using a dichotomous key, invasive weeds and their effects on native habitats, and stewardship.  Contact 244-1841 for further information.  An additional section may be added if there is sufficient interest.

July 10 – 11th, 2010, 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Colorado Native Plant Society, Plateau Chapter
Sheep Mountain Research Trip
Leaders: Vinnie Rossignol and Gay Austin
Location: southwest of Lake City on Sheep Mountain
Description: research field trip into the alpine tundra on Sheep Mountain. We will be relocating a known population of stonecrop gilia (Gilia sedifolia), using geology maps to look for additional populations of the gilia,counting tiny plants, and documenting human and wildlife activities in the area. The hike will be strenuous and is limited to 8 people (avid Botanists and novice plant enthusiasts welcome). We will camp out at the trailhead Friday evening in order to get an early start Saturday and minimize lightning exposure.
Contact: Gay Austin or call 970-641-6264 for registration and directions.

August 13 – 15th, 2010, 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Colorado Native Plant Society, Plateau Chapter
High Elevation Fens Research Trip
Leader: Gay Austin, CoNPS and USDA Forest Service
Location: Cinnamon Pass north of Silverton
Description: research field trip into fascinating alpine fens with incredible views of the surrounding mountains. We will be exploring and documenting plant species and mosses (bryophytes) in several fens above 11,000 feet in elevation. Altai cottongrass (Eriophorum altaicum), a rare sedge, should be easily seen. We will camp Friday evening near Silverton and carpool in 4 wheel drive vehicles up to the pass Saturday morning. The trip will be easy to moderate and is limited to 8 people (avid Botanists and novice plant enthusiasts welcome). Rubber boots are required.
Contact: Gay Austin or call 970-641-6264 for registration and directions.