PROGRAMS and WORKSHOPS

• April 2008
  • Plant Diagnostics - Tri River Area
    • Master Gardener diagnosticians are meeting each week in each of our offices, to examine the plant samples that have been brought to us and try to determine the cause of the problems. If you are bringing us a plant sample, there are several things you can do to help out the diagnostic team:
      • Bring in as fresh a sample as possible. Plants left in a hot car become much harder to identify.
      • Bring in as much of the plant as possible, including the root where feasible. Bring along some of the soil, so it can be tested for salts.
      • Bring in both an area of the plant that is suffering, and if possible an adjacent section that is doing well. This is especially helpful with turf samples.
      • If you need the plant identified, flowers and/or fruit will make diagnosis easier.
    • When you come to the office, the Master Gardeners will have you fill out a form that asks a number of questions about the plant. Answering these as thoroughly as possible is very helpful! You can reach the Master Gardeners at each of our offices. In Delta, we’re at 874-2195; in Montrose, at 249-3935, and in Grand Junction we’re at 244-1836. Leave a message and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.

• April 2008
  • Western Slope Gardening Internet Discussion Group - Tri River Area
    • Western Slope Garden is an internet discussion group dealing with subjects of interest to Western Colorado gardeners. If you'd like to share your observations and learn about what others are seeing in their yards, or have problems you'd like help with, contact Sheryl Williams at sherylwil@gmail.com and ask about getting added to the list.

• April 2008
  • Mesa County Noxious Weed Cost-Share Program - Mesa County of Colorado
    • All weeds on the Mesa County Noxious Weed List plus chicory are eligible. The County will reimburse landowners for 50% of the cost of herbicides, herbicide application by a certified professional, and/or 50% of the cost for labor (assessed at $10/hour) for mechanical control if that method is appropriate for the weed involved (for example, annuals or biennials). Up to $500 per landowner can be reimbursed by the County. In other words, a landowner spending $1000 can be reimbursed $500 if their application is approved. Because funds are limited, applications are reviewed and selected for funding by the County Weed Advisory Board. Jude Sirota, Mesa County Pest Inspector, or Karen Eslinger, Pest Control Technician, are available to assist landowners with identification of the weeds and preparing their Management Plans. More details and a Cost-Share application are available from Jude Sirota, P.O. Box 20,000-5025, Grand Junction, CO, 81502-5025, phone: 970-255-7120, email: jude.sirota@mesacounty.us. Or visit the website to download the application at http://www.mesacounty.us/pest/.

• April 2008
  • Home Use Pesticide Database - Tri River Area
    • The Home Use Pesticide Database is finally on line at http://homeusepesticide.org. This site is an easy to use compilation of over-the-counter pesticides with links to labels or information sites. A user can sort by pesticide type (insecticide, herbicide, vertebrate control ...), and uses within the type (fly, vegetable, fruit, houseplant, etc. insecticides). Organic gardeners can limit their search to organic materials only if they so desire. There are approximately 1000 products in the database. This site will be updated annually, and will be expanded this winter to include information on over-the-counter pesticides and their use.
    • Please use the site if it fits your needs. If you like it, let others know about it. Any and all comments on usability, bugs, and suggested improvements are welcome, please send these comments to Bob Hammon, Extension Agent - Entomology via email to bob.hammon@mesacounty.us.

• May 13, 2008
  • Tree Pruning Workshop - Crawford Lake State Park, Colorado
    • A demonstration workshop is planned from 9:00am to 4:00pm at the Crawford State Park. While this session is free, you will need to pay the park entry fee to gain entry to the park. For complete information call the Mesa County Extension office at 970-244-1836.

• May 14, 2008
  • Tree Pruning Workshop - Sweitzer Lake State Park, Colorado
    • A demonstration workshop is planned from 9:00am to 4:00pm at the Sweitzer Lake State Park. While this session is free, you will need to pay the park entry fee to gain entry to the park. For complete information call the Mesa County Extension office at 970-244-1836.

• May 17, 2008
  • Tree Planting Workshop - Grand Junction, Colorado
    • A demonstration workshop is planned from 9:00am to 4:00pm at the Western Colorado Community College (formerly UTEC) at 2508 Blichman Avenue in Grand Junction. This session will be held at the ALCC CLT testing facility behind Building B. Two balled and burlapped and two container-grown trees will be planted. This demonstration will cover the proper planting to include locating the structiral root systems for proper planting to include locating the structural root system for proper planting height placement. For complete information call the Mesa County Extension office at 970-244-1836.

• June 6, 13 and 20, 2008
  • Native Plant Master - Black Canyon of the Gunnison (north rim), Colorado
    • Native Plant Master courses are field classes that take place on three consecutive Friday or Saturday mornings in open space parks or public lands. The courses cover forty to fifty native plants and noxious weeds over the three sessions, with emphasis on learning plant family characteristics, keying, and botanical names. Ecological relationships and human uses are also covered.
    • The cost is $100.00 for each three session course, with a reduced fee of $50.00 for those who commit to educating 20 others with information learned in the course. To become a Certified Native Plant Master, you will need to complete three different courses, but this does not need to be done all in one year. You’ll also need to commit to and make the required educational contacts. More information on the program is available at http://www.coopext.colostate.edu/jefferson/natural/native.htm and you’ll find a link to the Tri River Area application there as well. It is also available on our website at http://westernslopegardening.org Our application deadline is April 1, and space is very limited, so interested persons should apply right away. Feel free to contact me at susan.rose@colostate.edu or 244-1841 for more information.

• July 11, 18 and 25, 2008
  • Native Plant Master - Grand Mesa, Colorado
    • Native Plant Master courses are field classes that take place on three consecutive Friday or Saturday mornings in open space parks or public lands. The courses cover forty to fifty native plants and noxious weeds over the three sessions, with emphasis on learning plant family characteristics, keying, and botanical names. Ecological relationships and human uses are also covered.
    • The cost is $100.00 for each three session course, with a reduced fee of $50.00 for those who commit to educating 20 others with information learned in the course. To become a Certified Native Plant Master, you will need to complete three different courses, but this does not need to be done all in one year. You’ll also need to commit to and make the required educational contacts. More information on the program is available at http://www.coopext.colostate.edu/jefferson/natural/native.htm and you’ll find a link to the Tri River Area application there as well. It is also available on our website at http://westernslopegardening.org Our application deadline is April 1, and space is very limited, so interested persons should apply right away. Feel free to contact me at susan.rose@colostate.edu or 244-1841 for more information.

• July 12, 19 and 26, 2008
  • Native Plant Master - Grand Mesa, Colorado
    • Native Plant Master courses are field classes that take place on three consecutive Friday or Saturday mornings in open space parks or public lands. The courses cover forty to fifty native plants and noxious weeds over the three sessions, with emphasis on learning plant family characteristics, keying, and botanical names. Ecological relationships and human uses are also covered.
    • The cost is $100.00 for each three session course, with a reduced fee of $50.00 for those who commit to educating 20 others with information learned in the course. To become a Certified Native Plant Master, you will need to complete three different courses, but this does not need to be done all in one year. You’ll also need to commit to and make the required educational contacts. More information on the program is available at http://www.coopext.colostate.edu/jefferson/natural/native.htm and you’ll find a link to the Tri River Area application there as well. It is also available on our website at http://westernslopegardening.org Our application deadline is April 1, and space is very limited, so interested persons should apply right away. Feel free to contact me at susan.rose@colostate.edu or 244-1841 for more information.

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