Author Archives: AGC

Blast from the past photo

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Ashland Garden Club member, Peter Finkle came across this photo while doing research about 4th of July celebrations at the Southern Oregon Historical Society. This photo was taken of an article in the Medford Mail Tribune dated July 5, 1976; it’s about Ashland’s 4th of July parade Grand Prize winner, the Ashland Garden Club. All flowers on the float were real. They were contributed by garden club members and friends!

“Ashland Garden Club took the top prize of all the entries in Sunday’s parade through downtown Ashland.”

Float: Betsy Ross sewing on the first US flag

1976 Ashland 4th of July parade, Ashland Garden Club float, MMT 7/5/1976; at SOHS

AGC Annual Plant Sale

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After a 3-year hiatus, the Ashland Garden Club Annual Plant Sale was back at Safeway’s parking on Saturday May 13th. Club member’s were selling plants and flower arrangements for Mother’s Day and sharing their collective knowledge on gardening. Even on this hot spring day the turn-out was great! Proceeds from this sale fund scholarships and donations to Rogue Community College and the SOU Farm.

Photos by: Carlotta Lucas and Lynn McDonald

AGC Member of Distinction: Michael Dawkins

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Michael’s Garden: Michael used the Hugelkultur method of composting to reclaim and generate soil on an asphalted slope flanking his condo’s parking lot located behind Ashland’s Safeway. The outcome is remarkable!

Hugelkultur (pronounced hyoo-gul-kulture) is a German word which means mound culture or hill culture. A hugelkultur is a sloped and raised planting bed filled with wood (large and small), organic materials, and topsoil. This gardening method has be practiced in German and European for hundreds of years.

City of Ashland,Oregon: Waterwise/Firewise/Earth Day

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Reservoir Capacity 4/5/23:  Emigrant Reservoir 43% full; Reeder Reservoir 61.3% full

Get the most out of your water this season!
Early spring is the perfect time to get ready for the summer watering season. Performing a few important maintenance tasks now can help your landscape retain and improve water efficiency. 
Completing tasks such as aerating, amending soil, adding mulch and dethatching will sustain healthy soils that cycle nutrients, minimize runoff and retain water.  When the time finally comes to start up your sprinkler system, these simple steps will help you get the most out of the water that you use. 

>>  Aerating and amending your soil. Soil can become compacted over time, inhibiting water infiltration. Aerating your soil increases infiltration of water into the ground, improving water flow to the plant’s root zone and reducing water runoff.  Raking in a layer of compost after aerating, feeds your plants and allows air and water to circulate more easily. 

>>  Dethatching. Thatch is a layer of organic material between the green lawn and the soil.  Thatch can act as a barrier that prevents vital water, air and nutrients from reaching roots. Spring is a good time to dethatch because conditions are optimum for rapid recovery and you are preparing the lawn for the coming growing season. 

>>  Use mulch around shrubs and garden plants. This will help reduce evaporation, inhibit weed growth, moderate soil temperature, and prevent erosion. Visit the City of Ashland Fire Department’s website at www.ashland.or.us/resources for information on the appropriate types of mulches and where to use them in the landscape.  You can also call 541-552-2231 for additional guidance on firewise landscaping practices. 

>>  Plan ahead for a water-wise landscape. If you’re designing a new landscape or rethinking your current one, find helpful ideas on plants that are not only waterwise, but are also firewire, pollinator friendly, and deer resistant. Visit the City of Ashland’s Water-Wise Landscaping Website at www.ashlandsaveswater.org or call 541-552-2062 for more information.

Earth day 2023
Join in celebrating Rogue Valley Earth Day on Friday, April 21, from 3:30 to 7 p.m. at The Farm on the Southern Oregon University Campus in Ashland!  Visit exhibits to learn more about water and energy conservation practices and how you can use these methods to make your home more efficient.  
This information was complied by the Water Action Team of the Ashland Climate Collaborative.

Annual Flower: Apricotta Cosmos 

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Apricotta Cosmos 

  • Annual Flower: 85 days.
  • Flower color: pink lemonade; abundant large blooms.
  • Plant in Full Sun
  • Sprouts in 7-14 Days
  • Plant Height: 3.5 foot
  • Ideal Temperature: 65-85 Degrees F
  • Plant Spacing: 10”
  • NOT Frost Hardy
  • Attracts a variety of pollinators
  • Uses: Cut flowers, Pollinator garden, Color spots in the garden

Growing Tips: Sow in place in mid-spring. Plants require full sun, fairly warm temps, moderate moisture. Removing spent blooms prolongs the blooming season. Appicotta Cosmos is the winner of the Fleuroselect Novelty Award for its unusual color and sturdy stems.

Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds https://www.rareseeds.com/cosmos-apricotta