Siskyou District Photo Contest: 2016

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Congratulations to two Ashland Garden Club members won first place in their categories of submission at the Siskiyou District Meeting held in Jacksonville, Oregon.

Darlene Fenwick: 1st place – Category: Birds  (black & white)

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Darlene Fenwick: 1st place – Category: Flowers (color)

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Carlotta Lucas:  1st Place – Category: Landscapes (black & white)

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First place winning photos advance to Oregon State Federation of Garden Clubs  convention photo contest being held at Hood River in June.

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All 2016 Siskiyou District photo contest winners are listed below:

 Category: Birds, Butterflies, Insects – Color

1st place – Lilly Radbourne – Grants Pass

2nd place  – Darlene Fenwick – Ashland

3rd place – Cathy Warner – Illinois Valley

 Category: Birds, Butterflies, Insects – Black and White

1st place – Darlene Fenwick – Ashland

 Category: Wildlife – Color

1st place – Jenny Guppando – Grants Pass

2nd place  – Darlene Fenwick – Ashland

 Category: Floral – Color

1st place – Darlene Fenwick – Ashland

2nd place  – Kathy Lombardo – Illinois Valley

3rd place – Sharon Conklin – Grants Pass

 Category: Gardens – Color

1st place – Peggy Peffley – Jacksonville

2nd place  – Kathy Lombardo – Illinois Valley

3rd place – Jenny Grippando – Grants Pass

4th place- Darlene Fenwick – Ashland

 Category: Landscapes – Color

1st place – Jenny Grippando – Grants Pass

2nd place  – Carlotta Lucas – Ashland

 Category: Landscapes – Black and White

1st place – Carlotta Lucas – Ashland

 Category: Pets – Color

1st place – Peggy Peffley – Jacksonville

2nd place – Nancy Buono – Ashland

3rd place – Kathy Lombardo – Illinois Valley

4th place – Nan Williamson – Grants Pass

 Category: Frogs

1st place – Donelle Kemmer – Illinois Valley

2nd place  – Marisa Stone – Ashland

3rd place – Lilly Rathbourne – Grants Pass

Recipe: African Peanut Soup

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African Peanut Soup [Vegan]

Ingredients:
2 tablespoon coconut oil
1 large onion, chopped
2 stalks celery, chopped fine
3-4 cloves of garlic, chopped
4 cups cubed sweet potatoes – (2) 10-oz bags organic frozen, or 2 large organic fresh.
1 tablespoon ginger, minced
½ teaspoon paprika, or to taste ( use chili pepper flakes or cayenne, if you like “heat”)
1 teaspoon salt
1 can diced organic tomatoes with juice (14.5 oz can)
4 cups vegetable stock
½ cup natural peanut butter

Garnishes:
¼ cup roasted unsalted peanuts, chopped
Cilantro leaves, chopped

Using in a 5 or 6 quart Saucepan or Dutch Oven,
Sauté onion & garlic in coconut oil until onions are translucent.
Add broth, sweet potatoes, ginger ; cook on medium heat for 6 minutes.
Add salt, tomatoes, & peanut butter. Bring to boil, then reduce heat and cook an additional 7 minutes. (Note: if using fresh sweet potatoes cook an additional 3 minutes, or until sweet potatoes are tender)

Let cool slightly, puree with a handheld blender, or in small batches in a blender. Serve in bowls , garnished with peanuts & cilantro.

Made today by: Carlotta Lucas
Photo by: Carlotta Lucas

Adapted from The Baker Creek Vegan Cookbook by Jere & Emilee Gettle

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Garden of the Month: April 2016

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364 Hargadine Street, Ashland Oregon

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Vicky Huxtable, Fred Epstein, and their dog Mabel are enjoying the new gardens at their home at 364 Hargadine Street. Nearly completed only recently, the design and installation was by Solid Ground Landscape. Mabel figures prominently in the story of the landscape here: The path that ramps diagonally up from the street to the house as an alternate to the stairs, while an excellent idea for many gardening and design reasons, was Vicky’s idea to IMG_0411ease the old dog’s route. Mabel’s sister-dog was Molly who died suddenly just before the front yard was planted, and one bush that is featured there is a Miss Molly summer lilac. Both Vicky and Fred contributed creative ideas for the new hardscape. Fencing blends seamlessly with the charming 1902 cottage, which Huxtable and Epstein have owned for about nine years.

Outside the fences are mIMG_0417any deer-resistant plants such as hellebore, Japanese peonies, yarrow, pieris, euphorbia, sage, honeysuckle, sea holly, agastache, amsonia, artemisia, and rosemary. Inside the fences crepe myrtle, fern, azalea, camellia, hydrangea, candytuft, and many other plants bloom. There is a stunning Oklahoma coral-bark Japanese maple placed for dramatic effect and a paperbark maple equally well situated. Three redbuds highlight the meandering path through the side yard. Throughout the yard, many plants are drought tolerant and there is no thirsty grass anywhere.

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Despite the small yard and steep terrain, there are several places to sit and enjoy the views. Narrow yews have been placed strategically to block less desirable views—while not taking up much precious ground—and replace other hedges that were suddenly being eaten by deer.

Mabel and her caretakers have a lovely garden in which to take their ease.

Paper Cup Seedling Pots

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Note: Use only unwaxed paper cups for your seedling pots, so they will decompose when planted in the garden later.

Start your seeds indoors 4 to 6 weeks before the last frost date in your location.

To get Started:

Buy seedling mix, or make your own [it’s cheaper] – See DIY: Seedling Mix Formula, on this Blog. Seedling mix is a soil-less mixture specifically made for sprouting seeds.
20160318_155511_resized_1Poke three to four holes in the bottom of each paper cup.

Fill each paper cup with seed-starting mix, leaving 1/2 inch of space below the top.

Plant two seeds in of each cup. Check seed packet for seed planting depth; each variety is different. Cover seeds with seedling mix.

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Sit cups in trays, or boxes, water, then cover trays loosely with sheets of plastic wrap.

This helps keep moist and prevents mix from drying out.

Place in a warm location, after two days, start checking cups daily, water if

Remove the plastic wrap when most of the seeds have sprouted.

Place trays in a warm sunny indoor location. If placed next to a window turn trays regularly for equal sun exposure.

Water on a regular basis, but don’t over water.

two true leavesWhen plants have grown two true leaves, thin by snipping off the weaker plant in each cup.

After the last frost date in your area,  “harden off” your plants before planting

To Harden Off Plants:  Sit plants outside in a protected area for four hours, then bring them back inside. Increase “outdoor time “ by two hours each day. After a week of hardening off, you can plant the starts in your garden.

 

Table Rock Hikes: 2016

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Table Rock.jpgThe Nature Conservancy (TNC) and the Medford District Bureau of Land Management (BLM) are sponsoring free guided hikes at the Table Rocks.

Hikes are FREE but reservations are required. Space is limited. Register online (link follows the info for each hike) or call the Medford District BLM at 541.618.2200, M-F 7:30 am – 4:00 pm.

Hikes are 3-5 miles roundtrip along a moderate grade trail and generally last 3-5 hours. Dress for the weather and bring drinking water (none is available at the site) and lunch or a snack. Restrooms are available at the trailhead. No dogs, mountain bikes or OHVs are allowed on the trail.

  • Early Wildflowers – Saturday, April 9, 9:00 am – Upper Table Rock:  Marcia Wineteer, botanist at the BLM will lead a hike to explore and enjoy the valley’s beautiful native flora and wildflowers of Table Rocks. Limited to 15 individuals.     http://earlywildflowers.eventbrite.com
  • Wildflowers Abound – Sunday, April 10, 9:00 am – Lower Table Rock:  Barbara Mumblo, botanist emeritus with the U.S. Forest Service, Siskiyou Mountains Ranger District and member of the Native Plant Society of Oregon, will lead a hike to discover the dazzling array of wildflowers found on the Table Rocks.     http://wildflowersabound.eventbrite.com
  • Spring in Bloom – Sunday, April 17, 9:00 am – Upper Table Rock:   Join Chamise Kramer, avid botanist and Public Affairs Specialist with the Rogue River National Forest, and Molly Allen, BLM Environmental Educator, to explore the valley’s beautiful native flora, wildflowers, and natural history of the Table Rocks.     http://springinbloom.eventbrite.com
  • Nature on the Rocks – Celebrating 30 Years of Environmental Education – Saturday, April 30, 10:00 am – 2:00 pm – Lower Table Rock:  Join us for a fun filled day of activities, hikes, and interactive displays suitable for the entire family. Help us celebrate 30 years of successful community engagement and education on the Table Rocks.  Public event, open to all. Please consider carpooling as parking is limited. A shuttle will be offered from Sam’s Valley Elementary parking area to the Lower Table Rock trail throughout the day.  NO REGISTRATION NEEDED.
  • Beautiful Butterflies & Incredible Insects – Saturday, May 14, 10:00 am – Lower Table Rock:  Dr. Peter Schroeder, Entomologist and Affiliate Professor of Biology at Southern Oregon University, will lead a hike to observe and discuss the beautiful butterflies and other incredible insects that live on or flutter by the Table Rocks. On this hike, Peter will help you gain a deeper appreciation for how butterflies and other insects live and their essential role in the environment.     http://beautifulbutterflies.eventbrite.com
  • Powerful Pollinators – Sunday, May 15, 10:00 am – Upper Table Rock:  Find out what all the buzz is about by joining Sarah Red-Laird, a.k.a. Bee Girl, who will explain why pollination is essential for our survival. On this family-friendly hike learn about the birds and the bees and their relationship with the wildflowers and trees that produce a rainbow of colors on the Table Rocks. Limited to 15 individuals.     http://powerfulpollinators.eventbrite.com

Thank you for helping us get the word out about these fun, family friendly hikes at the Table Rocks!

CONTACT: Kathleen Kudo – sworegon@tnc.org

View the full hike schedules: TableRockHikes2016.eventbrite.com

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