Ashland Garden Club members mulching the Heirloom Garden at North Mountain Park
Tag Archives: Community Pride
Siskyou District Photo Contest: 2016
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)
Darlene Fenwick: 1st place – Category: Flowers (color)
Carlotta Lucas: 1st Place – Category: Landscapes (black & white)
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
Garden of the Month: April 2016
364 Hargadine Street, Ashland Oregon
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 
ease 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 m
any 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.
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.
Table Rock Hikes: 2016
The 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
Event: Rogue Seed Exchange
Free admission to the seed exchange. Bring seeds if you wish to share.
March 31st, 2016
3:00-7:00pm
Historic Ashland Armory
208 Oak Street, Ashland, OR
CELEBRATE LOCAL SEEDS!
Learn how to save your OWN SEEDS
SWAP seeds and plant cuttings with others (you do not need to bring seeds to participate)
Seed DEMOS & WORKSHOPS
Visit our area SEED SAVERS
Bring the WHOLE FAMILY
Activities for ALL AGES
Live Music….Non-GMO food & drinks for sale
Tool Talk
~The following tools are used & recommended by Ashland Garden Club Members~
Japanese Hori Hori Knife –Used for weeding, digging, cutting roots, dividing perennials, removing plants from pots. Unbelievably versatile!
Nejiri Gama Garden Hoe (Japanese garden hand tool) Narrow end pushes deep into the soil helps with weeding, planting seedlings, aerating the soil, making seed trenches, and breaking up clods & soil.
Hand Plow Ho-Mi Digger (short-handled) A Korean tool that’s an all-around hand-digging tool, useful for planting, weeding, rock-removal and finding irrigation lines.
Sheep Shears – Large long blades are useful for clipping & trimming small shrubs .
Long Handle Gardening Fork Dividing perennials, digging out trees, shrubs & perennials, Easier on the back when using long handle as leverage.
Garden Bucket Caddy Slips into a plastic bucket and holds garden tools.
Flexible Buckets – Great for hauling weeds, plants, hand tools around the garden.
Felco Pruners – Pruning, quality pruner, replaceable blades & parts, easy to sharpen. Right or Left handed offered. Felco 7: Is a ergonomic heavy duty pruner with a spinning handle, great for people with a arthritic thumb.
Florian Ratchet Pruner Ratchet-cut mechanism increases hand strength, prunes branches up to ¾ Inches in diameter, has a Lifetime Warranty. Right or Left handed offered.
Kneelon Knee Pads – Flexible, Waterproof, durable, machine washable.
CircleHoe– For weeding & cultivating close to plants.
Hoop Hoe, Stirrup Hoe, Action Hoe – All Similar hoes for weeding around plants.
Winged Weeders – For weeding, cultivating, edging, aerating and making furrows.
Balling Spade – Ideal for cutting deep and slicing through roots.
Potlifter – Lifts 250 lb – Saves your back when lifting pots or rocks. Also sold: Pro Potlifter for lifting 350 lbs.
Yard Butler Rotary Cultivator or Garden Weasel Cultivator (collapsible handle available) – Weeds, aerates, detachable center tines work between plants & rows.
Leaf Luster Digital Soil Thermometer – For measuring soil temperature for germination and transplanting
Leaf Luster Soil Tester – Contains tests for ph, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium levels.
Rapitest PH Meter – easily checks the pH level of your garden soil and potted plants.
Mico-tip Pruners – aka Floral Pruners- For deadheading & pruning smaller plants & flowers.
Fiskars Softough Mico-Tip Pruners- Awarded the Arthritis Foundation Ease-of-Use Commendation for a design that is easy-to-use for people with arthritis or limited hand strength.
Roto Digger Auger- Uses: Planting bulbs, bedding plants, seedlings, deep water aeration, fertilizing trees & shrubs.
Corona AC 8300 Sharpening Tool – 5-Inch super carbide file for sharpening straight edge tools.
Fiskars Softouch Weeder (7060) – Ergonomic weeder with forked tip cuts deep to remove weeds by the root.
Corona Clipper Razor Tooth – 10″ Folding Pruning Saw – Sturdy, easy to use, easy to store. Lifetime warranty.
Tru Temper Miniature Shovel – For planting bulbs and weeding.
Tru Temper Narrow Garden Fork – D-handle – For digging and mulching.
Yard Butler RKT-1000 Rocket Weeder – Pull weeds from the roots, organic weed control, ergonomic handle, ejector button pops off the weed-keeping your hands clean.
Gardex or Garden Home Leaf Scoops- Multi-purpose hand-held leaf scoops.