Winter 2011
February
Our February Education night with Master Gardener Pam Hansen was very interesting. Pam's first suggestion was to know what insects you are dealing with to make sure that you really want to treat the problem. Pam presented a good list of remedies;the first line of defense however is prevention!
North Bay and Area Master Gardeners is a volunteer organization comprised of individuals who are certified horticultural experts providing in depth sustainable gardening information to the general public. Call 495-0920 with your gardening questions or e-mail: northbaymastergardeners@hotmail.com
March
Our March session with Dorothy Stewart was fairly well attended despite the stormy, snowy and bulstery weather! Dorothy's presentation on Garden Design was very interesting and very much appreciated by those in attendance. It was particularily wonderful to see all the photos of spring and summer flowers on such a cold stormy night. Thanks Dorothy! We look forward to future educational sessions with you.
Spring 2011
April
The Annual Volunteer Appreciation/ Gardening Symposium with Sean James of Fern Ridge Landscaping was largely a success. There were 132 gardeners and guests in attendance out of 252 active gardeners in 2010. The evaluations are being tabulated by a volunteer and the results will be posted here soon however I have only heard good reviews with regards to Sean's presentation on Xeriscaping. Two individuals told me that they thought he was the best speaker that they have heard to date. We have had many great speakers over the years and we hope to continue the trend in the future. Please foward the names of any speakers that you think you might enjoy and we will add their names to our growing speakers list. Thanks Sean for the great information on Xeriscaping and your fantastic ability to present the information in an entertaining and interesting manner!
The annual Spring Clean up with an accompanying pruning demonstration is scheduled for Saturday April 30 from 9-11.
May
On Wednesday May 11, 2011 Master Gardener Lynn Farintosh will present Garden Design. Lynn is in her second year of training as a Master Gardener and is also a Heritage Gardener gardening with the Crazy Daisies who tend to Bed #43 over beside the Sundial.
Lynn says: "The first step towards achieving a pleasing garden design for your home is to learn what you like, and don’t like. Come on a City Garden Walking Tour and learn how to critique garden designs and discover your style. We’ll be walking rain or shine, but if it’s a downpour then we’ll reschedule for Thursday the 12th. Meet at the southwest corner of McIntyre and Murray (across from the Court House) at 7 pm."
Summer 2011
During the summer the Heritage Gardeners are much too busy tending the gardens. Education takes place on site with team leaders, fellow team members and the Heritage Gardener Coordinator helping out with education in our living class room. Extra educational help can also be obtained from the North Bay Area Master Gardeners. Volunteers are encouraged to call the Master Gardener hotline at any time with their gardening questions: 705-495-0920
Fall 2011
September
Garden Maintenance is the topic for the September 14, 2011 session. Jim Merrick of Commanda Country Gardens has agreed give participants the low down on putting your garden to bed for the winter and how best to maintain your gardening equipment for proper winter storage.
October
October 12th topic is Earth, Fire and Water – Geology and Wildflowers with Andy Fyon. Andy Fyon is a geologist by training. He is presently the Director of the Ontario Geological Survey,Ontario Ministry of Northern Development, Mines, and Forestry, based in Sudbury. This is Ontario's organization mandated to provide the knowledge about our rock, soils, and Earth resources in order to help address the range of Ontario's public good needs. Andy's hobby is photographing wildflowers in their natural geological setting. Andy has an interest in the geological forces that shaped the land, created landforms and habitats. Andy applies his understanding of the geology – the material that plants grow in – to try to understand if, and in what way, the geology influences the distribution of different plant communities. Andy has traveled across Canada to photograph wildflowers in several unusual habitats.
Andy's personal web site (www.ontariowildflower.com) illustrates many flowering plants that grow in the Sudbury area and other parts of Ontario, the Rocky Mountains and the Arctic.
Andy, and his wife Elizabeth, are the parents of two Sons and have two grandchildren.
November
Herbalism and Medicinal plants will be the topic for November's Education Night. On Wednesday November 16, 2011 Alexis Burnett of Earth Tracks:Wilderness Training and Naturalist Adventrures will fill us in using his extensive knowlege of herbs and medicinal plants.
Here is Alexis's summary for his upcoming talk: "There are many native plants in our area that have edible and medicinal qualities. During this evening talk we will discuss herbalism and the many different ways to use plants. For thousands of year’s people from around the world depended on wild plants to provide both their food and medicine. Many wild plants in our area are highly nutritious and have the ability to heal when harvested and prepared in the proper manner. Join us as we discuss this ancient art."
Keep Watching this website for news on upcoming Educational events!
"COMMUNITY SPIRIT IN FULL BLOOM"
