She's Planted...Properly!

 Dan Hinkley tickets are available and selling well.  Get yours here.

A small group gathered today to learn more about trees and shrubs -- why to plant them, where to plant them, how to plant them, and more.  We missed many of the usual attendees at Willow Garden Club programs, but figure they were busy working in their own gardens on this beautiful day in Willow!   The information from arborist  Pat Joyner was excellent, as is that in the handouts she provided.

Following the meeting a beautiful tree was planted in the Willow Library Garden, which is maintained by the Willow Garden Club.  Pause as you go in and out of the Community Center to see how this new beauty is doing, and appreciate the efforts that Garden Club members put into providing this jewel of a garden for all to enjoy.

Select your tree carefully noting form and root system. Spread the roots; plant in a shallow, sloped hole; water.

 
On another note, several Garden Club members are donating plants to the Grow Your Library fundraiser being held this Saturday, May 30, in conjunction with the Willow Art Studio Tour. Thanks to these members for supporting the Library once again and for making plants available to others in an effort to further beautify Willow! 

Happy gardening! 

Garden Club Summer Events

Have you purchased your Dan Hinkley tickets yet?  It's easy to do so online at:
danhinkleyinwillow.eventbrite.com


Reminder:  THIS week on  Thursday, May 28, 1:30-3:30---WGC May Meeting----Pat Joyner, arborist, will present great information about planting trees and shrubs.  We will also plant a tree in the library garden.  Come prepared to help plant our new tree. 

Willow Garden Club Summer Events
This year marks the 30th year of garden tours in Willow, when a small group of dedicated Willow gardeners got together to host what has become a yearly tradition in Willow. A few years later this same group of gardeners formally became Willow Garden Club. To mark the anniversary, Willow Garden Club is hosting three events this summer. (Our usual summer garden tour schedule will return next year.)

During remainder of the summer:

Old Fashioned Summer Solstice Picnic
Saturday, June 27th (1:00 p.m.)
Home of Cindy and Ron Forsyth on Nancy Lake
RSVP: You must RSVP if you plant to attend: crfupnorth@mtaonline.net

Join us as we celebrate the summer gardening season. Willow Garden Club will provide hot dogs and beverages. Please bring your choice of side dish, salad, or dessert. Bring a plant for Chinese auction. Flyer for solstice picnic will be mailed out on June 1st.

Les Brake’s Coyote Garden Tour
Saturday, July 25th (10 a.m.- 5 p.m.) Sunday, July 26th (12-5 p.m.)

Les Brake’s garden has been featured in numerous magazines, including Horticulture, Gardens Illustrated, Country Gardens, Sunset, New Zealand Gardener, and Plant Driven Design, the latest book from Lauren Springer Ogden and Scott Ogden. HGTV featured his garden and two segments for the PBS show ‘Smart Gardening’ were filmed there. His ice arrangements have gained some notoriety; appearing in several magazines, including Better Homes and Gardens and Suzy Bales’ book, The Garden in Winter.

Dan Hinkley Presentation
Saturday, August 1st (1:30 -3:30p.m.)
Willow Community Center, Mile 69.5, Parks Highway
Entrance Fee: $12 For tickets go to: willowgardenclub.blogspot.com

Willow Garden Club is honored to host Dan Hinkley, the well-known American horticulturalist, award-winning author, plant explorer, and lecturer. He is best known for establishing Heronswood Nursery and Windcliff, near Poulsbo, Washington. For the past twenty-five years he has traveled to all corners of the world searching out rare plants that would be suitable new introductions for the temperate climate found in the Northwest. Dan will share stories from his most recent adventure searching for rare plants in China, Vietnam, and Myanmar. He will also highlight examples of plants found on his trip; some of which could be grown in Alaska’s garden zones. This is a presentation that every gardener or armchair traveler in Alaska will enjoy.
Tickets available at danhinkleyinwillow.eventbrite.com

Spring Zing...Coyote Gardens

Have you purchased your Dan Hinkley tickets yet?  Just a click away:
danhinkleyinwillow.eventbrite.com

Have you paid your 2015 Willow Garden Club dues yet?  There's an opportunity to do so on Memorial Day -- at a tour of Coyote Gardens --  for club members.  Dues are only $10! Thank you, Les, for giving members a private viewing of your spring gardens!

Tree Planting -- May 28

Yes, tickets for the Dan Hinkley Presentation are available online at:
danhinkleyinwillow.eventbrite.com
We anticipate that gardeners from around Alaska will be joining us for this special event. A Meet and Greet Reception in the Community Center will follow his presentation.

Another excellent Willow Garden Club meeting/program is nearly here! Come learn about tree planting, help plant a tree with The Tree Lady, and work in the library garden to help beautify it for another growing season. 

 Dan Hinkley Presentation in Willow
 August 1, 1:30 p.m., in the Community Center

Tickets are $12.    Buy yours now!
Enter  danhinkleyinwillow.eventbrite.com in your browser if the above link misbehaves.

Willow Garden Club is honored to host Dan Hinkley, the well-known American horticulturalist, award-winning author, plant explorer, and lecturer.  He is best known for establishing Heronwood Nursery in Kingston, Washington, and Windcliff, on the Kitsap Peninsula. For the past twenty-five years he has traveled to all corners of the world searching out rare plants that would be suitable new introductions for the temperate climate found in the Northwest.  Dan will share stories from his most recent adventure searching for rare plants in China, Vietnam, and Myanmar.  He will also highlight examples of plants found on his trip, some of which could be grown in Alaska's garden zones.  This is a presentation that every gardener in Alaska will enjoy.

Oates Garden Yard Sale -- May 8, 9, 10

Tomato Field Trip on April 16

Let's Get Growing! March 19, 2015

Please note change of location. 

This field trip will be to J&B Greenhouse in Wasilla, 6350 W. Aeronautical Ave.,

 not to Jacobson's as previously planned. 

Calendar of Events 2015 - Willow Garden Club

An exciting, informative, educational and fun year has been planned! Please mark your calendar with these events -- and join us! Dues is only $10!  Check back for event updates during the year.

Willow Garden Club 2015 Calendar of Events

March 19, 2015 - "Gardening in Small Spaces - Let's Get Growing" - Field Trip - Jacobson's Nursery Tour and Presentation on incorporating variety, color, and beauty to baskets and small containers, planting media, care. Cory Jacobson. Time to be announced.

April 16, 2015 - "The Tomato Man: Tomatoes and Peppers." - Field Trip - Mid-Valley Greenhouses, Wasilla - Tour and Presentation on tomato and pepper production; introduction of new hybrids, plants for sale, & POSSIBLE BONUS, taste testing tomatoes and peppers. "Tomato Man", Mark Oathout. 10:30 departure, Willow, encourage carpooling.

May 28, 2015 - "Tree Lady" from Anchorage, Pat Joyner - Willow Library Garden where we will plant a tree, learn to prune, fertilize, & care for it with discussion of trees & bushes commonly planted in SouthCentral Alaska gardens. 1:30 -

**Late May, early June - Informal trip to view Les Brake's Coyote Gardens for Spring Garden Beauty - Date and time, to be announced.

June 20, 2015 - Summer Solstice Potluck Picnic: Celebrating 30 years of Willow community gardening activities & Willow Garden Club (organized 25 years ago) - drinks provided; bring a dish. - Gonzalez Pavilion, Nancy Lake (Milepost 64.5 - Nancy Creek Circle) 2 - 5 pm.

July 25-26, 2015 - Garden Tour - Les Brake Coyote Gardens. 10 - 5, Saturday; 12- 5, Sunday.

August 1, 2015 - 1:30- Willow Community Center (Mile 69.5, Parks Highway) - Dan Hinkley, renowned speaker, gardener, Kitsap, Washington. Slide presentation & discussion -$10.00 fee.

August Meeting - Advisory Board Meeting  - Tentatively 20th in in Library.

September 17, 2015 - Harvest Dinner, Willow Community Ctr - 6-8 - A potluck dinner focusing on things "harvested" in one way or another. Open to ALL in the community. Following the dinner a  general membership meeting will address sign up for roles and committees for WGC. Please be prepared to indicate where you will provide a helping hand.

October 15, 2015 - Field Trip - Vase Making - Carol Goltz, WillowAK Pottery. Members have priority for registering. 2:00 p.m., but if more than eight register, a 10:00 a.m. session will be added. You'll make a vase and learn some basics of working with clay.  $30 fee for workshop materials and firing.

November, 2015 - No meeting

December 18, 2015 - Kara Eubanks Workshop, Holiday Centerpieces and Greenery.

Reminder -- Wreath Workshop and Advisory Board

Remember that the Corn Husk Wreath Workshop is on Saturday, Dec. 20, at 2:00, in the Community Center. Details are provided in the previous blog posting.

Also, the Willow Garden Club Advisory Board is meeting at 11:30 in the library conference room prior to the workshop.  Members should bring lunch.

 Best Wishes to ALL for a  Happy Holiday Season and Wonderful New Year!

May visions of gardens dance in your heads.