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Landscaping is a form of art

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After being cooped up indoors for a typical long Western New York winter, people like to spend as much time outside as possible once summer finally rolls around.

People all over are tending to their properties to create that ideal summer paradise in their backyards. That means that the folks over at Pinelli Landscaping, located at 4524 Clinton St in West Seneca are hard at work turning the chore of lawn work into works of art.

“I worked for another company for four years,” said owner Tony Pinelli. “That’s where I started to get into design and installation and my passion grew from there. I felt I had the capabilities and talent to do good work so that’s what drove me into starting my own business.”

Pinelli Landscaping first opened in January of 1994. Over the years they have progressed from a lawn cutting service to paving and blocking (laying out bricks for walls and walkways), they’ve turned what they do into as much a form of art as it is a business.

“We have a full-time blocking crew, two full-time maintenance crews, who do smaller landscaping projects, a crew that does both, and I have two landscaping crews,” Pinelli said. “There’s also a lawn cutting crew.”

He added that in order to keep busy during the winter months they do snow removal, snow plowing and salting. In the past few years they have also been in service installing Christmas lights at local residences.

“What drives me every day is the satisfaction of my customers,” Pinelli said. “My goal when I first started was to build a reputable company. The customer needs to be 100 percent satisfied, not 95 percent, not 90, 100 percent. That’s how I operate, how the crew operates. That’s how I train them.”

Pinelli Landscape takes a great deal of care when planning out a project. First they consult with the customer to discuss their visions and try to put ideas together. Then a blueprint is drawn up so they can see if everyone is on the same page.

He says that once the design is on paper, several different budget options will be assessed and presented to the customer so they can pick which works best for them.

“It’s not difficult if you’re open minded when you assess the property,” Pinelli said of working with other people’s visions for their lawns. “You want their ideas as much as possible because it is so wide open, the same project can be done hundreds of different ways, I want to know what they want to look at.”

Pinelli does just offer landscaping services, his office is also a licensed nursery, they have examples of the plants they work with in the store so they people can come in and choose. He says that it helps make it easier to visualize the designs.

While they do have a retails aspect to the business, they mostly focus on the design and lawn care, although he says they might get more into it in the future.

According to Pinelli that best part about the job is getting to go out and work in the field, the actual installation of plants is what got him into landscaping and it’s his reputation for great customer service and creativity that has kept him here for nearly 20 years.

“It’s turning things from what it was to what it will be,” he said. “That’s what I like to do.”

Community Garden Resource Fair to benefit hospice patients

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The Community Garden Resource Fair will be held Saturday, July 27, from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. Visitors are invited to stop in at three local businesses for mini-clinics on herbs, landscape design and mid-summer gardening tips.

Tickets are $10 each and may be purchased at Forth Floral, Hanson’s Garden Village, Trig’s service counter (Rhinelander), Customer Choice Landscaping Gardens and the Ministry Home Care office at 1864 N. Stevens Street.

All proceeds benefit patients and families cared for by the Ministry Home Care hospice team.

New this year is the wood carvings raffle. Scott Schmidt, of Into the Wild and Jack of all Trades Caretaking, Log Furniture and Wood Burned Art, has created two wood carvings and donated them to be raffled in association with the Community Garden Resource Fair. A wooden fish and a garden mushroom will be raffled. Tickets are $1 each or six for $5 and may be purchased at the Resource Fair or by calling Ministry Home Care.

The winner will be drawn July 27 at 4 p.m. at CCL Gardens and Landscaping, 3839 County Drive (Hwy. 47 North), Rhinelander.

For more information, call Ministry Home Care at (800) 643-4663.

Gardening Tips: Extension website offers way to ask garden questions

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Posted: Friday, July 5, 2013 11:10 am


Gardening Tips: Extension website offers way to ask garden questions

By Matthew Stevens

RR Daily Herald

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A few years ago, extension services nationally partnered to develop a website — www.extension.org. It serves as a portal to unify the extension services that exist in each of the 50 states. In addition to publications and news articles, the site also offers an Ask an Expert feature. Through this feature, users can ask questions and their question will be sent to a local or subject matter expert. Here are some of the questions I’ve been asked in the past week or two, along with my answers.

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Friday, July 5, 2013 11:10 am.

GCFM Meets; Summer Garden Tours

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By Carol Stocker

At the recent annual meeting of the GCFM in Mansfield, outgoing President Heidi Kost-Gross was lauded for her efforts championing the fight against electronic billboards. She reported that the 13,000 membership of the Garden Club Federation of Massachusetts was up slightly from last year.There were also reports on efforts to stem the Asian Long Horn Beetle South of Worcester and about its top notch Flower Show School.

The Garden Conservancy’s Open Days Program will host the opening of several private gardens new to the tour, including five in Bristol County, Saturday, July 13, 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. These are the Coolidge-Goldman Garden, 340 Barneys Joy Road, Dartmouth, The Meadows, 189 Smith Neck Road, The Meadows at 191 Smith Neck Road, both in South Dartmouth, Anne Almy’s Garden 1100 Horseneck Road, Westport, and Penny Garden, 246 River Road, Westport.

The Meadows was designed in 1910 by Warren Manning for ambassador Alanson B. Houghton and his brother Arthur and their families. In 1937 The North House garden was redesigned by the celebrated Ellen Biddle Shipman and is currently being restored by the present owners. James O’Day has written a new book about the estate.

There will also be an Open Day program Saturday, July 20, 10 a.m.to 4 p.m. in Middlesex County, which will include Glenluce Garden, 18 Marlboro Road, Stow, A Secret Garden at 19 Washington Ave., Sterling, Rock Bottom Garden, 47 Marlboro Road, Stow, Maple Grove, 16 School Street Boylston, and the must-see Brigham Hill Farm, 128 Brigham Hill Road, North Grafton.

For more information on all of these, visit www.opendaysprogram.org and www.gardenconservancy.org.

The Boothbay Region Garden Club of Boothbay Harbor in Maine will host its Home and Garden Tour July 26 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased through the Boothbay Harbor Region Chamber of Commerce (207-633-2353).

Garden ornamental tips for the month of July

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* If your hosta and azalea stems have a white powder covering them, it is probably the waxy coating of planthopper insects. They don’t do much damage, but can spread diseases. Spray with garden insecticide if unsightly.

* Keep pinching back mums to keep them blooming longer and make them bushier.

* Lamb’s ear tends to have their lower leaves die after a heavy rain. This forms ugly mats that will rot stems and roots. Pull away the yellow leaves to keep up airflow.

* Fertilize crape myrtles, butterfly bushes, and hydrangeas with 1 Tablespoon of 10-10-10 per foot of height. www.caes.uga.edu/applications/publications/files/pdf/C% 20944_4.PDF Fruits and Vegetables

* Before you spray an insecticide on your vegetables, check the label. Each insecticide has a waiting period after application before you can harvest.

* Although tomatoes are self-pollinating, they need movement to transfer pollen. If it is hot and calm for several days, gently shake plants to assure pollen transfer and fruit set. Hot temperatures can interfere with blossom set.

* Water stress in sweet potatoes can result in cracked roots. A potassium deficiency causes long, slender roots. Too much nitrogen reduces yield and quality. www.caes.uga. edu/applications/publications/files/pdf/C%201023_1.PDF

* Most fertilizer recommendations are for 100 square feet, so keep your garden’s square footage a simple fraction of that. For example, a 4 X 12 foot garden is exactly 50 square feet and would require exactly one half the fertilizers required by a garden of 100 square feet.

* Okra pods get tough if allowed to grow too large. Pick regularly.

* Mulch strawberries heavily to protect them from heat and drought.

* The time of day vegetables are harvested can make a difference in the taste and texture. For sweetness, pick peas and corn late in the day; that’s when they contain the most sugar, especially if the day was cool and sunny. Other vegetables, like lettuce and cucumbers, are crisper and tastier if you harvest them early in the morning before the day’s heat has a chance to wilt and shrivel them.

*Start a fall crop of Brussel sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower and kale indoors. Outdoors, sow pumpkin, beans, squash, cucumbers, and crowder peas. Plant carrots mid-month. www.caes.uga.edu/applications/publications/files/pdf/ C%201023_1.PDF

* Pick squash regularly to keep up production. If the vines wilt, check the base of the stem for “sawdust”. This means the plant has squash bores in the stem. Remove infected plants (thus removing the bores) and plant new seeds. It is good to change your planting location to hopefully prevent the new plants from being attacked.

* Sunflowers are ready to harvest when the back of the head turns brown.

* Keep an eye out for tomato hornworm. They can do enormous damage overnight. They also attack Nicotiana. When you see damage, check under leaves and stems to find them. Hand -pick to dispose of them.

* Don’t plant all your beans at once. If you stagger the plantings every two weeks you will have fresh beans longer. Soak bean seeds overnight before planting for faster germination.

*Use bamboo poles to form a large teepee-like structure. Use twine to create a trellis though all but one section of the teepee. Plant pole beans along the twine. Watch the beans grow into a house that kids love to play in. The section that was not tied with the twine is the entrance to the bean teepee.

MISCELLANEOUS

If you keep your houseplants indoors all summer, keep them out of the draft of the air conditioner. Plants react to an air conditioner’s cool air in various ways. Some drop their leaves, others don’t bloom well and some fail to bloom at all. Information about Extension Solutions for Homes and Gardens can be found on the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension website at www.caes.uga.edu/extension/cherokee or by contacting the Cherokee County Extension Office at 100 North St., Suite G21 in Canton at (770) 479-0418. The Georgia Extension Master Gardener Program is a volunteer training program offered through county offices of the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension.

Tips and best plants to grow for a fragrant, night-time garden

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datura.JPGView full sizeBrugmansia is a fragrant choice for a night garden.THE OREGONIAN

Some plants can perfume the memory of an evening for years.

Nicotiana sylvestris entices with its sweetness. Asiatic jasmine wafts wonderfully at night in a garden and triggers instant nostalgia.

Other elements to include: light-colored flowers, variegated foliage, water, a place to sit and lighting.

To start planning an evening garden, look at location. If the garden
is exposed to the western sun, consider a spot with partial shade for
the night garden.

The smallest yard can still have a spot for evening enjoyment, on a
deck, porch or small terrace. There’s no reason you can’t have an
evening garden in containers.

NIGHT GARDEN PLANTS

Scented plants:

Brugmansia (datura, angel’s trumpet)

Calla lilies

Daphne caucasica

Geraniums, scented (pelargoniums)

Heliotrope, white forms

Lilies, white Asiatic or Oriental such as ‘Casa Blanca’

Nicotiana sylvestris (flowering tobacco)

Phlox paniculata ‘Norah Leigh’ (variegated phlox)

Rosa ‘Gertrude Jekyll’

Trachelospermum asiaticum and jasminoides (star jasmine) (for sheltered locations)

Vitis species (edible grapes)

Light-colored plants:

Anemone hybrida ‘Whirlwind’ (Japanese anemone, many white hybrids)

Phygelius ‘Moonraker’ (Cape fuchsia)

Salix integra ‘Hakuro Nishiki’ (variegated willow)

Weigela ‘Briant Rubridor’

Grasses:

Stipa gigantea (giant feather grass)

Miscanthus sinensis ‘Morning Light’

Elymus magellanicus (Magellan’s blue grass)

Trees:

Acer japonicum (Japanese maple)

Styrax japonicus (Japanese snowbell)

Albezia (silk tree)

MORE ONLINE:

HGTV also offers plants and info on how to grow a night garden, including maintenance tips:
Spend a little
more time deadheading the spent flowers. This will encourage more
flowers to bloom, which in turn means more night color in your garden.
And more night color will beckon you to relax in a garden custom-made
for the stars.

Weekend Gardener has planting a moonlight garden, with more plant ideas (many white ones) plus some suggested combinations.
Overall remember, the idea behind a moonlight garden is to reflect the
glow and stillness of nighttime, and to create a special area that
really offers its best qualities at night.

Dulcy Mahar, in one of her columns for Homes Gardens of the Northwest from 2009, included a list of plants to “perfume your night garden.”
To truly indulge yourself in late-summer evenings, pack the garden with
as many scented, pale August bloomers as you have space for.
Fortunately, scent and pale color often go together. There is a logical
connection.

— Homes Gardens of the Northwest staff

If you want to automatically receive a free daily homes and gardens tip, sign up at OregonLive.com’s newsletter subscription site.

Marianne Ophardt: Tips for buying a garden hose

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Garden hoses can be vexing things. They are heavy and a nuisance to haul around the yard, plus they can kink. Nevertheless, they are an essential gardening tool. Last year when we needed a new one, I did not do much research and bought what seemed to be a long-lasting quality hose. The problem was that it weighed a ton and became a chore to move.

I should have taken more time to do my homework. Here’s what I’ve learned:

Garden hoses typically come in two diameters, 5/8 inches and 3/4 inches. You even can find hoses that are one inch in diameter. Many gardeners find that a 5/8 inch hose is adequate for their purposes. The 3/4 inch hoses tend to be more expensive and heavier.

Garden hoses also come in different lengths, from 25 to 100 feet long. Of course, the longer the hose, the heavier and the more costly. (Notice the trend?) The longer the hose, the lower the volume of water per minute that it delivers. To calculate this, go to: http://bit.ly/1aDRygL.

The material a hose is made out of also greatly influences its price. As with any garden tool, the better the quality, the higher the price.
Rubber and PVC reinforced hoses generally are more expensive and more flexible. High-end reinforced hoses are more resistant to abrasions, punctures and bursts. You also will find that the more a hose is reinforced, the higher the cost and the heavier the hose. The best-quality hoses will have hexagonal or octagonal brass couplings.

There also are coiled hoses. These are typically 3/8 inch diameter and usually come in 25- or 50-foot lengths. They are made out of polyurethane. They are lighter, easy to get out and use on the patio for watering containers, but they tend to kink when extended and often tangle when coiled.

Quality garden hoses can be pricy. To keep your hose in good condition, here are some tips:

1. Store your hose where it will be protected from degradation by ultraviolet light.

2. Don’t leave the hose where cars or bikes will run over it.

3. Don’t let your hose kink, causing a spot that will be weak.

4. Drain and coil your hose after every use, coiling it into loops about 24 to 36 inches in diameter. Store the coiled hose flat and off the ground in a container like a hose pot. Hanging a hose from a single hook can damage the walls of the hose, so use an arched hose rack.
There are also hose reels that can be used to coil and store hoses.

5. Drain the water from the hose before it freezes in the fall and then store it in your garage or storage shed over the winter.

Safety note

Many garden hoses, especially older types, have been deemed unsafe for use for drinking water because of harmful chemicals and heavy metals that they contain. While many of the new hoses today are labeled as safe for drinking water, it’s still best not to make a practice of drinking from them because germs, molds and bacteria can build up inside.

Marianne C. Ophardt is a horticulturist for Washington State University Benton County Extension.

Edible forest designed for 6th Ward Park

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Helena is the first city in Montana to design an edible forest garden, which will be located at the 6th Ward Park.

This coming week Dave Jacke, a national leader this type of garden design and author of “Edible Forest Gardens,” will lead a Helena workshop, July 9-14,  with 33 people from around the country who will help design the new park.

Edible forest gardens mimic the structure and function of forest ecosystems through all their stages of development and grow food, fuel, fiber, fodder, fertilizers, ‘farmaceuticals’ and fun.

Jacke gives a public talk 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, July 9, at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church. The cost is $10 in advance, $12 at the door.

To register go to www.insideedgedesigners.com/register.

Jacke’s talk will introduce the vision of forest gardening with scientific background and a sampling of useful perennial edibles you can grow in your garden.

The 6th Ward Park is a 1.1-acre piece of land behind the HATS Bus Station on Montana Avenue, between Gallatin and Bozeman avenues.

St. Paul’s is located at the corner of Cruse and Lawrence.

Around Your Town for July 5

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The Thunder Mountain Twirlers are holding our Annual Freedom Square Dance on Friday, July 5, from 7:30-9:30 p.m. Juanita Portz will call mainstream, with a plus tip at the end of the evening. Only $4 for members, $5 for non-members. Snacks and friendship are provided. Sierra Lutheran Church Fellowship Hall, 101 N. Lenzner Ave., Sierra Vista. For more info contact Sandy at (520) 378-6719 or email svtmt@cox.net.

The American Legion Post 52 will host breakfast Saturday, July 6, from 8-10:30 a.m. Open to all members, guess and all active duty service members and family. For more information, call 459-6050, American Legion Post 52, 12 Theater Drive, Sierra Vista.

The annual Christmas in July Bazaar will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, July 6, at the Ethel Berger Center and Oscar Yrun Community Center in Sierra Vista. There will be a wide selection of wares to choose from with many items handcrafted including jewelry, quilts, pictures, crocheted items, aprons, wreaths, candles and more. A snack bar will be oopen from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Admission to the event is free.

The Huachuca Saddle Club will be holding open gymkhanas and open Western/English horse shows during the 2013 season. All events are held at Fort Huachuca at Wren Arena. Plenty of parking under the oak trees, no charge for spectators. Events are open to all equines. Remaining gymkhanas are July 6, Aug. 3, Oct. 19 and Nov. 2. Day shows, sign ups at 8 a.m., runs start at 9 a.m. Aug. 3 will have a night show with sign ups at 4 p.m., runs start at 6 p.m. Cost: $5 members/$7 non-members. Must be a member to win buckle.

The Friends of the San Pedro River will conduct interpretive walks along the river Saturdays at 8 a.m. on July 6, 13, 20, and 27.  All walks depart from the San Pedro House, 9800 Highway 90, east of Sierra Vista at the river. The San Pedro River features some of the richest wildlife habitat in the United States. There is no charge for the walks, however donations are accepted to support the docent programs. Dress appropriately for the weather, bring drinking water, trail shoes or similar footwear, a hat, and use sun protection.  For more information, call (520) 459-2555 or visit the website at sanpedroriver.org.

The Miss Sierra Vista Scholarship Foundation will have a car wash starting at 8 a.m. on Saturday, July 6, in the ZBar parking lot on the corner of Fry and Avenida Escuela. Come and meet this year’s Miss Sierra Vista contestants and donate to a good cause. All proceeds will benefit the Miss Sierra Vista Scholarship Foundation. For more information, contact Krista York at kyork_14@hotmail.com.

Richard Etheridge, a gifted photographer, is the featured artist for July at the Huachuca Art Gallery at the Mall at Sierra Vista. The “Meet the Artist” reception is Sunday July 7, 3–5 p.m., the public is invited. Refreshments are being offered. For more info call 803-0195 The HAA Gallery is open Monday through Wednesday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Thursday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Sunday noon to 6 p.m.

Lori Kovash is giving another jewelry making workshop Sunday July 7, 1 – 3 p.m. at the HAA studio in Hereford, 3818 Astro St., south of Hwy. 92. This time it is all about working with copper and brass. All supplies are included, the fee is $ 20. The class is limited, so make your reservation immediately at 234-5528

The Sierra Vista Environmental Operations Park (EOP), also known as the wastewater treatment plant, is open for bird walks each Sunday morning.  The walks take about two hours and are led by docents from Southeastern Arizona Bird Observatory (SABO), Huachuca Audubon Society (HAS), and the Friends of the San Pedro River (FSPR). The walks begin Sundays at 7 a.m., on July 7, 14, 21, and 28 and depart from the viewing platform inside the EOP.  The entrance is located on Highway 90 between mileage markers 324 and 325 on the north side of the highway.  All tours are free, although donations are accepted.  Dress appropriately for the weather, bring drinking water, trail shoes or similar footwear, a hat, and use sun protection.  For more information, call (520) 459-2555 or visit the website at sanpedroriver.org.

American Legion Post 52, July free pool Sundays; open to members, guests and all active duty service members. For more information, call 459-6050, American Legion Post 52, 12 Theater Drive, Sierra Vista.

A Japanese culture festival will be held on Sunday, July 7, at the Tompkins City Park on S. Seventh St., in Sierra Vista, starting from 10 to 3 p.m. If you are interested in Japanese culture and learning about our club, Sakura No Kai, (Japanese traditional art club) Come join us and bring your family. It’s a pot luck, so bring a potluck covered dish. Donation are welcome. For further information, Mrs. Norico Blair. 515-7414 her cell phone 226-6091.

The Huachuca Area Republican Women’s Club will meet for lunch on Tuesday, July 9, at Pueblo del Sol Country Club. Registration and social time begins at 10:30 a.m. followed by lunch and a program at 11 a.m. A presentation will be given in the form of a panel composed of Fry Fire Chief, Bill Miller; Sierra Vista Deputy Fire Chief, Ron York and Palominos Interim Fire Chief, Steve Able. They will provide an update about the recent changes within their departments as to training, coordination for future fires and other citizen-related issues. Cost for lunch is $16. Please call Sandy at 378-6238 no later than July 7 for reservations. Prospective members and guests are always welcome to attend.”

Birders of all levels are invited to participate in upcoming bird walks sponsored by the Friends of the San Pedro River.  The walks are scheduled for Wednesday,  July 10, and Saturday, July 27, at 7 a.m. and depart from the San Pedro House, 9800 Highway 90, east of Sierra Vista at the river. There is no charge for the walks, however, donations are accepted to support docent programs. Dress appropriately for the weather, bring drinking water, a snack, good trail shoes, a hat, and sun protection. For more information, call (520) 459-2555 or visit the website at sanpedroriver.org.

The Sierra Vista Farmers Market will move to its new location in Veterans’ Memorial Park, on Thursday, July 11, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m, with a special grand opening planned. Folks can order lunch from several food trucks and relax at the park, while listening to live music from local musicians. Gardening will be the theme for the grand opening, with lots of information and an activity for kids. A ribbon cutting ceremony is scheduled for 11 a.m. with remarks by Mayor Rick Mueller.  The community is invited to meet local growers and ranchers, shop locally, and take home some healthy and nutritious foods. For more information call 520-678-2638 or visit www.sierravistafarmersmarket.com.

Together with the SVRHC Wellness Depot, DaVita® Sierra Vista will host a free Kidney Smart® class the second Thursday of each month at the Wellness Depot in the Mall at Sierra Vista. The next meeting will be held Thursday, July 11, from 2 to 4 p.m. The class is part of a nationwide effort to empower those diagnosed with chronic kidney disease (CKD) by providing a basic education course on how to manage their health. For more information on this or any other event at the Wellness Depot in the Mall at Sierra Vista, call 459-8210.

Sierra Vista Community United Church of Christ, 240 N. Highway 90 Bypass, close to the Target, is sponsoring a second “lunch and learn,” at 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Friday, July 12. Guest speaker is Tom Shupert, Sierra Vista Historical Society.  His presentation is “A Long Road to the Best Kept Secret.”  A light lunch will be served for $4.  Reservations required.  Call 458-4895 by noon, Tuesday, July 9.

Two thirds of the Thunder Mountain Road Crew will call a Mainstream Square Dance on Friday, July 12 from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. for the Thunder Mountain Twirlers. Lisa Wall is back with Rounds, and there will be a Plus Tip at the end of the evening. Only $4 for members, $5 for non-members. Snacks and friendship are provided. Sierra Lutheran Church Fellowship Hall, 101 N. Lenzner Ave., Sierra Vista. For more info contact Sandy at 520-378-6719 or email svtmt@cox.net 

The 17th Annual Back To School Fair takes place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, July 13, at the Mall at Sierra Vista. Included are referral information, children’s activities, health and nutrition services, family services, support groups and free back to school used clothing store. For more information, contact Ken James at 458-7922 or ken.james@sierravista.gov. Sponsored by the Committee for the Prevention of Child Abuse, First Things First, Sierra Vista Leisure and Library Services, the University of Arizona Sierra Vista and University South Foundation.

Sierra Vista Regional Health Center’s Wellness Depot will provide information about “Backpack fitting for school children” on July 13 from 9 a.m. to noon. Understanding how a backpack should fit and be loaded can help prevent back injuries for your child. A licensed physical therapist from Sierra Vista Regional Health Center will be on hand. Bring your backpack if you have one. This presentation will be held during the Back to School Fair in front of the Wellness Depot located in the Mall at Sierra Vista between the food court and Sears. To learn more, you can call 520-459-8210.

The Sierra Vista Historical Society is sponsoring free hotdogs and popcorn at “Summer Saturdays at the Hauser Museum!” on July 13, 20, and 27. Join us for family activities for both kids and adults 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Each Saturday will introduce a hands-on activity for children ages 5-10 years of age. Parents are encouraged to attend all sessions. The Henry Hauser Museum is located at 2930 E. Tacoma St., in Sierra Vista. Saturday, July 13, will explore “Seeds of the City — Discovering SV’s Past” for kids planting a Victory Garden, and for adults “Long Road to the Best Kept Secret” with Tom Shupert, SVHS researcher. Saturday, July 20, will explore “Santa Fe Trail — Cochise County” for kids creating tools for the trail, and for adults “Bloody Doubtful Canyon in Cochise County” with historian Doug Hocking. Saturday, July 27, will explore “A Street Named After Me?” for kids designing their own street sign, and for adults “Cruisin’ the Streets with the Former Chief” presented by David Santor, SVHS researcher. Please help us plan for supplies by registering your family for this free, fun and entertaining program by contacting Nancy Krieski at 520-417-6989 or Nancy.Krieski@SierraVistaAZ.gov.

Please come support the Cochise County Children’s Center in Huachuca City at the July 13 Fundraiser Festival from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., at the Huachuca City Park. The center provides safety and shelter for thousands of children and youth from Cochise and surrounding counties. Volunteers and donations are needed to help at the festival. Please contact Jesika Cahel, (520) 732-6272; Dina Barnhart, (520) 220-7409, or Nichole Long, (520) 678-2537.

Free Water Wise Rainwater Harvesting Tour in Sierra Vista on Saturday July 13.  Come see how your neighbors harvest rainwater and get inspired! Several rainwater harvesting systems in the Sierra Vista area will be open for guided tours. The tour begins 8 a.m. at Cochise College Career Technology Education Building, 901 N. Colombo Ave., Sierra Vista. Take south entrance, then second driveway on right. Contact Water Wise for site information and locations at (520) 458-8278 ext. 2141 or waterwise.arizona.edu.

Friends of the Library will host its monthly sale on July 13, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Friends is located on Tacoma Street, adjacent to the Sierra Vista Public Library. Also mark your calendars for Sept. 14, when Friends will be celebrating its 40th anniversary with a multitude of events at the same location.

Friends of Huachuca City Library will hold a book sale Saturday, July 13.  The sale runs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the storage shed behind the HC police station.  We have a new selection of hard cover books suitable for children ages 6-12.  All proceeds go to support the HC Public Library.

Carr House Sunday Programs 1:30 p.m.  July 14,  Animal Adaptations — Jane Chambers, Environmental Educator. This will be a family presentation about how animals use structure and behavior to adapt to their environment. There will be some hands-on materials and activities for school-age children and for those that are young at heart. Directions to Carr House: From Sierra Vista travel south on Highway 92 to Carr Canyon Road (at the Mesquite Tree Restaurant). Turn right (west). Drive about 2.1 miles up Carr Canyon Road. Carr House is on the left after a concrete dip in the road. Visit our website at www.huachucamountains.org.

Church On The Street will host its first fundraising banquet, with reservations by July 15. The banquet will be held July 27 at First Christian Community Church, 55 Kings Way, Sierra Vista, at 6 p.m.. For more information contact Pastors John and Cheryl Sutton at (520) 222-2139.

The 1200 Club of Greater Sierra Vista will meet on Friday July 19. at Pueblo del Sol Country Club. The guest speaker will be Mary Jacobs, Assistant City Manager, Sierra Vista. The focus of her presentation will be the recent “Dream Your City” process and the incorporation of some of the ideas into the city council’s strategic plan. Mayor Rick Mueller will conclude the presentation with a  few remarks.  The meeting begins with Social Time at 6 p.m. followed by dinner at 6:30 p.m. and the evening’s presentation.  Cost of the meal is $22 per person. Reservations can be made by emailing Kathy Dolge at Kathy@Dolge Family.net.  Please make your reservations by July 17, 2013.

Join The Salvation Army for a “Coffee Meet and Greet” open house. It will be on July 18, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at The Salvation Army Corps, 156 E. Wilcox Ave., in Sierra Vista. You will have the chance to meet Salvation Army Captains Bob and Karen Schmig, Mayor Rick Meuller, Advisory Board Chair Tim Cervantes and Major Gift Chair TK McCutcheon.  Come join us and find out what The Salvation Army is doing in your community!

The Friends of the San Pedro River offer a presentation by Sarah Porter of Audubon Arizona about Audubon’s Western Rivers Action Network. This network is focused on advocating for conservation actions that will increase river flow and enhance the health of our environment and restore valuable wetlands and forests.  The event will take place at the Sun Canyon Inn, 260 N. Garden Ave., in Sierra Vista, on Thursday, July 18 at 7 p.m. Call 459-2555 or visit sanpedroriver.org for directions to these sites and further information.

The Sierra Vista Area Gardeners Club will meet on Thursday, July 18, at  12:30 p.m. in the Constable’s Office in the old County Complex at 4100 East Foothills Drive, in Sierra Vista. The public is invited to hear Rebecca Hillebrand speak about the Sierra Vista Community Gardens. Club member Jackie Jones will also discuss topics presented at the recent Cochise County Master Gardeners Association’s High Desert Gardening and Landscaping Conference. For additional details, visit our site at www.svgardenclub.org or call Jane at 732-1822.

The Happy Achers Senior Group at the United Methodist Church, located on the corner of Buffalo Soldier Trail and St. Andrews Drive will have their monthly potluck at 11:10 a.m. on Thursday, July 18.  The program will be presented by Michael Grande.  Everyone 50 or older is welcome so bring a covered dish and join us for a good time.  For more info call 378-1924.

Free Water Wise Rainwater Harvesting Tour in Bisbee on Saturday July 20.  Several rainwater harvesting systems in the Bisbee area will be open for guided tours. Come get inspired!  The tour begins 8 a.m. at Grassy Park, next to the Bisbee Mining and Historical Museum on Main Street, Old Bisbee.  Contact Water Wise for site information and locations @ (520) 366-8148 or waterwise.arizona.edu.

The Third Annual Bikers for Boots fund-raiser will take place July 27 at the American Legion Post 24 in Tombstone. Registration for the poker run/pub crawl starts at 8:30 a.m. with the first bike out at 9 a.m. The crawl starts at 10:30 a.m. with the last bike/crawler back at 4 p.m. Pre-registration and sponsorship information available at sites.google.com/site/bikers4boots. Cost is $15 for single and $25 for couples. Other activities include a live auction, silent auction and door prizes from 5 to 7 p.m. Starting at 8 p.m. until midnight, the Rowdy Johnson Band will play. Public is welcome. One hundred percent of the profits will go to Boots for Our Troops Foundation (bfot.org).

The Southwest Association of Buffalo Soldiers, SWABS, is having a pancake breakfast on Saturday, Aug. 3, at the Landmark Cafe, 400 W. Fry Boulevard, in Sierra Vista. Funds raised at the event will help graduating seniors with college expenses. Tickets are $3 for all you can eat pancakes, from 6-11 a.m. For information, or to purchase tickets, call 417-1453.

The Huachuca Saddle Club will be holding open gymkhanas and open western/English Horse Shows during the 2013 show season. All events are held at Fort Huachuca at Wren Arena. Plenty of parking under the oak trees, no charge for spectators. Events are open to all equines. Remaining Western/English Combination shows are Aug. 17 and Oct. 5. Books open at 8 a.m., show starts at 9 a.m. Along with regular classes, a Ranch Pleasure Class has been added. This is a pattern class with extended gaits, trot or lope overs, side pass and single spin in each direction. An Open Country Pleasure Driving is added starting with the June 15 show. Cost: $5 members/$8 non-members. Classes with less than three entries may be cancelled or combined with like class. Sponsored classes are held regardless of number of entries. Must be a member for year end awards. Exhibitors must compete in two of three English shows or two of three Western shows to qualify for year end awards.

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Garden Tour To Feature History, Teamwork

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There is a home along Summerfield Rd. that has been there for a while. Nearly 100 years to be exact. It is painted red now, but for at least 20 years it sat in disarray. It was so covered in vines and the land was so over grown, it wasn’t visible from the road. In 2003, efforts began to save the old house once owned by famous hymnist Ina Duley Ogdon.

A garden wraps around the cabin, filled with native plants, shrubs and flowers. Volunteers have spent years try to restore not only the house, but the garden as well. This year, the garden at the Ogdon cabin, or Century House, as volunteers call it, will be featured on the July 13 Garden Tours sponsored by the Bedford Flower Garden Club.

“It’s a work in progress and will be forever,” Trudy Urbani, coordinator of the Century House Preservationists, said of the garden she and fellow volunteers have been working to re-create. “We have this beautiful treasure here. It is a historic site and should be preserved.”

This year’s event, Tour des Fleurs, is the 17th year for the garden tours, and will feature five gardens across Bedford Township. This includes the garden at the library that club members work to maintain.

After purchasing tickets at the Bedford Branch Library, participants will receive a map directing them to the gardens. Club members will be stationed at each garden to help answer questions.

Tour coordinator Cindy Skaggs said gardens are chosen to be on the tour for a number of reasons. Most were featured as Yard of the Month by the Bedford Township Beautification Committee. Others were chosen simply because a club member drove by and found the garden appealing. Still others are gardens of club members themselves.

New to this year’s garden tour are seminars — one on vertical gardens at 10:30 a.m. and one on invasive and native plants at 1:30 p.m. — held at the library. Other aspects of the garden tour to look forward to include a Backyard Boutique where garden decor is sold, a Booktique selling gardening magazines and books, and the annual raffle.

Besides the library’s garden, this is the first year a nonresidential garden was chosen to be featured on the tours, Mrs. Skaggs said. What makes the Century House’s garden so special is that gardeners from around the community come together to work there.

Every plant and every idea featured in the Century House’s garden was donated by a member of the community. The rain garden was created by Joyce Blanton. The pond was restored by Ralph Collins. The butterfly garden was the work of the Tammy Gangway and her family. And all the puzzle pieces come together to create one beautiful environment.

“It reflects a little bit of everybody,” Mrs. Urbani said of the garden, “and that’s what makes it so good. It’s part of the community. The Bedford Community is the one that’s saving this.”

Although many residents who attend the garden tours are looking for ideas to take home to their own gardens, Mrs. Urbani is hoping more volunteers will be drawn to the garden. This strategy has earned the Garden Club at least 40 new members over the years.

Tickets for Tour des Fleurs cost $8 and can be purchased at the library on July 13. Proceeds go to help cover the costs of maintain the Bedford Branch Library garden and to an annual scholarship given to a Bedford Township senior looking to go into an area of study related to the environment. The tours will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.