by 
The 16th Annual Arizona Highlands Garden Conference celebrates gardening in the high country. Since 2000, this annual conference has provided gardeners an opportunity to learn, mingle and share ideas about gardening in northern Arizona’s 3,000 to 7,000 foot elevations. Join us Saturday, September 19th from 8am to 5pm at the du Bois Center, NAU. The conference is presented by Coconino County Master Gardeners. For more information and registration call (928) 774-1868 ext. 110, or visit: https://extension.arizona.edu/arizona-highlands-garden-conference.
This year’s conference features local, statewide and national gardening experts. Keynote speakers are Clara Coleman and Judith Phillips. Clara Coleman, a second-generation organic farmer, will discuss “Four-Season Forward: Bringing Four Season Farming to the Next Generation.” Her talk tells the whole story of four-season gardening and how it can be integrated into the garden. Judith Phillips, author of five southwestern gardening books, will discuss “Growing in the Southwest Garden: Changing Rules for an Extreme Sport.” Her talk gives insight into how we can garden in a changing Southwest environment. Both are highly respected experts in their fields.
The Arizona Highlands Garden Conference this year will provide a plethora of information to create and grow gardens in our challenging climate. In addition to the acclaimed keynote speakers, there will be twelve breakout sessions that address numerous gardening topics. These sessions range from Judy Springer’s “The Diversity and Culture of Geraniums” to conference favorite Joe Costion’s “Rainwater Harvesting” to the always popular Jim Mast giving a new presentation on growing in a community garden plot.
Want to see the accomplishments of tenacious gardeners in the high country? Register for the pre-conference garden tours offered the afternoon of September 18th for $15. There will be light refreshments served at Warner’s Nursery before the tours begin. The options are: 1) a tour of native plants, the living roof and the herbarium at the Museum of Northern Arizona; 2) a trip to four vegetable gardens in Doney Park; 3) a visit to several downtown ornamental and vegetable gardens that show creative use of small spaces. The tours are real life examples of high country garden successes.
Register for the Arizona Highlands Garden Conference to learn strategies for gardening in the high country. Conference fee is $75 before August 28th and increases to $100 after the 28th. A light breakfast, lunch and refreshments are included with registration. You must pre-register to participate.
The Coconino Master Gardeners are a program of the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension.
There are news or informational items frequently written by staff or submitted to the Copper Basin News, San Manuel Miner, Superior Sun, Pinal Nugget or Oracle Towne Crier for inclusion in our print or digital products. These items are not credited with an author.
by by