August information

Hello Northridge Gardeners!
There isn’t much to do in the garden during August except keep up with the weeds and fight off the deer.  If you are successful in those two endeavors, you should be enjoying some fresh produce this month. I’m having some success with one of the spray-on deer repellants (I don’t think the brand is important – just get one and use it).  If you water with sprinklers it has to be reapplied after each watering, but since I started using it I’m finally getting some tomatoes and zucchini.
Speaking of produce,  I went to the Utah Botanical Center’s Farmer’s Market this past Thursday in Kaysville and was delighted with the selection of fresh vegetables, melons, herbs, etc.  The Farmer’s Market is held every Thursday at the Kaysville Botanical Center from 5 to 8pm.  There is a nice article about  in Section B of today’s (Saturday’s) Standard Examiner.  It includes things such as:
·         USU Extension cooking demonstration (last week was BBQ corn on the cob),
·         Botanical Center free activity for the kids (last week they were tie dying t-shirts)
·         Small assortment of food and craft vendors. 
·         Produce from the local vendors and Utah State Extension research gardens and orchards.  Thursday the 19th they will have fresh peaches and blackberries from the Kaysville research orchard for sale (reasonably priced) and they are having several salsa chefs compete in a Salsa Showdown.
·         If you go, be sure to stop at the Willard Bay Garden’s booth.  This is a great chance to talk to one of their experts about specific plant selection.  Barney and Barb will start by asking about your soil (sand or clay), light (sun/shade), what you want to achieve and then will recommend the right plant for success.  If they don’t have it with them that evening, they will take and order and bring it the next week.
Upcoming Garden events for your calendar:
August 19:  Botanical Center Farmer’s Market, Kaysville.  I’m going so if anyone wants to ride with me or carpool, send me an email – we can make it group event!  While you are there you can walk though the garden’s at the Utah House and the tree arboretum.
August 21:  Fall Plant Sale at the Kaysville Botanical Center (10 am to 2 pm).  If you want to go as a group, send me an email and I’ll coordinate a carpool or caravan. This sale features plants grown by the Utah State Extension/ Master Gardeners program– not necessarily those that you would see at the local nursery.  Master Gardeners will be on hand to explain the plant characteristics and help you with your selection (hard to find that service at nurseries these days). You are encouraged to bring photos of your yard or plot plans to help the volunteers assist you in selecting the best plant options. Here’s a link with more information:  https://extension.usu.edu/marketing/files/uploads/2010%20Garden%20Fair%20Shopping%20Guide.pdf  (This link is about 30 pages long so keep scrolling though for photos of plants that will be on sale.  Also, if the link doesn’t open you can copy and then paste it into your browser or, try right clicking on the link and look for the option to “Open Hyperlink”). 
August 21: Weber Basin Water Conservation Learning Garden: “Provident Gardening” from 12pm-1:30pm. Joy Bossi, KNRS Radio “Joy in the Garden”. Learn about incorporating edibles into the landscape, saving seeds for future years, identifying heirloom and open pollinated varieties as well as how to store your fresh produce over winter.
September 1:  Weber Basin Water Conservation Learning Garden:  “Perfect Perennials” from 6pm–7:30 pm. Barney Barnett from Willard Bay Gardens (you can talk to Barney one-on-one at the Kaysville Farmer’s Market, but if you miss him there, this will be great class).  There are many beautiful plants in the nurseries and not all of them are good for our climate.  Barney will show and discuss some of the best and most attractive perennials for your yard that also require less water to keep healthy.  Have a colorful, healthy and lush yard using perfect water-wise perennials.
I’m making plans now for September planting activities at the Church – I’ll publish those when I have details!
Cindy Nielsen
Directions to the Utah Botanical Center:
From highway 89 head south to the Kaysville exit (200 North St).
Go West to the traffic light at Main Street.
Turn west (left) and drive 0.2 miles to the stop sign at 50 West Street.
Turn south (right) onto 50 West and drive 0.5 miles.
It’s hard to miss the Farmer’s Market on Thursday night – that one is in the field and obvious!
If you attend the plant sale Saturday the 21st, it is at the Greenhouse (watch for a left turn on Sego Lilly Drive )