Free Online Gardening Talks!

Gardening here is very different than in most areas of the U.S., offering special rewards and special challenges. This presentation is designed to familiarize newcomers with the unique climate, soil, and native plant types in the Sonoran Desert to help them transition successfully. Gardeners of all experience levels are welcome.

Diagnosing problems in the garden can be complicated and confusing. To help, we're offering a series of classes, each concerned with a very narrow type of problem. Today, we're focusing on "yellow leaves". Learn what's causing different types of yellowing you see on your plants' leaves, and what can you do about it.

Aphids may not be much to look at and they can be a devil to deal with in the garden. Nevertheless, aphids are fascinating and unique creatures of the insect world. In my humble opinion, they deserve respect. In this Short Take we’ll shed light on some of the interesting factoids about this under-appreciated insect. Short Takes are between 15-30 minutes.

Diagnosing problems in the garden can be complicated and confusing. To help, we're offering a series of classes, each concerned with a very narrow type of problem. Today, we're focusing on leaves that are torn, chewed, ripped, have holes cut in them, or are missing altogether. What is doing this and how can you help your plants survive the damage. Meeting time should be about 60 minutes + question time

Humans have relied on honeybees for food (honey), food crops (pollination), and medicinal purposes for over nine thousand years, and have been domesticating honeybees for over four thousand years. Despite their importance, the honeybee population is at risk and has declined by a factor of two over the last seventy years. In this talk, we will learn about honeybee evolution, honeybee domestication, social organization in the hive, threats to survival, and ideas on how to welcome bees and other pollinators into your home garden. Feel free to enjoy a glass of mead as we explore the many fascinating aspects of honeybees. Meeting time should be about 60 minutes + question time

Photosynthesis is one of the most important plant processes to understand and one that many gardeners ignore. Find out why this essential chemical process in plants is so important to fully appreciate! Short Takes are between 15-30 minutes.

During our cool season the weather is great, the insects and annoying critters are mostly inactive, less water is required, and the vegetables have higher nutritional value than warm season vegetables. So go for it! Learn about both in- ground and raised bed approaches, and the key steps to successful vegetable and herb gardening in the cool season.