Greenleaf Bulletin February 2012 Issue

In this Issue:

� President’s Message� Judges Council Design Seminar� Blue Star Memorial Project� Design Hint� In Memory of Millie D. Griffin� Cerbat Garden Club� Alta Vista Garden Club� Doris Helvig Award� Real Gardens for Real People� Container Gardener’s Only!� Bylaw Amendment� Federated Garden Clubs of Yuma� Ready Set Grow� A Traveling Gardener� Thyme in the Kitchen� Western District Meeting� Pecan Grove Poetry Contest� Go Green Report

President’s Message

Dear Friends,

So far it’s been a wonderful NewYear. In January, our Judge’sCouncil offered an Interactive DesignSeminar that brought garden clubmembers from all over out state tothe Valley Garden Center. It was funto see everyone and enjoy a beautifulday together. Arizona is blessed withcreative designers who shared theirsecrets of design with us.

February features our Course I Flower Show School on the9th, 10th and 11th. Arizona desperately needs judges andit is my hope that our garden clubs will sponsor a member tobecome a judge. You can attend either the Horticulture or theDesign segment or both,. You don’t have to take the testunless you wish to become a judge. Come join us for a veryspecial learning opportunity. The registration form is on ourweb site. Our Judge’s Council has worked very hard inorchestrating this School. Please show your support byparticipating. I am looking forward to attending Flower ShowSchool and hope to see you there.

On March 31st the Scottsdale Garden Club will be having aFundraiser, “It’s Raining Pennies for Pines” at the MesaCountry Club. All proceeds will go to restoration of our Arizonaforests that were devastated by wildfires. This is a cause that

is close to our hearts and your participation is genuinely appreciated.

Now that we have eliminated our February Board meeting, I look forward to a great turnout at ourAFGC Annual Meeting on April 28th. The Annual Meeting will be held at Mesa Community College asevery effort has been made to keep costs in check.

Have you noticed that the nurseries are filling up with magnificent spring plants? Things are gettingbusy in the garden. Don’t forget our “Contain your Enthusiasm” potted plant contest. Barbara Mlnarikis looking forward to receiving your beautiful photographic entries.

February is a perfect time to be in Arizona. Don’t waste one day of it! Get out in your gardens, yourArboretums and your State Parks and see “Blooming Arizona.” Please support your local nurseries inlieu of the big box stores. Our local nurseries sell Arizona grown plants from Arizona growers.

See you in the garden,Carol

Judges Council Interactive Design SeminarBuff Harrington

An Interactive Design Seminar was held on January 23, 2012 at the Valley Garden Center. The eventwas well attended and a tasty box lunch was served midway through the seminar. The followingdesigns were presented by 6 Judges:

Creative Line Design Creative Line Mass Designs Wanda Collins Wanda Collins

Multi-Rhythmic Design Betty King

Hanging Design Elaine Gunderson

Reflective DesignSylvia Patrick(See Design Hint Byline)

Above: Transparency Design Joyce Girvin

Exhibition Tables I and II Nancy Gahtan

Seminar continued...

The audience participated byvoicing their choices andplacement of plant materialand components. Attentionwas paid to the Principles ofDesign in explaining why oneselection or placement wasbetter than another. Each ofthe design type requirementswas explained while the de-sign was created or modified.Mechanical problems in do-ing the designs were experi-enced and solved-- notalways easy to do in a Cre-ative Design. Everyonelearned new information andsome tricks of the trade andalso had a great time. Someeven went home with a greatcontainer from the Silent Auc-tion. A big thank you to thepresenters. You all did a fab-ulous job.

In memory of Lisa Stephens,who died in November 2011,Judges Council awarded a$100 scholarship to FlowerShow School, Course 1,which will be held Feb 9, 10,and 11, 2012 at the ValleyGarden Center in Phoenix.At the conclusion of the De-sign Seminar a drawing washeld and Marian LeComptewas the winner of the schol-arship.

BLUE STAR MEMORIAL MARKERSRESTORATION PROJECTBlue Star Memorial Marker ChairmanIrene Jensen

Some of you may not befamiliar with the history ofthe Blue Star Markers.There are three types, theBlue Star Highway Marker,which is 41”X 45” wide, theBlue Star Memorial Marker,the same size as the High-way Marker, and the By-way Marker, which isconsiderably smaller. Theyare made of cast aluminumwith inscription on bothsides. During WW II, fami-lies who had members

serving in the military would place Blue Star Banners in thewindows of their homes. Each banner represented one familymember. These banners were hung with pride and patriotism totheir country, some windows displaying several. In the eventthat a Blue Star Banner was replaced by a Gold one, sadly,everyone knew that it signaled the loss of a loved one in battle.

At the end of World War II in 1945, National Garden Clubsinstituted a program that was designed to honor these gallantheroes. The project would entail placing markers on highwaysacross the nation as a tribute to those who had served. As timewent on and the project proceeded, markers were also placedin parks, historical sites, in veterans’ hospital grounds, and otherappropriate venues. The first one in the nation to be placed inthe gardens of an institution of higher learning was done in theVeterans’ Rose Garden at Mesa Community College, Mesa,Arizona.

To AFGC’s credit, a number have recently been placed in ourstate. Town and Country Garden Club erected markers in bothFlorence and Coolidge. Gold Canyon Garden Club recentlyplaced one in Apache Junction on the grounds of the Supersti-tion Mountain Museum. Desert Pointe Garden Club will dedicatea marker in March, 2012 in Ahwatukee Park.

I have been involved in the Blue Star program for quite a numberof years and am touched by the interest in this project. However,I am quite concerned with the markers in our state that havefallen into disrepair. It is disrespectful to those who have defend-ed our freedom to allow this deterioration to continue. Also, it iscertainly no credit to AFGC to have our name clearly inscribedon dilapidated markers in the state. Because of this deplorable

Calendar of Events

February 9th, 10th, 11th, 2012Course I Flower Show SchoolValley Garden Center

February 25, 2012MGM Garden Club

"Art in the Garden"Moody Garden, Yuma, AZ     

March 11, 201210 AM - 2 PMPecan Garden Club

"Welcome to my Garden Tour"Yuma, AZ

March 14, 2012Southern District Meeting

March 24, 20122PMDesert Pointe Garden Club

"Blue Star Memorial Dedication"Ahwatukee Park

March 31, 2012Real Gardens for Real People TourContact Beth Kirkpatrick for infobethalia@gmail.com

March 31, 2012Scottsdale GC FundraiserIt's Raining Pennies for PinesMesa Country Club

April 14, 2012"Contain Your Enthusiasm"Entries Due

April 28, 2012AFGC Annual MeetingMesa Community College LibraryTempe, AZ 85282

Blue Star Memorial continued...

condition, I proposed to the AFGCBoard at our Fall Board of Direc-tors meeting that we establish arestoration project in order to ad-dress this problem. I am hopingthat our garden clubs in the stateand individuals will support thisprogram, and while it will be costly,I believe it is something we must do.

With the AFGC Board’s decision toaddress this issue, it was decidedthat a deteriorating marker locatedon Highway 89A just south of theUtah border that was originally ded-icated in 1956, would be our firstrestoration project. Due to its poorcondition, the marker was re-moved this past summer at therequest of the Town Manager ofFredonia. The town is anxious tohave a marker remain in the areaand proposed that it be relocatedto a small fenced roadside park.The park boasts a delightful littlemuseum along with other features.The Town of Fredonia and theAmerican Legion Post 69 will pro-vide the base for the marker andwe in turn would supply a newmarker. It is expected that themarker will be rededicated some-time this spring.

AFGC has established a fundknown as The Blue Star MemorialMarker Restoration Project. Mygoal is to assure that each year wedo as much as possible to keepour markers in presentable condi-tion. I am asking our clubs andindividuals to help with the finan-cial support of this project throughdonations to the Blue Star Restora-tion Fund.

Design HintBuff Harrington

REFLECTIVE DESIGNDesign by Sylvia Patrick, presented at Judges Councils Interac-tive Design Seminar

A Reflective Design is acreative design containingmaterials that reflect.

Reflective materials areplaced to reflect light andprovide visual involvementof the viewer with the re-flective parts of the design.Reflective materials are anintegral part of the design.The reflective material maybe shiny metal, plastic,paper, pieces of mirror etc.Staging a design in front ofa mirror is not a ReflectiveDesign.

In Sylvia's design she hasused a curved piece ofstainless steel as herreflective material. It is

highly reflective and the curved form adds to the rhythm of thedesign. It is a creative design of form and space. She has usedbeautiful white anthuriums .dried scotch broom which she hasmanipulated into circular forms. The scotch broom adds acontrast of texture to the shinny stainless steel. It is all set offwith one split leaf philodendron. It is an elegant ,creative designwhich brought many kudos at Judges Councils InteractiveDesign Seminar.

Cerbat Garden Club, KingmanSandie Womack

Cerbat GC members took a break from gar-dening and florals this holiday season. Mem-bers chose gift tags printed with the namesof CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate)children at the November meeting and thenpurchased Christmas gifts to help provide aMerry Christmas for 60 children. The giftswere wrapped at the December meeting andpresented to Mohave County CASA DirectorNancy McBride and CASA volunteer JoanCates-Jacks who attended the Decembermeeting and shared information about CASAand the children that their program serves(often abused, neglected, or abandoned).

Alta Vista Garden ClubCathy Michener and Carol Westfall

While many gardeners south of Prescott are reveling in planting their spring gardens, Alta Vista mem-bers are taking a break from garden chores. That doesn’t mean we’re not busy, though.

We gathered to enjoy each other’s company during the Christmasparty in early December. The occasion was special in many ways. Thevery creative members of the committee wove the colors of green,gold and red into a homey, cheery atmosphere, complete with aDianne Moyer one-of-a-kind red brick fireplace topped with variousrenditions of collectable Santa Clauses. Fresh greenery and earthytreasures adorned all the tables. A Christmas tree with gift exchangeitems under the boughs rounded out the setting. There was also aspecial table featuring the imagination and artistic skills of memberswho contributed decorated gourds. After a delightful tasting of

Alta Vista continued...

everyone’s contribution to the luncheon fare,we exchanged garden gifts according to the

“Chinese rules.” Garden accessories, fromlizards (the decorated kind) to watering cansto handmade items, changed hands amidooh’s and aah’s and lots of laughter. After thelast gift found its permanent home, the servingplatters returned to their rightful owners andthe tables cleared, our gifts to the communitywere distributed. Canned goods and cashwent to the Yavapai Food Bank, new sockswent to the Open Door Project to aid thehomeless, and the event’s festive poinsettiaswere delivered to brighten The Arizona Pio-neers’ Home and the V.A. Hospital. Memberswent home with warm feelings of camaraderie,projects well done and visions of sugar plumsand good things to come.

We hope that your group’s celebrationbrought you together in a similar fashion andyour winter hiatus causes you to come roar-ing back in the new year, full of fresh ideasand renewed energy. Our vision of goodthings to come includes especially thePrescott Garden Tour on June 9 with yourjoining us for the day.

Doris Helvig Creative Design AwardBuff Harrington

The Doris Helvig Creative Design Award isan award given annually to an Arizona FederationGarden Club member outstanding in furthering theart of creative floral design.

Please write or email your nomination to:Rosemary Wade by March 31,10130 N Alder Spring Dr,Tucson, Az, 85737 or millsong@aol.com

The award will be presented at the annual meetingon April 28, 2012.

Previous winners are:Doris Helvig - 2006Marian LeCompte - 2007Buff Harrington - 2008Sylvia Patrick - 2009Joyce Girvin - 2010Sharron Luoma - 2011

Real Gardens for Real PeopleBeth KirkpatrickMaster Gardener TourSaturday March 31, 9:00 am - 4:00 pm

Spending time in a garden can sooth your soul, refresh your spirit and you canlearn a good deal more about gardening in the low desert. The 2012 RealGardens for Real People Tour is an opportunity to spend time in six beautifullylandscaped gardens with mountain views as well as vegetable and butterflygardens at an elementary school, all in north Scottsdale. The tour will be held onSaturday, March 31, 2012, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The 11th annual garden tour ispresented by the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners.

The annual self-guided tour focuses on gardens designed and created by MasterGardeners, who subscribe to principles of selecting, placing, and caring for plantsin an environmentally responsible manner based on research specific to the low

desert. Included on the tour are newly created vegetable gardens at Copper Ridge Elementary Schoolthat are being used as a living laboratory to educate students about sustainable gardening and theimportance of good nutrition.

Real Gardens for Real People continued...

The gardens named, “Territorial Oasis,” “Desert Serenity,” “The Collector’s Canvas,” “Tranquil Retreat,”“Nature’s Bounty,” and “Wildlife Paradise,” include use of desert-adapted plants, edible landscapes, useof recycled materials, water features and unique art including metal sculptures and mosaic pieces. Ateach stop on the tour, Master Gardeners and other experts will be available to educate attendees ontopics such as pruning techniques, container gardening, attracting birds and wildlife, water gardening,and gardening with children. A unique aspect of the tour is that labels will identify plants in the gardens,and attendees will receive lists of the plants in the gardens. A select group of vendors will be at variouslocations on the tour.

Tickets sales are limited with purchase in advance at $25 and $30 on the day of sale. Tickets can bepurchased now at cals.arizona.edu/maricopa/garden/gardentour.htm and at a range of local nurseriesand merchants around the valley, including the following: A&P Nurseries in Gilbert, Mesa, and QueenCreek; Baker Nursery in Phoenix; Berridge Nursery in Phoenix; Black Mountain Nursery in Cave Creek;Desert Gardens Nursery in Phoenix; Harper’s Nursery in Mesa and Scottsdale; Linden Tree Nursery inSun City; McKeown Landscape in Peoria; Melrose Pharmacy in Phoenix; North Scottsdale Nursery andCactus in Scottsdale and Southwest Gardener in Phoenix. Tickets are also available at the Universityof Arizona Cooperative Extension Offices at 4341 E. Broadway Rd. in Phoenix and 13815 Camino delSol in Sun City. On the day of the tour, tickets will be sold at Copper Ridge Elementary School, 10101E. Thompson Peak Parkway, Scottsdale.

FOR CONTAINER GARDENERS ONLYBarbara Mlnarik

THAT’S EVERYONE!! JOIN THE FUN AND WIN PRIZES!!

CONTAIN YOUR ENTHUSIASM for gardening byentering the AFGC container contest. There will bemany winners as Sharron Luoma’s Cactus FlowerFlorist is donating some wonderful prizes, along withthe monetary awards previously announced. Thereare 7 categories; something for everyone.

Category 1 is a club project using low water plantmaterial. Category 2 can involve a club or a membergardening with children and containers. Five othercategories call for vegetables, herbs, and or flowers,contained in planter boxes, baskets, wall hangings,foundation planters, or perhaps pots clustered to ac-cent an entry. Creativity goes wild!

See more details and rules on the Greenleaf link.Take your photos when your containers are at theirbest, fill out the application, and make sure that they reach Barbara Mlnarik, 31 W. Frier Drive, Phoe-nix, AZ 85021 by April 14th, 2012.

Winners will be announced at the AFGC Annual Board Meeting, April 28th, 2012.For questions: (602) 943-5924 or rbmlk@cox.net.

LET’S GET GROWING!! GOOD LUCK!

Bylaw Amendment

The following recommendedAFGC BYLAW amendment will bevoted on at the April 28, 2012AFGC Annual Meeting and asrequired, is hereby published inthe Greenleaf Bulletin six weeksprior to the Annual Meeting.

Amend Article XIV—FinancesSection 4 c 4 which reads: Fundsfor Designated Projects, e.g.Operation Wildflower, WorldGardening, Garden Therapy.Donations from members andmember garden clubs shall beaccumulated in the fund designat-ed for that project and disbursedto the project as needed.

Amend to add the following:If the fund is for a project thathas become inactive for atleast two years, it can betransferred to an active fund ordesignated project by a two-thirds vote of theBoard of Directors.

If adopted, it would then read:Finances Section 4 c 4 wouldread: Funds for DesignatedProjects, e.g. Operation Wildflow-er, World Gardening, GardenTherapy. Donations from mem-bers and member garden clubsshall be accumulated in the funddesignated for that project anddisbursed to the project as need-ed. If the fund is for a projectthat has become inactive for atleast two years, it can be trans-ferred to an active fund or desig-nated project by a two-thirds voteof the Board of Directors.

Federated Garden Clubs of Yuma

The Federated Garden Clubs of Yuma participated in the localHome and Garden Show held at the Convention Center. Eachclub had plants and other garden-related items for sale. YumaOrchid Society sold an array of brightly-colored orchids and;

Judy Vine andSharon Jessup,Pecan GroveGarden Club, enjoya moment by thecreative bird housesmade by their clubmembers. Attachedto old farm tools,these houses aregreat conversationpieces as well asnice homes for ourlocal bird friends.

Contact Sharon Jessup, 928-782-1650, to purchase one,$25 + shipping.

MGM Garden Club sold their newly-published book, “TimelineHistory of the Moody Garden”, written by Ellen Gardner, $35,and a desk calendar with a plant from the garden pictured foreach month, $12. Call Stacey Bealmear, U of Extension horti-culturist, at 928-726-3904 to purchase these items.

Yuma Garden Club sold their member-created cookbook whichalso contains a planting schedule for the desert southwest.Contact Cal Kelley, 928-581-3981, to purchase the cookbook,$15 + $4 shipping.

Mary Lou Milstead,Bill Watts, LydiaReibel, andElizabeth Moodyare hard at workpruning roses inthe Alma SchottRose Garden atthe Yuma CivicCenter. This is anannual project forYuma GardenClub.

On February 14, 2012, the Federated GardenClubs of Yuma will honor Elizabeth Moody andDorothy Starek, long-time members, by plantinga Texas Mountain Laurel tree at the historicSanguinetti House Museum and Garden. Tohonor Arizona’s centennial birthday, a LadyBanks rose will also be planted.Marty Dauwalder, local artist, is enjoying an af-

ternoon of painting in the Moody Garden. On Febru-ary 25, 2012, from 10:00AM to 2:00PM, MGMGarden Club will host “Art in the Garden”, a specialday of art, refreshments, and music at the Robert J.Moody Garden. Local artists will have a “paint-off” inthe garden and will create a special piece of artworkto be judged. The first-place winner will receive acash award.

Ready, Set, GrowCarol ParrottThis year give your sweetie the Emu Bush named after the flightless bird that feeds on the fruit. TheEremophila maculate ’Valentine’ is an Australian native that starts blooming in January. The Valen-

tine Emu’s glorious tubular flowers are ready to giveyour Valentine a big red kiss on her special day.This polite plant has small, rounded green leavesthat may turn reddish in winter. The ‘Valentine’grows to 4 x 5 feet and is hardy to 15 degrees.Once established, it is extremely drought tolerantbut does demand good drainage. It loves full sunand can tolerate poor soil and wind. Here in theSouthwest, other than the occasional scale or aphid,the ‘Valentine’ is pretty much pest, disease, andfungi free. If you must prune, do so in late springafter flowering because blooming occurs on new tipgrowth generated the past season.

This Valentine contains ZERO calories and is fat free, but keeps cooking up magnificent lipstick redblooms year after year just in time for the big day! It’s a hummingbird magnet that can even be grownin a container. This ‘Valentine’ says the very best, “I Love You.”

A Traveling Gardener,wandering, wondering,noticing. . . .Linda Larson

Peace in a Garden

As our country and the world grap-ple with so many conflicts I try toremember conflict is part of life.Peace Gardens remind me citizensthroughout the world see gardensas a path to peace.

The idea of an International PeaceGarden originated with Dr. HenryMoore, Horticulturist graduate ofKew Gardens in London and a resi-dent of Ontario, Canada. Dr. Moorewas attending a horticultural confer-ence in Greenwich, Connecticut in1928 and was impressed by thecongeniality and common interestsof Canadians and Americans. Heproposed a garden to celebrate thisinternational relationship. He be-lieved a garden is “where the peo-ple of the two countries could sharethe glories found in a lovely gardenand the pleasures found in warmfriendships.”

The International Peace Gardenspans Canada and the UnitedStates celebrating the longest unfor-tified border in the world.http://www.peacegarden.com/Near the geographic center of North

America, Rugby, North Dakota, thegarden begins where the naturalwater borders of the great lakes

open onto the prairie and the prai-rie begins the rise to the mountains.Dedication of the InternationalPeace Garden took place on July14, 1932. “Horticulturalists andgardeners from both countries of-fered to carpet 400 acres with flow-ers and trees,” and celebrantspledged, “We two nations dedicatethis garden and pledge ourselvesthat as long as man shall live wewill not take up arms against oneanother.”

Of course the great depressionchanged and challenged every-thing. Funds for development dis-appeared but labor appeared! TheU.S. Civilian Conservation Corpsprovided 600 men to work the2400 acres donated by the two

countries for this garden. The menworked to clear brush land, buildlagoons and construct the first

building. World War II then sappedall development.

As a world weary from waremerged in the late 1940’s the ide-als of the Peace Garden helped inhealing the wounds of war. Fundswere collected from small towns,rotary clubs, veterans, chapters ofEastern Star, Masons and manymore organizations to build apeace chapel, entry gates, picnicareas, rose gardens and all man-ner of garden dreams. Canadianand US Governments contributedfunds to the garden’s development.A channel of water blends the bor-ders of both countries from the en-trance gates to the Peace Tower atthe end. The Peace Towers dedi-cated in 1983 has four soaring col-umns symbolizing the dreams andambitions of immigrants that builtnew lives in Canada and the U.S.with the common base of democra-cy. The towering spires, two onthe U.S. side and two on the Cana-dian side represent the four cor-ners of the earth coming together.

Today the gardens include 400acres of formal gardens with180,000 colorful annuals, 7000flowering shrubs, and 100’s of vari-eties of deciduous trees. The sunk-en gardens have been revitalizedrecently with new plantings and aconservatory designed by French-

Canadian architect Gaboury Etienne.In 2010 a contemplative garden de-signed around steel girders salvagedfrom the World Trade Center attack of9-11-2001 opened. A future proposal

for this extraordinary place is to estab-lish a conflict resolution center on thegarden grounds.

All of this history emphasizes the amaz-ing power of a garden to bring peopletogether with a love of nature, and nur-ture celebrating our commonalities ingrowing flowers, trees and food.There is now an International PeaceGarden Foundation: Planting theSeeds of Peace,https://www.facebook.com/pages/International-Peace-Garden-Foundation/126449217406359formed in 1992 established “to ad-vance global friendship and internation-al understanding through the creationof peace gardens and cultural ex-change programs.” Peace Gardensare developing around the world.

Conflicts will continue and as garden-ers we may intuitively seek out peacein our gardens but perhaps there is nohigher goal than to help others findpeace in a garden. So let’s grow moregardeners and plant seeds of peace!

Linda offers programs for all audienc-es.  Part travelogue, part inspirationand motivation, the presentations are

an invigorating prescription for anyone in-trigued by nature, travel and the environ-ment to consider the revitalizing quality ofgarden visits. Her inviting web site offersreaders the opportunity to be whisked away

on a mini vacation through her colorful nar-ratives and lush photography. http://travelinggardener.com/

Thyme in the Kitchen

Easy Chicken Italian Soup

Even though we aren’t having too much need for comfort food with all this greatweather, this is a wonderfully easy recipe for a great low calorie and nourishingmeal.

� 1 small package celery� 6-8 large carrots� Large onion� Large can diced tomatoes� 2 32oz cans of low fat/low sodium chicken broth� Italian seasoning and salt and pepper to taste� ½ cup orzo pasta (can be more or less)� ½ cup white wine� Roasted chicken (from grocery store)� Pkg of fresh baby spinach

Saute chopped celery, onion and carrots until softAdd broth, tomatoes and seasoningBring to boil and simmer for about an hourAdd orzo pasta and cut up chickenSimmer for about 30 – 40 minutesAdd fresh spinach

Photo of Soup from Babble.com

Western District MeetingMarlena Parrott

The Annual Western District Meeting was heldon December 6th at the University of ArizonaCooperative Extension Auditorium in Yuma.We were very pleased to have Carol Parrott –AFGC President, Beth Hoss – 1st Vice Presi-dent, Judy Tolbert – 2nd Vice President, BethHoss and Barb Lindholm – Gold Canyon Gar-den Club in attendance as well as membersand friends representing all area gardenclubs.  Special thanks to Sharon Jessup forher inspiration and humor and to Ellen Gard-ner for an entertaining and educational pro-gram.  Club updates were given by BeverlyPeterson – MGM Garden Club, WilleneCalvert – Pecan Grove Garden Club, Cal Kel-ley – Yuma Garden Club and Sally Griffith –Yuma Orchid Society.  It was a fun afternoonand a great way to kick off the Holiday seasonwith great food, friends and laughter.

Pecan Grove Poetry ContestMarlena Parrott

Pecan Grove Garden Club recently conductedtheir nineteenth annual youth poetry contest.Students could choose between two themesselected by the National Garden Club -

“Colorful Fruits” or “Tasty Vegetables”.  Com-petition was open to young people kindergar-ten through ninth grade, with each gradejudged as a separate contest with 441 stu-dents participating.  Ruth Spitler and KarenBowen served as judges.  Winners wereawarded certificates and had an opportunityto read their poem during a ceremony at theUniversity of Arizona Cooperative ExtensionYuma Auditorium with more than 165 students,teachers, parents, family and friends in atten-dance.  First, second and third place winnersreceived gift certificates to a local bookstoreand all young people who submitted entriesreceived certificates.    Later, one teacherwrote -  “I just wanted to thank you for the op-portunity provided our students.  They wereso excited and honored to be able to readtheir poems.  You all made them feel so spe-cial.”

Go Green Report—“Be Green! BeClean!Carolyn White

Many of us have been battling colds and flu andare attempting to eliminate “germs” from ourhomes—often with the use of harsh cleaningchemicals. The book “Household Cleaning” byRachelle Strauss includes safer ingredients youcan use that make your home healthy whilesaving money. She also reminds us that the airindoors is likely more polluted than outdoors—sobe sure to open up your house for at least 10minutes every day.

Consider these eco-friendly alternatives: a steamcleaner, baking soda, white vinegar, borax, sodacrystals, or liquid castile soap. For an effectiveheavy-duty spray (18 fl. oz.) for cleaning greasyareas, mix 2 tablespoons white vinegar with oneteaspoon of borax; add 2 cups hot water andshake. Add ½ teaspoon liquid castile soap and 5drops of essential oils. Shake well and spray ontosurfaces and rinse off.

Strong antibacterial cleaners can be harmful tous and the environment and should only be usedwhen necessary (like taking medicine). Suchcleaners, including dishsoap, often containtriclosan which is classified as a probable humancarcinogen.

If someone in your home has the flu, Ms. Strausssuggests using the following homemade antibac-terial spray. “Combine the following essential oilsin a spray bottle with 7 fl. oz. cold water: 2 dropstea tree oil, 1 drop lavender oil, 3 drops lemon oil,and 2 drops orange oil. Spray directly onto surfac-es, wipe with a damp cloth, and dry with a cleancloth.” You can also spray essential oils into theair to purify and cleanse the air.

And remember that houseplants can filter the airand help us breathe easier with certain house-plants being more effective for specific toxins—for more information, go to O2foryou.org