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Gardeners' Corner at the

Calgary Horticultural Society
Happy New Year!
2020—a year of vision! What are you envisioning for your yard? Now is the time to plan. Are you interested in a garden that can handle whatever nature sends your way? Thinking about starting your garden plants from seeds inside, or making an indoor garden? Do you want to capture and make better use of rainwater?

Start with a plan. Write down what you want to achieve and outline what you need to do to get there. Include who will do the work and how much time you think will be needed to get it done. If you need help, the Society has talks (some are free) coming up to help you start your planning. There are courses and workshops too! Check calhort.org/What's Happening for program details. Have a vision for your yard this year; after all, it's 2020!

Society Calendar—It's a New Year!
The office reopens on Tuesday, January 7, at 9:00 am. Come by the office (208 50 Avenue SW) to say "Hello" and pick up a 2020 Society calendar. It is beautiful and packed with features for Calgary gardeners, including Society events, indoor seed-starting charts, “To Do” checklists and inspiring thoughts about gardening from local gardeners.
What Do I Do Now?
If any month defines winter, it's January. However, there are both indoor and outdoor activities that you can do now to care for your garden and make preparations for spring. Read the "What Do I Do Now? Winter" article by Colleen Tanner in the current issue of Calgary Gardening magazine. Visit Calgary Gardening under the Members Only section of the website to access the magazine.
Winter Garden Fun—Suet Cakes!
Looking to share some outdoor fun with children this holiday break? Make some suet cakes to feed to the birds.You will need:

1/2 cup lard or vegetable shortening
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup flour
1/4 cup cornmeal
1 1/2 cups bird seed
6 large parchment paper muffin cups
Put the lard/shortening in a microwave-proof bowl and cut into pieces. Add the peanut butter. Heat covered (to prevent splattering) in a microwave oven on medium for 90 seconds. Remove and stir until smooth. If necessary, use a fork to break up any lumps. Add the flour and cornmeal and stir. Add the bird seed and stir. (You could also add a 1/4 cup of dried fruit.)  Place the muffin cups in a muffin pan. Spoon the mixture into the cups. Place the pan in the fridge to harden the cakes (at least 20 minutes). Place one or more cakes in a suet holder (remove the paper and compost). You could use an old netted onion bag as a holder if you don't already have one. Hang the holder on a shrub, tree or bird feeder. Store the extra suet cakes in a sealed container in the fridge.
Classes
The 2020 Program Calendar is Ready!
See calhort.org | What's Happening for program details.
Don't miss out on the popular programs. Sign up today! Online registration is always open.
Decorative Terracotta Pots
Sunday, January 19, 1:00 to 4:00 pm
Society Office, 208 50 Avenue SW
Instructor: Elaine Rude
$50 members, $65 non-members
Register online

Come paint a decorative terracotta plant pot.

Join us for a fun workshop where we will turn an ordinary terracotta pot (8–10 inch) into a work of art using a variety of painting techniques.  The only requirement is creativity!

This family-friendly workshop is for ages 8
and up. Registration is for one adult who may bring a child at no additional cost. 
All supplies are provided (one pot per registration).

This is a new hands-on workshop for the Society. Be one of the first to give it a try! 

Registration for this workshop closes on Monday, January 13.
Growing Edible Mushrooms in Your Backyard
Saturday, January 25, 9:30 am to 12:30 pm
Society Office, 208 50 Avenue SW
Instructors: Tara Stephens and Meghan Vesey from Fungi Akuafo
Cost: $45 members, $60 non-members
Register online

As you start to plan your garden, consider adding mushrooms into the mix. Now is a great time to start planning, acquiring supplies and generally learning about what to do. 

This workshop is a 3-hour introduction to cultivating mushrooms in your backyard. It will include an overview of fungi ecology, a discussion on how to choose which species to grow, instructions on how to inoculate woodchips and log stacks, and tips to care for your new fungi friends.  

Registration for this workshop closes on Monday, January 20.
Cacti and Succulents: Jewels of the Home
Thursday, January 30, 7:00 to 8:30 pm
CNIB, 10 11A Street NE
Instructor: John Ostrowdun, from greengate Garden Centres
Cost: $25 members, $35 non-members
Register online

Cacti and succulents have become incredibly popular in the gardening world in recent times.  Learn how to care for these jewels of the home and succeed in growing cacti and succulents in Calgary.

Registration for this course closes on Monday, January 20.
2020 Program Calendar
Watch What's Happening on the website for program updates as Michelle, the Society's Program Coordinator, has been finalizing details for the Society's talks, workshops and courses. New offerings are regularly being added to the calendar. Visit the website and check the coming months to sign up early for our popular programs. Coming soon...seed starting!
Photographing Plants with a Phone Camera
Sunday, January 26, 1:00 to 3:30 pm
Golden Acre Home & Garden
620 Goddard Avenue NE
Instructor: Jillian Logee
Cost: $30 members, $40 non-members
Register online

Back by popular demand!

Plants offer some of the most beautiful photo opportunities nature has in store. With smartphones at the ready, you never have to miss a shot! In this workshop, participants will learn how to set their smartphones for optimal photographs and how to control and direct light effectively. Using simple and inexpensive equipment with a DIY flair, you'll learn how to create beautiful floral images suitable for printing, sharing and displaying. SLR and compact cameras are welcome, too!  

Registration for this workshop closes on Monday, January 20.
Sustainable Garden Design
10 Weeknights—Mondays and Wednesdays starting Monday, January 27, and ending Monday, March 2, 6:30 to 9:30 pm (excludes February 17, Family Day) 
Ground Cubed Landscape Architects,
6020 2 Street SE (Suite 25, Building B) 
Instructors: Jeremy Zoller, Michelle Edworthy, Mike Dorion and Mike Light
Cost: $300 members, $350 non-members  
Register online

Students will create a finished home garden design based on ecological principles such as water-saving, closed loops and habitat creation.  

Participants will learn: 
  • Technical design skills, such as drafting and site analysis  
  • Differences and similarities between sustainable design systems such as permaculture, xeriscaping and food forestry  
  • Water movement through soil and around properties; hardscaping to direct and/or store water  
  • Best practices for building a greenhouse  
  • How to build and amend soil while considering the soil biology  
  • Plant selection based on water needs, habitats, niches, wildlife value and personal goals  
Participants will have the opportunity to present their final design to fellow students and instructors for comments and suggestions. 

Registration for this course closes on Monday, January 20.
Kickstart Your Garden
Saturday, February 1, 1:00 to 4:00 pm
Society Office, 208 50 Avenue SW
Instructor: Janet Melrose
Cost: $45 members, $60 non-members
Register online

Get your garden ready with this comprehensive workshop covering everything you need to know to launch into spring! Learn about spring soil amendments, indoor and outdoor winter sowing, the best ways to clean up your garden after winter, and early direct sowing and planting. This workshop has two hands-on activities: starting microgreens and seed starting through winter sowing.

Registration for this course closes on Monday, January 27.
Support the Society

Garden Journals

Stop by the Society office to purchase your copy ($20) of The Growing Journal. The Society's journal is a terrific tool to help keep track of your planning and the activity in the garden. The pages are undated, so you can journal at your own pace, without the stress of finishing an annual diary. It's a great gift for a gardener on any occasion. Purchase this gardening resource and support the Society.

Help Us Grow!

The Calgary Horticultural Society is a registered charity dedicated to cultivating Calgary’s gardening community. Your support helps us continue our mission to enrich the lives of Calgarians by supporting gardening and the enhancement of the environment through our programs of talks, workshops and courses. Donations enable the Society to engage Calgarians in Gardening for Life—every donation is appreciated. Thank you for supporting the Calgary Horticultural Society. Donate online.

If you prefer, you are welcome to drop by the office (208 50 Avenue SW) to make a donation or call us at 403.287.3469 and we will be happy to assist you.

Membership—a Gift that Blooms Year-round
It's a gift that gives throughout the year—free member talks, garden centre and workshop discounts, online resources, e-news, e-magazines and Open Gardens tours. Gift memberships may be purchased online—visit Membership/Join the Society and scroll to the bottom of the page. Or, come to the office (208 50 Avenue SW) to purchase the gift membership and you can take the membership card home.

Volunteer with us in 2020!

There are plenty of opportunities to get involved with the Society and help grow our gardening community. Contact the Society's Volunteer Coordinator, Norm Cook, at 403.287.3469 ext. 1 or email volunteer@calhort.org if you would like to volunteer for a Society event, talk, class or course. All Society classes have volunteer monitors who help set up, introduce the instructor and assist class participants. We're preparing for events such as:
  • Parks School (for City of Calgary employees) 
  • Calgary Home + Garden Show
  • Seedy Saturday
  • Aggie Days
  • Casino
  • Garden Show 
  • Open Gardens
  • Community Outreach
  • Workshops, talks and courses
These events are successful because our volunteer community helps out—Come Grow with Us!  Visit Get Involved/Volunteer on the website for more information about volunteering.
Be an Open Gardens Host
Open Gardens will be here soon. The dates are May 24, June 7, July 5, July 19, August 9 and September 13. Gardens on the tour need to be interesting, but perfection is not required. We welcome all types of gardens: food, xeriscape, low or high maintenance, half a duplex or acreage, showcase or a work-in-progress. Your garden and story should captivate the visitor for at least a 15-minute visit. If you're interested in being a host, visit What's Happening/Open Gardens on our website for details. Fill in the Submit an Open Garden form and one of our volunteer Open Gardens coordinators will contact you. If you're unsure if your garden is ready to be a garden on the tour, then note that in the form and a team member can help you decide.
Coming Soon!
Save the Date!
The Society's Garden Show will be April 25 and 26, 2020, at the Max Bell Centre. We will be building on last year's experience to enhance the show! Save the date and plan to attend. We've started planning. If you're interested in being part of the Garden Show team, contact Norm at volunteer@calhort.org or call 403.287.3469 ext. 1.
Spread the word! 
Invite your friends to subscribe to this e-news. Forward this email and ask your friends to subscribe by clicking this JOIN link. 
Thanks—come grow with us!
Do you have a gardening question?  Do you need a new home for the collection of flower pots growing in your garden shed? Log in to the Members' Forum, choose a topic and let other members know. We look forward to hearing from you!
Copyright Calgary Horticultural Society | 2020 | All rights reserved.

Our mailing address is:
208 50 Avenue SW, Calgary, Alberta T2S 2S1
Phone: 403.287.3469

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