High Elevation Gardening Web Log "Blog"

To inspire a creative surge for climate compatibility within the plant world, the Arizona Native Plant Society (AZNPS) Flagstaff Chapter is sponsoring a native plant garden competition within the Greater Flagstaff area for the 2007 gardening year.

Let's face it; our high desert community is a harsh land, but native plants allow the most climate distressed gardener to have a beautiful and satisfying garden. Plants native to this area are not weeds. Many are as glamorous as any found elsewhere on the planet, and they live and thrive here. Leave the wagonloads of English, South African and Australian dainties in the green houses and begin to think native.

The contest does not demand a total native planting. The intent is to encourage demonstration of how plants native to the Colorado Plateau can best be used in a garden setting. Judges would like to see a majority of native plants; however, adaptive plants are permitted.

When native plants are considered, one might envision brilliant blue spires of delphinium, and carpets of red-gold gallardia and sun-yellow coreopsis. A card table sized candelabra of sacred datura offering its white fragrant trumpets to the stars would be stunning at the end of a border bed.

Use the architectural drama of sword-leafed agaves and yucca which burst open each year in cascades of pendulant bells. Masses of white, pink and yellow evening primrose can colorfully fill in bedding gaps.

White blackfoot daisy in spring, deep pink four o'clock in summer and clouds of purple aster in fall will color a landscape all season. And expect oohs and ahs from penstemon's glorious presence.

Compliment these with clumps of native grasses such as blue fescue, eyelash-winking blue grama, and flag-waving muhlenbergia.

Selections of native trees and shrubs abound: conifer, gambel oak, cottonwood, aspen, locust, velvet ash, serviceberry, sumac, apache plume, fern bush, desert olive, barberry, and currant. Many of these provide spring bloom and autumn fruit and foliage color.

Applications for the contest can be picked up at the downtown public library, at Flagstaff Native Plant and Seed, and Warners' Nursery, or taken from the AZ Native Plant Society website: www.aznps.org. Additional information is available by calling (928)527-3702.

The gardens will be judged between July 15 and August 15, 2007. Convenient visitation times will be scheduled for judging. First place winners in the categories of non-professional and professional gardens will be awarded a plaque. All entrants will receive a poster of Northern Arizona native wildflowers. Winners will be announced at the August 21st AZNPS program meeting. Photos of the garden entries will be displayed at the Flagstaff Public Library during September.

The Arizona Native Plant Society supports education about the use of native plants in residential and commercial landscapes and works to develop strategies for protecting rare species and their habitats. The society also maintains a website with information and links to like sites. Monthly program meetings and field trips are held throughout the state and are free and open to the public. A nominal membership fee provides a quarterly "Happenings" publication, and a biannual scientific journal "The Plant Press."

The Flagstaff Chapter hosts monthly program meetings March thru October on the third Tuesday from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in Room 313 of the NAU Biological Sciences Building with a related field trip the following Sunday.

By Elaine Ferris
The author is a Master Gardener volunteer for Coconino County Cooperative Extension. If you have a gardening question, call the Master Gardener hotline at 774-1868 ext. 19 or visit our Web site: highelevationgardening.arizona.edu.