OH JOY!

IT'S EVEN MORE

ALMOST HERE!

TOMORROW

The 15th Annual Real Gardens for Real People,

that is.

WEATHER FORECAST
A PERFECT 73* 

Spring is definitely here at Tre Soli as you can see by this stand of Penstemon that brings in the hummingbirds .

And that means time it's time to see what the Maricopa County Master Gardeners have been up to.  You can have a sneak peek by viewing these photos taken by the Maricopa County Master Gardeners of the gardens on the tour. 

SATURDAY, MARCH 12

9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Monarch?  Queen?  You can learn all about both butterflies at the Real Gardens for Real People Tour

and the best plants to attract them.

 Saturday

March 12

9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Tickets are $30 but you can save $2 with an online purchase using the code "2OFF"

http://cals.arizona.edu/maricopa/rgrp/index.php

Tickets do not have to be printed if you show your confirmation email on your digital device.

Tickets will also be available on the day of the tour at the school garden:
Sonoran Sky Elementary
12990 N 75th St
Scottsdale 85260

Edible landscape, a friend with benefits!  And!  It can be as gorgeous as non-edible landscapes! 

As some of you know this is our favorite garden tour of every year.  Why?  Not only are they first rate beautiful And unique And water conscious but on this tour you can actually find out what that favorite plant is.  "But wait there's more!"   Now they have added the value of QR code capability so there is even more to be learned so that you can go home and begin to create the gardens of your dreams.  

You mean we can grow these rain lilies here?!  Yes!  Find out how on the tour.

5 Home Gardens
AND
1 School Garden

Jake's Arbor

This one acre shaded sanctuary includes 19 fruit trees, chickens, vintage horticultural tools, and mixed-use space, and was designed by a Certified Arborist and an expert gardener. Amble along brick lined paths and discover five seating areas, heirloom roses, raised vegetable and herb beds, and examples of sustainable rainwater harvesting and composting practices.

The Secret Garden

Low-water plants form a lush, shady, private resort likegarden with a secret, cozy meditation nook.Containers add color and vegetables grow vertically inan aeroponic garden. This garden also features aflagstone seating wall built around a fire pit, and a reallife example of how these gardeners overcame aproblem tree.

The Wild and Free Garden

Bold colors and donated plants make this xeriscapegarden a little wild and free. Flowering native plants,drip irrigation, and rainwater harvesting replace athirsty lawn. Raised vegetable beds, a cactus andsucculent garden, a calming water feature, and coolMediterranean inspired colors create an oasis ideal forrelaxing and entertaining.

Eclectic Garden

This is an expansive, natural looking escape that offers something foreveryone. Low maintenance, year-round color, a variety of plants givethese gardeners lifelong enjoyment and endless learning opportunities.The lawn was reduced to allow for a larger plant palate and raisedvegetable beds. French drains, composting, and rainwater harvestingprovide additional sustainability.

Cornucopia Garden

Welcome to a garden of plenty. Plentyof fruit trees, vegetables, andbutterflies flitting about colorful flowersbeckon you. Wonder at the creativeuses of rainwater and recycledmaterials. Notice the retaining wallconstructed from a former patio, thevegetable wicking beds, andplayhouse turned chicken coop in thisgarden cornucopia.

Sonoran Sky Elementary School Garden is definitely not to be missed.  We hope it plants many seeds in many of your heads to move your local school to take the leap and create a school garden.   The future grows in the Garden where Science, Technology, English, Engineering, Arts and Math grow.

But if touring the gardens isn't enough for you and your flock there's a Garden Fair.  Many of the vendors live and create their products locally.

Get food, 

fun, 

and 

fabulous finds 

at the Garden Fair!

The Garden Fair will be a hive of activity. And it is at the site of the school garden.  Still not convinced you have to go?  There may even be a few garden giveaways. 

Here are a few of the vendors...more are being added all the time! 

• Maricopa County Master Gardeners – Stop by for advice, and pick up free U of A gardening publications. Calendars, soil probes, and books from the Arizona Master Gardener Press will also be on hand for purchase.
• Arizona Herb Association – Learn more about the about the uses, culture, history and lore of herbs—even pick up a few herbs for your garden—from AHA members.
• BluFatKat Art – Need a little art in your garden? Stop by BluFatKat Art for that perfect piece of garden art!
• Rose Arbor Soaps – A micro soapery located in Mesa, Arizona, Rose Arbor Soaps features handcrafted soaps made in small batches using the finest ingredients.
• Wood You Believe - Natural Wood decorative items - featuring Manzanita, Oak & Agaves.
• Alley Cat Art Studio - Ceramics, Lampwork beads.
• Wise Lines - Handmade wine glass charms made with geniune botanical postage stamps, sticky notes, journals, bookmarks. All botanical. All hand made.
• DC's Korner, LLC - Brittles - peanut, pecan, cashew, almond, nuttree. Also toffees.
• Carenas Creations - Birdhouse, feeders, hummingbird feeders and other fiber products for the garden
• Garden Art by Candy & Bill - Garden art of plates glued together with mirrors that you hand. We have done this for 3 years.
• Lotech Products - Compost crank

• Michael Ellis Plants - Cacti and succulents, rare and common, saquaros, golden barrels, and other barrel cacti. All plants from nursery/private collection
• Peter Milota Photography - Nature photography in frames and greeting cards, including flowers, hummingbirds, roses and butterflies as well as scenic landscape and animals for home or office.
• SEEDs for Autism - Garden art and home items including garden stakes, herb tiles, garden tools, cutting boards. All high quality, all hand made.
• Integrity Tree Service, Inc. - Tree services - pruning, fertilizing, stump removals
• AZ Queen Bee - Honey, creamed honey, beeswax candles, lip balm, lotion bars, honeycomb
• Same Moon Creation - Welded steel garden sculptures, owl bells, garden birds
• Cha Cha Designs - Aprons
• Watershed Management Group - Poo to Peaches children's book for composting toilets, encourage guests to sign up for on-site consultation to develop a plan for installing water harvesting features + native plants in their yard.
• Nancy Noto - Tower Garden, an aeroponic growing system for fruit and vegetables
• The Rainbow Works - Colored glass and copper garden stakes.
• Gro-Well Brands - Square foot garden soil book promoting raised bed gardening

Where does the tour start? 

Start your tour at the Sonoran Sky Elementary School, the tour hub and home of the Garden Fair, or any garden you like. 

NOTE: Garden addresses, as well expert educational resources and extensive plant lists, will be made public on March 12, 2016. Ticket holders will receive their tour guide via email 3-7 days before the tour. 

And now dear reader since you are still reading we can tell that you are a real lover of gardens so here is extra incentive, be one of the first 10 readers to email us  

azgardenfresh@gmail.com

and we'll buy your ticket to Real Gardens for Real People!