Cedar Waxwings in Pyracantha by Jim Hoagland
Glenna Matthews, Pinal County Master Gardener
Your Southeast Pinal County Master Gardeners (formally SaddleBrooke/SaddleBrooke Ranch Master Gardeners) are pleased to invite you to attend our following presentations:
November: Wednesday, Nov. 8, at 1 p.m., “Birds of Southeast Pinal County and How to Attract Them to Your Backyard.” Presented by Jim Hoagland, Birdman of SaddleBrooke Ranch, and Kimberly Matsushino, Habitat at Home Manager for Tucson Audubon Society. This will be an in-person presentation at SaddleBrooke’s DesertView Theatre. This colorful presentation will include Jim’s many photographs of birds he has captured with his camera in the three years he has wandered the communities, parks, trails, and canyons of our region. Kimberly will share her knowledge and expertise of how and what to plant that will bring these many bird species into your gardens and backyards. Jim moved to SaddleBrooke Ranch in June 2020 following a construction career in California. Since moving here, he has led bird field trips on the local Nature Trail and hence been given the title Birdman of SBR. He has recorded 178 species at the Ranch and more than 250 species in Pinal County. He co-authors a monthly article in the SaddleBrooke Ranch Roundup titled “Nature’s Way,” and delights our communities with his photographs and bird knowledge through social media. Kimberly is a native of Tucson who grew up exploring and appreciating southeast Arizona’s wild lands with her family and dogs. Wanting to learn everything about the plants and animals she grew up with, Kim graduated from the University of Arizona with a degree in conservation biology and an affinity for birds. She began working for Tucson Audubon Society in 2015, where she now serves as the Habitat at Home Program Manager. Contact Sheilah Britton with questions at [email protected].
December: Wednesday, Dec. 13, at 1 p.m., “Nutrient Deficiencies in Plants and How to Improve Soils.” Presented by Debankur Sanyal, Ph.D., University of Arizona Environmental Sciences, Soil Health Specialist. All higher plants require 17 individual nutrients to grow and reproduce. Each nutrient is critical to one or more vital functions within a plant. Lack of a nutrient often produces unique deficiency symptoms that allow an observer to identify the missing nutrient. This information can be used to develop and implement effective treatment strategies. These observations of symptoms are useful for narrowing the range of possible nutrient deficiencies. Dr. Sanyal will focus on those nutrients most often lacking in Southern Arizona plants. Using a key based on visible nutrient deficiency symptoms allows the identification of common plant nutrient deficiencies. In addition, soil management techniques to avoid or treat these nutrient deficiencies will be shared. To register for this Zoom event, please visit our website www.extension.arizona.edu/southeast-pinal-county-master-gardener, and then click on “Events.” Questions about registration? Contact [email protected].