Tucson Weekly: Gardening (June 15

GARDENING

BOTANICAL GARDENS. Tucson Botanical Gardens. 2150 N. Alvernon Way. "Birds and Gardening" is a 45-minute guided tour exploring the plants and gardening practices that attract birds to your backyard. Tours run at 9 a.m. every Tuesday. "Exploring the Tucson Botanical Gardens" is a guided tour highlighting TBG history and plant trivia, and familiarizing you with native flora and other plants that grow well in Tucson. These tours are at 10 a.m. every Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Tours are free with admission. Introduction to Gardening classes focus on using drought-tolerant plants to colorful and low-maintenance effect, and meet from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. the first Thursday and third Saturday of the month. Cost is $6, and includes admission; or $4 for TBG members. Regular admission to the gardens is $4, $3 for seniors, $1 for children 6 to 11 and free for members and children under age 5. Hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Sunday. Call 326-9686 for information.
FARMACY GARDEN. 2450 S. Cottonwood Lane. The Farmacy Garden offers classes, workshops, teaching opportunities and internships in sustainable desert gardening. This nine-acre organic farm produces vegetables, medicinal and culinary herbs and flowers. The Farmacy Garden is a non-profit organization serving low-income singles and families lacking health insurance. Call 322-0944 for information.
GARDENING WORKSHOP. Extension Garden Center. 4210 Campbell Ave. The Pima County Cooperative Extension offers free gardening workshops on Wednesday, June 21. Harvesting, Storing and Using Summer Rain Water begins at 9 a.m. at the Extension Garden Center, 4210 N. Campbell Ave. Eastside residents can attend the workshop at 1 p.m. at the Wilmot Library, 530 N. Wilmot Road. Call 626-5161 for details.
HYDROPONIC GARDENERS. UA Agriculture Farm. 2031 E. Roger Road. This group meets at noon on the second Saturday of each month. Admission is free. Call Bob at 327-8822 for information.
MONSOON PLANTING. Sylvester House. 2130 N. Alvernon Way. Native Seeds/SEARCH hosts an introductory Monsoon Planting Workshop from 8 to 11 a.m. Saturday, June 17. Topics include bed preparation, where and when to plant, seed selection and more. Admission is $15, $12 for members. Pre-registration is required. Native Seeds/SEARCH is a nonprofit group that works to conserve the traditional farming methods of native peoples of the Southwest and Mexico. Call 622-5561 for details.
SUMMER IN THE GARDEN. The Pima County Cooperative Extension offers kids grades 4 through 8 a chance to learn hands on gardening, how to build a scarecrow, terrarium construction, and composting during two one-week sessions from 8 to 11:30 a.m. July 10 and 17. Admission is $30 per session. Call 626-5161 for information.
TUCSON ORGANIC GARDENERS. The Tucson Organic Gardeners meets at 7 p.m. the third Tuesday of each month at the Pima County Medical Society building, 5199 E. Farness Drive. For more information, call 670-9158.