Tucson Weekly: Gardening (April 19

GARDENING

COMMUNITY GARDENS OF TUCSON. Grow your own vegetables in community plots. Join in a weekly work party on Saturdays at 9 a.m. For more details visit www.communitygardensoftucson.org or call 795-8823.
FARMACY GARDEN. 2450 S. Cottonwood Lane. The Farmacy Garden offers classes, workshops, teaching opportunities and internships in sustainable desert gardening. This 9-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 622-2241 for information.
GARDENING DEMONSTRATIONS. Pima County Cooperative Extension Garden Center. 4210 N. Campbell Ave. 626-5161. Learn to create a water garden April 19 at 2 p.m., and discover interesting ground covers and vines for the desert April 26 at 2 p.m. Both events are free and take place at the Marana Planning Services Center, 3696 W. Orange Grove.
HYDROPONIC GARDENERS. UA Agri-Farm Greenhouse. 2031 E. Roger Road. Call Bob at 327-8822 or Jo at 751-1005 for information. Admission is free.
NATIVE SEEDS/SEARCH. Native Seeds/SEARCH is a nonprofit group working to conserve the traditional crops, seeds and farming methods of the southwestern U.S. and Mexico. Call 622-5561 for information.
TUCSON BOTANICAL GARDENS. 2150 N. Alvernon Way. Landscaping and Horticulture: Plant Selection for the Low Water Landscape with horticulturist Solveig Palanek takes place April 19 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Admission is $4 for members and $6 for non-members. Learn the traditional native way to harvest spring cholla buds April 22 from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Mildred Antone and Martha Burgess will pick the spiny buds, prepare them, and cook, taste and preserve them the way it's been done for generations. In addition, they'll discuss other wild and domestic foods. A luncheon feast of desert delicacies, including dishes prepared with tepary beans, corn and mesquite meal is included. Registrants will meet at a designated westside area and return to the gardens for final food preparations and feasting. Cost of the event is $45 for members and $50 for non-members. There is a 45-minute bird and gardening tour every Tuesday at 9 a.m. Explore the plants and gardening practices that attract birds. The tour is free with admission. Gardening for the Newcomer classes meet from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. the first Thursday and third Saturday of the month. Xeriscape classes meet the second Saturday of the month from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Cost is $6, and includes admission; it's $4 for garden 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. daily. The garden nursery hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Fridays-Sundays. Call 326-9686 for information.
TUCSON ORGANIC GARDENERS. St. Mark's Presbyterian Church Geneva Room. 3809 E. Third St. The Tucson Organic Gardeners meet the third Tuesday of each month through April. For more information call 670-9158 or visit tucson.com/nonprofits/TOG.