October Monthly Meeting: Annual Autumn Potluck

October 1, 2012

Oct ’12
3
7:30 pm

It’s fall again, and to help with evading the never-ending terror of political everything everywhere (unless, like me, you enjoy that sort of thing), it’s time to come on out for our monthly meeting, which happens to be the much-celebrated, practically perfect annual fall potluck dinner. Please join us on October 3rd at 7:30 in the evening for excellent food and great company. Please bring your favorite salad, side, main dish or dessert. Utensils, napkins, plates, and drinks will be provided. So, bring some tasty vittles and join your fellow friends and members for an excellent evening. We hope to see everyone there!

Date: Wednesday, October 3rd
Time: 7:30pm
Where: Sugar House Park Garden Center, 1602 East 2100 South

Tagged as: Alternative Garden Club, Garden Club Meeting, Potluck

Second Annual Equality Utah Garden Party!

July 8, 2012

Jul ’12
14
9:00 am
Please join our friends at Equality Utah for the Second Annual EU Garden Party. Equality Utah has helped so many people and enriched our community by fighting for what’s right. Let’s support them on July 14th with drink and tasty food. More information and to purchase tickets available Here.


Equality Utah
Equality Utah
175 West 200 South Suite 3001, Salt Lake City, UT 84101
Phone: 801-355-3479 equalityutah.org.

Tagged as: Equality Utah, Fundraiser, Salt Lake Communtiy Service

Annual AGC Members Garden Tour

June 30, 2012

Jul ’12
8
2:00 pm

It’s time once again for The Alternative Garden Club’s Members Garden Tour. With an early spring and summer, and July heat coming early as well, gardens are weeks ahead. It would be nearly impossible to tell the time of year by looking outside, assuming you could see anything through all the smoke!
Keeping with tradition, light refreshments will be served at most venues. We look forward to seeing everyone for this spectacular summer event as we celebrate the gardens of our peers.

Date:Sunday, July 8th
Time: 2:00pm – 6:45pm
Where: We will meet at 3149 South 4180 West at 2:00pm to start the tour. Directions, notes and a map can be found below.


View 2012 AGC Members Garden Tour in a larger map

Tagged as: Alternative Garden Club, Garden Tour, Members Garden Tour, Salt Lake City Garden Club

Field Trip, 7th Annual Wasatch Community Gardens Tour de Coops

June 10, 2012

Jun ’12
30
10:00 am

June. First day of summer, Pride, a farewell to any semblance of chilly weather (almost), vacations, and the Wasatch Community Garden’s Tour de Coops. Please join us on Saturday, June 30th for the tour starting at 10:00am. This has become a much anticipated and well celebrated annual event for the AGC, and we look forward to another stellar tour.

The tour sells out completely as tickets are limited, so please purchase tickets as soon as possible (see below). Tickets are $10/person or (and here’s the best deal), $20 for groups up to six.

Date: Saturday, June 30th
Time: No offocial meeting time/place. This is a self-guided tour, but the hours are from 10:00am – 2:00pm
Where: The Urban Garden Company is located at 365 West 800 North, Salt Lake City (see map below)
Cost: Depends on participation ($10.00/individual, $20/2-6 people). We recommend pooling together in groups
Tickets: Get your tickets early as they sell out quickly. Tickets can be purchased online Here.
From the WCG Website:

If you have never been to a Wasatch Community Gardens Tour de Coops, make 2012 your first year. We know it won’t be your last. The Tour de Coops is a fun affordable community event, that can be family-friendly or a great way to spend the afternoon with friends.

Tour de Coops is a self-guided tour of some of the coolest urban chicken coops throughout Salt Lake City. Coop owners around town will open up their yards, gardens and coops to tour participants. It will be an excellent opportunity to check out unique coop designs and talk to folks about how they are raising their chickens, the breeds they raise and other backyard animals they have (bees, ducks, turkeys, etc…). It is also a great chance to see some very cool vegetable gardens, xeriscape/native gardens, permaculture practices, and some serious urban homesteading. This is an event that no budding permaculturalist, urban gardener or aspiring eggriculturalist should miss!

More information:
http://wasatchgardens.org/events/chicken-week-2012
Purchase tickets here:
https://wasatchgardens.org/civicrm/event/register?id=343&reset=1
The AGC’s March meeting notes (The Keeping of Chickens):
 http://alternativegardenclub.com/2012/notes-from-the-march-meeting-the-keeping-of-chickens/

Tagged as: Chickens, Conservation, Garden Tour, Permaculture, Tour de Coops, Wasatch Community Gardens

June Monthly Meeting: Thanks Thom and Millcreek Gardens

June 7, 2012

Jun ’12
6
4:30 pm

As always Thom and Millcreek Gardens went above and beyond in supplying our June meeting with dozens of gorgeous plants that were given away at meeting’s end. Thanks also to Thom for the excellent and informative lecture. We owe both Thom and Millcreek a huge thank you from the garden club for their continued interest in and generosity towards our organization.

Tagged as: Alternative Garden Club, Bushes & Shrubs, Garden Club Meeting, Perennials, Salt Lake City Garden Club, Trees, Utah Garden Club

June Monthly Meeting: New Plants and What to Expect in the Future

June 4, 2012

Jun ’12
6
7:30 pm

As many of you know, Thom and Millcreek Gardens have been exceptionally supportive of the AGC, and we really can’t thank Thom enough. Join us then for June’s lecture, presented by Thom Sawyer, buyer for Millcreek Gardens, and a guest grower/expert, covering the newest plant additions to hit nurseries this year, the more unique introductions from the recent past (that we might not have heard of but should know), and what we can expect in the future.

Few things usher in the changing season like the arrival of the seed and plant catalogues in mid-winter. And with each catalogue comes a crop of new plants, usually introduced for wide distribution for the first time. Like fashion, plants come and go, falling into and out of favor with a select few becoming classics while many others are fated to fade into obscurity. Enjoy an evening discovering the latest trends in plant offerings and what to expect in the future. Of course there will be plenty of examples.

Date: Wednesday, June 6th
Time: 7:30pm
Where: Sugar House Park Garden Center, 1602 East 2100 South

Tagged as: Annuals, Garden Club Meeting, Perennials

2012 Pride Festival and the AGC

May 28, 2012

Jun ’12
2
3:00 pm
Jun ’12
3
11:00 am

It’s that time of year again, where we celebrate our history and community by participating in the largest LGBTQ event in the state, the Utah Pride Festival.

Our participation at Pride isn’t necessarily about increasing the club’s membership, though it’s certainly a welcome bonus. All of us engage, voluntarily or not, in more than our fair share of banal economic exercises, and our attendance at Pride shouldn’t be one of them. What this is about is celebrating our history and supporting our community by being an available avenue of expression and a welcoming option for any interested party. It’s important for us to recognize our club’s uniqueness and celebrate our own diversity within the larger context of the LGBTQ community. So please, stop by and say hello.

For the several members that came and saw us last year, the location is the same (see map below). We wish to thank Thom Sawyer and Millcreek Gardens for once again supplying the plants for this year’s AGC Pride booth and to Shane Breeze for his designer’s acumen and impeccable style. Yes, we did have the best booth in all the land last year; this year will be no different.

Date: Saturday and Sunday, June 2nd and 3rd
Time: Saturday, 3:00pm – 8:00pm+; Sunday, 11:00am – 7:00pm (parade is at 10:00am)
Where: Washington Square (City & County Building block)
Cost: $10 for Saturday, $10 for Sunday ($20 for both days)

Tickets may be purchased Online or at the festival. Click here for a Schedule Overview  or here for a Detailed Schedule.

This is the actual map from the Utah Pride Center’s festival page. The only editing was to add in our location and the compass.

Tagged as: Alternative Garden Club, Gay Gardening Club, Salt Lake City Garden Club, Utah Garden Club, Utah Pride Festival

Field Trip: Spring City Heritage Days (Updated 5/14)

April 25, 2012

May ’12
26
9:00 am

Spring City Heritage Days is a newer tradition of the AGC, and is, as I’ve often said here and elsewhere, the highlight of the season. The whole town really does go all out, and unlike our more provincial (dare I say prosaic) and more or less stereotypical smaller Utah towns, Spring City offers a vibrant community of artists and artisans dedicated to the historic past and an inclusive, creative future. Explore the historic pioneer-era homes from May’s lecture, visit art galleries, eat great food and discover antiques and locally produced wares, from pottery to paintings. The Spring City tour is self-guided. Wear comfortable shoes that slip on and off easily, as many of the homes do not allow shoes to be worn inside.

This year there are three parts to Spring City Heritage Days.

Dan Bethel’s Mount Pleasant Home/Farm
Dan Bethel has graciously invited all tour members on their way to Spring City to stop by his place in Mount Pleasant for light breakfast-like refreshments beginning at 9:00am. Dan owns a farm he’s spent the last twenty years remodeling after completing a remodel across the street. For those heading down to Spring City a little later, Dan’s home will be open for much of the morning and early afternoon (no later than 3:00pm), so stop by and enjoy the pastoral setting. The house is located at 600 North on 500 West; see the map below for specific directions.

The Spring City Heritage Day Tour
Official your times are from 10:00am – 4:00pm. More information about Spring City Heritage Day can be found on their official website here.

Bruce and Jim’s BBQ
Bruce Spiegel and Jim Baker, long time and valued members of the AGC, have offered to once again host the AGC BBQ party/picnic/social at their Spring City home. Last year was an absolute blast, with great food and great company. Their house is located at 257 North Main Street (West side of street). We’ll meet at their place around 4:00pm at the conclusion of the tour.

For those unable to attend the afternoon festivities at Bruce and Jim’s, lunch is available from 12:00 – 1:30pm at the Old Spring City School. The cost of lunch is $7.00.

Date: Saturday, May 26th
Times: 9:00am – 3:00pm: Stop by Dan’s home and visit a local farm on the way to Spring City; 10:00am – 4:00pm: Spring City Heritage Day home tour; 4:00pm – 7:00pm: BBQ at Bruce and Jim’s
Where: Spring City Main Street
Cost: Spring City Heritage Day is $10 for adults, $5 for children. Tickets can be purchased at the Old Firehouse (north side of town, main street)

For more information, please visit the event site here.
Salt Lake to Spring City:

For step-by-step instructions, please: View Larger Map

To Dan’s home on way to Spring City:

View Dan Bethel’S Mt Pleasant Home in a larger map

Tagged as: Alternative Garden Club, Garden Tour, Gay Gardening Club, Salt Lake City Garden Club, Spring City Heritage Days, Utah Garden Club

May Monthly Meeting: Utah Historic Homes and Architecture

April 23, 2012

May ’12
2
7:30 pm

Gardens and landscaping are specific to time and space. The arrangement of plants and minerals surrounding a man-made structure become the stage that evokes a response when experienced. Sometimes the structure is purely utilitarian with no thought going into the space around the building. Most times, however, some effort has been made to present the structure in a way that complements its features and the personalities of those that occupy the building. In a way, this is our most intimate connection with the Earth, as we express and share an idea through structure and place it within the context of our view of the natural world.

In preparation for the May 26th Spring City Heritage Day Tour, Alan Barnett will be lecturing on Utah Historic Homes and Architecture, with some information on historic landscaping as well.

The historic town of Spring City has been designated as a National Register Historic District because it is such a well-preserved example of what Mormon towns used to be like all over Utah. Alan will be talking about what people can see in Spring City that is so typical of Utah towns 100-150 years ago. There are a variety of elements that combine to give a Mormon town its unique and recognizable character. These elements include things like the layout of the town, the water sources, the agricultural buildings, and the types and styles of architecture. Alan will give an overview of these elements in order to help people better understand what they are seeing in Spring City and in other Utah towns they visit.

Date: Wednesday, May 2nd
Time: 7:30pm
Where: Sugar House Park Garden Center, 1602 East 2100 South

Tagged as: Conservation, Garden Club Meeting, Spring City Heritage Days

Red Butte Garden Spring Plant Sale

April 22, 2012

May ’12
4
1:00 pm
May ’12
5
9:00 am

Spring is finally here. Mostly. And with the season comes the planting. Of course, you need plants to do this, and several locations across the Wasatch Front are offering plant sales. Red Butte Garden is one (see below for a list of plants), holding their sale on  Friday and Saturday, May 4th and 5th. Wasatch Community Gardens, as posted Here, is having their plant sale on May 12th. As you plan your garden this season, please remember to support your local gardens and nurseries.

From the Red Butte Garden Website:
Red Butte Garden’s Annual Benefit Plant Sale

Red Butte Garden Members Only Sale (Memberships may be purchased at the gate!):
Friday, May 4th, 1pm to 8pm

Public Sale:
Saturday, May 5th, 9am to 3pm

It’s time once again to support the Garden at the annual benefit plant sale!

WHAT YOU WILL FIND: The Garden offers an impressive selection of herbs, specialty annuals, vegetables (including heirlooms), sun and shade perennials, ornamental grasses, shrubs, conifers, roses, vines, trees, and the best selection of native plants and drought tolerant plants! You’ll find high-altitude plants for Park City residents. We also offer a variety of Organic gardening products such as fertilizers, sprays, and coco-fiber, that when mixed into your garden or container soil, aids water retention. There are so many plants – in variety and quantity. Several plants are grown from Garden cuttings making it so that you have a little bit of the Garden in your own yard!

EXPERTS ON HAND: Once again, representatives from several local plant societies will be on hand to answer questions; including Wasatch Rock Garden, Utah Rose Society, Utah Hosta Society, Water Garden Club, Utah Community Forest Council, Tree Utah and Utah State Extension Master Gardeners. With these experts as well as our Garden staff, you have plenty of qualified help to answer your plant and gardening questions as well as sources for information from that society/club that shares your particular passion in plants!

WHERE: The Plant Sale is held in Cottam’s Grove, located on the way to the Garden Amphitheater. From the four-way stop sign at Chipeta and Wakara Way, turn left (or North) and follow the signs.

WHAT TO BRING: If you have your own wagon, bring it! We have a few shopping carts and plenty of cardboard plant trays.

PARKING: On Friday, the plant sale coincides with the University of Utah commencement. Even this far east of campus, parking will be impacted during the early hours of the sale. To ease the inconvenience, Garden staff will operate a passenger shuttle from the sale entrance to overflow lots (see map) from 1 pm Friday as long as needed. We also protect a “loading only” area near the sale entrance/checkout for loading plants after you are able to collect your vehicle. Note too that there are few handicapped parking stalls in this particular University lot.

This annual plant sale and fundraiser is always fun and a great way to welcome planting season!

2012 PLANT LISTS*:
Annuals
Fruit
Grasses
Ground Covers
Herbs
Natives and Waterwise
Perennials
Roses
Trees and Shrubs
Veggies
Vines

Support the Garden and get some great plants. Plan ahead for Mother’s Day by purchasing a hanging basket planted with annuals. See you at the sale!

*These lists represent our best information regarding plant availability. Some variation in actual selections will occur. The plant sale is for Red Butte Garden members and our local public. For the best selection, attend the member’s sale but,note that Saturday has plenty of variety and quantity. Red Butte Garden is unable to hold or ship plant material.

Tagged as: Flower Sale, Perennials, Plant Sale, Red Butte Garden

April Field Trip: Red Butte Garden

April 4, 2012 Activities

[ April 15, 2012; 3:30 pm to 5:30 pm. ]

Update 4/11/2012:  The weather should be decent for the tour. There’s a slight chance of rain in the forecast, with an expected high of 55 – 60°F, so please dress accordingly.

One way to celebrate the first few weeks of the official astronomical spring is by going on a tour of one of the superlative gardens [...]

Tagged as: Alternative Garden Club, Garden Tour, Gay Gardening Club, Perennials, Red Butte Garden, Salt Lake City Garden Club, Utah Garden Club

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Orchid Show & Sale at Red Butte Garden

April 3, 2012 Events

[ April 7, 2012; 9:00 am to 9:00 pm. April 8, 2012; 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. ] For those of us that enjoy orchids, Red Butte Garden is hosting an orchid show this weekend. The show goes from 9:00am to 7:30pm Saturday April 7th and 9:00am to 5:00pm Sunday April 8th. The show is presented by the Utah Orchid Society. Orchids will be available for purchase. Normal admission rates for the Garden [...]

Tagged as: Flower Sale, Orchid, Plant Sale, Red Butte Garden, Salt Lake City Garden Club, Utah Garden Club

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April Monthly Meeting: Annual Spring Potluck

March 9, 2012 Activities

[ April 4, 2012; 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm. ] After the long winter, it’s time to celebrate spring. Please join us on Wednesday, April 4th for our Annual Spring Potluck dinner.

For those of you that have never been to an AGC potluck, they are events not to be missed and are seasonal highlights if for no other reason than for the pure social fun [...]

Tagged as: Alternative Garden Club, Garden Club Meeting, Gay Gardening Club, Potluck, Salt Lake City Garden Club, Utah Garden Club

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March Monthly Meeting: A Primer on the Keeping of Chickens

February 16, 2012 Events

[ March 7, 2012; 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm. ] Having kept chickens for the better part of two decades, I can attest to the joy they bring to even a small suburban yard. This month’s topic, appropriate as we begin our journey into spring, will be Urban Poultry: Rules/Regulations, Coop Design, Care and Considerations. Jim McCormack will lecture on the necessities, challenges and benefits [...]

Tagged as: Alternative Garden Club, Chickens, Conservation, Garden Club Meeting, Gay Gardening Club, Permaculture, Salt Lake City Garden Club, Utah Garden Club

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