California Garden Clubs, Inc. 
  Gardening Consultants Council

Next Meeting of Gardening Consultants (including Environmental Consultants) -- June 5, 2012, 6:00 pm to 6:30 pm, Capital Salon C, DoubleTree Hotel, 2001 Point West Way, Sacramento.  Click here for draft agenda.

 Click here for Consultants May 2012 eNewsletter.

 Click here for the draft February 2012 Minutes.

Click here for draft Special Meeting Minutes from April 2012

 

Click here for the Council's Bylaws.

Click here for Standing Rules as of January 2012.

 

Click here for the Special Report from Gardening Consultants Council Committee on Possible Formation of a California Consultants Council.

 

Click here for Proposed Timeline Plan for California/CGCI Consultants Council dated 2/7/12.

Dues:  $10.00 for 2011-2013 term.  Make checks payable to "CGCI" and send to Council Treasurer, Sue Bennett, 7560 Shelborne Drive, Granite Bay, CA 95746.

 

 

The Gardening Consultants Council meets at CGCI meetings.

 

The Council offers the following awards:

 

"Certificates of Recognition" - The Certificate honors gardens and the gardeners who maintain their beauty.  This certificate is a full-color document which can be personalized and signed by the president of the local CGCI garden club.  To have this Certificate of Recognition given to a garden in your area, click here to download the Certificate.  No application is needed.

 

"Outstanding Private Garden Award" - awarded to individuals by the Council for an "outstanding" private garden.  Click here for application form.  Click here for instructions.  Or contact the Council Chairman, Myrtle Findley.  May be given at any CGCI meeting (allow at least one month for consideration).  Council members or garden club members may propose candidates.  Recipient will be notified of date and time of presentation, which may be presented during a tour or a meal at a CGCI meeting; if presented at a meal, the meal will be provided. 

 

The Council also sponsors the following CGCI Awards

 

• Gardening Consultant of the Year Award
• HT-1 - Horticulture Award

 

The Chairman of the Gardening Consultants Council personally sponsors the following Awards:

• HT-3 - Best "Green" Recipe Award
• HT-4 - Photography:  Home Garden Award

 

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WHAT IS A GARDENING CONSULTANT?

All gardeners can become accomplished horticulturists. To assist its members in achieving this goal, National Garden Clubs created the Gardening Study courses program. With the completion of this course a gardener becomes an accredited gardening consultant.

 

Gardening Tidbits

by NGC Garden Study Consultants

Mountain Gardening

Those of us who live at higher altitudes know that a book entitled “Mediterranean Gardening in California” will not be too useful to us “mountain gardeners.” Look for gardening books written by local garden clubs for more useful information for your area. For example, The Hilltoppers Garden Club (located at 6,000 feet above sea level in the San Bernardino Mountains) created a book entitled Mountain Gardening, specifically tailored for USDA Zones 5-7 and Sunset Zone 3, which is sold by a half dozen nurseries throughout its area. This book is a product of the knowledge and experience acquired by members (past and present) of the club and is dedicated to preserving the natural beauty of the mountains and to maintaining gardens in harmony with the native plants of the area. .So, mountain gardeners, start looking for gardening books written by locals about your specific geographic area and zones.

Pat Clayes
NGC Gardening Consultant
Lake Arrowhead

Zones

Gardeners should now be aware of three zones when purchasing items for their gardens. These are the “USDA Cold Hardiness Zone,” “The Sunset Western Climate Zone” and the “American Horticulture Society’s Heat Zone.”

The USDA Cold Hardiness Zones were created by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. By using the Cold Hardiness Zone map, you will be able to determine what plants will “winter over” in your garden and survive for many years. When purchasing a plant/tree/shrub from a nursery or catalogue, the cold hardiness zones for that particular plant will appear on the tag or in the description of the plant. And you will see these zones in nearly all American gardening reference books and magazines. But do not forget about those “microclimates” which you might have on your property!

Sunset’s Western Climate Zones range from Zone 1 (the most cold and snowy) to Zone 24 (San Diego area). The use of these zones is very helpful while using all of Sunset’s reference books. Sunset’s zones are not included on plant tags or in plant catalogues; follow the USDA Cold Hardiness Zones when purchasing plants.

According to the American Horticultural Society, “cold isn’t the only factor determining whether your plant will survive and thrive. Particularly during seasons of drought, we are all aware of the impact that heat has on our plants.” There are 12 zones on the AHS heat map which indicate the average number of days per year that a given region experiences “heat days” – ranging from Zone 1 (less than one heat day) to Zone 12 (more than 210 heat days). According to the AHS, you will see heat zone designations joining the USDA Cold Hardiness Zone designations in garden centers, reference books, etc.

Pat Clayes
NGC Gardening Consultant
Lake Arrowhead