Fresh Salsa Show-Down: Update

Okay, I've been feverishly planning this Fresh Salsa Show-Down and I'm so excited to announce all the great people who have signed up to help.

In the beginning I was looking for a friendly salsa competition between Weber and Davis county Master Gardeners--but sadly, no Master Gardeners signed up.

So, I had to take matters into my own hands and ask some people to compete. I asked Teresa Hunsaker, who will be teaching our "Canning the Season" class and she willingly accepted. That got the ball rolling.

We then asked Becky Lowe, food contributor on Studio 5, and she thought it would be great fun.

I then found another great home economist from Sanpete County, named Anita Raddatz on USU extension website and I asked her. She was excited to come and participate as well.

So far, we have 3 of the best cooks in the State competing for your vote. Please come out and watch these ladies prepare the best salsas in the world right in front of your own eyes.

While you're there say 'hi' to Sterling Poulson from Channel 2 news. Sterling will be doing his weather segments from the Farmer's Market as well. It is going to be a great time and we hope to see you all there!

Weber County Fair: Volunteer Opportunities

Weber County Fair is coming up in August.  Master Gardeners we really need your help with the Fair on these dates--August 9-14, 16.   Here is a chance to get some volunteer hours and you don't have to sweat in the gardens! 

Fair Superintendents need your help with the Crop, Floral, and Photography Divisions.  Some of the responsibilities would be as follows:

• Check-in and pick-up for divisions
• Watering flowers in the Floral Division
• Displaying entries in Photography
• In the Crops Division:  Visit with Fair attendees, answer gardening questions, and share information about the Master Gardener Program while monitoring that area 

If you are interested, please call Kathy by August 5th at (801)399-8201 to sign up.  It is such a great way to get some hours and have a great time at the Fair!  Hope to see you there!

Wildflower Tour at Tony Grove

Today we got to go on another wildflower tour--this time with the Master Gardeners Association (WAMG) at Tony Grove. Let me just tell you that the wildflowers were spectacular! The best I have ever seen! Better than Albion Basin, better than Utah County's--better than any other wildflower tour I've ever been on. We saw so many beauties. We seriously couldn't have planned the day better than it was. We had cool temperatures, a beautiful lake to walk around, great company, and gorgeous wildflowers everywhere!

Members Only Wildflower Tour and Thanksgiving Point

On Friday we were had a great time seeing wildflowers at Cascade Springs and at the trail head to Mount  Timpanogos.  We then had lunch catered at Thanksgiving Point and a tour of their beautiful gardens.  We hope that everyone who came had as much fun as we did.

Here is a slide show of our wildflower tour.  Check out the indian paintbrush, silver lupine, and yellow monkey flower.

Also, here are some pictures of our tour at Thanksgiving Point.  We were able to see some great plants and get some good ideas.

Salsa Show-Down at the Kaysville Farmers' Market

Announcing a Genuine

“Fresh Salsa Show-Down”

Thursday, August 19, 2010

6 – 8:00 pm

At the Free Totally Tomato Taste Testing Event
Utah Botanical Center Farmer’s Market
700 South 50 West, Kaysville (by the Kaysville ponds) for directions click here

To “heat up” Augusts’ Totally Tomato Taste Testing, Master Gardeners in Davis and Weber County are invited to pit their salsa-making abilities in a competition with a tasty finish for everyone! Tomato varieties will be provided to participants to combine with their own “secret” ingredients.

Come try out 25 different heirloom tomato varieties produced in the research plots at the Utah Botanical Center where you just might discover a new favorite tomato variety. Then, watch the salsa contestants technique, and taste the flavorful results of the competition. Mark this date on your calendar and join us for this free, fun, delicious evening.

What's Blooming in the Gardens: July 13, 2010

The gardens are looking spectacular. The annuals beds are in full bloom and filling in quite beautifully. You really just need to see them for yourself. Pictures do them no justice. Hope to see you at the reunion on July 21st.

A Master Gardener Reunion

Ruby Raccasi,, Vice President of WAMG, just asked me to post this information on the blog about a fun Master Gardener Reunion.  It sounds like it's going to be such a great time to come and reconnect with all those who have taken the course in the last 10 years.  I'm so excited to go and I hope to see everyone there!

The Weber Association of Master Gardeners (WAMG) announces it will be holding A Picnic at the Gardens on Wednesday, July 21, 2010 at 6pm. This summer picnic is open to all those who have attended the Weber County Master Gardener class in the past, and will be catered by Famous Dave’s Restaurant. There will be prize drawings, and a variety of unique items up for auction, with all proceeds benefitting the Ogden Botanical Gardens. The cost is $10/person and payment must be made to Kathy Bardwell, USU Extension office, 1181 N. Fairgrounds Drive in Ogden, no later than July 14. For more information, please contact Kathy Bardwell 801-399-8201 or Ruby Raccasi at 801-745-9546. 

Studio 5: Perk Up Your Perennials

If you missed Jerry on TV yesterday, here is his segment for you to watch.  Learn how to care for and choose some great perennials for summer bloom.

Front Page of the Paper

Our wonderful gardens were featured on the front page of the Ogden Standard-Examiner today.  The only complaint I have is that the reporter said that we are in a partnership with Ogden City, Weber County, and Weber State University--not Utah State University. Other than the Weber State University typo--I was happy with what was written. 

It was a great article and we hope that it will bring more good exposure to our gardens.    They truly are a hidden gem.  Today a visitor commented that "the gardens are the best place to visit in Ogden."  I agree and I'm lucky enough to visit them almost every day.

I hope that you will all come and see our beautiful flowers.  The annual beds are gorgeous thanks to all the work of our wonderful staff and "the best master gardeners in the world!"  Thanks and come visit our favorite place in Ogden.