Riparian After Dark

2757 E. Guadalupe Rd, just east of Greenfield Rd

Arizona Survivalist/Prepper Expos

Free Demonstrations all day on topics such as:

• Water Filtration
• Choosing the Right Survival Foods
• Cooking with Freeze Dried Ingredients
• Isralie Krav Maga Personal Defense
• IFAK - Individual First Aid Kit Training Concepts
• and more

Check out their website at ArizonaSurvivalistShow.com

October Landscape Watering Reminder

Reminder from the City of Mesa:

Temperatures have been cooling off nicely after sundown and we may just be done with triple digits for the year. With shorter days and cooler nights, you can cut back the frequency of your watering.

Fall is a great time to plant, so be sure to go to your local nursery or upcoming plant sales (see bonus tip below). If you're thinking of overseeding your lawn with winter rye grass, we've got two options: 1. Check out our top ten reasons not to, and 2. If you're going to, follow the advice below to keep the watering efficient.

These recommendations are for plants that are established in the landscape (in the ground about 2 years).

Lawn watering:
     Summer grass (Bermuda) - once every 6 days
     Overseeded cool season grass (rye) – 4x per day for
                               1st 7 to 10 days to germinate, then once every 3 days

If trees and shrubs are on the same valve:
     Desert Adapted - once every 21 days
     High Water Use - once every 10 days

Tree watering:
     Desert Adapted - once every 24 days
     High Water Use - once every 12 days

Shrub watering:
     Desert Adapted - once every 18 days
     High Water Use - once every 9 days

Groundcover and vine watering:
     Desert Adapted - once every 18 days
     High Water Use - once every 8 days

Cacti and succulent watering - once every 28 days

Annuals watering - once every 4-5 days

Wildflower watering – once every 1-2 days to germinate, then once every 3-5 days

Note: These recommendations are a general guideline only and may need to be modified for your specific site conditi

Lost Dogs Arizona

Lost Dogs Arizona is a network of volunteers & dog advocates that help reunite dogs and their families.

Did you know if your dog is lost and wearing it tags that the County pound will not call you? If you have your dog chipped they will not check it and let you know? If you want to know if your dog has been picked up you have to physically go down to the pound and look for your dog.

This site lists those dogs listed for euthanasia the next day. Instructions are provided if you cannot get to the pound. Time is of the essence, pay attention to the details.

If your dog is lost, you need to watch this site and participate in the process.

This is a facebook site and can be seen at www.facebook.com/LostDogsArizona

Reach for the Stars

Registration for the annual Reach for the Stars National Rocket Competition closes on the last Saturday in August. There are three levels of competition all designed to turn kids to STEM projects. 

I have not been able to find any Arizona competitions but there is a lot of great information at their website, therocketman.net, for rocketry in general.

August Landscape Watering Reminder

Reminder from the city of Mesa:

Summer monsoons and lightning mean power outages. Make sure you’ve replaced the battery in your irrigation timer within the past year (if it has that option). Battery backup will maintain your programs during an outage.

Rain amounts vary greatly across the Valley, so if you are not sure how much fell in your yard, visit www.rainlog.org to see what your neighborhood weather watchers recorded.

These recommendations are for plants that are established in the landscape (in the ground about 2 years).

Lawn watering:
                Summer grass (Bermuda) - once every 3-4 days
                Overseeded cool season grass (rye) - grass dies out

If trees and shrubs are on the same valve:
                Desert Adapted - once every 15 days
                High Water Use - once every 8 days

Tree watering:
                Desert Adapted - once every 17 days
                High Water Use - once every 9 days

Shrub watering:
                Desert Adapted - once every 13 days
                High Water Use - once every 6 days

Groundcover and vine watering:
                Desert Adapted - once every 12 days
                High Water Use - once every 5 days

Cacti and succulent watering - once every 22 days

Annual & vegetable watering - once every 2-3 days

Note: These recommendations are a general guideline only and may need to be modified for your specific site conditions.

Trains at Mesa Library

The Arizona Big Train Operators are returning to the Mesa Library again this year. The free exhibit will run from July 29 to Aug 3, at the Mesa Main Library at 64 E. First St. 

My grandsons loved this last year. 

There will be more than 300 feet of G-scale track with garden size trains. 

There will also be a raffle for two free coach tickets on the Grand Canyon Railway. 

The train exhibit is held in the Saguaro Room.  Exhibit hours are Monday through Thursday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Friday from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. 

For more information please visit the Library’s website: http://www.mesalibrary.org.   

Hazardous Waste Recycling

Mesa residents looking for a way to get rid of old cans of paint, batteries, pesticides, electronics, tires and prescription drugs are invited to bring these and other household hazardous waste materials to City sponsored collection events.

The next event will be held from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday, April 20 at the Center Street Facility, 2412 N. Center St. (Center Street, north of McKellips).  There is no cost to take advantage of this service.  Household hazardous waste will only be accepted during the event dates and times and residents are asked to remain in their vehicles and refrain from smoking at all times while at the collection site.

Waste should be sealed in its original container if possible, and unmarked containers should be labeled if the contents are known.

Acceptable items:

• Paint, polishes & varnishes
• Fuel additives
• Pool chemicals
• Paint-related materials
• Smoke detectors
• Aerosol cans
• Adhesives
• Motor oil
• Antifreeze
• Appliances (limit 2)
• Gasoline & propane tanks
• Batteries
• Mercury
• Pesticides
• Electronics – TVs, computers, etc.
• Transmission fluid
• Automotive tires (limit 5); rims are accepted if the tire has been removed
• Fluorescent light bulbs
• Prescription & non-prescription drugs

For more information, call City of Mesa Customer Service at (480) 644-2221 or visit www.mesarecycles.org.

Help Elevate Life for Pets

This is an update to a posting I made in 2010.

H.E.L.P has moved to Las Vegas.

H.E.L.P. is a non-profit, no kill, no cage animal shelter. They are now located at at 4008 N. Decatur Blvd., Las Vegas, Nevada 89130 U.S.A  tel: 702-238-4638. Their Nationwide H.E.L.P. Office is also located at 4008 N. Decatur Blvd Las Vegas, NV 89130.

Their website is available to answer common questions that the public may have regarding pet adoption, their facilities and mission. At the FAQ’s page you will find useful answers and information to help you decide what pet is right for you and what you should know before you decide to adopt. Once you have gone through the FAQ’s you can move on to the Adopt a Pet Page where you are sure to fall in love with one of the many pets available.

If you or your friends have pets that you cannot keep for any reason whatsoever but they are healthy and easily adoptable, they have created a match up service where people are looking to adopt good and healthy pets. Please call 623-934-5406 where you can list your pet for adoption or to find a good and loving pet for yourself.  You may also add your pet to the Adopt A Pet page by submitting your info and a photo when you click here.

There are a number of alternatives available for spaying, neutering, vaccinations, and in the adoption of dogs and cats. Check out the Spay/Neuter Hotline here.

For feral cats, check www.adlaz.org for help with capturing and having them spayed and neutered.

April Landscape Watering Reminder

Aprils watering reminder from the City of Mesa:

April seems to be jumping ahead to our typical May temperatures of the lower 90's for the highs and 60's overnight.

April through June is typically our dryer period with low humidity and little chance of rain as temperatures warm up. It is a critical time to be providing irrigation as many plants are flushing out with new growth. Find our checklist for the month, Prepare Your Landscape for Summer's Sizzle!

There is so much happening in April – be sure to check out the bonus tips below.

These recommendations are for plants that are established in the landscape (in the ground about 2 years).

Lawn watering:
                Summer grass (Bermuda) - once every 7 days
                Overseeded cool season grass (rye) - once every 4 days

If trees and shrubs are on the same valve:
                Desert Adapted – once every 20 days
                High Water Use – once every 10 days
Tree watering:
                Desert Adapted – once every 24 days
                High Water Use – once every 12 days

Shrub watering:
                Desert Adapted – once every 16 days
                High Water Use – once every 8 days

Groundcover and vine watering:
                Desert Adapted – once every 16 days
                High Water Use – once every 8 days

Cacti and succulent watering – once every 28 days

Annuals watering – once every 4 days

Native wildflowers – once every 7 days

Note: These recommendations are a general guideline only and may need to be modified for your specific site conditions.

Citrus collection to benefit United Food Bank

The Groves Neighborhood is partnering with City of Mesa Neighborhood Outreach for a volunteer-driven citrus collection from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday, March 9 and Saturday, March 23. You can donate the extra fruit as part of a citywide effort to benefit the United Food Bank.   

If you have an abundance of grapefruit, oranges, and lemons, please bring the ripe fruit in a box or sturdy container and drop it off at Mountain View Park, 845 N. Lindsay Road (enter off Adobe). Volunteers will be gathered to assist in set-up and tear-down, greet residents and help unload citrus from vehicles.

           

For additional drop-off opportunities or for assistance contact the United Food Bank at www.unitedfoodbank.org.  

For more information contact City of Mesa Neighborhood Outreach Coordinators Susan Frabotta at (480) 644-5432 or Cynthia Ezcurra-Garza at (480) 644-5889.      

Gluten Free - Chef Brad

Several of my friends require gluten free diets. They are challenged by what they can and cannot eat. Chef Brad has taken the challenge and is preparing great gluten free food. He will be posting about it throughout the year on his new blog, Third Sunday Dinner Blog.

He posted his recipe for gluten free WonderFlour on January 4th. You can read it here. Make sure you check out his cooking show, Fusion Grain Cooking, on BYUtv.