The Gardeners Exchange at SaddleBrooke Ranch open to all

The Gardeners Exchange at SaddleBrooke Ranch welcomes Dr. Anthony Knight, former professor of Veterinary Medicine, Colorado State University, and Pima County Master Gardener, speaking Tuesday, July 21, 2015 at 1:00 pm, in the La Hacienda Club on Common Insects of Southern Arizona Gardens.

Gardeners in Arizona are confronted with numerous insects in their flower and vegetable gardens, some of which are destructive while many are beneficial. It is important to differentiate between the beneficial insects and those that are problematic. Basic principles of integrated pest management can be used to successfully grow plants without needing to resort to insecticides that kill both beneficial (honey bees, ladybugs, lacewings, etc.) and destructive insects (aphids, grape vine skeletonizers, potato beetles, etc.). This talk will cover the more common insects encountered in southern Arizona gardens.

Dr. Tony Knight received his BVSC from the University of East Africa in 1968, an MS degree from Colorado State University in 1971 and Board Certification (ACVIM, large animal) in 1980. He joined the faculty of Colorado State in 1973 and served as the Chair of the Department of Clinical Sciences from 1986 to 2003. He retired from his faculty position in July 2012 and now lives in Tucson, Arizona. His clinical and research interests include food animal medicine, plant toxicology, infectious diseases of large animals and zoonotic diseases. Dr. Knight has authored two books on plant toxicology titled, A Guide to Plant Poisoning of Animals in North America 2001 and A Guide to Poisonous House and Garden Plants.

As a Pima County master gardener, current interests include insect and plant diseases, poisonous plants, orchid growing in Tucson and gardening in Tucson.

The Gardeners Exchange is dedicated to providing horticultural information for newcomers to desert landscaping. Bring your questions, bring your answers, bring your garden challenges, bring your excess plants to share. All are welcome. Open seating. No registration required.

For more information please contact Zann Wilson at [email protected] or 219-263-3261.