The Garden of Earthly Delights is a triptych oil painting on oak panels painted by the Early Netherlandish master Hieronymus Bosch, between 1490 and 1510, when Bosch was between 40 and 60 years old. Historical interpretations of the work typically assume it is a warning against the perils of temptation. Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil is a non-fiction novel by John Berendt. The book, Berendt’s first, was published on January 10, 1994, and follows the story of Jim Williams, an antiques dealer on trial for the killing of Danny Hansford. The book became a New York Times Best-Seller for 216 weeks following its debut and remains one of the longest-standing New York Times Best-Sellers.
The Yavapai Master Gardeners are highly trained volunteers that invest their time, and talents in local Arizona communities to grow food, support pollinators, sustain resilient home gardens, and share their knowledge with others. Their horticulture help desks are staffed in Prescott and Camp Verde. They even provide free pH soil testing for budding green thumb enthusiasts.
The triptych and afore-mentioned novel have nothing to do with the Yavapai Master Gardener program. “Variations on a theme” are just a thing we like to do every now and then. As a library’s role in the community is evolving; it is not only a place where it creates its own programs for the community, it reaches out to the community to showcase what services are out there for the general public, for free.
The Yavapai Master Gardener Program is provided through the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension. With offices in all 15 Arizona counties and five Native American nations, it exists to connect the people and community to available university research and resources, responding to local needs.
On Wednesday, April 2nd, at 6 p.m. in the Community Room, Yavapai Master Gardener and perennial crowd favorite Donald Bales returns with an informative Plant to Plate 2.0 program. Spring is in the air and no doubt many are ready to roll up their sleeves and get out to their gardens and need some guidance. Did you attend the amazing and
informative Plant to Plate series last year? Or maybe your schedule was packed, and you couldn’t make it? Either way, this program is the perfect refresher—or a crash course—for anyone looking to grow their own food. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just getting started, Plant to Plate will take you from seed to full harvest, helping even the most amateur gardener turn their efforts into a thriving, edible garden. Don’t miss this second chance to dig in and grow!
Strap in and get ready for a wild ride through the world of gardening as Bales touches on topics from past sessions covering:
Planning your garden! Choosing your site, making a planting plan, crop rotation, making a planting map, and common crop chart.
Getting started with healthy soil! Preparing your soil, building healthy soil, making garden beds, container gardening, composting, and fertilizing.
Planting your garden! Container selection, direct seeding, and transplanting.
Caring for your growing garden! Watering, protecting young plants, vertical gardening, and improving and protecting soil health.
Continued caring for your growing garden! Weeding, using integrated pest management, and identifying common pests.
Harvesting and using your bounty! Gardening for your health, harvest, storage, nutrition, and cooking from your garden.
Attendees are always appreciative of Don Bales’ down home, easy nature, and the information he shares is thought provoking and worthy of discussion long after the program ends. Originally from Downers Grove, southwest of Chicago, Illinois, Don and his wife Terry, moved to Sedona in 2017. He’s had a handful of careers: home construction, Mr. Mom, and science software engineer to name a few. After moving here in 2017, Don and Terry have had to re-learn gardening, this time for the high desert southwest. Don became a Master Gardener in 2024. If you’re ready to make your splash next season at the local farmer’s market or next big family gathering, lettuce know and attend Plant to Plate 2.0.
Community Library Sedona is also a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Your gifts and support, just like the Friends’ contributions, allow us to provide a plethora of services and programs for the community, for free, all year long. Visit communitylibrarysedona.org/donate to make an online gift today.
As published by Red Rock News
Library News Column for March 28, 2025, by Jan Marc Quisumbing, Scheduling Coordinator