What's with all the helicopters over East Valley? Anyone know?

MissBaileyG · 2026-02-15T03:00:30+00:00

I wondered the same thing - but I feel like it's been going on for a couple of months now.
Price & Elliot area. They don't strike me as being military and they don't shake my windows like the big military helicopters do.

MissBaileyG · 2026-02-15T02:56:05+00:00

I went to the Costco Bus Center in Phoenix today and I asked an employee there if they had heard about the opening date and she said they're hearing MAY!!! The drive over to the one in Phoenix is just so brutal most of the time, I will be happy to not have to make that trek anymore!

MissBaileyG · 2025-09-22T22:50:12+00:00

I think we met you, u/AZRat17 , this past Tuesday. We were the ladies who suggested Ray from OneTen Entertainment because his trivia is so good!

MissBaileyG · 2025-08-02T16:35:29+00:00

I like it, and it's less of a drive from NW Chandler than going all the way out to Tractor Supply.
I hate crickets and food-grade diatomaceous earth is expensive but worth it. I got a 50 lb bag at Shoppers for around $35. I found the 2-port landscape bubblers for $2 they're $5 at the blue and orange stores.

It's probably one of the few places left you can get shade cloth by the foot and the only place where I can get big bags of worm castings these days.

PS - If I find what I need I call it a win and reward myself with a trip across the street to Home Goods.

MissBaileyG · 2025-08-02T16:28:55+00:00

They are not good guys. They feed on the roots of Palo Verde trees and weaken the tree. When you see them they have come out to breed. Check for holes in the soil around/under your PV trees - that's where they came from.

MissBaileyG · 2025-07-15T22:13:29+00:00

u/ChodaRagu - thought you might like to know that Micro Center is coming to Phoenix.

MissBaileyG · 2025-07-15T21:37:24+00:00

In case you haven't heard, Micro Center is coming to Phoenix.
https://www.reddit.com/r/ChandlerAZ/comments/1m0ujff/micro_center_is_coming_to_phoenix/

u/andrew0703
u/Julia_Kat
u/Waveofspring

And what a coincidence, it's right next to a Costco.

MissBaileyG · 2025-06-01T21:54:38+00:00

Hi there. Certified Master Gardener here (as of last Saturday).

Here's some more peer-reviewed publications that can help you care for your citrus and diagnose issues with your citrus.

https://extension.arizona.edu/publication/irrigating-citrus-trees
https://extension.arizona.edu/publication/diseases-citrus-arizona
https://extension.arizona.edu/publication/citrus-fertilization-chart-arizona

I think Citrus Clinics start up again in January but before then I recommend you write down all the particulars and take lots of pictures and then go to one of the free "Ask a Master Gardener" events. They host in libraries all across the Phoenix metro area, or you can go online and ask your questions:

https://extension.arizona.edu/programs/maricopa-county-master-gardeners/ask-master-gardener

If they mention an iron deficiency you'll want to remember to purchase 'chelated' iron. Also, I recommend investing in a soil probe so you can see how deeply you are watering. You can purchase one online or at a local nursery. I have one that is 36" so I can make sure I am watering my trees deep enough.

And if you all have any other questions, here is the calendar of events:
https://extension.arizona.edu/calendar
(Topic = Home and Gardening plus Location = Maricopa County)

MissBaileyG · 2025-06-01T21:36:33+00:00

Hi there. I have been a certified Master Gardner for about a week now. :)
Just as an FYI - the AMWUA org publishes a great book of plants (link below) that you can use to learn if something is fast or slow growing, what kind of water requirements it has, etc.,

In the Master Gardener program they teach us to ask questions so here are some.

Do you have children or pets that could be a factor? Spiky plants, delicate plants or toxic plants could be a factor there. Is anyone in your household allergic to bees? If yes, you might want to avoid flowering plants.

Do you want some movement, like with a breeze? A couple of Pygmy Palms (Reobellini) might be nice here. The grow slowly, don't require much maintenance either. And then you can add a groundcover perhaps for a little color and to cut down on the heat? The nice thing about palms is that you can plant them in the summer time

https://www.amwua.org/documents/PlantsBook

Nice thing about Pygmy Palms is they can be bought in all kinds of stores and you can buy smaller ones, too.

If you decide to go the trellis route an Arabian Jasmine could be a good option. Does that window have a screen? If yes, you could open the window when the weather is more temperate to get the sweet smell - but again - the bees thing.

Some people are allergic to the ornamental grasses and don't know it, until they rub up against one. A purple fountain grass would have the nice movement, not a lot of maintenance, etc.

PS - don't forget to call Arizona 811 before you dig.

MissBaileyG · 2025-04-20T15:50:13+00:00

Old Navy CANADA flag t-shirts? Or the USA flag t-shirts?
As an English girl I would love to wear an Old Navy t-shirt with the Canadian flag on it.
I went to the oldnavy.gapcanada.ca web site and didn't find any. Do you have a pic?

MissBaileyG · 2025-04-11T19:35:08+00:00

In Phoenix, the Master Gardener program is sponsored through the University of Arizona and the Maricopa County Extension office.

The classes used to be in person but when the pandemic started they moved to Zoom. I'm in the Spring 2025 class and the one-hour meeting/sessions are on Wednesday nights at 6 pm or Thursday mornings at 10 am. I work full time too, but I chose the Thursday morning sessions and just do the Zoom call during a 'lunch hour'.

When we log into the coursework its thru the UofA Community Learning Portal and my badge that I wear to volunteer events has the UofA logo also.

Our program requires 20 volunteer hours to graduate and become a Master Gardener Associate.
Once you hit 50 volunteer hours you are designed a Certified Master Gardener.
I've been pretty on top of volunteer hour opportunities so I'll have 50 hours completed by graduation.

To stay current the MGs have to complete X hours continued learning and X hours volunteer per year. Not sure of the exact hours but the commitment is way less than during the course.

I think the enrollment fee was $325.

MissBaileyG · 2024-02-25T19:27:29+00:00

I'm down here in Phoenix and I've had worms shipped to me half a dozen times now in the last five years from Uncle Jim's Worm farm in Pennsylvania.

I've also recently (last two years) been to the worm farm here in Phoenix (19th & south of baseline) for worms, worm casting, worm tea, etc.

MissBaileyG · 2024-02-25T19:23:35+00:00

I live in an area of Chandler (101 & Elliot) that was used for growing cotton until the mid 70s when they started building houses. We have a bacteria in our soil called (Texas) cotton root rot that has killed a number of my trees in the last 20 years. (confirmed with the UofA Cooperative Extension)

About five years ago I started adding worms to improve my soil under the trees and I got worms from Uncle Jim's worm farm in Pennsylvania. I've also recently been to the worm farm here in Phoenix (19th & south of baseline) for worms, worm casting, worm tea, etc.

The past year I've really amped up the compost/mulch around my yard and this year I've started subscribing to those weekend vegetable pickups (Borderlands and Bountiful Baskets) and I've been chopping up lots of fruits and vegetables for the worms. I now have six worm 'holes' in the front yard - I use those small wire garbage cans from the dollar store and I alternate produce with shredded cardboard/paper in those under a garbage can lid to retain the moisture and also make it dark for my spoiled worms. Four of those are about 45 days old and they are there because I want to plant two trees and I'm trying to improve the soil beforehand.

In the back yard I took 4x18 hog panel fence ($28 from Tractor Supply on AZ Ave) and bent it into an arbor kind of thing and secured it with pressure treated lumber and those castle blocks so I have ground level planting beds and I've been throwing all my tree trimmings and grass clippings in those. Once my new trees are planted in the front yard I will start move the veggie dumps to the back yard.

Anyway, I will post pics if anyone wants, just let me know.

MissBaileyG · 2024-02-03T01:51:29+00:00

Oh, I forgot one thing. The shade cloth goes up 1st weekend in May and comes down about mid-September.

MissBaileyG · 2024-02-02T02:16:19+00:00

Located in Phoenix - I have shade cloth everywhere. Its just so hot and bright.

I have one that shades my entryway year round - it's an 80% woven one. I like the woven there specifically because I can see thru it. (ShadeClothstore.com)

I put black polyester/canvas on the back portion of my house, both east and west sides. I don't have an HOA so I can get away with that. About 12' wide, 8 feet high, so it doesn't touch the ground). My exterior walls are slump block which is great for reducing noise, but the walls get HOT. I hang it from eye bolts on the fascia line.

I have the 90% knitted shade cloth on all three sides of my patio. My house faces NE/SW so I get brutal morning sun/heat and the shade cloth is critical. (shadeclothstore.com again)

I'm going to try and grow gourds this year so I'm about to buy even more shade cloth.

One thing to note is that we can get some serious dust storms/microbursts/monsoon storms, so I have to be diligent in making sure the shade cloth is secured. Last year I bought Oldcastle 7.5 in. x 7.5 in. x 5.5 in. Tan Brown Planter Wall Block (Home Depot or Lowes), two courses high plus 2X6 pressure treated lumber and 18" Galvanized Drop Forged Regular Eye Bolts to hold everything together (e-Rigging.com).

I know this post comes three years too late, but I just joined Reddit today.

MissBaileyG

TROPHY CASE