Tuesday, December 5, 2023
7:00 - 8:00 PM PDT - Free Webinar, Open to All
Registration Required
8:00-9:00 PM PDT - Members Meeting
|
|
|
More than 4,700 different plant species grow in Oregon and OregonFLora provides information about all of them. Discover the why and where of plant diversity in our state. Whether you want to identify an unknown plant, select native species for your garden, or study the distribution of plants across the Pacific Northwest, OregonFLora’s books and interactive website will give you knowledge to heighten your appreciation and understanding of our precious botanical resources.
Linda Hardison is the director of OregonFlora and a research assistant professor in the Department of Botany and Plant Pathology at Oregon State University. She earned bachelors degrees from the University of Texas at Austin and a Ph.D. in botany from the University of Washington. Linda guides the OregonFLora program in its mission to share information about Oregon’s plant diversity, largely through the production of a state flora in both book format and as an interactive website. She has served as director of OregonFLora since 2005.
|
|
|
I was out of town for Thanksgiving so missed the reportedly crisp sunny weather. Rain is dripping off the last of the Japanese maple leaves as I write this.
It may seem like hibernation time, but much has been going on behind the scenes to get set for a successful 2024. The plant propagation team is at work, as is the Grow 1 Give 1 team, and of course the Gardenfest gang. The Program and Speakers committees have lined up a full year of offerings, starting with our Chapter meeting and two Saturday classes in January.
I look forward to seeing you all as the various events and activities roll out.
|
|
|
November was a busy month filled with tasks to complete before Thanksgiving which marks the end of our 2023 regular garden work parties.
November accomplishments:
- Continued tasks on our ‘To-Do List’ - removing, transplanting, pruning, thinning and weeding
- Completed the addition to the PNW Native Plant Hedgerow, artfully designed by Lisa Hansen. Thanks to the following for help with site prep, purchasing plants, planting, hauling wood chips and making irrigation updates: Susan Albright, Lisa Barnhart, Helen Dorbolo, Larina Hoffbeck, Sue Karstad, Elizabeth Price, Sue Ryburn, Jack Shorr. Thanks also to Jeremy Cantrell, PCC RC Landscape Crew, for hauling rocks.
- Completed the storage build-out and entry ramp for our new Events Shed, engineered and built by Ron Spendal. The shed now houses and provides easy access to nearly all our event-related items. We are so thankful for Ron’s carpentry skills and ‘get ‘er done’ approach to completing projects.
- Purchased two conifers for the ceanothus shrubs that were removed. Thanks to Elizabeth, Larina, Jack, Lisa H. and Helen for plant removal and to Elizabeth and Lisa H. for researching and purchasing the new conifers. Looking forward to the screening they will provide to block the oh-so-lovely view of the semi-truck trailers.
- Spent grant funds - purchased plants, resupplied materials for education outreach, and purchased eight new folding tables (we now have a total of 15).
- Finalized the 2024 In the Garden Series schedule of sessions located at both of our gardens. Thanks to all who have volunteered to present. Looks to be a great year of classes ahead.
Other happenings:
- From now through the end of January 2024 we are on our “Winter Gardening” schedule of weekly visits to check-up on the garden. Thanks to all who signed up for a slot or two. If anyone else happens to be strolling through the garden and sees something amiss, please contact Susan Albright albright.becker@gmail.com or Sue Ryburn sueryburn@comcast.net
- We need two more volunteers to share in the 2024 IGS set up and take down. It is an easy task for which you can get partner hours and MG Education credits for those IGS that are identified as such. Interested? Please contact Larina Hoffbeck for more information hoffbeck@frontier.com .
Thanks to all the 2023 Ed Garden Volunteers for the many hours you have dedicated to help keep our garden thriving and expanding: weeding, pruning, transplanting, chip spreading, gravel hauling and compacting, creating new garden spaces, building new structures, presenting for In the Garden Series classes, volunteering at ed outreach events, working on at-home computer tasks, organizing the Office, Tool and Event sheds, maintaining and repairing irrigation, and sharing your creativity, gardening knowledge and ideas with all of us.
Happy Holidays to you and yours! - Susan and Sue
|
|
|
The Learning Garden team prepared the garden for winter in November pruning in many areas, planting winter vegetables and cover crops, and moving displays into dry storage. Thank you to Michael Donoghue, Bob Campbell, and Steve Kister for completing projects including assembly of the new 3-bin composting system and replacing the deer fence on the north gate.
Learning Garden regular work parties will resume in February on Thursday mornings. For more information contact Steve Kister kansammy@yahoo.com or Robin Burnham robin.e.burnham@aol.com.
|
|
|
Washington County Master Gardener Association invites you to the third of three classes on mason bees led by Ron Spendal. In this hands-on workshop, you will learn how to extract, clean, and store mason bees. If you have cocoons ready for cleaning, bring them along. If you don’t have cocoons, we have plenty for you to practice with. Attendance at the previous Mason Bee classes is not necessary to attend this class.
Ron Spendal is an OSU Master Gardener who has been researching and educating on mason bees for over 15 years. He operates educational mason bee displays across Washington County, Oregon and runs highly sought-after courses on mason bee management through the Washington County Master Gardener Association. Ron designs and builds his own equipment. He conducts research in conjunction with Oregon State University and Montana State University. His work with mason bees has been featured on the Oregon Field Guide program on OPB. Ron has invented a cocoon cleaning device that uses dry sand and can clean up to 100 cocoons in 3 minutes.
For more information:
https://washingtoncountymastergardeners.org/event/mason-bee-cocoons/
|
|
|
Jonina Weisz is recognized as WCMGA Master Gardener of Note for December for her contributions in several areas for our Chapter. She is a member of our Monthly Speaker Committee. She helps to select the speakers and topics for our Chapter meetings and helps to organize, invite, and thank our speakers. During Gardenfest she volunteered to help with the setup and takedown of the Books, Tools and Gifts 4 Gardeners booth and assisted customers with their purchases. Jonina also was an integral member of the Fall Social event committee, taking on the responsibility for the food and refreshments. Her thoughtful presentation of the yummy and fall-themed food was lovely and tasty and practically guarantees her a future role of doing the same again! Thank you, Jonina, for your heartfelt volunteering and contributions.
|
|
|
Mark Your Calendars for the 2023 WCMGA Member Houseplant Sale!
Browse a broad selection of nearly 200 houseplants
Grown by the WCMGA Propagation Team
|
|
|
|
|
