Chapter Chat - October 2024
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Tuesday, October 1, 2024
7:00 - 8:00 PM PDT - Free Webinar, Open to All
Registration Required
8:00-9:00 PM PDT - Members Meeting
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Please join the Washington County Master Gardeners Speakers Series as Signe Danler presents *Mulch Matters: Beyond Bark. This webinar will
cover everything you didn’t know you wanted to know about garden mulches: their many benefits, what types are best for different purposes, when and how to apply them and what mulches NOT to use. Included will be a discussion of living mulch - i.e., groundcovers.
Signe Danler is a veteran Master Gardener, landscape designer and plant nerd with particular interest in urban horticulture and applying ecological principles to landscape design and maintenance. As instructor for the OSU Extension Service online Home Horticulture and Master Gardener Program, she uses her experience and training in gardening, urban forestry and ecological landscaping to communicate about and promote sustainable gardening and landscaping practices.
This program is approved for one hour of MG Education Credit
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With this strange weather I have trouble keeping track of the months. Pumpkins and chrysanthemums are outside the grocery stores, so I guess we’re in October. I just put in lettuce and arugula starts so I hope the weather stays mild.
At our Fall Social Sept 21st, I got to visit with several Interns – who will be perennials very shortly! It is great to be welcoming new faces.
The Volunteer Reporting System is up! I just logged all my hours – Program, Partner and Continuing Ed and found it pretty user friendly. And I think it will be very easy to use when we’re not trying to enter a year’s worth of data.
We’ve removed the password from the Member Portal which should make life easier, just in time for membership renewal. Please visit the now barrier-free Member Portal to renew your membership and pay your dues.
You have two options available for paying dues:
- Online: To pay using either Paypal, credit card, or debit card, please click on this link: Dues.
- By mail: Make check payable to WCMGA, and send to: Treasurer, Connie Kirby, 4255 SW Crestwood Dr., Portland OR 97225
For upcoming WCMGA Board positions that will be ending their current term, a slate of candidates will be formally presented at the October Chapter meeting. The election will be held at the November Chapter meeting with the term of office beginning following the December Chapter meeting.
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This month, our Learning Garden has been buzzing with activity, thanks to the incredible efforts of our dedicated volunteers including several 2024 Interns. From planting fall vegetables, cover crops and perennials, pruning, removing overgrown plants, dividing irises, to maintaining the garden beds, these individuals do an incredible job. Harvesting continued at a fast pace throughout the summer with 318 pounds of vegetables, herbs, and fruit donated in August.
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Minoo Sweet, Candy Wells, and Dorothy Erpelding removing an overgrown lilac bush.
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Becky Pio tackling the weeds near the grape arbor.
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Imagine stepping into an Introduction to Nature Journaling class where curiosity and creativity flourish. That is what happened on September 21st as Intern and Artist Terri Rottman, with assistance from MG Anna Stubbs, guided participants through a series of engaging activities designed to sharpen their observation skills and deepen their connection with the natural world. Learners of all ages and skill levels were encouraged to slow down and truly experience the rich assortment of nature in the Learning Garden.
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Terri Rottman presenting information on Nature Journaling.
All are welcome to join the Learning Garden regular work parties that are held on Thursday mornings, 9 am – 1 pm. Feel free to drop by and stay for as long as you’d like. For more information contact Steve Kister kansammy@yahoo.com or Robin Burnham robin.e.burnham@aol.com.
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Larina Hoffbeck making space for a Moon Garden
Making Way for a Moon Garden
Our ever-creative Ed Garden volunteer, Larina Hoffbeck (one of three awarded 2024 OSU Master Gardener of the Year!) is leading a revision of the Insect and Pollinator classroom to add a Moon Garden. Larina is interested in all types of pollinators including nighttime pollinators such as moths. She envisions a Moon/Moth Garden to tie in with the Education Garden team’s participation in the DarkSky project. The moth garden concept would include plants that provide nectar but also larval host plants for moths, which are the main nighttime pollinators. Moth larvae are also a major food source for birds, so they're important to the ecosystem in that way as well as pollination. The moon garden aspect would display a garden design that is pleasing to people at night under moonlight....so white/light colored flowers and silvery/shiny leaves as well as pleasant scent. Avoiding artificial light pollution is important for both concepts. It's a little tricky going for both because moths don't necessarily think the same scents and flowers are attractive and pleasing as people do, but hopefully we will be able to come up with a design that has nice elements of each and can be replicated by people in their own yards, patios, and balconies.
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Very few lodgers of the Insect Hotel found during demolition
A little deconstruction was necessary to make room for the plants that can attract nighttime pollinators. The insect hotels that had been installed back in 2018 needed to be removed. Although they stimulated questions and conversations, there was no research evidence that they provided habitat for arthropods. Deconstruction of the largest hotel revealed just a handful of pill bugs and similar crawlers and no evidence of visible insect use. The next phase will be selecting and planting the appropriate plants to welcome the hard-working insects that spread vital pollen after the sun goes down.
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Elizabeth Price planting new Pinus parviflora 'Aoi'
Conifer Keeper
Trees in the Education Garden are growing strong and some are crowding out their more diminutive companions. Earlier this year we moved a lovely Pinus parviflora ‘Aoi’ that was crowded on nearly all sides. Unfortunately, it did not survive the transplant. So, our conifer aficionado, Elizabeth Price, located a replacement and gave it a nice home in the Waterwise classroom this month. A hand watering schedule was set up to ease the new Aoi into the fall before rains set in.
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MGs Holly Beare, Kristine Lofgren (Intern), Lisa Hansen, and Larina Hoffbeck welcome a “Reading the Tea Leaves” participant
Tea Plants Distributed
The Education Garden crew participated in distributing tea plants (Camillia sinensis) for Srijana Shrestha’s “Reading the Tea Leaves” community science project. The plants looked quite robust and volunteers picking them up were enthusiastic to participate in the project. We look forward to hearing how the plants grow!
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Weeding is a four season job
Keeping after Invasive Weeds
Nearly every garden has them. The real aggressors of the plant kingdom that will take over sections of a garden if not controlled. In the case of the Education Garden, we are talking field bind weed, horsetail, Canadian thistle, and red sorrel. They sneak their way in among shrubs, tangle with roots, and compete for sun, water, and nutrients. The Green Street Stewards Weed Identification Guide is a helpful resource for gardeners to understand the best methods for controlling the ubiquitous weeds in our area. Weeding is a never-ending job but so rewarding when the desired plants can shine unencumbered!
Other Happenings
- MG Intern Workshop Saturday, October 5th 10 am- 12 noon, Pine Identification, PCC Rock Creek, Building 4, Room 103. Presenters: Elizabeth Price and Lisa Hansen, OSU Extension MG Volunteers. Class is full.
- IGS Saturday October 26th 10 am – 12 noon. Gardening with Pacific Northwest Natives, PCC Rock Creek Building 4, Room 103. Presenters: Jack Shorr and Robin Carpenter, OSU Extension MG Volunteers. Class approved for 1 hour MG continuing education credit.
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Hi, I am Shirley Wolcott. In 2017 I joined the WCMGA and attended a wonderful workshop. Helen Dorbolo taught us how to propagate plants. I was amazed to know I had been doing it for years. I grew up in northern Utah doing annual propagation of geraniums with my mother and grandmother. Each fall before the frost they would go into their gardens and cut stems off their geranium plants. They would recruit us children to help put pieces of the geraniums into soil in small pots. These pots were destined to spend the winter months in the sunny windows upstairs or downstairs it didn’t matter, if there was a south facing window there would be plants in it.
I have continued the family activity, each year taking cuttings of my geraniums, putting them in a sunny window. After learning from the propagation team, I’ve expanded my plants to include coleus and have invested in a grow light. Each spring I save money and time not having to shop for the annual bedding plants I enjoy having.
Come join the propagation team and I will teach you how to start your own geranium and coleus plants. Each Friday morning from 9 to 11 at the PCC Rock Creek Greenhouse I join other dedicated Master Gardeners and enjoy hands on learning as we propagate over 100 different plants. We would love to have you join us. Contact Karen Anderson at worthog42@gmail.com to be put on our contact list and receive information of each week’s activities at the greenhouse. Soon we will adding an additional time.
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Join the Washington County Master Gardener Assoc. to learn about the native plants that thrive in the PNW garden, how to naturescape in support of wildlife and pollinators, and consider the possibilities the Backyard Habitat Certification Program offers through its customized yard assessment.
The class will be led by Robin Carpenter and Jack Shorr, OSU Extension MG Volunteers.
Robin was certified as a Master Gardener in 2022. Her interests lie in native plants and the guidance provided by the Backyard Habitat Certification Program. She also volunteers at the Portland Audubon Society and as a Master Recycler.
Jack became a MG in 2006 and a Master Naturalist in 2012. He volunteers with the Backyard Habitat Certification Program, the Master Gardener Speakers Guild and the WCMGA Education Garden at the PCC Rock Creek Campus.
For more information:
https://washingtoncountymastergardeners.org/event/gardening-with-pacific-northwest-native-plants-2/
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Jennifer Rosenquist has been a regular volunteer at the Learning Garden since 2017 working primarily in the vegetable beds and on various special projects. This year she took on a major role in planning and executing the Learning Garden Fair on June 29th and for that leadership and contribution she is an MG of Note!
For the event, Jennifer invited community partners, arranged for volunteers including new interns, helped design the layout, helped get items borrowed from the Ed Garden, worked on setup and teardown, and provided an orientation for all volunteers. During the event she was leader for any questions from volunteers and substituted at different stations so they could have a break. It was a great day for MGs, Interns, and guests alike. Thank you, Jennifer!
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Steve Kister is being recognized as a MG of Note this month. Steve is the editor of our monthly newsletter, Chapter Chat. He gathers all the information and photos sent to him each month. Then he works some magic to turn all the submissions into the beautiful newsletter which he sends to all of us. He also adds some of his special touches which help to make our master gardeners’ activities and accomplishments look their best. An offshoot of editing Chapter Chat is Steve’s position on our WCMGA Chapter Board as the Communication Director.
Steve is also a regular volunteer at the Learning Garden where he and Tamara Newton-Baker are co-leaders of the Companion Planting area and they teach pruning classes in the garden. He tirelessly takes on multiple tasks at the garden including building new displays, transporting supplies, and removing pruning and weeding debris. He shares responsibility for MG, Intern and Community volunteer recruitment and retention with Mary Hewitt and Robin Burnham.
Steve is also one of the growers for our Grow 1 Give 1 program. He’s provided tomato and pepper starts and participated in events where the starts are given to people in need.
Thank you, Steve, for your commitment to our Chapter and for these and the many other tasks you willingly take on, always with a smile.
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Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Vocabulary
Micro-affirmations
“Small actions that can clear the way for opportunity, gestures of inclusion and caring, and graceful acts of listening. Mary Rowe, who coined the term micro-affirmations, defined them as small acts that foster inclusion, listening, comfort, and support for people who may feel isolated or invisible in an environment.”
http://-https://hr.cornell.edu/culture/inclusion-belonging/learning-and-development/dei-glossary
The members of the WCMGA DEI committee recognize that the terms and phrases used when discussing topics related to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion may be unfamiliar or confusing to many people. Definitions may also change over time. Since gardening is for everyone, we’d like to help foster understanding of DEI vocabulary with our members and other readers of Chapter Chat and the WCMGA website.
We're featuring a different phrase or term each month throughout 2024 on our webpage here: https://washingtoncountymastergardeners.org/wcmga-diversity-equity-and-inclusion-committee/
We hope you’ll check back each month for new words and phrases as well as examples of how Master Gardeners can incorporate these concepts into our work with the public and with our own members.
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