Chapter Chat - March 2025
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Note from the editor:
Want to read how other chapters find GRANTS? Did you notice that MG training varies county to county? Read all about it in the Winter 2025 Gardener's Pen, the Oregon Master Gardener's quarterly newsletter.
https://omga.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Winter2025GardenersPen.pdf
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Tuesday, March 4, 2025
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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Join the Washington County Master Gardeners Association and Lilah Gonen of the Oregon Department of Forestry, Urban & Community Forestry Program for a webinar on management strategies for Emerald Ash Borer.
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The Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) is an invasive and highly destructive wood boring beetle that infests and kills ash trees. EAB was first found in Michigan in 2002 and quickly spread across North America. In 2022, EAB was found in Forest Grove, OR, the first detection on the West Coast. Ash trees are common in both urban and natural environments in Oregon, providing essential ecosystem services. While EAB poses a significant threat to these trees, we’re fortunate to draw on over 20 years of research and experience from the Midwest and East Coast to slow its spread and mitigate its impacts. This presentation will provide 1) an overview of EAB and ash biology, 2) updates to the State of Oregon’s ongoing EAB survey, management, and communication strategies, and 3) planning and management strategies for EAB.
Lilah Gonen has bachelor's degrees in Forestry and Geography from UC Berkeley and an MS in Botany & Plant Pathology from Oregon State University.
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I started writing this during our atmospheric river. Now, after four days and three and a half inches of rain, I am in my yard pulling bittercress from every rocky nook and cranny. I'm sure I could be back in two weeks doing exactly the same.
The intern volunteer opportunity fair is this month. 150 interns in the three counties have started their training. We will be offering a number of workshops for them in the coming months, which many of you are volunteering for – Thank you!
And here is the latest information on VRS, two new volunteer opportunities (we could really use the help!) and a new social event.
The Volunteer Reporting System
The Service and Continuing Education entries for 2024 have all been reviewed, so if you go into the system, you can see your hours for 2024 and what you’ve entered already for 2025.
Amy has questions for a few people. You should have received an email from her.
The 2025 options for CE have been updated. If you haven’t yet taken your “Growing and Belonging” class, you should select “Introduction to Inclusive Education in Extension”.
The little flower stickers to place on our badges should be coming out soon.
Need Partner hours? Are you YouTube savvy? Work from home?
We are looking to move our webinars from Zoom to a YouTube channel. We have a year’s worth of monthly Chapter webinars to move now plus ongoing once a month. We’re almost out of Zoom storage so we need to start this project in the next two months. If this is something that would fit into your life without too much disruption, please contact me hope.preston@gmail.com.
Facebook co-administrator
You may have noticed that our public-facing Facebook page has disappeared. This is apparently not something you can discuss with FB management. We would like to start up a new public page. Bruce Bartlett is our current administrator, and he would like someone to join him as co-administrator. This would be a minimal amount of time and would count as Partner hours.
Gathering Gardeners for a Happy Hour!
We plan to meet at Thirsty Lion in Tanasbourne for our March Happy Hour event at 2290 NE Allie Ave. Hillsboro, OR 97124 on Thursday, March 20 - the first day of spring at 4:30ish.
Hope to see many of you there!
An Update from OSU's Garden Ecology Lab on their Navtive Plant study:
https://blogs.oregonstate.edu/gardenecologylab/2025/02/17/an-update-on-native-plant-studies-from-the-garden-ecology-lab-at-oregon-state-university/
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The Learning Garden regular work parties started in February at a slower pace than planned due to the cold weather, snow, and icy roads. Unfortunately, the Pruning Perennials In-the-Garden series class had to be cancelled, and the Intern Ornamental Pruning workshop rescheduled to March 1st. The group caught up once the weather warmed up. Three Intern workshops are planned for March.
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Jeannine Rychlik, Lorill Hirschberger, and Dan McDonald removing rotted out raised bed.
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Marti Farris moves soil from the old vegetable bed to fill in sink hole.
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Allyn Kirnak and Larry Schick installing the Dark Sky light monitor after downloading data.
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Learning Garden regular work parties are on Thursdays, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. - feel free to come at any time during those hours, the garden is more pleasant in the late morning in the winter. For more information contact Steve Kister kansammy@yahoo.com or Robin Burnham robin.e.burnham@aol.com.
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Maryann Lewis demonstrated specific types of pruning cuts for this Hinoki cypress
Pruning Consultation with Maryann Lewis
The early February rain hurried east just in time for 21 Master Gardeners to learn aesthetic pruning techniques from Certified Aesthetic Pruner, Maryann Lewis. Maryann’s third demonstration at the Education Garden tackled challenges including the close proximity of the Melody Hinoki Cypress and the unusual Mikawa yatsubusa Japanese maple. She revealed how both can live close and harmoniously with carefully selected pruning cuts.
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A five-year pruning plan will be developed for the younger Spaan's Dwarf Shore Pine in the pine bed.
She went on to expose more of the branch structure of the smaller Spaan’s Dwarf Dwarf Shore Pine which will require regular attention with the secateurs to keep it in scale with the rest of the pine bed. Maryann spent quite a bit of time explaining how to prune various pines and how to develop a five-year plan. Another revelation occurred with the Persian Ironwood tree which had grown quite congested when leafed out. Judicious and strategic pruning will preserve the lovely form while allowing for some air circulation when attired in its full cloak of leaves. This consultation built on her previous visits by delving deeper into the types of pruning cuts, timing, and ultimate goals for the shrub or tree.
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Master Gardeners learned advanced pruning techniques from Maryann Lewis during her consultation.
Thanks to Elizabeth Price for arranging Maryann’s visit and taking careful notes to guide the Education Garden volunteers on long term management of several trees and shrubs thriving in the garden.
Many Activities Underway Despite Rough February Weather
Wet and/or very cold weather precluded most in-the-garden activities during February, but Education Garden volunteers have been very busy with our multiple projects.
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Meadowscape consult – L to R - Briita Pajunas, Debby Garman, Susan Albright, Elaine Stewart, and Jack Shorr. Photo by Sue Ryburn
We had a site visit for a Meadowscape Consult by Briita Pajunas of Tualatin Soil and Water Conservation District, Elaine Stewart the newest member of the TSWCD board and Debby Garman of Tualatin Valley Beekeepers. Elaine brings a wealth of experience in habitat restoration and natural area management positions from a career spanning a couple of decades and provided very useful insights. We have several takeaways from this site visit to help with next steps for the Meadowscape, as well as other ideas as we toured the rest of the garden. More to come on these plans. Thanks to Jack Shorr for organizing this visit.
Susan Albright and Sue Ryburn met with Hailey Zweigart, the new PCC RC Farm and Outreach Coordinator. They toured the new barn and new classroom space then met the friendly goats, many of which are pregnant with their kids due in spring. There is already broad interest in taking a farm tour after the baby goats are born. Susan and Sue will work to schedule a tour with Hailey to occur after Gardenfest.
In the Garden Series 2025 is off to a great start: Mason Bees 101 with 51 attendees and Blueberry Care with 57 attendees.
2025 MG Intern Workshops to take place at PCC Rock Creek are set up, thanks to the excellent organization of Lisa Hansen and Lakshmi Srinivasan and generosity of several MGs who will be leading the Workshops. When recently asked by the Program Office to increase our capacity due to the larger incoming 2025 Intern cohort, Lisa quickly reached out to all the presenters, and we were able to significantly increase the number of Workshop slots. Many thanks to all the presenters for their flexibility and to Lisa for this quick work.
Planning is well underway for the 2025 Education Garden Open Garden: Invertebrates and Vertebrates, June 14th (10am-1pm). Once again, we are very pleased to be joined by Community Partners with seven other organizations participating in 2025. Altogether we will have nine booths including MG staffed Let’s Talk Plants and All about Mason Bees. Interested in volunteering to help with this fun educational event? --- Contact Susan Albright albright.becker@gmail.com or Sue Ryburn sueryburn@comcast.net
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In other news, the PCC RC Learning Garden has a new perimeter deer fence and several new raised beds. After last year’s near decimation of the vegetable crops by deer, the new fence will protect this year’s crop and its location along the east side of the Education Garden may dissuade wandering deer from munching on our ornamental plants as well.
Other Happenings
- In the Garden Series: Saturday March 1, 2025, 10 am – 12 noon. Getting Water Wise with Drip Irrigation. PCC Rock Creek Building 4, Room 103. Presented by Jenn Peters, PCC RC Landscape Technology Instructor.
- In the Garden Series: March 22, 2025, 10 am – 12 noon. Gardening with Pacific Northwest Native Plants, PCC Rock Creek Building 4, Room 103. Presented by Master Gardeners Jack Shorr and Robin Carpenter
- The monthly Education Team Meeting will be held March 19th from 6:00 – 7:00 pm. Watch your email for the agenda and Zoom link.
- If you would like to be added to our Education Garden email list, contact Susan Albright or Sue Ryburn.
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Volunteer for Gardenfest 2025!
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The Gardenfest plant sale team has been hard at work planning for the big event at the PCC Rock Creek Campus on Saturday, May 3. We’re currently scheduling volunteers to work all the areas during the sale, setting up and taking down, and the many jobs that will be required before and after Gardenfest. We need about 30 more people to help with this fun event and fundraiser, so please fill out the volunteer form at this link:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdFzzsmwDFhxrEXnA92rn0c6UrgYB-ilOMd8esRNQLi-xRujw/viewform?usp=sharing
so that we can get everyone on the schedule. Please check all the areas in which you can help, keeping in mind that there are enough opportunities that each person can do more than one thing. You’ll also find buttons leading to the volunteer form and the different Gardenfest volunteer job descriptions listing duties, accessibility, and other information in the Member Portal section of the WCMGA website. We encourage you to invite friends and family members to help out as well!
This is a great opportunity to work with your fellow Washington County Master Gardeners and earn volunteer hours for 2025. Please contact Larina Hoffbeck at hoffbeck@frontier.com with any questions.
Thank you for volunteering, and don’t forget to spread the word! We have a public Gardenfest page with more details here: https://washingtoncountymastergardeners.org/gardenfest-plant-sale/
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Thinking about drip irrigation but not sure where to start? Join the Washington County Master Gardener Association as we cover the types of micro irrigation systems and where to use them. We’ll also discuss steps for a new installation or converting from an existing overhead system. Resources for information and supplies will be provided.
The class will be led by Jenn Peters, Landscape Technology Instructor, PCC Rock Creek
No registration needed. Free parking.
For more information:
https://washingtoncountymastergardeners.org/event/getting-waterwise/
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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 Bird Alliance 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.
No registration needed. Free parking.
For more information:
https://washingtoncountymastergardeners.org/event/gardening-with-pacific-northwest-native-plants-3/
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Washington County Master Gardener Association invites you to a free class on perennials. Perennial plants give the garden beauty and food for wildlife plus they create an ever-changing tapestry of color. On top of that, they are a good investment since they come back year after year. This class will discuss different types of perennials, from easy care to more challenging, and how to best care for them in terms of planting, pruning, fertilizing, pest control, and general maintenance, plus tips to extend blooming time for year- round color.
Presenter Lisa Graff retired in 2016 after a 28 year career at Intel Corporation in electrical engineering and business. She has had a passion for gardening for decades with a focus on densely planted, continuously blooming perennial beds. After retirement, she became a Master Gardener and blended her love of science with gardening and began propagating plants. She opened Lux Perennials Nursery in 2020 and has opened her 1 acre English garden for tours and to customers at her nursery.
No registration needed. Free parking.
For more information:
https://washingtoncountymastergardeners.org/event/perennials-how-to-choose-plant-and-maintain-for-year-round-flowers-2/
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On February 15th our Chapter Spring Social was held at Beaverton City Library with nearly 50 Chapter members and guests attending. Srijana Shrestha, Metro Extension Practices M.G. Program, and Amy Espinoza, Metro Extension M.G. Education Program, visited with members. Members enthusiastically socialized, checked out the tables with information for Gardenfest/DEI, Grow 1 Give 1, Education Garden, Learning Garden. Tri County Study Group, and Chapter Board/Awards & Recognitions/Ways to Support Our Chapter. There were also the added bonus of door prizes, treats to eat and refreshments.
A special thank you to all the members who brought books for our Little Free Library at the Learning Garden. These 33 books will help keep the LFL stocked for the enjoyment of public visitors to the Garden and Jenkins Estate.
Our Spring Social would not have been possible without the volunteers who helped stage all the information and the treats and refreshments tables, answered members’ questions, and provided information about volunteer opportunities. A heartfelt thank you goes out to every one of these folks.
Photos taken by Susan Albright at the Spring Social:
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February Houseplant Sale
With a showcase of a bright collection of houseplants in the PCC-RC greenhouse, the houseplant team Interacted with a steady stream of shoppers on February 8th. Our chapter grossed over $700 in sales, which goes towards supporting our WCMGA’s activities.
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The sales team fielded questions from how-to-care to is this a cat-safe plant. Thanks to all who supported the Plant Propagation Team’s Houseplant Sale, especially our house plant team. We grossed over $700 in sales, which goes towards supporting our chapter’s activities. Who doesn’t like a plant sale in February!
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Inrun Kaur
Inrun Kaur took over updating the Membership Directory for 2025 which is an important source of contact information for members to reach out to other members and the new Interns who opt in to be part of WCMGA. Many of us use the Membership Directory at least weekly, if not more often. It was a huge task requiring hours on the computer, detailed work and follow-up emails and phone calls to maximize membership renewals.
In addition, Inrun has volunteered at the Education Garden, Gardenfest, My People’s Market, PlanetCon and the Helpline. For all of her contributions to our WCMG Chapter, Inrun is recognized as the Master Gardener of Note for March.
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Amy Tan’s book is a quirky nature journal from her observations of birds over nine years of journaling and drawing them. In 2016 she turned away from the hatred and misinformation that was everywhere on social media. She turned instead to the natural world, focusing on birds in her yard and imagining their lives. When she started this, she only recognized three birds. She was 64 years old when she took her first drawing class. She continued her nature journaling on group field trips that were led by her art teacher.
There is a strong connection in her book between the watcher and the watched. Her earlier life had been quite traumatic, and she was able to find peace in her life within the quiet moments of her everyday observations and journaling. Readers too can find a sense of peace in her writing, artistry, and enjoy her charming and entertaining book.
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