Notes from the editor:
FYI, the Spring edition of the OMGA newsletter is now available. Check it out after perusing the chat!
https://omga.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Spring2025GardenersPen-1.pdf
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Tuesday, June 3, 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 speaker Darren Morgan, manager of Shonnards Nursery in Corvallis, for a look at new varieties and less common species of Hydrangea.
No genus of shrubs has undergone such a transformation as Hydrangea has over the last couple of decades.
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There are hydrangeas to suit any garden – mop-heads, lace-caps, paniculate and oakleaf, interspecific crosses and intersectional hybrids. Even hydrangeas with sun tolerance.
Darren Morgan grew up on a small farm in the Willamette Valley. He is the nursery manager at Shonnards Nursery in Corvallis, where he has worked for 34 years. He also teaches workshops and community education classes at the nursery for organizations throughout western Oregon and through Linn-Benton Community College.
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Many things are blooming in my garden now, so I am trying to keep track of the different bees. I’ve seen honey, mason and three kinds of bumblebee so far. The most visited plant is my sage, not Russian, the culinary version.
As I’m sure you know by now, Gardenfest was a great success – thank you to everyone who helped make it happen!
We have open garden events in both gardens this month. I hope to see you at one of those. In the meantime, keep weeding and watering.
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After the Gardenfest Frenzy – Back to the Garden
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Susan Albright removed aggressive wild strawberry that threatened to overtake perennials and conifers in the Insect and Pollinator garden
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The Education Garden team, along with several 2025 MG interns, participated extensively in this year’s Gardenfest sale and Gardenfest clearance sale this month. Now that Gardenfest and Grow 1, Give 1 are in the rearview mirror, we were happy to get back to tending the Education Garden. Priorities on the task list included removing overly aggressive wild strawberry and Douglas aster. These native plants thrive in the garden but literally take over large swaths and crowd out the desired variety of plants in the garden classrooms.
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Andrea Flint and Elizabeth Price enjoy pruning the Compact Strawberry Tree (Arbutus unedo ‘Compacta’)
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A new form for the Compact Strawberry Tree
Gardeners love to prune! And there are plenty of pruning opportunities on the Spring Task List. Elizabeth Price and MG Intern Andrea Flint worked on one of the Compact Strawberry Trees in the garden, pruning it from full shrub to artistic tree.
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Orange flags identify source plants for propagation workshop
The Propagation Team has access to a plethora of plants in the Education Garden for which to apply their skills. A number of perennials and shrubs will have cuttings taken for the upcoming MG Intern Workshop, Cloning Techniques for Plant Propagation on June 7th.
Welcome to the Team!
We continued to welcome new interns and this month we welcomed Maria Jones for a tour and orientation. Occasional Friday and Saturday work parties have been added on Saturday June 7 and Friday June 13 to accommodate interns and perennials who cannot join the regular Wednesday work parties. Please email Susan Albright or Sue Ryburn if you plan to come to one of these work parties. It's helpful to know in the event we need to notify folks of a cancellation due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances.
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Susan Albright shares information about mason bees with 2nd graders in the Education Garden.
Springville Elementary School 2nd Graders Learn About Pollinators
Mason bees were the talk of the day for two classes of Springville Elementary School 2nd graders (total of 50), their teachers and 8 parent chaperones who visited the garden on Friday, May 23rd as part of a collaboration with the PCC Rock Creek Learning Garden. Students and adults learned about the fruits pollinated by mason bees, their life cycle, how to tell a male from female and why they are the most efficient spring pollinators in our area. Activities included using a magnifying lens to get a close up view of pinned male and female specimens, holding cocoons that once contained a mason bee, and viewing Ron Spendal's sliding panel mason bee nesting stations to check out the nesting cells.
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Sue Ryburn sets up educational materials near the mason bee nesting stations.
We will be hosting two additional 2nd grade classes on May 30th and one on June 4th. This was a great start for what we hope are more connections with Springville Elementary School in the future.
2025 Education Garden Open Garden
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Other Happenings
- The next monthly Education Team Meeting will be held Wednesday June 18th from 6:00 – 7:00 pm. Watch your email for the agenda and Zoom link.
If you’d like to join the Education Garden email list, contact Susan Albright albright.becker@gmail.com or Sue Ryburn sue@sueryburn.com
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May was a flurry of activity in the Learning Garden, bursting with new plantings, abundant harvests, and the steady progress of installing bunny fencing to protect the tender greenery. But as the irrigation system got turned on, it unveiled an unexpected cascade of challenges—broken controller, sneaky leaks in the tubing, and sprinkler heads choked by gravel and debris. With determination and expertise, Michael Donoghue jumped into action, diagnosing each issue as a seasoned detective. Thankfully, he had a sharp-minded ally by his side—Mary Oakes, a resolute 2025 Intern—who tackled each obstacle with enthusiasm.
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Michael Donoghue and Mary Oakes fixed an irrigation leak. Photo courtesy of Robin Burnham.
This month's intern workshops blossomed in the garden, featuring an enriching session on native plants led by the knowledgeable duo, Kari Woyak and Jennifer Legault. Their expertise brought the landscape to life, revealing the beauty and ecological importance of local flora. A heartfelt thank-you goes to the dedicated support team—Annette Bell, Mary Hewitt, Terri Rottman, Candy Wells, and Jean Ratalsky—whose efforts helped make the day seamless. Even Mother Nature played along, pausing the rain just in time for a delightful stroll through the native garden, where vibrant greenery and hidden wonders awaited.
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Jennifer Legault and Kari Woyak explaining native plants.
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Jennifer Legault (left) showing example of native plant important to indigenous people.
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Kari Woyak leading tour of Natives section of the Learning Garden.
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Kari Woyak leading tour of Natives section of the Learning Garden.
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Later in the month Dennis Brown, Multnomah Co. MG, joined the Learning Garden team to share tips on thinning and caring for apple trees as a follow up from the Apple Tree Pruning Workshop.
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Dennis Brown with Jean Ratalsky and Mary Hewitt. Photo courtesy of Robin Burnham.
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Planning is in the final stages for the Learning Garden Fair on Saturday, June 28th, 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Please contact Jennifer Rosenquist at jrosenquist12@gmail.com if you would like to volunteer at the event.
Learning Garden regular work parties are on Thursdays, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. - feel free to come at any time during those hours. For more information contact Steve Kister kansammy@yahoo.com or Robin Burnham robin.e.burnham@aol.com.
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2025, Another Great Success!
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In case you haven’t heard, WCMGA had another wonderful GardenFest event on May 3rd. We had record numbers of visitors, customers, sales and most importantly Volunteer participation! Final numbers aren't in, but we can safely say that gross sales were $40,000+ and net sales nearly $25,000.
It is an enormous effort from all of us to put on this event. The money we raise allows us to provide informative, relevant and fun events and resources to our community about sustainable gardening. We also give plants and food to those in need.
We are very interested in your feedback. Please email Lisa Barnhart with any question, comment, or suggestion you have about GardenFest and how we can make it even better. Also, let us know if you have a particular interest in helping next year. We are looking for key lead volunteers!
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Are you looking for a way to earn your Program Hours for Master Gardener recertification that fits your schedule? Try the Metro Master Gardener Helpline!
The Metro MG Helpline now has both in-person opportunities at the OSU Extension Office on weekdays from 2pm to 4pm and remote options every day (including weekends) at 10am-12pm, 2pm-4pm, and 6pm-8pm.
Want to volunteer on the Helpline, but don’t know how? Things have changed a little in the last few years. We now use the “Infinity” app when answering Helpline questions. If you haven’t learned Infinity yet, the first step in Helpline volunteering is to contact Marcia McIntyre at: marcia.mcintyre@oregonstate.edu to schedule training.
After your Infinity training, you will be sent links to sign up for in-person and remote helpline shifts where you will be volunteering with an MG who is experienced using the system. If you sign up for one of those slots, you’ll be assured to have guidance while you get comfortable using the system. It’s a good idea to sign up for a shift right away so that you can put your training into practice to help remember procedures and details.
For your first time or two volunteering, day and time options may be limited by how many experienced Helpline volunteers are available. But when you’re ready to be more independent, you’ll receive links to all the slots mentioned above sent out a few months at a time.
Volunteering on the Helpline is a great way to build your horticultural knowledge while fulfilling your Program Hour commitment for recertification!
As always, be sure to check CERVIS often for new volunteer opportunities and to read emails from Metro Master Gardener staff, which often highlight upcoming options for earning Program Hours.
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Join the Washington County Master Gardener Association to learn how to use raised beds and containers for the kinds of bountiful harvests you see at the Learning Garden at Jenkins Estate. OSU Ext. Master Gardeners Dan McDonald, Jennine Rychlik, Jennifer Rosenquist and Lorill Hirschberger will demonstrate how to successfully plan, plant, and harvest vegetables in your home garden.
No registration needed. Free parking.
For more information:
https://washingtoncountymastergardeners.org/event/growing-vegetables-in-the-willamette-valley-2/
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From left to right: Robin Burnham, Dan MacDonald, and Karen Anderson
For June MGs of Note our WCMGA Chapter is recognizing our nominations for State, Oregon Master Gardener Association (OMGA), and Chapter, Washington County Master Gardener Association (WCMGA), Annual Awards. All the nominees and recipients of both the State and Chapter awards will be honored at the OMGA Joy of Gardening Conference in July.
State (OMGA) Nominees:
Robin Burnham - 2025 Master Gardener of the Year
Dan McDonald - 2025 Behind the Scenes
Chapter (WCMGA) Recipients:
Robin Burnham - 2025 Master Gardener of the Year
Karen Anderson - 2025 Behind the Scenes
Robin received a Special Acts/Making a Difference award in 2023 for her initiative and leadership in the OSU Extension state-wide Food Hero Grow and Home Plate Youth Services projects. She is the administrative lead at the Learning Garden. She has done sign-making tasks for Gardenfest, volunteered at the Be a Bee activity at the Education Garden Open Garden, and she promotes communication between the Learning Garden and the Education Garden, helping with activities at both. She is described by those who work with her as a great listener, kind, compassionate, humble and always ready to provide thoughtful and insightful ideas to promote our Chapter’s mission. She is recognized for her leadership skills, dependability, patience and her positive reinforcement to others.
Dan is the leader of WCMGA Grow 1 Give 1 project which involves Master Gardeners growing the plants and then the plants, grow bags with soil and seed packets are given to members of the public at food pantries and associated organizations. Under Dan’s leadership this program grew to interacting with 200 community members, distributing 753 plants, 407 grow bags, 1,700 seed packets, and educating 915 community members at seven food pantries. In 2025 G1G1 will give away 1,100 plants at nine food pantries and related organizations. There were 23 Master Gardener growers for the program in 2024 and 27 Master Gardener growers in 2025. He has also developed a class on growing tomatoes and peppers for these Master Gardeners.
Dan was on the WCMGA Board as the Business Manager for two years. He is the Lead for the Vegetable Garden at WCMGA Demonstration Learning Garden. He instructs at classes for both Master Gardeners and the public. He is also an integral leader at WCMGA Gardenfest, a major fund raiser for our Chapter. He is not only a Master Gardener – he is a “Master of Organization”!
Karen instructs on the science of propagation techniques to both Master Gardeners and the public. She leads the Plant Propagation Team at weekly sessions. She was the leader for a major greenhouse renovation which, when completed, facilitated her team in the propagation of thousands of plants. She writes and submits articles to our Chapter’s monthly newsletter educating our members and the public on the science of propagation and its various techniques. She instructs Interns in hands-on workshop classes covering propagation techniques. She also instructs MGs, Interns and the public on the propagation and care of house plants and native plants. She has been recognized as a MG of Note in 2022 for her work with the Plant Propagation Team and in 2023 she received the Special Acts/Makng a Difference award. Karen Moved to Oregon from Wisconsin in 2019; she was a Master Gardener volunteer in Madison, WI. She does not seek recognition for herself; she is always encouraging to others and recognizes their accomplishments.
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Orenco Woods Nature Park Walk/Hike (for Master Gardeners, their family and friends)
When: Tuesday, June 3, 12:30pm - 2:00pm
Where: Orenco Woods Nature Park, 7100 NE Birch St, Hillsboro OR 97124
Opportunity
To get out into nature, see wetlands, and maybe a blue heron. Walk and talk with Master Gardeners and strengthen our spirit of community and community service and fawn over some of the trees and native plants.
What to wear and bring?
Dress according to the weather, and bring a hat and water.
We will meet at the parking lot in front of the restrooms.
Hope to see you!
Our last event…was Nature Journaling with Terri Rottman
Terri Rottman walked us through a fun and eye-opening Nature Journaling class at PCC Rock Creek. Thank you Terri for all your efforts to prepare and share your deep experience with Nature Journaling and for inspiring us to start our own journals.
There is much to be gained from observing Nature, drawing and writing about it.
Thank you, Sue Ryburn, for ensuring we had a well-lit and big classroom for our practice journaling.
Here are some pictures from our event.
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