Month

Topic

Speaker

Coordinator

Jan

1/12

Garden Design

Although each of us has distinctive likes and dislikes in garden design, general design principles help all of us. These principles include house/garden relationship, circulation, negative space, focal point, pacing and use of plants. Each affects the mood and appearance of the garden and, in the end, determines how well the garden meets our expectations.

Darcy Daniels is a garden designer and operates a seasonal specialty nursery in NE Portland. Since launching Bloomtown Garden Design & Nursery eight years ago, Darcy has designed dozens of gardens in the Portland metro area. She is well known for her rich, textural plantings and creative use of small space. In her talk, she will share ideas for small garden design, and tips for making a garden that holds up through the seasons.

For more information about Darcy and her nursery, visit www.bloomtown.net.

Darcy Daniel,

Owner, Bloomtown Garden Design & Nursery

Hazel Childs

Feb

2/9

Great Plant Picks

Know a list of plants that are hardy, long lived, vigorous and easy to grow, fairly disease and pest resistant, offer long season or multiple seasons of interest, adapt to a variety of soil and fertility conditions, do not need excessive watering in the summer, and are not invasive?

In addition, perennials should not require staking, continuous deadheading, or frequent division. Trees and shrubs should require little pruning and nominal training to achieve their best form. Bulbs should persist in the garden, without being lifted, for at least three years. Variegated plants should be stable and not revert.

Whew! That would be the Great Plant Picks.

Maurice Horn, legendary plants man and member of the Great Plant Picks panel will tell us about this program and share his insights in how gardeners may benefit from this tool.

Maurice Horn,

Co-Owner, Joy Creek Nursery;

panel member, Great Plant Picks

Sherry Sheng

Mar

3/9

Making More Plants

Propagation from seeds or cuttings allows us to garden on a budget. Although plant propagation is a useful tool, many gardeners lack the knowledge and expertise to make the most of it.

That will change with this program. Elizabeth Howley, an expert on this topic, will show us the basics in propagation and offer tips for success.

If you want to learn more about seeds, Elizabeth will cover how to save seeds, when to start, choosing the best medium for germination, and the effect of light and temperature on germination. If you are interested in taking cuttings, Elizabeth will talk about the best time to take them and tools needed.

If you want to gain additional, hands-on experience, come to the workshop on 4/4, at Clackamas Community College. Pre-registration required and space is limited.

Elizabeth Howley,

Horticulture Department, Clackamas Community College

Sherry Sheng

Apr

4/13

The Role of Roses in Our Region (10 minutes)

Mrs. Henry Pittock is an iconic Portland figure who was instrumental in organizing the first Rose Show in 1889. She is often referred to as the 'mother of the Rose Society.' Georgiana was a pioneer in the truest sense, emigrating via wagon train on the Oregon Trail and ending up a woman of spirit who was ahead of her time in her civic activities and causes.

The first Rose Show was a fundraiser for Georgiana's church. Vivacious and frank, she was a great lover of gardening and of the rose, and her influence helped to christen Portland the 'City of Roses.' Her former residence, the Pittock Mansion, is one of Portland's beloved landmarks and a popular tourist attraction.     

New roses for the NW Gardener (35 minutes)

No one knows roses in our area like Rich Baer. To his credit are thousands of pictures published in magazines and books and numerous wins in national photography contests on roses.  Rich has been growing roses for over 55 years and is a consulting rosarian. His presentation will be packed with, eye candy, from Rich’s collection of photographs, in addition to expert advice on the selection and growing of roses in our own gardens.

Georgiana Pittock, Mother of the Rose Society (November 14, 1845 - June 12, 1918)

Rich Baer, 

Master Rosarian, American Rose Society; Photographer

Nancy Hopkins

May

5/11

Emerging Pests of Ornamental Plants

Nature and gardens are not static and neither are the pests which prey on ornamental plants. Robin Rosetta is an expert on Integrated Pest Management (IPM) with OSU Extension Service. She will bring us the latest scientific findings on new and recurring pests of ornamental plants.

This program is a must for Master Gardeners. It will help you in your own garden and as an educator of clients. Come to update your knowledge of how to recognize problems and responsible ways to control pests of ornamental plants.

Robin Rosetta,

Associate Professor, Oregon State University Extension

Carol Zinsli

June

6/8

Growing Winter Vegetables

Home-Gardening is becoming more popular, but why stop when the last zucchini has been picked and the pumpkins are ready to harvest? Plan & plant your garden for a tasty winter bounty! 

Josh Kirschenbaum from Territorial Seed Co. will introduce you to the beauty of a winter harvest, including what to plant and when, calendar for cultivation, and special tips for extending your harvest.

Territorial Seed Company is based in Cottage Grove, Oregon. For the past 30 years, its business has focused on the home gardener, providing seeds of vegetable varieties that taste good and have high vitamin content. 

Josh Kirschenbaum,

Territorial Seed Company

Nikki Mantei

July

7/13

J. Frank Schmidt & Son Arboretum

Boring, OR

guided tour, map, handout

food and drink

Nancy Buley,

Marketing and Communications Manager,

J. Frank Schmidt & Son

Susan Carley

&

Nikki Mantei

Sept

9/14

Hostas – The Jewel of the Shade Garden

Sebright Gardens specializes in Hosta, ferns and other shade plants. They are located on 17 acres and share the location with a mail order bearded Iris nursery. The Hosta and rare plant display gardens cover approximately 2 acres. Although Hosta, fern and Iris are the nursery’s focus, these display gardens also carry a wide selection of cool and rare perennials, trees and shrubs.

Thomas Johnson is co-owner of Sebright Gardens. This talk will highlight their Hosta collection which numbers in the hundreds. Although most of them are relatively carefree, Thomas will review tips for their care and maintenance. Of course, he will delight us with his favorites – from miniatures to awesome, large-leaved varieties. Prepare to be dazzled by the sedate green, gold, blue, and variegated patterns of these jewels of the shade garden.

Thomas Johnson,

co-owner ,

Sebright Nursery 

Laura Eyer

Oct

10/12

Composting & Vermiculture – Wastes to Garden Gold

Elizabeth Howley added a composting system to her garden in the spring of 2008. She wants to offer advice on the design and operation of a home composting system while sharing her experience from its first season. In this talk, Elizabeth will take us on a visual tour of this delightful part of her garden, from design to finished product.  She values the new system more than gold. 

Did you know that, of the thousands of earthworms worldwide, only a few are special enough to work in a worm bin?  Laura Eyer, worm expert, will tell us about the "Reds", which live and breed happily in the organic rich environment of a worm bin.  Among the questions she will answer are:  How much will worms eat? What do they eat? How many worms do I need?  Will my worm bin smell?

Elizabeth Howley,

Horticulture Department, Clackamas Community College

Laura Eyer

Master Gardener and Worm Expert

Ruby Friesen

Nov

11/9

Sustainability – What Is It and How Does It Relate to Gardening

Portland is known as the most sustainable city in the United States, and Oregon strives for a more sustainable future.  What is sustainability?  What does sustainability look like globally and locally? 

Sustainability is a complex and abstract concept.  How can we talk about it in simple and understandable ways, especially through everyday activities like home gardening?  Rosalyn McKeown will shed light on, sustainability, in the contemporary, metropolitan context.

Rosalyn McKeown, Associate Professor, Portland State University

Laura Eyer

Dec

12/14

Appreciate the Role of Bats:  Insect-eaters of the Night

Bats have gotten a bad rap! Their popular images as blood-suckers, disease-carriers, or scary creatures that get tangled in your hair are totally undeserved.

To set us straight on what bats really do and how they affect our environment is Sally Fisher, an expert in waste reduction with the Clark County Solid Waste Program. In this talk, Sally will acquaint us with the types of bats residing in our region, how they live, and how they contribute to a healthy environment.

All these may turn you on to bats. If you want to attract these beneficial flying mammals to your garden, Sally will offer expert advice that’s sure to work.

Sally Fisher,

Waste Reduction Specialist,

Clark County, WA

Laura Eyer

Date

Topic

Where

Organizers / Instructors

2/14

10 a.m. - noon

Mason Bee workshop (with MGs leaders)

Learn about Mason Bees – life cycle, housing requirement, ecological significance

Make houses for Mason Bee

Pre-registration required. Limited to 25.

Clackamas Community College

#133

Pat Smith, Paul Miken

2/21

10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Pruning workshop (with Bob Nelson, CCC faculty, & MGs)

Demonstration and hands-on experience

Learn to prune grapes, blueberries, fruit trees, and ornamental plants

Pre-registration required. Limited to 50.

Farm of Mike and Jane Collier

Jane Collier

4/4

10 a.m. - noon

Propagation workshop (with Elizabeth Howley, CCC faculty)

Learn to propagate from seed and cutting through hands-on exercise.

Pre-registration required. Space limited to 25.

Clackamas Community College

Madeline Forsyth, Sherry Sheng

4/11

8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Re-certification Training

TBD

Weston Miller, Jordis Yost

4/18

10 a.m. - noon

Tomato workshop (with MG leaders)

Learn tomato culture from seed, transplants, staking/support, disease management, watering, pruning, fertilizing

Make a 5 ft high x 2 ft diameter tomato cage to bring home

Pre-registration required. Space limited to 32.

Clackamas Community College

#133, #117

Sherry Holley

Instructors – Bill Bradley, Bob Woods, Sherry Holley

10/16

9 a.m. - noon

Bee Wash

Rid bees of mites. Wash their houses and get them ready for use next season.

Farm of Mike and Jane Collier

Jane Collier

11/7 Change in date not the 8th

8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Re-certification Training , 6 Hours recertification credit

Introduction to Peraculture and other topics

Clackamas Community College - Gregory Forum 8:30am - 3:30pm

Weston Miller, Jordis Yost

Date

Activity

What

Responsible

3/9

6:30-7 p.m.

Potluck / welcome new MGs

Veterans bring food for potluck, MG trainees are invited, those who join in are introduced

Mary Butler

4/13, 10/12

6:30-7 p.m.

Seed / Plant Exchange

Bring seeds or plants to share

Nikki Mantei

12/14

Book Sale

Buy used books and magazines on all topics gardening

Janet Weber

Date/where

Activity

What

Responsible

3/28

10 a.m. – noon;

Milwaukie Center, 5440 SE Kellogg Creek Drive, Milwaukie

Soil pH testing;

10-Minute University

Free soil pH testing;

10-Minute University classes on Growing Vegetables and Fruits, Gardening Tips for Spring

Cathy Matern / Maggie Frieske

Sherry Sheng / Jane Collier

5/2 & 5/3

9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Canby Fairground

Soil pH testing;

10-Minute University

Free soil pH testing;

10-Minute University classes on Pruning, Growing Tomatoes, Containers, Hanging Baskets, Annuals and Perennials, Planting Tips, and Herbs

Cathy Matern / Maggie Frieske

Reta Suzanne / Saundra Rassi

10/10

10 a.m. – noon

Milwaukie Center, 5440 SE Kellogg Creek Drive, Milwaukie

Soil pH testing;

10-Minute University

Free soil pH testing;

10-Minute University classes on a Glorious Fall Garden, Gardening Tips for Fall

Cathy Matern / Maggie Frieske

Sherry Sheng