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Metro Master Gardener™ Newsletter February 2016
Table of Contents Page
Master Gardener team...........................................2
Volunteer requirements for 2016...........................2
2016 MG training schedule.....................................2
Opportunities from Jordis.......................................3
Updates from Margaret..........................................4
Natters Notes: Elm seed bug..................................6
Becoming a Beekeeper...........................................8
Garden Calendar...................................................10
Garden Discovery Day 2016..................................11
Soil School............................................................12
Clackamas County Chapter page..........................13
Multnomah County Chapter page........................14
Washington County Chapter page........................15
OSU Extension Service Metro Master Gardener™ Program
http://extension.oregonstate.edu/mg/metro/
Serving Clackamas, Multnomah, and Washington counties in the metro area since 1976.
Mission Statement We provide relevant, research-based education and outreach to the public of Clackamas, Multnomah, and Washington counties about horticulture and household pests. This information promotes sustainable practices that minimize risks to human health and the environment.
The OSU Extension Master Gardening Program™ is funded in part by Metro, the elected regional government for the 25 cities and three counties in the Portland metropolitan area. www.oregonmetro.gov/garden
Program Staff
Weston Miller - Horticulture Faculty [email protected] (503) 650-3124
Pukhraj Deol - Horticulture Faculty [email protected] (503) 821-1124
Jordis Yost - Program Coordinator [email protected] (503) 650-3118
Margaret Bayne - Admin. Program Specialist [email protected] (503) 650-3126
Jean Bremer - Editor [email protected]
Newsletter Volunteer
Heidi Nichols - Proof [email protected]
Mailing Address Clackamas County Extension Service 200 Warner-Milne Rd Oregon City OR 97045
Master Gardener team newsletter February 2016
Program updates 1. Volunteer requirements for 20162. 2016 MG training schedule3. Online content and workshops4. Opportunities from Jordis5. Updates from Margaret
1. Volunteer requirements for 2016We hope that you continue to volunteer with the metro area Master Gardener program in 2016! We appreciate the ongoing support from hundreds of dedicated folks who help to extend the public outreachmission of OSU into the community. Here is what you need to do in 2016 to remain an active Master Gardener volunteer:
Submit your annual OSU volunteer forms to the MG program office.
Document at least 10 hours of advanced/recertification training including:o At least six hours or more of educational programming provided by the MG Program including: fall
event, training classes, workshops, online modules, and Test.o Up to four hours of educational programming provided by Clackamas, Multnomah, and Washington
counties MG chapters and OMGA. These events are all free and open to the public and will beposted starting in January 2016 at http://calendar.oregonstate.edu/metro-gardening/.
Document at least 20 hours of volunteer service in approved activities including:o At least 10 hours at MG Program sponsored activities such as phone clinics, tabling at farmers markets,
other community events, and making gardening presentations. WE REALLY NEED YOUR HELP to staffthese events, which are at the core of OSU’s public outreach mission. Note: this change for 2016 isbased on recommendations from the statewide MG Program and our regional MG advisory group tohave at least 50 percent of an individual's required volunteer activities contribute toward core OSUoutreach activities.
o As many additional hours as you like toward any and all other approved volunteer activities.
2. 2016 MG training scheduleBelow is the schedule for the classroom sessions. If you have submitted your 2016 MG volunteer forms, you are welcome to come to any and all of these sessions as part of your 10 hours of requiredrecertification training. We hope to see you there!
Training locations for 2016
Day of week
Dates Location Address
Tuesdays Feb 2 - March 15 First Baptist Church 5755 SW Erickson Ave. Beaverton, OR 97005
Thursdays Feb 4 - March 17 Museum of the Oregon Territory 211 Tumwater Dr. Oregon City, OR 97045
Fridays Feb 5 - March 18 Multnomah County Building - council chambers
501 SE Hawthorne Blvd. Portland, OR 97214
February 2016 Metro Master Gardener™ Newsletter 2February 2016 Metro Master Gardener™ Newsletter 2
Training Schedule for 2016
Week Dates Time Topic Instructor
Week 1 Feb 2, 4, 5 9am-12pm MG program overview; Get to know you MG team
1pm-4pm Soils and fertilizers Claudia Groth
Week 2 Feb 9, 11, 12 9am-12pm Vegetable gardening Pukhraj Deol
1pm-4pm Common weeds and invasive plants Weston Miller
Week 3 Feb 16, 18, 19 9am-12pm Entomology Jean Natter
1pm-4pm Fruit and berry crops Monica Maggio
Week 4 Feb 23, 25, 26 9am-12pm Understanding pesticides Chip Bubl
1pm-4pm Caring for woody ornamentals and lawns Weston Miller
Week 5 March 1, 3, 4 9am-12pm Vertebrate pests Chip Bubl
1pm-4pm Integrated Pest Management Weston Miller
Week 6 March 8, 10, 11 9am-12pm Volunteer orientation: How to be an MG Miller / Grimm
1pm-4pm Resource fair, networking, and potluck MG team
Week 7 March 15, 17, 18 9am-12pm Plant problem diagnosis theory Jean Natter 1pm-4pm Household Pests and plant problems
Diagnosis practice Collier/Bayne
Save the date: Saturday November 12, 2016, for Graduation/Recertification.
3. Online content and workshopsAs part of the 2016 Master Gardener training, we again will be able to make both online content and hands-on workshops available to MG volunteers that have submitted both volunteer hours in 2015 and 2016 OSU volunteer forms. We will provide access information as the classes start in February. Stay tuned for details.
4. Opportunities from Jordis503-650-3118 or [email protected]
The Yard, Garden, and Patio Show (YGP) February 12 - 14 at the Convention Center (glass towers) http://www.ygpshow.com/ is one of the first opportunities of the year for MGs to volunteer. In fact, this show is a full two weeks earlier this year! We have several things to sign up for so look over your calendars and let us know if you are interested. We offer free admission for MGs that are scheduled to work, but we don’t have any discounts on parking.
We have received many compliments on the fabulous effort coming from the metro-area MGs.
Because the show this year falls during the second week of classes, I’m worried that I won’t get all the slots filled. Check your calendars and come join the fun!
(YGP) Speaker introduction – This opportunity can be for new trainees or veterans. MGs introduce themany speakers that give presentations at the show. We will provide a brief training on how to work thelights in the room, do attendance counts, and manage any handouts, etc. Email Jordis for questions or toget on the schedule at [email protected].
(YGP) MG Clinic – Master Gardeners staff an ‘answer-me’ table/clinic and have a great time havingconversations and giving advice. This is a fast-paced and lively setting! A favorite spot for many, so be sureto check it out on CERVIS or contact Jordis at [email protected].
Jean Natter
February 2016 Metro Master Gardener™ Newsletter 3
Spring Home and Garden Show February 25 - 28 at the Expo Center. Here is another clinic site for MGs. It is a little more relaxed than the YGP… but has all the fun. Use CERVIS to sign up for shifts or contact Jordis at [email protected].
MG Training Classes Classes start this month. Check out the class schedule included in this newsletter. If you were a trainee last year (2015), you are welcome to attend and continue the learning. Be sure to sign in as a veteran at the registration table. It will be great to see you again!
Veterans…same as above. Plus, winter training is one of the most exciting times of the year for the Program, and we want the veterans to know how much they are appreciated. Classes count toward recertification credit and are a great way to get tuned up for the spring gardening season. See you in the classroom!
5. Updates from Margaret
Educational Events Calendar Don’t miss out on a great MG event! The chapters have been very busy posting their upcoming events such as demo garden seminar series, chapter meetings, events, workshops, etc. Also, the MG Study Group (formerly MG Interest Group) lists their upcoming topics too. More events are posted every day!
Check out the online “Educational Events Calendar’. Go to our main website: http://extension.oregonstate.edu/mg/metro/. Click on“Educational Events calendar” (see red arrow in box above.) You now can see all entries for a month. To see other months, go up to the month on the calendar on the left side and click either the left or right arrow to navigate (see red arrows in box below.)
You can now also see on this title page if the event/activity counts towards education/recertification credit (see blue arrows above.) Click on an event to get more details!
February 2016 Metro Master Gardener™ Newsletter 4
Researchers Find Hundreds of Arthropod Species in U.S. Homes While I think this story is very interesting, it may trigger the ‘yuck’ factor for some of you: http://entomologytoday.org/2016/01/19/researchers-find-hundreds-of-arthropod-species-in-u-s-homes/.
From honeybees to the Flavr Savr tomato: 400 years of American horticulture history From Timber Press: “Whether as a gardener, horticulturist, or botanist, plant lovers take pride in being part of a long-standing tradition. Growing tips are passed from generation to generation, while commercial breeders are on a never-ending quest to improve their product, and scientific breakthroughs are almost always the result of previous scientific discoveries.
Americans weren’t the first to garden in what became the United States, but they were the first to record their efforts. Jamestown, Virginia, was established in 1607, and Americans have been growing and breeding plants ever since. That’s a lot of horticulture. With the help of American Home Landscapes: A Design Guide to Period Garden Styles by Denise Adams and Laura Burchfield, we’ve puttogether a timeline of some of the important events in American horticulture history.” Fun read! You can find this article on the Timber Press blog at this Link to website.
Soil defines the success of a garden, but for many it’s a mystery. Cracking the case doesn’t have to be complicated, said James Cassidy, Instructor of Soil Science at Oregon State University. The geeks of the gardening world can delve deep into the makeup of soil, but if that’s not your thing, Cassidy has one piece of advice: add organic matter. Whether you’ve got soil composed mostly of clay, sand, or something in between, it can be improved by the addition of compost. Learn more from an expert: http://extension.oregonstate.edu/gardening/node/2439/print.
Photo by Chris LaBelle
Photo of book lice by Matt Bertone.
The garden is a love song, a duet between a human being and Mother Nature - Jeff Cox
February 2016 Metro Master Gardener™ Newsletter 5February 2016 Metro Master Gardener™ Newsletter 5
Tuxedo bug, Raglius alboacuminata, a relatively recent newcomer to the ranks of nuisance bugs, is about ¼-inch long. (Image http://bugguide.net/node/view/141965)
Elm seed bug, Arocatus melanocephalus, the most recently arrived invasive nuisance insects. (Image: http://www.biolib.cz/en/image/id164225/)
Grass bugs, Arhyssus barberi, are small drab-colored seed bugs which are common in northeastern Oregon. (Image: http://bugguide.net/node/view/869875)
Natter’s Notes: Elm seed bug: Another nuisance Jean R. Natter
During the fall and winter, various insects invade homes and other structures. In 2014, another such pesky insect was identified in Oregon, the Elm seed bug, Arocatus melanocephalus. First identified in Idaho during 2012, they’re small, about ¼-inch long, mostly brown Hemiptera, with a reddish ventral surface. Oregon had its own population by 2014. When disturbed, they’re reported to emit an odor similar to bitter almonds.
The elm seed bug’s story is similar to that of other nuisance invaders, the most common of which are 6 Hemiptera and one beetle: grass bugs; tuxedo bugs; Rhyparochromis; western boxelder bugs; brown marmorated stink bugs; and Asian lady beetles. Elm seed bugs generally enter buildings during summer to get away from the heat, then again in the fall to overwinter. In contrast, the other nuisance pests tend to congregate by the hundreds to thousands on south- or west-facing exterior walls during the fall and then, as temperatures drop, gradually move into the wall void for shelter during the off-season. By fall, all these insects have increased their fat stores and are well capable of surviving the winter months without feeding. Homeowners might potentially tolerate the insects if they would remain in the wall void. But oh no, far too many will migrate into living spaces where they are definitely unwanted.
Management is the same for all these nuisance invaders: seal and caulk as well as possible to keep the insects outdoors; seal indoors during fall and winter but, to avoid trapping them in the wall void, wait until mid-summer to seal the exterior. When needed, gather up any that make it into the living space, freeze them, and discard. Pesticides are essentially ineffective; although the insects appear to drop dead, most often they will walk away within hours.
You can make a simple trap proven to be effective for BMSB indoors, but I’ve wondered if it might also work for the other fellows. Simply add an inch of water plus several drops of liquid detergent or soap to a foil pan, and then set a desk lamp nearby which shines on the water all day long.
Grass bugs, Arhyssus species, have been in northeastern Oregon for years, but since 2012, populations have increased greatly, perhaps due to gradually rising temperatures. This nuisance species was recently identified as A. barberi and is reported to have a “piney” odor (https://livingwithinsects.wordpress.com/2014/01/28/home-invaders/)
February 2016 Metro Master Gardener™ Newsletter 6
Tuxedo bug, Raglius alboacuminatus, is another nuisance insect which may invade homes in massive numbers. They were detected first in California and Oregon during 2002, and in 2004 were reported as extreme nuisances in Idaho when hordes abandoned drying weedy fields and migrated indoors. (http://www.cals.uidaho.edu/edcomm/pdf/cis/cis1147.pdf)
Rhyparochromus vulgaris belongs to a group of Hemiptera called dirt-colored bugs. As far as the public is be concerned, it’s just one more, quarter-inch long, nuisance bug. (Well, probably 100s.)
Western box elder bugs, Boisea rubrolineata Contrary to popular opinion, removing a nearby box elder tree seldom decreases the local population, because these insects fly in from elsewhere. For management, along with images of several similar Hymenoptera in our region, see http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn74114.html. Multiple images of various life stages are at http://bugguide.net/node/view/15578.
Brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys, also known as BMSB, is the half to 5/8-inch, mottled brown, shield-shaped true bug you most likely know very well. Recall that the white bands on the antennae offer a quick-and-dirty ID. An overview of BMSB, including directions to build a light trap, is at http://www.oregon.gov/ODA/shared/Documents/Publications/IPPM/BrownMarmoratedStinkBugPestAlert.pdf.
Asian lady beetles, Harmonia axyridis, the only Coleoptera (beetle) in this group of common nuisance insects, doubles as a beneficial insect during the growing season when it feeds on aphids. Images which display an array of life stages and color forms are at http://bugguide.net/node/view/397/bgimage and http://www.forestryimages.org/browse/taxthumb.cfm?fam=128&genus=Harmonia By the way, there’s no truth to the thought you can determine a ladybug’s sex by whether or not it has spots.
Resources: - Elm Seed Bug in Idaho: http://extension.oregonstate.edu/malheur/sites/default/files/spring_2013_esb_fact_sheet.pdf - First Report of Elm Seed Bug in Utah: http://utahpests.usu.edu/htm/utah-pests-news/utah-pests-news-fall-2014/
Rhyparochromus vulgaris, which lacks a commonname, is a small attractive Hemiptera about 1/3-inchlong. (Image: http://bugguide.net/node/view/178122)
Western box elder bugs, Boisearubrolineata, are well-known throughout ourregion. At about a half inch long, they’re two to three times the size of any of theabove. (Image:http://bugguide.net/node/view/1109341/bgimage)
Brown marmorated stink bugs (BMSB), Halyomorpha halys, are those all-too-common invasive stink bugs you likely know very well. The critical identifying characters are white bands on the antennae. (Image: J.R. Natter)
– Asian lady beetles, Harmoniaaxyridis, have a large “W” on the prothorax which distinguishes them from other ladybug species. In the image, thebeetle’s head is directed downward and toward the right.(Imagehttp://bugguide.net/node/view/379773)
February 2016 Metro Master Gardener™ Newsletter 7
Becoming a Beekeeper: Thinking about bee keeping? (Part 1 of 2) Bob Falconer, OSU MG Washington County 2016 Oregon State University Master Bee Keeping Program So, you are thinking about getting bees (going beyond mason bees, inparticular), trying your hand at raising honey bees. But why honeybees? This is probably the single most important question to ask yourself as a potential bee keeper. What do you expect from the bees? People keep bees for various reasons:
1. A lot of bee keepers want one or more of the products of the hive.Most beginners want honey.
2. Pollination: Honey bees are excellent pollinators and can help with the pollination of your fruit trees orvegetable garden. Many plants grown in the home garden certainly benefit from pollination including squash, cucumbers, and peppers. Tomatoes are mostly self-pollinating, but even they benefit from pollination help. With tomatoes, it is bumblebees that provide “buzz pollination.”
3. Observation: Another good reason to keep bees (or shall we say host a colony), is that honey bees arefascinating to learn about and watch as they function as individuals, and collectively as a superorganism obtaining all the raw materials the colony needs from their environment.
Additional important considerations - Your health and strength: Are you allergic to bee venom? No one enjoys getting stung but about 10 percent of the population has dire reactions to bee venom. Believe me, you will get stung, but practicing good bee keeping habits reduces this to a rarity. Your job as beekeeper is to anticipate the bee’s needs and act accordingly. Hive boxes filled with bees and particularly with honey are heavy. At times, you’ll need to lift 30-80 pounds.
- The law: Is it legal to keep bees in your neighborhood? Consult your local municipal government and HOA organizations for permits, limitations, and restrictions.
- Physical and time requirements: How willing are you to devote not only your time but physical energy to the management of a beehive? Bees are not domesticated. They get by just fine without our help, as is shown by feral colonies that have set up housekeeping in barns, houses, and hollow trees.
- Your budget: Finally, bee keeping is not cheap. Purchase of new equipment can run upwards of $300.00 per hive, not including protective gear, tools, and extraction equipment if honey is desired.
Getting started Now that you have had an honest discussion with yourself and you still are exited about keeping a hive, what’s the next step?
1. Read. Humans and bees have a history going back to the dawn of time or at least thousands of years.There is a lot of literature out there with which you should start familiarizing yourself. (Somesuggestions are at the end of this article).
2. Find a local club of beekeepers. There are several in the area and they provide local (all beekeeping islocal) information as well as often helping members with mentor programs and group buys ofessential things like nucleus hives, etc. (Clubs and contact info follow.)
Honey bee on kale flower (Ron Spendal)
February 2016 Metro Master Gardener™ Newsletter 8
3. Attend one of the bee schools offered in your area. These schools are geared to helping the newbeekeeper understand the bees, equipment, and other subjects like diseases and treatments. Forexample the Tualatin Valley Beekeepers have a bee school starting in March 2016. Cost is minimal andinvolves three half-days in the classroom.
4. Get your equipment before April first. There are two reasons for this: First—most hives (a hive is aplace for the bees to live, the bees are the colony) come unpainted and most people want to protecttheir investment with a coat of paint. The second reason is that new packages of bees from thecommercial beekeepers usually arrive by mid-April and the last thing you want is for the bees to arriveand not be ready for them!
Acquiring bees Usually the new beekeeper gets bees in one of the following ways:
- Nuc or nucleus hive: This is by far the most common way to get bees in the Northwest for new beekeepers. A “nuc” is four to five frames of workers, brood, stored honey, and a queen that is already accepted by theworkers and is already laying eggs. - Package bees: These are worker bees shaken from existing hives and packaged by weight, usually in the three to four pound range. A queen is included separately in her own box and must be introduced to the workers in a specific way. - A complete hive: usually purchased from an established beekeeper or someone going out of the business with boxes and bees. This is the most expensive and, to my mind, the worst way to get bees. Unless you have thoroughly examined the equipment and bees, you don’t know if you are buying equipment which will work for you or has sick or infected bees. - Catching a swarm: Free bees! Swarms include workers and a queen. What could be better? Well, usually when a colony swarms it is the old queen that accompanies the workers and she might be pretty worn out. So, establishing that swarm in a hive may present some problems when the new bee keeper must re-queen (introduce a new queen) the colony.
To summarize As a casual observer, you might notice there is a lot of information relating to bees and beekeeping. My recommendation to someone considering becoming a beekeeper is to have a heart-to-heart conversation with yourself about your expectations; read everything you can, but keep an open mind; join a local beekeeping club; and order supplies and equipment early.
Questions? Contact me at [email protected].
Additional resources Tualatin Valley Beekeepers: https://www.facebook.com/TualatinValleyBeekeepers/ or email [email protected] Portland Urban Beekeepers: https://portlandurbanbeekeepers.org/ or email [email protected] Portland Metro Beekeepers: www.portlandmetro.org Oregon State Beekeepers Association: www.orsba.org
Recommendations for Reading First Lessons in Beekeeping, Keith Delaplane; Dadant & Sons, Publishers Honey Bee Biology and Beekeeping, Dewey Caron; Wicwas Press The Beekeepers Handbook, D. Sammataro and A. Avitable; Comstock Publishing
February 2016 Metro Master Gardener™ Newsletter 9
February Garden Calendar
Garden hints from your OSU Extension Faculty. The Oregon State University Extension Service encourages sustainable gardening practices.
Preventative pest management is emphasized over reactive pest control. Always identify and monitor problems before acting, and opt for the least toxic approach that will remedy the problem. The conservation of biological control agents (predators, parasitoids) should be favored over chemical controls.
Use chemical controls only when necessary and only after thoroughly reading the pesticide label. First consider cultural, then physical and biological controls.
Choose the least-toxic options (insecticidal soaps, horticultural oils, botanical insecticides, and organic and synthetic pesticides — when used judiciously).
Recommendations in this calendar are not necessarily applicable to all areas of Oregon. For more information, contact your local Extension office at http://extension.oregonstate.edu/find-us.
Planning • Tune up lawn mower and garden equipment before the busy season begins.• Have soil tested to determine its nutrient needs. For more information, contactyour local Extension office for a list of testing laboratories or view Laboratories Serving Oregon: Soil, Water, Plant Tissue, and Feed Analysis (PDF - EM 8677). • Select and store healthy scion wood for grafting fruit and nut trees. Wrap indamp cloth or peat moss and place in plastic bag. Store in cool place. • Plan an herb bed for cooking and creating an interesting landscape. Forexample, choose parsley, sage, chives, and lavender. Choose a sunny spot and plant seeds or transplants once the danger of frost has passed (late-April or early-May in the Willamette Valley and central Coast; June or July in eastern and central Oregon). • Plan to add herbaceous perennial flowers to your flowering landscape this spring. Examples includecandytuft, peony, penstemon, and coneflower.
Maintenance and Clean Up • Repair winter damage to trees and shrubs.• Make a cold frame or hotbed to start early vegetables or flowers.• Fertilize rhubarb with manure or a complete fertilizer.• Incorporate cover crops or other organic matter into soil.• Prune and train grapes; make cuttings.• Prune fruit trees and blueberries.• Eastern Oregon: Prune and train summer- bearing and fall-bearing raspberries.• Western Oregon: Prune deciduous summer- blooming shrubs and trees; wait until April in high elevations ofeastern and central Oregon. • Western Oregon: Prune and train trailing blackberries (if not done the previous August); prune backraspberries. • Western Oregon: Prune fall-bearing raspberries (in late-February or early-March).• Western Oregon: Prune clematis, Virginia creeper, and other vining ornamentals.
February 2016 Metro Master Gardener™ Newsletter 10
Planting/Propagation • Plant windowsill container gardens of carrots, lettuce, or parsley.• Plan to add herbaceous perennial flowers this spring: astilbe, candytuft, peony, and anemone.• Good time to plant fruit trees and deciduous shrubs. Replace varieties of ornamental plants thatare susceptible to disease with resistant cultivars. • Plant asparagus if the ground is warm enough.• Plant seed flats of cole crops (cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, Brussels sprouts), indoors or in agreenhouse.
Recommendations in this calendar are not necessarily applicable to all areas of Oregon. For more information, contact your local Extension office at http://extension.oregonstate.edu/find-us.
February 2016 Metro Master Gardener™ Newsletter 11
Soil School Saturday, April 16, 2016 8:00am - 3:30pm
PCC Rock Creek Event Center17705 NW Springville Road, Portland
For those tending gardens and small farms!
Learn about soil structure/composition/test analysis, irrigation,
slugs & snails, cover crops, organic weed control, stormwater
management, planting for pollinators, composting, invasive
weeds, vermiculture, native plants, and lawn conversion.
Featuring: James “Dr. Soil” Cassidy, OSU Soil Instructor
Weston Miller, OSU Extension Horticulturist
Kim Galland and Dean Moberg, NRCS
Mary Logalbo and Kammy Kern-Korot, West Multnomah SWCD
Clair Klock, Clackamas SWCD
Claudia Groth, OSU Master Gardener
Register: https://wmswcd.org/soil-school-2016-registration/
Cost: $30 single/$50 double
Metro Master Gardener™ Newsletter \
Chapter Meeting: Monday, February 8, 2016, 7 p.m. Milwaukie Center, 5440 SE Kellogg Creek Dr., MilwaukieNative Plants: Linda Hardison, Oregon Flora Project www.oregonflora.org/
What constitutes a native plant for gardeners in the Portland metro region? Native to North America? The Pacific Northwest? Douglas Fir forest on Mount Hood? The banks of the Clackamas River? Linda Hardison, director of the Oregon Flora Project (OFP), is uniquely qualified to speak on this and offer advice on the use native plants in our gardens. Linda believes calling a plant “native” requires consideration of both time and place. Speaking from the perspective of the OFP, she will introduce us to a myriad of Oregon’s native plants – along with naturalized and exotic species. Together we will learn the context from which these plants arise and gain
an appreciation for the biodiversity found in our state.Linda Hardison has been director of the Oregon Floral Project since 2005. The OFP houses the Oregon Plant Atlas which consists of more than 540,000 records of plant distribution in Oregon. Its extensive photo gallery is a valuable resource for identifying native plants. Linda is instrumental in the recent publication of Volume 1 of Flora of Oregon, a three-volume reference about the plants of our state. Linda earned a Ph.D. in botany from the University of Washington and is a research assistant professor in the Botany & Plant Pathology Department at Oregon State University. *MG Education Credit
March Program: Monday, March 14, 2016 - Creating Rain Gardens: Scott Buley Scott will show us why rain gardens optimally use locally available plants, and the trade-offs associated withadapted plants. He also will discuss considerations in engineering rain garden beds for different soils, topography and plants. We will understand what rain gardens can do for the landscape: roadside basins, permeable and pervious surfacing, and how they are better for the environment. www.raingardennursery.com *MG Education Credit
Green Glove Award: Shawn VanDoren Class of 2013Shawn learned the ropes as coordinator of the Oregon City Farmer’s Market in 2015 in preparation for taking over the position in 2016. As the market coordinator, Shawn takes care of scheduling volunteers and maintaining the calendar for the market booth. She has also been on the laptop/projector team for the chapter. Shawn is a cheerful and willing chapter member, always pitching in where she can. Thank you Shawn!
2016 Handbooks will be available beginning in FebruaryPlease be sure to pick yours up at chapter meetings and events. If you have paid to have yours mailed, look for it in your mailbox by the end of February. If it happens that you cannot pick up your copy and need it mailed, contact FrankWille to make other arrangements.
Garden Discovery Day: Saturday, March 5 from 9 am to Noon Milwaukie Center, 5440 SE Kellogg Creek Dr., Milwaukie
10-Minute University™ Classes (25 minutes each) • Displays (9 am – noon) Soil Testing (9 – 11:30 am) • Ask a Master Gardener Clinic (9 am – noon)
Click here or see our webpage for more info. Don’t forget to share this info with your friends & neighbors! * all sessions count as MG Education Credit towards your annual recertification
Upcoming Programs and Events *complete program info• April11-Camellias - Robert Herald• April30&May1- 32nd Annual Spring Garden Fair• May9-Grow a Greener Lawn - Weston Miller• June13-Tualatin Valley River Keepers:Brian Wegener• July11-Field Trip TBA
• August8-Chapter Picnic• September12-Sex on Six Legs: Gail Langellotto• October8- Fall into Gardening• October10-Plant Trials & the Results: Neil Bell• November14-Missoula Flood: Dr. Scott Burns
February 2016 in Cooperation with OSU Extension
Service Master Gardener™ Program
Multnomah County GrapevineIn cooperation with the OSU Extension Service Master Gardener Program
February 2016
Who would think that lowly mosses, the unassuming (and sometimes maligned) denizens of our rooftops, trees, and dark crevices, might tell us something profound about human health? Without roots or the ability to store water, moss lives at the mercy of the elements, relying fully on the atmosphere for all moisture and nutrients. Their tiny leaves, one cell thick, have no protective layer. Often growing in dense low-lying cushions, mosses intercept and trap environmental contaminants from the air, providing a valuable record of air quality. Join us on February 9, as Sarah Jovan and Geoff Donovan, research scientists with the US Forest Service, talk about current research that uses moss to map pollutants and indicate human exposure across Portland. Sarah and Geoff will discuss implications for urban gardening and how you can participate in the next research phase. Geoff Donovan is a research forester with the US Forest Service at the P.N.W. Research Station in Portland, Oregon. Geoff’s research includes a number ofprojects quantifying urban-tree benefits. Sarah Jovan works as a research scientist for the Forest Service’s Forest Inventory and Analysis Program overseeing the national lichen program for bio-monitoring air quality and climate change.
*This presentation is approved for MG garden education/recertification credit.
Chapter Website—www.multnomahmastergardeners.org Chapter Email—[email protected]
Grapevine Editor—Lorna Schilling (503)334-5162, [email protected]
Speaker Series
Tuesday, February 9
7:00pm
Mt. Tabor Presbyterian Church
5441 SE Belmont Street
Speakers: Geoff Donovan and Sarah Jovan, U.S. Forest Service
Topic:“Of Moss and Men”
Of Moss and Men
Incredible Edibles Plant Sale 2016We are still in the midst of winter, but it is not too early to dream
of spring and summer days! Mark your calendars for Saturday, April 30 for our Incredible Edibles Plant Sale, 10am to 4pm, in NE Portland, on Hancock St. between 16th Ave. & 17th Ave.
As you have come to expect, there will be a luscious array of local, organically-grown, premium veggie, herb and edible flower starts at reasonable prices. Keep an eye on our Incredible Edibles Plant Sale page for
details. Check back in late February for available veggie varieties, so you can make your shopping list! Also, check-out our Plant. Grow. Eat. blog for planting, growing,
and harvesting tips, along with great recipes to maximize the benefits of your healthy harvest. Follow us on our Incredible Edibles Plant Sale Facebook page for more information and inspiration to help you enjoy the rewards and pleasures of growing your own food!
Join the fun and volunteer at this vibrant community event! Email us: [email protected] See you April 30th!
Coming up... Tuesday, March 8th Please join us as OSU agricultural researcher, Lane Selman, talks about the important work being done in vegetable breeding and organic farming. Lane works closely with plant breeders, chefs, seed growers, and researchers,through her work at OSU and the Culinary Breeding Network, to identify superior vegetable varieties for the farm and table.
February 2016 Metro Master Gardener™ Newsletter 14
Washington County Chapter ChatFebruary 2016
Chapter Meeting Agenda
Tuesday, February 2, 20166:30 pm Social Time6:45 pm Chapter Meeting7:15 pm Speaker Series Program
Location: First Baptist Church 5755 SW Erickson Avenue Beaverton, Oregon
Topic: Old Portland Gardens as Depicted in Hand-Painted GlassLantern SlidesPresenter: Matthew Cowan
Matthew Cowan will take us back in time with a pictorial history of old Portland gardens using technology from another era: a glass lantern projector and hand painted slides.
Matthew Cowan is Archivist at the Oregon Historical Society in Portland.
Without Valentine's Day, February would be... well, January. ~Jim Gaffigan
***********Annual Plant Sale***********
Saturday, April 23, 2016 Hillsboro Armory
848 NE 28th Avenue in Hillsboro 9 am to 2:30 pm
***** February Learning Opportunities *****
• February 13 (Saturday, 9 am to noon) Annual Pruning Demo3850 SW Minter Bridge Road, Hillsboro (in collaboration with theTualatin Valley Garden Club)
• February 17 (Wednesday, 9:30 to 11 am) Rose Pruning and Care,Fairplex Demo Garden, NE 28th Street, Hillsboro (In The Garden series)
• February 25 (Thursday, 10 to 11 am) Growing BlueberriesJenkins Garden, 8005 SW Grabhorn, Beaverton (In The Garden series)
***** Chapter Volunteer Opportunities *****
2016 Master Gardening Training Vets who will be at the first day of Master Gardener Training classes on February 2, 2016 are asked to bring a snack for the new trainees.
Plant Sale There are still many jobs to fill in preparation for the sale and on the day of April 23, 2016 Plant Sale. Contact Kimberly Culbertson (503) 681- 9469 or Helen Dorbolo (503) 564-8463.
Fundraising Committee Members The fundraising committee plans to focus its efforts in the first quarter of 2016 on the Plant Sale raffle, collecting used gardening books to sell and volunteering at the Sale. Chapter members are urged to serve on the committee. Contact Sal Bianco (503) 747-5769 for more information.
WCMGA GARDENS
Fairplex Demo Garden (DG) – Hillsboro Fairgrounds, HillsboroJoin us for Work Parties February 2 through March 16 (day change due to intern training), Wednesdays 9 am – noon
Learning Garden (LG) - Jenkins Estate, 8005 SW Grabhorn, Beaverton Join us for Work Parties, Thursdays 10 am – 1 pm
WCMGA Contacts: website: www.washingtoncountymastergardeners.orgPresident: Sue Ryburn (503) 591-5247 [email protected]
Chapter Chat Editor: Nancy Wilson (503) 524-4840 [email protected]
February 2016 Metro Master Gardener™ Newsletter 15
February 2016
MASTER GARDENER™ NEWSLETTER
Oregon State University Extension Service offers educational programs, activities, and materials without discrimination based on age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran’s status. Oregon State University Extension Service is an
Equal Opportunity Employer.
