• Grow this! Oregon garden challenge
• Scholarships available for college students
• Washington County Master Gardener Association events
• Treekeepers of Washington County programs
• Fruit Tree Pruning Basics
• HOEC Organic Orcharding Workshop Series
• OSU February Garden Calendar

Grow this! Oregon garden challenge

This year while supplies last, Oregonians who sign up and request seeds will be mailed seeds free of charge: Households: sunflower, lettuce and pea pod Oregon farmer-grown seeds; Teachers (Pre-K through high school): a Classroom Seed-Starting Kit with supplies for up to 30 students, including Oregon grown seeds (romaine lettuce, sunflowers and summer squash) ; Programs and groups working with children and teens: a Mini Seed-Starting Kit with supplies for starting seeds with up to 15 children or teens, including Oregon grown seeds (romaine lettuce, sunflowers and summer squash) 

Sign-ups begin February 3. Everyone is invited to grow along with us and learn as you grow. Call and leave a phone message with the Food Hero Team with any gardening or Grow This! questions at 541-737-1017. We will get back to you right away! Email any questions to Food.Hero@oregonstate.edu Sign up to receive gardening information directly to your inbox here https://beav.es/SiP Follow us on Facebook (English) or Facebook (Español); and follow us on Instagram.

Scholarships available for college students

Now through Sunday, March 30, free application

The Pioneer District of Garden Clubs (of which Cedar Mill is a member) has $1500 scholarships for students, including incoming Freshman for 2025-2026, for students attending an accredited Community College or College/University in Oregon. Applicants must major in Horticulture, Floriculture, Landscape Design, Conservation, Forestry, Botany, Agronomy, Plant Pathology, Environmental Control, City Planning, Land Management, Alternative Energy, Biology, Fish & Wildlife, or related subjects. Applicant must be a resident of Columbia, Washington, or Yamhill Counties. For more information and/or an application please contact Bruna McBride at mcbridebruna@gmail.com. 

Washington County Master Gardener Association events

There are ample opportunities to advance your gardening knowledge and skills right here in Washington County. OSU Extension Master Gardener volunteers and the Washington County Master Gardener Association (WCMGA) offer a lineup of classes, lectures and family friendly events year round. All events and details can be found on the WCMGA events calendar. 

Blueberry Care

Saturday, February 8, 10 am-12 pm, PCC Rock Creek Campus, Building 4 (Room 105), 17705 NW Springville Rd., Portland, no registration required, free

Join Washington County Master Gardeners for this in person class. Learn about planting, fertilizing, plant selection, and care for blueberries, including pruning techniques. Bring your hand pruners and garden gloves for a hands-on opportunity to prune. Class will start indoors followed by a short walk to the PCC RC WCMGA Education Garden. Please dress accordingly. Please visit the event page for more information. 

Pruning Perennials

Saturday, February 15, 10 am-12 pm, WCMGA Learning Garden at Jenkins Estate, 8005 SW Grabhorn Rd., Beaverton, no registration required, free

Join the Washington County Master Gardener Association for discussion and pruning demonstrations of various landscape perennials. We’ll start with general guidelines—when to prune, what to prune, and the proper use of pruning tools. Pruning specifics will be covered for a variety of clematis, hydrangeas, roses, and more. Please visit the event page for more information. 

Raising Mason Bees

Saturday, February 22, 10 am-noon, PCC Rock Creek Campus, Building 4 (Room 103), 17705 NW Springville Rd., Portland, no registration required, free

Join the Washington County Master Gardener Association and mason bee expert Ron Spendal for a class focusing on environmental needs, nesting behaviors and housing devices attractive to mason bees. Ron Spendal is an OSU Master Gardener who has been providing mason bee education to the public for over 15 years. He operates educational mason bee displays across Washington County. Ron designs and builds his own equipment and conducts research in conjunction with Oregon State University and Montana State University. Ron’s work with mason bees has been featured on the Oregon Field Guide program on OPB. Please visit the event page for more information. 

Houseplant sale 

Saturday, February 8, 10 am-1 pm, PCC Rock Creek Campus, at The Greenhouse, 7705 NW Springville Rd.

Don’t miss out on our Houseplants Sale! From lush ferns to vibrant succulents and flowering begonias – you’ll be sure to find your green companion here, mostly in $1-$10 range. Plant sale details

Treekeepers of Washington County programs

We work to protect and advocate for trees in urban unincorporated Washington County. Don’t miss our upcoming events! All of them are free. Visit the Treekeepers website to learn more.

Tree Walk: Fernhill Wetlands

Saturday, February 15, 10 am-noon, exact location after registration, register here, free

Fernhill Wetlands is a perfect place to enjoy both trees and birds. Bring your binoculars to this 1.1-mile walk, as the area is home to nearly 200 species of birds and is known as a premier bird-watching spot in Oregon. Transformed in 2006 from standard wastewater treatment ponds, it is now a welcoming habitat for wildlife that also filters wastewater. Designed by a renowned landscape architect, the native plantings create several habitats: marsh, forested wetland, riparian wetland, and scrub shrub. You are welcome to join us for an optional lunch following the walk at McMenamins Grand Lodge in Forest Grove. 

Join Our On-call Ivy Crew

October through March, register here, free

English ivy hangs on through winter at a time trees are particularly vulnerable, as the invasive vines keep growing while trees are dormant. The excess weight can increase risks for trees during winter storms. Help us save trees by removing ivy and other invasive plants that threaten them. Weather makes it hard to schedule events, so please sign up and we’ll notify you when there is a good weather window so we can schedule an ivy pulling event. 

Webinar: Winter Pruning for Tree Health

Wednesday, February 19, 6:30-8 pm, Zoom link, free

Explore the art of winter pruning with Dustin Marchello from Tillis Tree Care, where over twenty years of arborist expertise meets community service. Learn how strategic pruning can enhance tree health and resilience, insights drawn from Dustin’s work on landmarks like the Bellagio and post-Katrina recovery efforts.

HOEC Fruit Tree Pruning Basics

Proper pruning is key to maintaining tree health and boosting fruit production. Acquaint yourself with the art of fruit tree pruning with this beginner-friendly guide from the Home Orchard Education Center. Includes information about tools, tree anatomy, and links to online and hands-on training.

HOEC Organic Orcharding Workshop Series

Learn to grow, tend, and harvest fruit using sustainable, organic-approved methods. Our in-person workshops support learners of all experience levels and prioritize hands-on opportunities for learning!

OSU February Garden Calendar

We’ve got tips on weathering the cold for fruit trees, shrubs, perennials and container plants. Plus, get in line for our Advanced Permaculture Certificate, starting February 10. Tips for planning, maintenance, and planting/propagation for home gardeners. Use the form on that page to sign up for their free newsletter.