This is the second of three sessions on Mason bees. It focuses on the environmental needs of the mason bees, nesting behaviors of mason bees, nesting and housing devices attractive to mason bees.

Vegetable Gardening Basics

Saturday March 14, 10 am WCMGA Learning Garden at Jenkins Estate

Covers soil preparation, what to plant when, where and how, how often to water and tips to make your garden thrive!

Developing Pollinator Habitat in the Home Garden w/Native and Non-Native plants

Saturday, March 21, 10 am- noon, PCC Rock Creek Bldg. 4, Room 103 & WCMGA Education Garden at PCC Rock Creek

Learn about ways to attract and provide habitat for a range of pollinators using both native and non-native plants.

For events at the WCMGA Education Garden at PCC Rock Creek, 17705 NW Springville Rd.: No registration needed, free parking: For weekday WCMGA educational events, use the Events Parking Lot behind Building 9. On Saturdays all campus parking areas are free

Soil School 2020!

Saturday, April 11,8 am-4 pm, Portland Community College, Rock Creek Event Center, 17705 NW Springville Rd, $35 registration, free parking on Saturday

Soil School is a day-long workshop that includes multiple sessions on a wide variety of topics – all having to do with soil and soil health. Students will have the option again this year to participate in hands-on learning in the Washington County Master Gardener Association Education Garden. Soil School is tailored toward gardeners, landscape professionals, and small scale farmers.

See the agenda and register here. Registration: $35 per person. Light breakfast and full lunch buffets are included.

Plant Sales

Small Woodlands Association Native Plant and Tree Sale

Saturday, March 14, Cloverleaf Building at the County Fair Complex

Come check out all the beautiful plants at our annual Native Plant Sale! Located indoors at the Cloverleaf Building at the Hillsboro Fair Complex, it’s a perfect place to get some advice about native plants and buy plants that are sometimes difficult to find at regular nurseries.

Most plants are potted, as noted in the Plant List 2020. We provide native plant experts to help with selection, boxes for handling and transporting the plants, and general volunteers to help collect and carry the plants to your vehicle. Credit cards, cash, and checks are welcome payment. Come early for the best selection. All profits fund high school natural resources education.

Watch out for this weed!

Cedar Mill has seen a return of the invasive weed Lesser Celandine. This cute but highly invasive weed is popping up everywhere again, from neglected corners to well-cared-for gardens. It’s extremely difficult to eradicate because its roots tend to break off when it’s pulled, and will sprout new plants next year. Gardeners on NextDoor are reporting that it has engulfed desired shrubs, making eradication very difficult!

Tyler Pedersen, Tualatin Soil & Water Conservation District, says, “It’s not a priority for us to control since it’s so widespread, but it is a health concern once it flowers (the plant is toxic if ingested). An infestation like this will require herbicide application. I don’t think it’s realistic to try and dig up and sieve through the soil for the bulbils. The treatment window is so narrow, essentially now until early-maybe-mid March. Anything that’s flowering now should be deadheaded before spraying.”

Here’s a helpful brochure from the 4-County Cooperative Weed Management Area.

Other invasive weeds we need to look out for include Japanese knotweed and Garlic mustard. To learn more and report sightings, visit Oregon Invasive Hotline here, and visit TSWCD’s page. They’ll offer Weed Watcher sessions in April and we’ll list them in the next issue.

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