CGMGA Newsletters Jul-Dec 2022

Central Gorge Master Gardener Association

Newsletter Index: July – December 2022

President’s Message: Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec pg 1

OSU Extension:

• Community Advisory Network: Jul pg 3, Aug pg 2, Sep pg 2, Oct pg 4

OMGA: Jul pg 2, Sep pg 2, Oct pg 3, Nov pg 2, Dec pg 6

Garden Tour: Jul pg 3

Projects:

• Library Garden: Jul pg 9, Aug pg 5, Sep pg 7, Oct pg 8, Dec pg 7

• Learning Garden:

o Japanese Heritage Garden: Nov pg 5

o Pollinator Garden: Aug pg 4, Dec pg 7

• FISH Garden: Jul pg 9, Aug pg 6, Sep pg 7, Oct pg 7

• Parkdale Bicentennial Memorial Garden: Aug pg 7, Sep pg 3

Plant Sale: Dec pg 8

Holiday Greenery Event: Oct pg 10, Nov pg 6, Dec pg 7

Seed to Supper: Dec pg 9

JEDI: Aug pg 6, Oct pg 8, Dec pg 9

Garden Visits: Aug pg 7, Oct pg 8

CGMGA

CGMGA Recognition Event/Awards:

CGMGA Budget: Oct pg 3

Community Garden – Scott Johnson: Nov pg 2

Underwood Conservation District: Aug pg 7

Spotlights:

• Leanne Hogie - Nov pg 7

Memories/Tributes:

• Bud Taylor - Jul pg 6

Educational Tidbits:

• Bees: Oct pg 6

• Birds: Sep pg 6

• Bluebirds: Jul pg 8

• Butterflies: Oct pg 6, Dec pg 6

• Hummingbirds: Jul pg 8

• Ladybugs: Aug pg 3

• Milkweed: Oct pg 7

• Native Plants: Sep pg 6, Oct pg 6

• Orchard Pests: Nov pg 4

• Summer Tree Watering Tips: Aug pg 3

• Weed of the Month: Jul pg 7 (Puncturevine), Aug pg 3 (Canada Thistle), Sep pg 5 (Tree of Heaven), Oct pg 6 (Italian Arum)

• Wild Turkeys: Dec pg 6

Japanese Heritage Garden

Japanese Heritage Garden

2022

CENTRAL GORGE MASTER GARDENER ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER

By the time this newsletter reaches your inbox, “Juneuary” will have given way to warmer July days, and our gardens will be basking in sunshine. If you attended the Garden Tour last month, I’m sure you came away with lots of ideas and inspiration for your own garden. Karen and her team of volunteers put in many hours to make this event a success. Thank you!

Like great gardens, the Garden Tour takes a lot of planning and preparation, and the work begins well before the calendar announces the arrival of spring. If you or someone you know has a garden that inspires or delights, please take a few photos and pass the information along as a potential garden tour candidate. So far we don’t have a leader for the 2024 tour, so feel free to raise your hand and volunteer!

Another great source of gardening inspiration is Mini College which will be held in person this year after a long pandemic pause. The theme is “The Joy of Gardening”, and there is still time to register for this July 28-30 event. You can find more information at omga.org Our chapter has scholarships available; information and the application form can be found at the bottom of our policy page.

If you’re not planning to attend Mini College, please consider volunteering for a shift at the CGMGA booth at the Hood River County Fair that weekend. There are plenty of plant

Month at a Glance

https://calendar.google.com/calendar/ u/0/r/month/2021/12/1?tab=rc&pli=1

July 13: Wednesday 10-12pm: CGMGA Exec Comm Mtg (via zoom, contact Christie Bradley for link)

July 22: Friday: Deadline for submissions to the July CGMGA newsletter

July 29-30: Friday-Saturday: Mini-College at OSU

August 14: Sunday 1-4pm: Parkdale Garden ice cream social

Work Parties

Learning Garden: Thursdays, July 7 and 21: 9-11am

Library Garden: Friday, July 15: 9-11am

Parkdale Garden: Wednesday, July 27: 9am

FISH Garden: Tuesdays 4-7pm and Saturdays July 16: 9am-1pm

JEDI group: 2nd and 4th Mondays: 10 am via zoom

From the desk of your CGMGA President . . .

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CGMGA & OMGA

loved our organization–and we all loved her. Click here for the evite to the Celebration of Life.

The Gardener’s Pen

https://omga.org/wp uploads/2022/06/ Summer2022GardenersPenFinal.pdf

Our chapter is still looking for an OMGA representative when Anny’s term ends. If you’re interested in representing CGMGA at the state level, please contact me for details. The OMGA rep serves as a valuable liaison between the state chapter and our own local association. Meetings are held 4 times per year. If you’re interested, please contact me for details. And now it’s off to the garden. Happy July and happy gardening!

Anne Gehrig President

Attention Garden Enthusiasts, Master Gardeners, Landscapers, and Plant Nerds

Have you made your reservations yet for the OMGA Joy of Gardening Conference set for July 29 and 30?

Treat yourself to a 2-day immersion into the joy of gardening at this year’s Oregon Master Gardener Association Mini-College. Go deep with plant experts exploring and growing native plants, roses, fig trees, berries, peppers, olive and apple trees, irises, tomatoes, and turf. Learn current science techniques for soil, raised beds, permaculture, dry gardening, seed starting, hydroponics, and...

The Joy of Gardening Conference has something for everybody. The instructors are seasoned speakers, as well as topic experts. Master Gardeners can earn re-certification credits for all classes.

Also featured are tours of the OSU

Campus, Oak Creek Center for Urban Horticulture, Block #15 Brewery, Corvallis Saturday Market, local nurseries, and River Ranch Oregon Olive Oil tasting. Exhibits, book sales, an awards dinner, and a silent auction are all part of the program.

Lodging is available at the Hilton Gardens Inn, or you can book a room in the OSU dorms. Other motels and area campgrounds are also an option. Please review the official registration website just to learn all the great options and consider making your reservation soon! There are scholarships available through our chapter, due by July 7. Please contact Anne Gehrig.

The next OMGA meeting is in person on the Thursday afternoon, 2 pm, July 28 before Mini-College

gets into full swing! Anyone considering being a future State representative or other leadership role should try to attend. There will be sharing time for Plant Sales ideas. That night is a Corvallis Knights baseball game/social at Goss Stadium.

Another social event is the Awards Dinner, Friday night, with a Marimba band, no host bar and Mexican dinner buffet. The chapter can sit together and applaud our Chapter’s award winners!

Interested in CARPOOLING? Contact Anny for further information: gardenanny2@gmail.com!

Thanks to all who donated items for the Silent Auction. You will receive an email (tax deduction) receipt next month.

Extension Community Advisory Network seeks Hood River County representative

Are you a supporter of Extension Services in Hood River County? Would you like to help us better meet community needs now and in the future? Please consider volunteering as a representative to the Extension Community Advisory Network (ECAN). The purpose of the ECAN is to provide a network of geographically diverse, multi-dimensional volunteers who are willing to advocate and coordinate local advocacy on behalf of the OSU Extension Service; and to provide and coordinate local advice and counsel to Extension leadership regarding current and future direction for the Extension Service programs. ECAN

CGMGA Garden Tour 2022

representatives are appointed by the Regional Director and serve a two-year term. There are at least two meetings annually, including an annual or biennial meeting in Salem, consistent with biennial state legislature at “OSU Statewide Day” or “OSU Day” at the Capitol. These meetings have been held online in the last few years. Any travel expenses are covered by Extension.

Please contact our HR County Extension Local Liaison, Lauren Kraemer, if interested. lauren.kraemer@oregonstate.edu

It takes a village….and the extended Master Gardener “village” came out to support this year’s garden tour! After a hiatus due to the pandemic the 2022 CGMGA Garden Tour was held in White Salmon, WA on Saturday, June 18 from 9 am to 1pm. Four gardens were open to the public and with close to 220 tickets sold there was a steady flow of garden enthusiasts making their way around White Salmon, in perfect not-raining early summer cool weather! Local neighbors, friends from Portland and garden knowledge seekers from eastern Gorge communities all raved about the diversity of plants and hardscapes across the gardens and the abundance of fruits and vegetables. Approximately 30 volunteers worked the day of the tour while CJ Flick and Darcy Ohnemus fielded a steady barrage of plant clinic questions at the Garden Tour ticket headquarters in White Salmon’s Rheingarten Park.

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Karen Jenkins and Ruth Juris welcome guest to the GT Joanne Willis teaches GT guest about QR codes Darcy Ohnemus, CJ Flick

CGMGA & OMGA

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Proceeds from the tour are close to $3000 which will help further the CGMGA mission of educating our community about plants and gardening and help the association invest in some new event signage that is easier to transport, set up and includes our new association logo.

A big thank you to all the volunteer docents and helpers, the publicity team, and the garden hosts, including: two current MGs, Rebecca Connor and Jade Erickson; an associate MG - Barbara Miller & Morris Miller, and Amy and Morgan Viggers, and Heather and Bob Weisfield.

The plant lists for each garden on tour are online here: https://sites.google.com/ view/cgmga-2022-garden-tour/home . Be sure to check out the plants, photos, and additional information links. Thanks to Rachael for helping the CGMGA use 21st century technology!

Traditionally the Garden Tour has been an every other year event, though there is some talk about carrying on the momentum built on this year’s tour and planning for a 2023 tour, somewhere in the CGMGA area. Are you interested in opening your garden for a tour? Or helping with the next tour? Feel free to

) or Karen karenblackjenkins@gmail.com).

Christie Bradley, Eric Bosler, Shari Boste, GT guests

Anne Saxby, Rachel Pirkowski, Beth Flake

Garden owner Amy Viggers, Paul Matalucci, Jessica Temus and GT guests

GT guests

Jayne Hill, Teena Fife, Jade Erickson

Norma Curtis, Becky Connor, Jayne Hill, Barbara Spezia

CGMGA & OMGA

Linda Kaufman

Pat Morrison and GT guests

Mary Corl, Adrienne Knott

Sandi Rousseau

Anny VanNatta, GT guests

Helga Reese, Sandy Montag, GT guests

Elaine Johnson

Margo Dameier, Paul Matalucci, publicity team

Master Gardeners loved talking with him. He was great in all projects. And I loved having him in plant clinic!! A wonderful person! Elizabeth Daniel

When I joined Master Gardeners in 2005, I was fortunate to have Bud Lacey as my mentor. While getting to know this kind and quiet man through our interactions at classes and discussions on the phone, I came to appreciate his vast knowledge. He was always excited to share his wisdom and experiences about everything, but especially about gardening. His calm personality and warm smile were his constant

of humor soon had me relaxed and laughing!

When a client came in with a branch of a shrub that was gnawed off and told us that this was happening all along his open ditch irrigation canal, Bud quickly started asking more questions. I watched and listened as information was gathered. Then, Bud looked directly at the client and sang, M-O-U-S-E. We all laughed and Bud offered some control suggestions, including getting an outdoor cat. When the client left, it seemed to me that Bud had just made a new friend. I had many opportunities to work alongside Bud on Master Gardener projects where we shared conversation and laughter. Thanks for your guidance and training, Bud!

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But most of all, thanks for the memories. Margo Bud was always unassuming and quiet, but he quietly participated at a very involved and not particularly visible level from 2004 until Covid hit. In past years he was involved in the Learning Garden and particularly in helping to build the shed. His most recent notable contribution to projects was his engineering skills when we built the greenhouse. He was one of the main participants and a great consultant on the technical aspects. I also remember how he looked at how some of us had put together one of the tables and quietly partially disassembled it to correct the out of square problem. But he never said a word about our ‘building talents’. Bud was always willing to serve as a mentor to trainees and he was a reliable plant clinic volunteer...making himself available at almost a moment’s notice for substituting and filling vacant slots. He was knowledgeable, reliable, capable, and self-guiding for researching plant problems. These qualities made him

stand out as a volunteer. Bud was a great contributor to CGMGA and will be missed. Sandi

Quiet, thoughtful, very knowledgeable, and friendly… that was the man I met during Master Gardener training classes in 2009. Our paths crossed infrequently as we worked on various projects and activities. That all changed when some said: “Do you want to build a greenhouse?” Collaborating with Bud in constructing the MG greenhouse was, to say the least, a very rewarding and enjoyable experience. An engineer with decades of experience building complex electromechanical systems, such as radiological imaging labs, Bud also had that “jack of all trades” skill set that makes for a successful small farmer…perfect for the team who dove head first into building something that none of us had done before. The result is obvious. What also developed was a greater sense of respect and appreciation for a man who gave much, overcame obstacles, and left us all the better for having known Bud Lacey. Eric

Educational Tidbits

HRSWCD Weed of the Month

Puncturevine – A Painful Pest Invading Hood River

Puncturevine is a sprawling annual plant that forms a dense mat with very sharp, spiny seed heads. Also known as goathead, puncturevine has branched stems that can spread up to 6 feet wide, stemming from a single crown. Flowers are small, yellow and have 5 petals. The leaves are hairy, 1-3 inches long, and divided into leaflets, each about 1/4 inch long. The seed head is woody with very sharp spines. Seeds are easily spread by sticking into footwear, vehicle tires and animals. Puncturevine thrives in sunny, dry, rocky locations such as roadsides or gravel parking lots. This plant poses serious problems for recreationalists and agriculturalists alike. The seeds can easily puncture a bike tire, inflatable raft or dog’s paw. Plants are actively producing seeds now and will continue to do so until the first frost.

Puncturevine has been found throughout Hood River County, including along the Mosier-Twin Tunnels trail, the Hood River waterfront, the Odell industrial area, Eastside Road, Lost Lake Road and along Tucker Rd. It has also been found in area orchards where seeds are being spread

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Photos by Rich Old, XID Services, Inc. Bugwood.org

Educational Tidbits

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by tractor tires and other farming activities. If you see it, pull it and please report it to the Oregon Invasives Hotline at www.oregoninvasiveshotline.org or 1-866INVADER. Unfortunately, Hood River County does not have the capacity to address infestations of this weed. Landowners should be prepared to address any infestations found on their own property. To remove it, try to get the entire taproot and all the seeds, bag it and put it in the garbage for landfill disposal. This is one weed to get before it gets you!

Where is the Best Place for a Bluebird House?

Kenn and Kimberly Kaufman

What is the best bluebird house location? The bird specialists answer the question to help birders attract nesting bluebirds.

https://www.birdsandblooms.com/birding/place-bluebird-nest-box/

Will a Praying Mantis Eat Hummingbirds?

Kenn and Kimberly Kaufman

Watch your feeders and flowers for a surprising hummingbird predator. Find out how to protect your hummingbirds from a praying mantis.

https://www.birdsandblooms.com/birding/attracting-hummingbirds/praying-mantis-hummingbird/

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Photo by Rich Old, XID Services, Inc. Bugwood.org

Photo by L. Scott

Photo by L. Scott

CENTRAL GORGE MASTER GARDENER ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER

CGMGA & OMGA

Augustistheseasonofabundance.

My husband and I have been enjoying salads and stir -fry dishes from the garden for weeks now and are looking forward to that first ripe tomato and the upcoming salsa season. We feel fortunate to have such a lovely array of fresh, healthy produce right outside our door.

Not everyone in our community is as fortunate, however. Many families depend on the local food bank for fresh fruits and vegetables. At the July

Month at a Glance

https://calendar.google.com/calendar/u/0/ r/month/2021/12/1?tab=rc&pli=1

August 10: Wednesday 10-12pm: CGMGA Exec Comm Mtg (via zoom, contact Christie Bradley for link)

August 11: Thursday 8-9am: CGMGA’s La Jardineria Spanish Radio Program on Radio Tierra (details below)

August 14: Sunday 1-4pm: Parkdale Garden ice cream social

August 18: Thursday 6:00 pm: Garden Visit at Beth Flake’s, 3690 Westcliff Drive (details

August 19: Friday: Deadline for submissions to the September CGMGA newsletter

August 25: Thursday 8-9am: CGMGA’s La Jardineria Spanish Radio Program on Radio

August 26: Friday: 8-9am: CGMGA on the radio KIHR

November 9: Wednesday: Recognition celebration at the Hood River Senior Center

From the desk of your CGMGA President . . . .

CGMGA & OMGA

sod and sterilize the soil for the pollinator garden that will be installed this fall. The bees were gracious and accommodating about the noisy work going on in their front yard. I’m sure that bees, birds, and butterflies alike will all appreciate this pollinator “food bank” in the months to come.

If you’re looking for other ways to become involved in the Master Gardening program, why not consider running for the position of OMGA rep when the current term ends? Representatives serve as a liaison between our local chapter and the state organization. You’ll meet with other MG’s throughout the state at the quarterly meetings and share a written report with CGMGA on what’s happening at the state level. You’ll get payback hours, of course, and since meetings are currently virtual, there’s no need to leave the comfort of your favorite chair to participate. If you’d like more information, please contact me or Leanne.

Like August temperatures, Covid numbers are rising, so stay cool, stay hydrated, and stay healthy! Happy gardening!

Anne Gehrig President

Extension Community Advisory Network seeks Hood River County representative

Are you a supporter of Extension Services in Hood River County? Would you like to help us better meet community needs now and in the future? Please consider volunteering as a representative to the Extension Community Advisory Network (ECAN). The purpose of the ECAN is to provide a network of geographically diverse, multi-dimensional volunteers who are willing to advocate and coordinate local advocacy on behalf of the OSU Extension Service; and to provide and coordinate local advice and counsel to Extension leadership regarding current and future direction for the Extension Service programs. ECAN representatives are appointed by the Regional Director and serve a two-year term. There are at least two meetings annually, including an annual or biennial meeting in Salem, consistent with biennial state legislature at “OSU

These meetings have been held online Any travel expenses are

Please contact our HR County Extension Local Liaison, Lauren Kraemer, if interested.

HRSWCD Weed of the Month

Canada thistle is a wide spread invasive weed that’s a common problem in cultivated fields and pastures. It’s a perennial plant that spreads both by seed and by creeping horizontal roots (called rhizomes). This weed is very difficult to kill.

Canada thistle has multiple small pink to purple flowers that are bristly and 1/2 inch long and wide. The plants are usually 3 to 5 feet tall with green leaves that are glossy on the upper surface and wooly on the underside. The leaves are irregularly lobed with sharp spines. Seeds have tufts of tan hair loosely attached to the tip and are dispersed by the wind. They can remain viable in the soil for up to 20 years.

This plant reproduces both from seeds and from rhizomes. A plant can send up new shoots from its extensive root system just 6 weeks after germination. After one growing season a single plant can develop a root system with a 20 foot spread. Roots that are cut can grow into new plants. Tillage and cultivation will spread infestations, but may also be carefully used to control plants, as described below.

Canada thistle grows best on open, moist, disturbed areas including roadsides, meadows, pastures, ditches, campgrounds, landslides, logged and fire areas.

Control Canada thistle by hand-pulling early in the season or by tilling the soil every 3 weeks for an entire growing season. Control can also be obtained with the use of herbicides (contact the OSU Extension Master Gardeners). Timely mowing can be used to prevent the plants from going to seed. Grazing is not an effective means of control as Canada thistle is not palatable and animals tend to avoid it.

7 Fascinating Ladybug Facts You Didn’t Know

Kaitlin Stainbrook

Learn interesting ladybug facts, including what bugs ladybugs eat and why you want this charming insect in your backyard.

https://www.birdsandblooms.com/ gardening/garden didntknow-ladybugs

Summer Tree Watering Tips

Karen Black-Jenkins

Got Water?

Warm, breezy days and lots of sun indicate its summertime in the Gorge! While many native plants are well adapted to the Gorge’s hot, dry, summers it is good to have a watering plan for your most valuable landscape plants, including your trees. How long does it take to replace a fifty-year-old tree? Maybe another 50 years, or a big check to cover the cost of hiring professionals to transplant a mature nursery tree.

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Educational tidbits

Did you know that on average a tree in your yard needs at least 10 gallons of water per week for every inch diameter of tree trunk? For example, a 2” diameter tree planted this spring should receive at least 20 gallons of water each week. When temperatures are consistently reaching the upper 80s and higher, and with desiccating winds, young trees need more water. Ideally, young trees will receive at least one good, deep, soak per week, which encourages the tree to grow deep, strong roots. Don’t assume your lawn and turf irrigation is watering your trees. Lawn irrigation does not water trees effectively. It generally reaches only the first few inches of soil, encouraging weak surface roots to grow. When was the last time you watered the young trees in your yard? Please be sure to water your trees and mature bushes during our hot summer weather. And don’t forget to mulch your trees, with a layer of mulch 1-3” thick, spread out under the entire canopy of the tree, and not touching the trunk of the tree. This mulch layer will help regulate the temperature of your trees’ roots and retain moisture.

One of my favorite watering tips is to take a bucket (empty 5 gallon cleaned out paint bucket) and drill 4- 8 small (1/16th inch) holes in the bottom. Place the

bucket at the dripline of the tree, fill with water from the hose, and let the water slowly drain into the soil. Move the bucket around the root zone and repeat, depending on much water you’d like your tree to have. Remember that deep watering once or twice a month is better than more frequent shallow watering. Interested in more information on watering plants? Visit the landscape plant page at UFL:

https://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/woody/irrigation2.shtml

And this page from the Arobr Day Foundation for tree care and watering tips: https://www.arborday.org/ trees/index-planting.cfm

Volunteer opportunities

Changes in the Learning Garden

Tuesday, 7/12, we started the preparation for our new Pollinator Garden at the Learning Garden. Sandi, Eric, Shari, Kim, Sandy, Joanne, Katie, Anne and husbands, Ian, Tom and John worked for 2 hours, removing sod from the Eco lawn, and thus increasing the planting beds. Ian ran the sod cutter after Tom and Eric figured out how to run the machine. The rest of us rolled up the sod, loaded it in Tom’s trailer and deposited it near the Extension burn pile. Next, we laid 4mil weight plastic on the newly exposed area, (Continued on page 5)

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Volunteer Opportunities

securing it with fabric stables. In 2 months, we hope the area has been sufficiently sterilized so that the Eco lawn will not be propagating in our new beds. Next steps will include actually designing the garden with native pollinators, installing hardscape in the form of a stone path and bench, compositing the beds and the actual planting. Please let me know if you are interested in helping with any of the above steps (sandyhmontag@gmail.com) mixing compost in the beds and the actual planting. Please let me know if you are interested in helping with any of the above steps (sandyhmontag@gmail.com)

Library Garden

To our Waterwise Garden (HR Library Garden) volunteers: Our regularly scheduled August work date is Friday, August 19 from 9-11, but this month I'm adding an option of DIY scheduling. If you would like an evening session that week, let me know, and I'l meet you there with the "Master Gardeners at

Work" sandwich board, a variety of tools, and my van to carry away the debris. Please plan ahead and RSVP with me so that I know you are coming. Norma @509969-2187 or benson.norma@gmail.com. I'd love to see some new faces and meet new volunteers. Bring a (Continued on page 6)

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few essential tools, and wear your badge. Parking is free in front of the library for Master Gardeners at work. We need to add some plants for more color in different seasons, so bring your ideas, too. Thank you!

Norma

FISH Garden

As we have for the last 10 years, we have been busy in the FISH garden maintaining a variety of crops that we are now beginning to harvest. We could use your help, whether that is for 30 minutes or 3 hours. Every little bit of help makes a difference to the garden and in the lives of food bank clients.

NOTE: In August, our work parties are changing from Tuesdays to Wednesdays from 4 p.m. - 7p.m. If you have any questions about the FISH garden and volunteering, please contact Kathy McGregor at and Tracy Willett at fishgardenvc@gmail.com.

Amelia's Americorps term is finished at the end of July and Kathy and Tracy will be taking over the volunteer coordination role for the FISH garden starting in August. Thank you, Amelia, for your dedication and leadership! Plans for 2023 are under way to reformat the FISH Garden in a way that we think you will all like. More about that in the September newsletter, or contact Kathy at 0958."

JEDI Update

Our JEDI group has been working in several areas to increase the diversity, equity and inclusiveness of our work as Master Gardeners. The first area is a very exciting one: We have a CGMGA Spanish Radio Program! La Jardineria is broadcasting live every other Thursday morning from 8 to 9 on Radio Tierra. Hopefully there will be a rebroadcast on the "non-live" weeks. Radio Tierra, KZAS, is on 95.1 In Hood River, 95.9 in Stevenson, 96.7 in Carson, 107.1 in Parkdale and 107.7 in The Dalles. It is also on-line at radiotierra.org. Listen in as Dennis, Kathy and Leanne talk about what is happening now in gardens in the area. There will be guest speakers and you can also call in with your questions! We are also ready to refer Spanish speakers to our new Spanish language Plant Clinic form and have people lined up to answer those questions. Interested in being a DJ yourself? Please join us!

The group has also developed a Community Asset Map to better keep track of all the different partners we work with. The group and the Executive Committee is still working to refine that document before we share it with everyone. We have LOTS of partners.

We're developing some new partners with the Tribal Food Sovereignty group and learning about some exciting work going on with Native foods. We're also working with the Hood River Library to develop a Tools Lending Library - so we all don't need to buy a tool that we use once during the season. Stay tuned for notices on when and how you can join those subgroups to more fully develop our activities. All these initiatives can use more volunteers so we can keep moving forward.

Our chapter is well represented in the state DEI group with Megan, Anne G., Jen H. and Leanne H. all participating. The four focus areas at the state level for the rest of the year are curriculum development, enhancement of the Seed to Supper program, developing a new demographic survey of who we are, and communication and special events. Good news from that group is that effective July 28 a lot more of the OSU gardening extension documents will be available in Spanish.

Leanne Hogie

Volunteer opportunities

Parkdale Memorial Garden

We are planning an ice cream social in the garden on Sunday, August 14, from 1:00 to 4:00. Of course, you are all invited, but we also need to get the garden looking really good for this event. Please join us to do some deadheading, raking, sweeping, weed pulling, etc.

Parkdale Bicentennial Memorial Garden has been awarded the 2022 Garden of Distinction Award by the Oregon State Federation of Garden Clubs. This award is presented to an established garden within Oregon that is accessible to the public on an ongoing basis. Parkdale Garden Club Co-Presidents Kathy Hannen-Smith and Kristina Friberg submitted an extensive book of evidence to OSFGC to demonstrate the beauty and importance of the garden to the

community. A panel of judges selected the Memorial Garden for this honor based on the book submitted and an actual visit by the organization’s president and board members at the Blue Star Marker dedication held last October. Lifetime Master Gardener and Parkdale Garden Club member Trish Paige received the award on behalf of the Parkdale Garden Club at the 2022 OSFGC convention in North Bend in June. It is an honor to have the garden recognized by a statewide organization such as OSFGC.

Thank you so much for your dedication to this great garden.

Save the Date: Garden Visit!

Mark your calendars for our first Garden Visit of 2022. (Actually, Paul, I think we’ll count your Spring Garden Visit as our Kick

On that note, we are always looking for MGs (new or “seasoned”) who would like to open their gardens to an informal evening get together. And we are excited this year to bring back the addition of potlucks! Food and drinks always make for a more enjoyable gathering.

Garden Visit Details:

Host: Beth Flake

Date: Thursday, August 18

Time: 6:00 PM

Address: 3690 Westcliff Drive

Please Bring: Chairs, Plate and Cutlery, Yummy Dish to share.

Family members welcome

Please consider biking or carpooling, parking is limited.

CENTRAL GORGE MASTER GARDENER ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER

This afternoon, as I wilt under yet another heatwave, I am reminded of all the reasons I dislike August. It’s parched, brown, crackly and 31days long–without a single holiday to relieve the tedium. Even the weeds seem to have given up in the heat’s relentless grip.

But, ah, September…..September is our reward for enduring August. Which of this month’s gifts will you enjoy the most: Slipping into a jacket and a pair of jeans on a cool fall evening? Savoring the end-of-season garden bounty with a glass of red wine? Actually finding a parking spot in downtown Hood River on a weekend? There’s so much to love about September. It’s a month for farmers’ markets and bountiful harvests and celebrating all of the hard garden work of the preceding months.

CGMGA will celebrate September with a picnic and association meeting at Leanne Hogie’s home on September 7 from 6-8. Leanne’s address is 1804 Markham Rd. in Hood River. All you need is a dish to share, a folding chair, plate and cutlery, and a beverage of choice. Family members are welcome. We promise to keep the business part short and the

Month at a Glance

https://calendar.google.com/calendar/ u/0/r/month/2021/12/1?tab=rc&pli=1

September 7: Wednesday 6-8pm: CGMGA Picnic/Quarterly meeting at Leanne’s (see details below)

September 8: Thursday 8-9am: CGMGA’s La Jardineria Spanish Radio Program on Radio Tierra (details below)

September 14: Wednesday 10-12pm: CGMGA Exec Comm Mtg (via zoom, contact Christie Bradley for link)

September 23: Friday: Deadline for submissions to the October CGMGA newsletter

September 22: Thursday 8-9am: CGMGA’s La Jardineria Spanish Radio Program on Radio Tierra

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From the desk of your CGMGA President . . . .

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CGMGA & OMGA

will no longer be organizing garden visits, but if you have a garden you’d like to share, let Megan or me know and we’ll get the word out.

As part of our quest to make gardening accessible to more people, the JEDI group is partnering with the Hood River County Library to provide tools for the Library of Things. If you have a clean and serviceable tool that you would like to donate, please let me know. Or perhaps you have an idea for a tool that you’ve always wanted but would only occasionally use (and don’t want to purchase and store). It might be the perfect candidate for the tool library!

The scorching afternoon has segued to a simmer–time to think about dinner and a cool drink. Stay cool, stay healthy. Happy SEPTEMBER!

Anne

agehrig5@hotmail.com

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November 9: celebration at the Hood River Senior Center

Learning Garden: Thursdays, Sept 1, 15 and 29: 9-11am

Library Garden: Friday, Sept 23: 9

Parkdale Garden: Wednesday, Sept 28: 9

FISH Garden: Wednesdays: 8-10am and 4-7pm

(Sept 7: 3-6pm)

OMGA

From Shari: The next Quarterly OMGA (statewide) meeting will be on September 9, 2-4 pm on Zoom. An informal OMGA sharing meeting (the only in-person meeting this year), was held the afternoon before Mini -College. Approximately 35 Master Gardeners from around the state participated in the discussion about how their 2021 Master Gardener classes went, including some who have gone to fall classes. There was frustration expressed about unfilled coordinator positions. Gail Langellotto, State MG program director, addressed these issues then and also later on during her keynote entitled Successes, Challenges and Opportunities of the Oregon Master Gardener Program. I was pleased to share about our successful classes and the skills that many of our 2021 trainees have brought to our chapter. And, it was great to see Scott Fitch and Nicole Gilbertson in attendance from our chapter. During the following 2 days, I enjoyed visiting and sharing with many of the 160 attendees. The classes and presenters were very good, including those that I took on the Growing and Care of Fig Trees, All About Irises, and Resources from Oregon Flora.

From Eric: Mini College is always a great time.

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CGMGA & OMGA

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local advocacy on behalf of the OSU Extension Service; and to provide and coordinate local advice and counsel to Extension leadership regarding current and future direction for the Extension Service programs. ECAN representatives are appointed by the year term. There are at least two meetings annually, including an annual or biennial meeting in Salem, consistent with biennial state legislature at “OSU Statewide Day” or These meetings have been held online in the Any travel expenses are covered by Extension. Please contact our HR County Extension Local Liaison, Lauren Kraemer, if interested.

Educational opportunities, a chance to reconnect with MG friends from around the state, and to learn about what is going on with the other chapters, and make new friends who are committed to the program we love. Attendance was down a bit. Lingering Covid concerns and the heat were probably the main factors. The economical housing option is staying in a dorm at OSU. No a/c but we’ve done this before and a fan made us comfortable. All in all Mini College 2022 was a success. A “Silent Auction” is a prominent feature of Mini College. CGMGA contributed a number of items and the gross sales were just over $5100.00. Not a record but pretty close. The Send-a-Friend raffle is another perennial favorite and 3 lovely prizes plus some over the top hawking of tickets resulted in $400.00 which will be used next year to fund Mini College scholarships.

Oregon Master Gardener Association Mini College is a mandated educational program conducted in cooperation with OSU. As an educational outreach this year’s conference was very successful. In addition it provides a vehicle for Master Gardeners from around the state to share their Chapter’s successes, challenges, and establish relationships which can further the common goal of horticultural educational outreach to the communities we serve. Look for the Mini College schedule for 2023…come and join us.

Eric Bosler

Ice Cream Social at the Parkdale Memorial Garden

by Margo Dameier

An Ice Cream Social was sponsored by the Parkdale Garden Club on August 14, 2022 and was attended by members of the Parkdale, Odell, and Hood River Valley Evening Garden Clubs, Central Gorge Master Gardeners, and community members. Everyone enjoyed ice cream, cookies, and root beer floats, while touring the Parkdale Memorial Garden. For some, it was a return trip to a garden that they have spent many hours in. For others, it was a first-time experience. The consensus of all was that the Parkdale Memorial Garden is a treasure of the Upper Hood River Valley.

Established in 1965 by local families, this garden received a Blue Star Memorial Bi-Way Marker in 2021, and won the Garden of Distinction Award from the Oregon State Federation of Garden Clubs in 2022. The Parkdale

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CGMGA & OMGA

Memorial Garden is respectfully cared for by the Parkdale Garden Club, Central Gorge Master Gardener Association, and community members. Central Gorge Master Gardener's receive volunteer hours for participating in the care and maintenance of the Parkdale Memorial Garden. The remaining work parties for this season are scheduled from 9 AM until noon on August 27, September 28, and October 22. You're encouraged to join in at any time during these hours, or on your own time. For more information, contact Bill Sturman, wmasturman@gmail.com

HRSWCD Weed of the Month Tree of Heaven

Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima) sounds lovely –but it is not. This very invasive deciduous tree has spread vigorously in the Columbia Gorge along forest edges, roadways, the waterfront, and open areas and has recently been in the news because of its association with an emerging agricultural pest, the spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula). Tree of Heaven is the preferred host for the spotted lanternfly, who use it as a food source and a breeding location. If introduced in Oregon, spotted lanternfly poses a serious threat to tree fruit and grape production.

Tree of Heaven can grow up to 80 feet tall and six feet in diameter and has pale grey bark, light brown twigs and large, pinnately compound alternate leaves. Each compound leaf is made up of 11-25 leaflets, arranged opposite each other. The compound leaves can grow up to four feet long, and each leaflet has one to several glands near their base. The glands produce a scent that is attractive to the spotted lanternfly.

Tree of Heaven looks similar to black walnut, sumac and ash and can be distinguished by its fuzzy brown twigs and seed heads that stand erect. It also has a strong stench, particularly from its flowers, that has been likened to cat urine or rotten peanut butter.

Tree of Heaven has large showy clusters of small yellow-green flowers in June that produce flat, singleseeded winged fruits in summer. One tree can produce an estimated 325,000 seeds each season leading to the formation of dense thickets which reduce wildlife habitat. Roots and leaves also produces chemicals that adversely affect the germination, growth, survival, and reproduction of other plants nearby. Due to its rapid growth, the trees can be structurally weak and shed branches, while roots often damage pavement, roads, and buildings.

Tree of Heaven can be controlled numerous ways. The best way is to not plant it in the first place! The next easiest is to pull out the small seedlings before the tap root develops. Larger trees can be cut, although that (Continued on page 6)

Educational Tidbits

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will only slow it down, not kill it. Cutting will also cause the tree to re-sprout vigorously. If cutting down trees, it is recommended that cutting be followed by painting the stump with an herbicide to improve control. Subsequent herbicide treatment of root suckers may also be needed.

You can also reduce the spread of this tree by cutting and bagging the seed heads on female trees. Tree of Heaven is dioecious, meaning plants are either male or female. Targeting reduction of female trees is a strategic way to slow this weedy and persistent invasive.

If you have Tree of Heaven and you live in Underwood Conservation District’s service area, you can get assistance with removal and replacement of Tree of Heaven with native, locally adapted trees. Check out their website www.ucdwa.org for more information. Currently there is no similar program in Oregon.

How to Make Your Yard Bird-Friendly

https://www.audubon.org/news/howmake-your-yard-bird-friendly-0 CJ

Common

to drought-resistant crops

https://phys.org/news/2022-08-common-weedsuper-key-drought-resistant.html

Eric

Why Native Plants Are Better for Birds and

https://www.audubon.org/news/why-native-plants-are-better-birds-and-people

weed may be 'super plant' that holds key

Library Garden FISH Garden

The FISH Garden work parties will occur on Wednesdays mornings from 8-10am and Wednesday afternoons from 4-7 pm. One exception is the date of the association picnic when it will be from 3-6 pm.

The Spirit of Grace FISH Food Bank Garden welcomes new Master Gardener Mary Corl to the Steering Committee. The steering committee includes Scott Fitch, Tracy Willett, Dennis Carlson, Megan Wickersham, former coordinator Ann Lameka, and Spirit of Grace Church representative and Debby Chenoweth, former Operations Project Manager at Bonneville Dam. Mary serves on the FISH Garden steering committee to fill the slot previously held by the garden coordinator.

Upcoming events

CGMGA Picnic and Quarterly Meeting

Wednesday, September 7: 6:00-8:00 PM

Leanne Hogie’s House, 1804 Markham Road in Hood River

(There is an old black bike with the address and a long paved driveway to the west. Park on the north side of the driveway)

It’s been too long since we last gathered together as a chapter! Join us for good food and great conversation, as well as to hear important project and funding updates from the CGMGA board.

Please bring:

Folding chairs

A dish to share

Beverage of Choice

Plate and cutlery

Family members welcome. There is lots of lawn and plenty of afternoon shade, room to set up yard games to entertain “kids” both young and old!

CENTRAL GORGE MASTER GARDENER ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER

From the desk of your CGMGA President . . . .

Nominations, Invitations, Celebrations

It’s October at last: a month for taking a deep breath and enjoying a more relaxed approach to life. With the rain’s return, we can take a break from irrigating. The sun is up a bit later, allowing us to linger longer over a cup of coffee. Night comes earlier, bringing us inside sooner for reading and relaxation. Our gardens have been mostly put to bed, and we can celebrate cooler weather with meals from our garden–a satisfying soup, perhaps, that tastes of summer days?

October is a time to look back on the past season and to savor the quiet hiatus between harvest and holidays. It’s also a time to reflect on all the folks who have made this past year a success and to recognize them for their commitment to CGMGA. We are so fortunate to have a cadre of dedicated volunteers who have offered their time and talents to the chapter throughout the year. With our Recognition Celebration just around the corner, it’s time to recognize fellow MG’s for their contributions. If you know of someone who fits any of the descriptions below, why not acknowledge their hard work by nominating them for one of these awards?

Projects Award: The recipient of this award is an MG who volunteers in several different projects or events or who takes ownership of a garden area/event.

Community Outreach Award: This award goes to an individual who has participated in a project outside of MG that benefits or involves the community.

Special Services Award: This award recognizes individuals who have provided services or done something special to serve or support the program or projects. Recipients of this award need not be a Master Gardener.

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Month at a Glance

https://calendar.google.com/calendar/ u/0/r/month/2021/12/1?tab=rc&pli=1

October 6: Thursday 3:30pm: Garden visit to Scott Johnson Community Garden and Kitchen Garden 2010 Sterling Place (details below from Anne)

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CGMGA & OMGA

Plant Clinic Award: The recipient of this award is someone who has provided reliable plant clinic support.

Chapter Educator Award: This award is given to an individual who has done extra work facilitating educational opportunities: teaching classes or preparing presentations or demonstrations for the chapter or the community at large.

Communications Award: The recipient of this award is someone who shares information about our chapter, writing posts or news articles.

Golden Trowel Award: given to an exceptional new Master Gardener in their first year of service.

If you’d like to nominate a fellow MG, send their name to me at agehrig5@hotmail.com by October 10. Please include the title of the award, as well as a sentence or two describing their contributions. Award recipients will be honored and recognized at the end-of-year celebration on November 9 at the Senior Center in Hood River, so mark your calendars! In addition to enjoying a meal together and raising a glass to the class of 2022, we’ll vote on our budget and the slate of officers for the upcoming year. See Leanne’s article in this newsletter for further details.

The garden season may be winding down, but there’s still time to squeeze in one last garden visit before the rains drive us inside. Anny VanNatta and Elaine Johnson are inviting Master Gardeners to visit the Scott Johnson Community Garden and Kitchen Garden on October 6 at 3:30, with October 13 as an

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October 27

Jardineria Spanish Radio Program on Radio

Tierra

November 9: at the Hood River Senior Center (details below)

December 3: Saturday: 10-12pm: Holiday

Greenery Event in our greenhouse

Work Parties:

Learning Garden: Thursdays, Oct 6 and 20: 912pm

Library Garden: Friday, Oct 21: 9-11am

FISH Garden: Wednesdays: 4-7pm, Saturday

Oct 1 work party from 9-12pm

alternate date in case of rain The garden is located at 2010 Sterling Place, just west of the Senior Center where we’ll be holding the graduation and recognition celebration in November. Visitors will get to view a pollinator hedgerow and examples of experimental garden techniques like no-till beds and companion planting. Please park in the north parking lot. Anny suggested that folks might like to get together for a post -garden visit happy hour at the Taqueria. If you have questions, please contact Anny at gardenanny2@gmail.com

Happy October!

Master Gardener Graduation and Celebration!

Let's all gather on November 9 at 6 pm at the Hood River Adult Center to celebrate our successful gardening year and welcome the new Master Gardeners to our chapter as they receive their graduation certificates! We are returning to a long dinner followed by the program and graduation. Mark your calendars and see you on Wednesday 11/9 from 6 to 8 pm. Spouses and significant others welcome.

Those with fall decorating skills and interest in helping plan this event please contact Leanne lhogie@aol.com

CGMGA & OMGA

CGMGA Annual Budget

The annual budget for the Central Gorge Master Gardener Association is ready for submission to the general membership. This year’s budget is the largest in our Chapter’s history. It reflects just how active we are in the projects and programs which further the educational mandate of the Master Gardener Program and the outreach and service we provide. It is important to note that, even given its size, our proposed budget for 2023 is virtually balanced. This budget demonstrates the great level of commitment, effort, and passion that we, as Master Gardeners, dedicate to our community.

The Executive Committee has reviewed the draft from the Budget Committee and after discussion and additions, voted its approval. The budget is now ready for consideration of our members. Anyone having questions, suggestions or wishing a change in the budget should reach out to President Anne Gehrig or Budget Committee Chair Eric Bosler. The budget will be presented for discussion, modification (if any) and adopted by a majority vote at our November general membership meeting.

A copy of the budget is attached to the Newsletter email and will be posted on the CGMGA website.

Respectfully submitted, Eric

OMGA

The OMGA 3rd Quarter board meeting was Friday, September 9 via zoom. Besides the usual business agenda, two of our newer Task Force programs were spotlighted.

From our President, OMGA’s role in supporting diversity, equity and inclusion, is a major part of our goals and planning. This important work is being undertaken by a Task Force of MG members from all corners of the state. The mission of the OSU Master Gardener’s program is to “cultivate resilient and healthy communities throughout Oregon through sustainable horticulture education and gardening projects that are rooted in science.” Just as a healthy garden is biodiverse, so too is a healthy

gardening program. We have four focus areas: curriculum, a demographic survey, Seed to Supper programs, and communication & special events.

Advocating for MG Program Positions in Oregon, the Advocacy Task Force is working to secure financial and other support for the OSU MG Program. It has a great partner in Sherry Sheng who is guiding, organizing, and will train a statewide group. They will be writing letters to targeted audiences including the OSU Administration, elected officials at the State and local level (county commissioners and administrators), and others. If you want to get involved in this important work, Contact Sherry clackamasmg@gmail.com

The business meeting agenda was full. If you are interested in more details, minutes or reports, they are archived on the website at omga.org. Here are some highlights: Overview of financial reports, dues (keeping the same), and a draft budget for 2023 was discussed. More business to continue at the next meeting with a review and revising of our OMGA Bylaws, Job Descriptions, and P&P. Leslie Ray was appointed to serve as interim OMGA Vice President to serve in this role until elections in November.

Our 2022 Joy of Gardening Conference was critiqued as most favorable. Thanks to the Mini-College planning committee, which included our Eric Bosler! There is continuing discussion regarding pros and cons of such an event, its location, and time of year. A special meeting via zoom will be conducted BEFORE our November meeting to develop some alternatives to present to the entire board for a decision then. There was also discussion about returning to in meetings (travel and expenses) and/or to continue on Zoom!

The OMGA Gardener’s Pen Newsletter will be available late September. archived will be available in the newsletter and Megan’s Monday Updates. Lastly, OMGA Executive Board elections

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be at the November meeting. Please look to your membership for MGs willing to fill our leadership positions for 2023. The 4th Quarter meeting will be on November 4 on Zoom.

Anny VanNatta State Representative

CGMGA Annual Picnic was Enjoyed by All

Extension Community Advisory Network seeks Hood River County representative

Thirty CGMGA members and guests attended the annual picnic and meeting on Wednesday, September 7, after excessive summer heat postponed this event from our traditional July date. We were rewarded for our patience with a beautiful evening on the lawn of our President Elect, Leanne Hogie. The potluck dishes were full of fresh garden produce with dessert items featuring local fruits in flakey pastry. An impromptu produce exchange also occurred when several Master Gardeners brought excess bounty from their gardens to share with others.

Our social time and potluck feast was followed by a meeting that our President, Anne Gehrig skillfully kept short. Megan Wickersham shared some highlights of the 2023 class schedule, Eric Bosler gave insight on the new video equipment, purchased through CGMGA funds, that will allow live streaming classes to be more interactive, Leanne Hogie reported that our Recognition Event will be held at 6 PM on Wednesday, November 9 at the Hood River Valley Adult Center (mark your calendar!), and new FISH

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Are you a supporter of Extension Services in Hood River County? Would you like to help us better meet community needs now and in the future? Please consider volunteering as a representative to the Extension Community Advisory Network (ECAN). The purpose of the ECAN is to provide a network of geographically diverse, multi-dimensional volunteers who are willing to advocate and coordinate local advocacy on behalf of the OSU Extension Service; and to provide and coordinate local advice and counsel to Extension leadership regarding current and future direction for the Extension Service programs. ECAN representatives are appointed by the Regional Director and serve a two-year

CGMGA & OMGA

CGMGA & OMGA

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Food Bank garden leader, Tracy Willett explained the new format for maintaining this garden and gathered volunteer sign ups from Master Gardeners who agreed to ‘own’ a garden bed.

Following the meeting, Leanne led us on a tour of her 2 ½ acre property that contains a vegetable garden, fruit & nut trees, grapes, flower beds designed for various light conditions, and lots of beautifully manicured lawn thanks to her spouse, Mike Hendricks.

As the sun set over the horizon and an early fall chill was evident, we said our farewells and parted, knowing that we had all shared a special moment in time.

Educational Tidbits

HRSWCD Weed of the Month

Italian Arum, also known as “orange candleflower” and “Italian lords and ladies,” is a non-native perennial that was introduced as an ornamental plant. It has now naturalized and appears to be spreading. Arum italicum is a woodland species and prefers moist, well-shaded environments. It’s extremely difficult to eradicate once it becomes established and may spread from residential gardens into woodland areas.

Italian arum produces an abundance of variegated green and white leaves. The plant is 12” to 18” tall with arrowhead shaped leaves that are 8” to 12” long. They emerge in the spring from underground corms but die back in the summer. Pale hood like flowers are produced in late May and give off a displeasing odor. Berries are formed in tight clusters and change color from light green to orange red.

This plant is problematic because of its ability to form a dense cover in open sites. It can out-compete native plants and prevent their establishment. Italian arum is also toxic to humans and animals. All parts of Italian arum are poisonous. Handling of the plant can cause skin irritation and ingestion can cause swelling of the mouth, tongue and throat. Breathing difficulties can follow as well as burning pain and stomach upset.

One of the best ways to control this plant is to prevent its spread. Often, chemical control only burns back foliage and does not hurt the corms (like bulbs) underground. Digging and disposing of the small underground corms in the garbage can help. However, manual removal is only recommended on small patches, because if the plant is not completely eradicated, the soil disturbance can increase its spread. If you have it on your land, do not let it go to seed. Wearing gloves, cut and bag all seed heads, and dispose of them in the garbage. For information about control, contact your local Extension Master Gardeners.

Unfortunately this plant is still available commercially and can be found in some residential gardens. If a landowner in Hood River County believes he or she has Italian arum, please report it to the Oregon Invasives Hotline at www.oregoninvasiveshotline.org or 1-866-INVADER. For more information about Italian arum visit the website: www.columbiagorgecwma.org

Will Butterflies Visit Your Sugar Water Feeder?

https://www.birdsandblooms.com/ gardening/attracting-butterflies/ butterflies-sugar-water/?

Native Plant Picks for Bees:

10 Species You Can Grow to Support Wild Bees in Oregon

https://extension.oregonstate.edu/pub/em-

Educational Tidbits

The Pros and Cons of Growing Common Milkweed

https://www.birdsandblooms.com/ gardening/attracting-butterflies/the-prosand-cons-of-common-milkweed/

Volunteer opportunities

Fish Garden

At the FISH garden, we have been both relishing the last harvests and putting the field away for the winter. New MG Mary Corl has joined the steering committee and brings experience and perspective. We are in the process of tarping the east side which will be fallow for a year, as well as organizing the tools and miscellany that accumulate. We had ground cherry tastings on our breaks!

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Volunteer opportunities

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Teen volunteers in the garden have been good fun. One told me he had never worked in a garden and never eaten some of the foods we grow; he was thrilled by the act of harvesting zucchini and told his mentor he is thinking of starting a garden. Another had homework to list 8 strengths and weaknesses and share it with his parents; we were challenged to do the same with our family.

On October 1 we are having a special all-hands-onboard work party from 9am-12pm. We are going to lay out beds and paths, as well as plant cover crops for next year. We hope to get it done in three hours.

JEDI

Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion events and meetings continue both at our local level and at the state level - with appropriate breaks for summer vacation fun. The Radio Tierra program on gardening, La Jardineria, continues for its last 2 programs on Oct 13 and Oct 27 from 8 to 9 am as we chat about final harvest, food preservation, fall plantings and putting your garden to bed. That show will resume in the spring. We also continue to make progress on developing a "Tool Library" in association with the Hood River County Library of Things. Ideas for tools, please contact Anne Gehrig or Leanne Hogie. Again, we hope to have this Library up and ready for gardening in the spring.

Library Garden

The October Library Garden work party will be from 9 to11 on Friday, October 21. Note that we are back to our usual time frame, the third Friday of the month. Bring your small tools, a bucket, and your gloves. I’ll bring my van and the rest of my gear. Call or text me if you have questions or suggestions. Norma, 509-969-2187 Thank you. Norma

On the state level, groups are working on revamping Seed to Supper, looking for new materials to present and developing a survey of who we are as Master

Upcoming events

Gardens Visit - Thursday Oct 6 -

3:30-5ish

3 inside one fabulous fence! Look for the tall, circular, wooden sign on the West side of the Parking lot, of the Hood River Valley Adult Center….2010 Sterling Dr. (just off of Brookside Dr.) It’s also known as the Senior Center; and the place where we will have our MG Recognition Event. The sign signifies the Scott Johnson memorial Community Garden. This has garden space for individuals/families in the (Continued on page 9)

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Upcoming events

community. It began as a blackberry thicket, covered in river rock. The lower half is the Kitchen Garden, to grow veggies & fruits for Meals on Wheels and weekday lunches in the dining room. The ground is uneven…Walk carefully/ slowly, like you would in the woods! It was terrible clay soil on a distinct slope!! The volunteers are building up the soil, with ecological, Science-based gardening techniques: like “Weedless Gardening,” “No-dig,” drip irrigation with gravity’s pull, “Companion Planting,” make our own compost. The Pollinator Hedgerow is a raised row, along the perimeter/ under the fence. We plant what the bees and butterflies like best so there are blooms available 8 months of the year, and we see lots of bee activity when weather is calm. The wicked wind is murder on the plants lowers production of vegetables. We are working on that challenge this fall. With a donation, we will build some raised beds, to help with mobility; and some cold frames for extending the growing season. (a combination of cloche above a raised bed is ready to be assembled!). Volunteers have been preparing composted soil for the raised beds! More Information will be in Megan’s Monday Update or Contact: Anny VanNatta gardenanny2@gmail.com

Upcoming events

Master Gardener Graduation and Celebration!

Let's all gather on November 9 at 6 pm at the Hood River Adult Center to celebrate our successful gardening year and welcome the new Master Gardeners to our chapter as they receive their graduation certificates! We are returning to a long-time CGMGA tradition of a potluck dinner followed by the program and graduation. Mark your calendars and see you on Wednesday 11/9 from 6 to 8 pm. Spouses and significant others welcome.

Leanne

Holiday Greenery Event

Please join us on Saturday, December 3 for the 12th annual Holiday Greenery Event. For those who have never participated, this is an opportunity for you to get creative and make swags and wreaths, with a little guidance from fellow Master Gardeners. We create for ourselves and also make a huge variety of items as a service project for distribution through the FISH Food Bank and WGAP. I will have floral wire, though feel free to bring your own and any other items you might have to contribute, such as ribbon, wreath rings, and miscellaneous décor. Please, as you put your gardens to bed for the winter, consider saving and/or drying anything you think might look neat in a decorative project, including herbs, seed heads, rosehips and lichen. Recycling is encouraged and donations of any supplies including ribbon (especially 2" wired) are welcome. It doesn’t even need to be holiday colors. Even if you’re unable to come to Saturday’s wreath

making, any contributions of greenery would be appreciated. We need and appreciate donations of a variety of greenery. Please leave items in the shade structure, next to the greenhouse. Thanks!! We always appreciate talented bowmakers who can make up some bows in advance and also be on hand through much of the day.

Shari

Newsletter Submissions

In order to allow time for formatting the CGMGA Newsletter, please submit articles or calendar items by the 3rd Friday. Send newsletter information to Shari Bosler at sharibosler@hotmail.com. Thanks!

CENTRAL GORGE MASTER GARDENER ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER

“No shade, no shine, no butterflies, no bees. No fruits, no flowers, no leaves, no birds! November.”

Thomas Hood, a 19th century English poet, painted this dreary picture of November in his poem “No”. With apologies to Mr. Hood, I’d like to offer a brighter November perspective:

No sweaty days, no sweltering nights, no mosquitos, no mowing.

No wildfires, no weeding, no tilling, no toiling, no sowing. November!

With both the project gardens and home gardens put to bed and vegetables and fruits put up for the winter, November offers time to relax and pursue interests outside the garden. Some may choose to travel, while others may opt to stay closer to home and spend time on crafts or projects. And with holidays around the corner, nearly everyone will be looking forward to having more time to spend with family and friends.

Speaking of friends, our Recognition Gathering is scheduled for November 9 at the Senior Center. We’ll share a potluck meal and raise a glass to a successful year and a new group of Master Gardeners. We’ll also recognize fellow MG’s whose contributions and accomplishments have helped make our chapter a vibrant one. you have flowers or seed pods to donate for table decorations, please contact Leanne (lhogie@aol.com). We’d also welcome help with decorating and cleanup. We’ve had very few

Month at a Glance

https://calendar.google.com/calendar/ u/0/r/month/2021/12/1?tab=rc&pli=1

November 9: Wednesday 10-12pm: CGMGA Exec Comm Mtg (via zoom, contact Christie Bradley for link)

November 9: Wednesday: 6-8pm: Celebration at the Hood River Senior Center (details below)

November 18: Friday: Deadline for submissions to the December CGMGA newsletter

December 3: Saturday: 10-12pm: Holiday Greenery Event in our greenhouse

Work Parties:

Learning Garden: Thursday, Nov 3 and Saturday Nov 12: 9am in the Pollinator Garden

Saturday, Nov 5: 10am for pruning in Japanese Garden (see article below)

Library Garden: Friday: Nov. 18: 9-11am

From the desk of your CGMGA President . . . .

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CGMGA & OMGA

opportunities to spend our “social capital” this past year, so I hope you’ll all turn out for this special inperson celebration.

We’ll mix business with pleasure at the Recognition Gathering and hold a brief association meeting during which we elect the 2023 Executive Committee officers and approve the budget for the upcoming year. The slate of officers for 2023 include Leanne Hogie (president), Jen Harty (vice president), Joanne Willis (treasurer), and Christie Bradley (secretary). We are still looking for someone who would like to serve as OMGA rep or alternate rep, so if interested please contact Leanne or Anne.

Our 2023 classes will be mostly in person with an opportunity to attend virtually as needed. Eric Bosler has led the charge to research and purchase new AV equipment that will make the hybrid process smoother and more efficient. Megan has invited several MG’s to share their expertise during some of the classes, so in addition to the main instructors, we’ll get to hear

History of the Scott Johnson Community Garden

The gardens at the Hood River Adult Center are volunteer works in progress. The top/ east section of the gardens is the Community Garden which has the private gardens for 8-10 community members. (Half of our current gardeners are Hispanic families, and there are a handful of younger seniors now waiting for raised beds.) Participants are asked to help maintain the pathways and areas near their gardens, plus help with a few work parties.

This garden began as a vacant, overgrown lot between “The Center” and Down Manor. Scott Johnson singlehandedly cleared big piles of rocks and designed the Community Garden. When Scott passed away in 2014, his widow, non-gardener Elaine, gallantly kept things going. When Anny teamed up with Elaine in late May 2017, she convinced Elaine to join the Master

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officers, proposed budget, selection of the planning committee for Mini-college and updates on OMGA’s bylaws, job descriptions, policies & procedures. If you’re interested in participating in planning and state leadership, ask Anny for a meeting agenda and zoom link.

Anny VanNatta, State Representative, gardenanny2@gmail.com

CGMGA & OMGA

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Gardener program the next year! Anny had been a Master Gardener since 2005. After retiring from teaching, she trained in Landscape Design at PCC and Horticulture at Clackamas CC, experiencing and working as a Horticultural Intern in Portland Parks “Community Gardens.”

They also worked together these 5 years to establish the “Kitchen Garden” the lower hillside. But that project needs its own story! As that landscape is

Educational tidbits

Volunteer Opportunities

Pruning at the Japanese Heritage Garden

On a sunny, cold Saturday morning in early November, Sada Uchiyama, Curator of the Portland Japanese Garden presented a pruning lesson to a group of our Master Gardeners at the Japanese Heritage Garden located at the OSU Extension Office in Hood River. The main focus of the pruning activity was the enkianthus and Japanese maple trees that were planted in the Japanese Garden over ten years ago. The group was profoundly impressed by Sada’s simple tools and the speed at which he precisely pruned the plants and trees. While pruning in a Japanese garden sounds like an arcane task to many of us, Sada provided simple and concise guidance that demystified the endeavor. First, he explained that the purpose of Fall pruning is cleaning and thinning. bloom pruning in the Spring is reserved for sizing and shaping. As he began to prune the enkianthus, we were surprised that he pulled back the outer branches in a less than gingerly manner and started from the inside. He explained that a healthy plant is very hardy with pliable branches and the center is where most of the clean-up work is done.

Sada first eliminated the dead wood (most of which he simply snapped off with his hands) and then focused on creating space for light and air to permeate the center of the plant. Here, he started from the bottom and opened the center of the plant by removing secondary branches crowding the center and eliminating crossover branches. This step required some decisionmaking. To the degree that he could, Sada identified the healthiest branches

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growing with the desired shape and symmetry of the plant and cut back the rest around it. One important snippet of wisdom that Sada offered the group was that it’s okay to be unsure. If you have to think twice about whether or not to cut a particular branch, leave it – it will be there next year.

Sada finished the session by climbing into the larger

Japanese maple tree and unleashing his simple magic. Using a similar process, we watched him snap and cut to open the center of the tree. While there is no doubt that the dense foliage was stunning, at the end you could step back, admire the beauty and openness of the tree and almost hear it take a deep, grateful breath! We will follow up the pruning demonstration by producing some educational content that will be available to the Master Gardeners and the public.

Holiday Greenery Event

Please join us on Saturday, December 3 for the 12th annual Holiday Greenery Event. For those who have never participated, this is an opportunity for you to get creative and make swags and wreaths, with a little guidance from fellow Master Gardeners. We create for ourselves and also make a huge variety of items as a service project for distribution through the FISH Food Bank and WGAP. I will have floral wire, though feel free to bring your own and any other items you might have to contribute, such as ribbon, wreath rings, and miscellaneous décor. Please, as you put your gardens to bed for the winter, consider saving and/or drying anything you think might look neat in a decorative project, including herbs, seed heads, rosehips and lichen. Recycling is encouraged and donations of any supplies including ribbon (especially 2" wired) are welcome. It doesn’t even need to be holiday colors. Even if you’re unable to come to Saturday’s wreath making, any contributions of greenery would be appreciated. We need and appreciate donations of a variety of greenery. Please leave items in the shade structure, next to the greenhouse. Thanks!! We always appreciate talented bowmakers who can make up some bows in advance and also be on hand through much of the day.

Spotlight on Leanne Hogie

Submitted by Anne Gehrig

Leanne Hogie’s life reads like a travelogue or Jules Verne’s Around the World in 80 Days. My pen flew as I tried to capture all the places she’s lived and all the experiences she’s had.

Leanne spent her childhood in Sleepy Eye, Minnesota. The youngest of 4 children, her parents were teachers and often took their family on long road trips, inoculating her with the travel bug at an early age. During her junior year in high school, Leanne was an exchange student in Germany–the first of what was to become a long series of travel adventures that would take her to all corners of the world. Other early adventures included signing on as a migrant apple picker in Norway and attending a summer seminar in Geneva, Switzerland on International Relations and the European Union.

Leanne received a liberal arts degree from Carleton–the same college her mother had attended. Realizing that the job market for liberal arts majors wasn’t particularly strong and wanting broader work experiences than a small town could offer, she enlisted in the Peace Corps. She was assigned to Central America where she hoped her duties would not involve teaching or agriculture. Ironically, she was assigned to the school gardens program which entailed visiting 36 sites in her district and teaching students once

or twice a month. She had a motorcycle to use as she traveled from site to site. Living in a country where there were few English speakers contributed to making the Peace Corps “the toughest job you’ll ever love”.

When her assignment ended, Leanne worked for the Close Up Foundation in D.C., an organization whose goal is to help students learn the skills they need to become thoughtful, engaged, and informed citizens. It was a grueling job involving long days touring the city with 20 students at a time and writing thought-provoking lesson plans.

Then it was off to grad school at Cornell where she earned a Masters in agricultural economics. She accepted a job with the Foreign Agricultural Service, a branch of USDA–the beginning of a 20-plus year career with the foreign service that took her to India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Venezuela. Ten days after marrying her husband Mike, she left for her assignment to India; he followed 3 months later after wrapping up some consulting work.

When she retired from the foreign service, Leanne and Mike sold their house in DC and traveled in Europe, Latin America, and Central America. After some time in Florida, and to celebrate her fatherin-law’s 90th birthday, they decided to try out RV living and purchased a 34 foot fifth-wheel trailer which became their home for two years as they traveled across the

country. When they decided to settle down to a less nomadic lifestyle, they set their sights on Portland and began house hunting. They hoped for a site with a bit of land since one of Leanne’s retirement goals was to garden. As a child, she remembers her grandparents listing the items at each meal that came from the garden, a tradition that she affectionately calls “the Count”. At the time Portland didn’t offer much in the way of agricultural space, so they set their sights on Hood River. Eventually she and Mike snagged a rental condo near the center of town, and Leanne joined the Master Gardeners. Soon after that they purchased their present home, which offers ample space for raised beds, a native garden, and a small nut orchard.

When she’s not gardening, Leanne

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and Mike enjoy biking, hiking, taking in foster dogs, and entertaining friends they’ve met from their traveling days.

Leanne’s goal as our new president is to finally get back to normalcy after the long Covid disruption. Her

advice to new MG’s is to take advantage of the social opportunities offered by CGMGA. As we learn how to navigate in the post-pandemic days, we hope there will be more social events and opportunities for in-person interactions. With her vast travel experience, Leanne will be the ideal person to guide the chapter on the journey back to normal.

Gardening Resources

 Hood River County Master Gardeners

 blogs.oregonstate.edu/cgmga/

 Growing Your Own

 OSU Publications

 Monthly Gardening Calendars

 PNW Handbooks

 HortSense

 UC IPM

 OSU Gardening

 WSU Gardening

 Weed Identification

 Columbia Gorge Cooperative Weed Management Area

 GardenSmart: A Guide to Non-Invasive Plants

 Where to Pickup a free copy of GardenSmart

 Oregon Flora

 https://blogs.oregonstate.edu/mgcoordinators/

 Transplanting Established Trees & Shrubs

Click

Oregon State University Extension Service prohibits discrimination in all its programs, services, activities and materials on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, familial/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, genetic information, veteran’s status, reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.

CENTRAL GORGE MASTER GARDENER ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER

From the desk of your CGMGA President .

A Tale of Two Journeys

December. My term as CGMGA president is nearly done. But before I close the laptop on this chapter of my life, I’d like to share a few final words–not about gardening, but about growing.

When I turned 65 I decided to hike a section of the PCT. It probably wasn’t a wise decision, given that I had no prior backpacking experience. Still, I reasoned, I’d been walking for 64 years–how hard could it be? But when I hefted that fully-loaded pack for the first time, I wobbled under the weight of what I had undertaken: how was I going to make it even one mile, let alone 93? I envied those experienced hikers I encountered on the trail–they seemed so strong and confident. But with each mile hiked and each dehydrated meal eaten, my pack grew lighter, and so did my spirits. And then there were the trail angels, those thoughtful people both seen and unseen who cheered me on with their kindness. At the end of the trek I thought I’d be elated; instead, I felt a little sad. It had been a challenging journey, but it had also been a good one. I learned so much, and I’ve carried it with me whenever I feel overwhelmed by a challenge.

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Month at a Glance

https://calendar.google.com/calendar/ u/0/r/month/2021/12/1?tab=rc&pli=1

December 3: Saturday: 10-12pm: Holiday Greenery Event in our greenhouse

December 14: Wednesday 10-12pm: CGMGA Exec Comm Mtg (via zoom, contact Christie Bradley for link)

December 16: Friday: Deadline for submissions to the January CGMGA newsletter

Work Parties:

Library Garden: Friday: December 16: 911am

CGMGA & OMGA

Three years later I embarked on a journey of a different sort: president of CGMGA. It probably wasn’t a wise decision given that I had no presidential qualities or experience. Still, I reasoned, I’d been sitting in meetings most of my adult life–how hard could it be? But when I clicked the Zoom link for that first EC meeting, I wobbled under the weight of what I had undertaken: how was I going to make it through one month, let alone 12? I envied those who had led the charge before me–they seemed so competent and confident. But with each meeting completed and each newsletter submission written, my heart felt lighter and my confidence grew. And then there were the garden angels–the wonderful fellow Master Gardeners who

gave me advice when I asked and encouragement when I needed it. It’s been a challenging experience, but it’s also been a good one: I’ve learned so much about patience, persistence, and the power of kindness and support.

So here we are at the Almost End. Don’t worry: there will be a peaceful transfer of power, I guarantee it. But before I turn over the orange President bar to Leanne, I want to thank all of you who have helped me grow this year. Thank you for your support and for everything you do to support our chapter. It has been both an honor and a privilege to work with you.

Anne

The CGMGA Recognition Event

About 50 Master Gardeners and guests turned out for the November 9 Recognition Event–and what an event it was! Leanne and her team of decorating experts transformed the institutional ambiance of the Senior Center to one that was warm, welcoming, and worthy of the first fully “normal” celebration since Covid. Paul Matalucci’s stunning centerpieces graced the tables, and the food table groaned with offerings ranging from pickled Dahlia bulbs to the more traditional deviled eggs and brownies.

Megan moderated a slideshow highlighting some of the key events of 2022. A special thank you to Kelsey Soltysiak for putting the slideshow together and to Eric for handling the technical aspects. Ace Hardware, Cascade Outdoor Store, Dickey Farms, and Good News gardening all contributed door prizes for the event. (And who could forget those vintage visors–what a blast from the past!)

But the real focus of the evening was celebrating the fourteen new MG’s who made it to the finish line, fulfilling the training and volunteer requirements and earning the coveted orange badge. They deserve a special shout-out for their persistence and dedication. Let’s give a round of applause to Mary Corl, Kaeley Dawson, (Continued on page 3)

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CGMGA & OMGA

Patricia Haupt, Jayne Hill, Lynda Ontiveros, Kim Pfautz, Rachael Pirkowski, Carmen Rinaldis, Ameilia Rouyer, Katie Schmidt, Christie Silverman, Kelsey Soltysiak, Taylor Stretch, and Jessica Temus.

And now…drumroll, please…the 2022 Master Garden Award Winners:

In the spring, three dedicated MG’s from our chapter were selected for recognition at Mini College. The CGMGA Master Gardener of the Year award went to Sandy Montag in recognition of her outstanding dedication and service. She has been a key contributor to all things MG, including the plant sale, curriculum planning, and the new pollinator demonstration garden. Linda Kaufman and Paul Matalucci both earned the Behind the Scenes award for their quiet but important contributions to our chapter. Paul helped establish a social media presence for the CGMGA and starred in instructional videos on seed starting and transplanting. Linda was instrumental in organizing the plant clinic database, allowing us to look at problems and usage by category and streamlining the plant clinic process.

At the chapter level, Sandi Rousseau received the CGMGA Projects Award for her organizational skills and dedication to the plant sale which this year was both online and in person. The Special Services Award was awarded to Nancy Slagle, Bill Sturman, and the Parkdale Garden Club in recognition of their longtime dedication to the Parkdale Memorial Garden. Leanne Hogie, Kathy McGregor, and Dennis Carlson received the Community Outreach Award for their work with Radio Tierra, providing much-needed outreach to the Spanish speakers in our area. Eric Bosler was the recipient of the Chapter Educator Award for his efforts to facilitate and improve the delivery of educational opportunities and for ensuring that we can continue to meet the challenge of remote learning going forward. Margo Dameier was recognized as the Communications Award Recipient for her work documenting and promoting the CGMGA program. Last, but far from least, is the Golden Trowel Award, given to a new Master Gardener for showing dedication above and beyond the requirements. This year’s recipient, Kelsey Soltysiak, brought her professional skills to the JEDI team and created a community asset map of potential and current partners with the MG program. She also created, among other things, a plant sale video and the recognition slideshow that we enjoyed at the celebration.

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Barbara Spezia, Norma Benson, Jayne Hill

Megan Wichersham

Anne Gehrig

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Finally, a huge thank you to Helga, Teena, Shari, and Margo for showing up early to help with set all who pitched in to clean the dining room at the end of the evening. It really was a night to remember.

Outreach award, Kathy McGregor, Dennis Carlson, Leanne Hogie

Outreach award, Kathy McGregor, Dennis Carlson, Leanne Hogie

Communications award, Margo Dameier

CGMGA & OMGA

Class of 2022, Taylor Stretch

r, Jessica Temus, Kelsey Soltysiak, Carmen Rinaldis, Jayne Hill, Kim Pfautz, Katie Schmidt, Particia Haupt, Mary Corl, back center, Rachael

Educator award, Eric Bosler

Golden Trowel award, Kelsey Soltysiak

CGMGA & OMGA

OMGA News

OMGA’s Annual Retreat will be December 2, 2022 from 3 to 5 pm. This is the time where we discuss and set goals for the next year. This is a great opportunity to learn the scope of OMGA without the business meeting……well maybe a little business! If you’d like to attend, ask Anny VanNatta or Eric Bosler to receive the zoom link that will be sent out in advance.

Proposed 2023 OMGA Meetings are scheduled on Zoom, the first Friday afternoons in March, June

September & November. There may be an in-person meeting once this year.

The next International Master Gardener Conference is set for June 18-22, 2023 in Overland Park, KS. For more information: https:// imgc2023.com

Anny VanNatta

Educational Tidbits

https://www.birdsandblooms.com/gardening/attracting-butterflies/butterflies-in-winter/ How Does a Butterfly Survive Winter?

Amy Grisak

Updated: Nov. 04, 2022

When the weather turns cold, you may wonder what happens to a winter butterfly. Find out where different butterflies go in the winter season.

https://www.audubon.org/news/10-fun-facts-about-wild-turkey

10 Fun Facts About the Wild Turkey

Super vision? Flowing beards? Spiral poo? Yeah, there's plenty to talk about when it comes to this American icon.

https://www.audubon.org/news/what

What Are Wattles For?

That flap of bumpy red skin hanging off a male turkey's face is both functional and fashionable.

Cj Flick

Holiday Greenery Event

Join us on Saturday, December 3, 10-12pm, for the 12th annual Holiday Greenery Event. For those who have never participated, this is an opportunity for you to get creative and make swags and wreaths, with a little guidance from fellow Master Gardeners. We create for ourselves and also make a huge variety of items for the FISH Food Bank and WGAP as a service project for distribution. I have floral wire, though feel free to bring your own and any other items you might have to contribute, such as ribbon, wreath rings, and miscellaneous décor. Please collect a wide variety of greens, though standards are always great to start with. Please, no large branches! Smaller, pruned items are preferable. As you put your gardens to bed for the winter, consider saving and/or drying anything you think might look neat in a decorative project, including herbs, seed heads, rosehips and lichen. Recycling is encouraged and donations of any supplies including ribbon (especially 2" wired) are welcome. It doesn’t even need to be holiday colors. Even if you’re unable to come to Saturday’s wreath making, any contributions of greenery would be appreciated. We need and appreciate donations of a variety of greenery. Please leave items in the shade structure or beside the greenhouse. Thanks!! We always appreciate talented bowmakers who can make up some bows in advance and also be on hand through much of the day.

Here’s a link to a YouTube tutorial on making a nice bow: https://youtu.be/qkagWTpAqA0. Last year, Julie Ueland taught us this method and we’ll use it again this year, especially if we don’t have anyone step up to create bows for us. We’ve got lots of wired ribbon, primarily 2” wide. That said, the only major difference is

Library Garden

The next library garden work party is Friday, December 16. Stop by and see the first stage of renovation if you have a chance. Contact Norma at 509-969-2187 with questions or comments.

that we use floral wire rather than zip ties to hold the ribbon/bow together. That gives us wire to use when attaching the bow to our creations.

If there’s anyone willing to help create bows prior to our Dec 3 event, please contact Shari at sharibosler@hotmail.com and I’ll make sure to give you a supply of ribbon to do so.

Learning Garden Updates

It may be the quiet season for gardening, but in the learning garden the buzz of bees has been replaced by the buzz of Master Gardeners as they lay the groundwork for the new pollinator garden. When it’s completed, this new educational feature will provide a (Continued on page 8)

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welcoming habitat for a diverse array of birds, bees, and butterflies. But, as with any new garden, there’s a lot of planning that precedes the planting.

At the November 3 work party, Jen, Joanne, Margo, Norma, Sally, Sandy, Sandi, and Anne dug up old plantings of lavender, rose, and Russian sage to make room for the new pollinatorfriendly plants that will be installed come spring. They also pruned the smoke tree, fig, and dogwood, refreshing the appearance of the entire area around the ecolawn. Next time you’re at the extension office, check out the clean new look.

Next steps–coming soon include installing edging around the ecolawn to prevent it from usurping the space intended for plants and applying a heavy load of compost to enrich the newlysolarized soil. We’re hiring a professional to do the arduous work of installing the 10-inch deep edging, but we’d love some help with the compost application. If you’re interested, please contact Sandy (sandyhmontag@gmail.com) or Anne (agehrig5@hotmail.com).

Plant Sale

by Sandi Rousseau

The first organizational meeting for the 2023 Plant Sale was recently held with 13 Master Gardeners attending. What a great group that is enthusiastic about our sale for 2023! Anyone can still join in, and there are volunteer jobs that are not extensive. The next meeting will be in January, and a zoom link will be sent out to everyone.

We are off to a good start after completing our big push to standardize our trays and pots and select Shopify as our ordering platform last year. So we know more about what worked and did not work as well as we would like and can address those changes.

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Currently our seed selection committee is meeting to finalize the choices and ordering process. Seed starting work parties will likely start in late February or very early March, and the date for the sale is May 13, 2023. So mark your calendars now to be sure you are around for the fun on the day of the in person sale!

Seed to Supper Update

December seems an odd time to start planning to put seeds in the ground, but the quiet winter months give us time to lay the groundwork for spring planting. Megan and Anne have been involved in a Seed to Supper subcommittee at the state level, evaluating program delivery and improving community outreach.

A bit of background: Seed to Supper was created in partnership between the Oregon Food Bank and Oregon State University Extension. In 2022, OSU assumed responsibility for coordinating the program. The goals are essentially the same, but in the transfer agreement, OSU committed to intentionally communities that disproportionately experience hunger and food insecurity. With this charge in mind, the

JEDI Update

Our JEDI group (Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion) was able to make great progress in identifying new areas where CGMGA could do more to encourage and support gardens and gardeners. important area was more outreach to the Hispanic community in Spanish. We launched a program in Spanish on Radio Tierra called La Jardineria and Dennis Carlson, Kathy McGregor and Leanne Hogie were able to develop their DJ skills as they shared gardening knowledge. The Plant Clinic question form was also available in Spanish for the first time (thanks Kathy), and our urging and example may have helped OSU

subcommittee is working to put these recommendations into practice.

The delivery may look a bit different, but project goals are the same: “giving adult gardeners the tools they need to successfully grow a portion of their own food on a limited budget.” By the time this newsletter hits the press, Megan, Anne, Christie, Eric, and Kaeley will be putting together the nuts and bolts of the program and tuning the curriculum and delivery as needed to accommodate the new requirements. If you’d like more information, check out this link: https:// extension.oregonstate.edu/seed-supper

finally make most of its gardening resources available in Spanish and multiple languages!

We started making connections with the Native American gardening community, are developing a tool lending library and are mapping out our current community connections to enable us to evaluate other areas that could use more attention. All of these activities could use more volunteers (we are inclusive after all) in the coming year. But we are taking a break for the holidays and will resume our JEDI activities in February. Onward!

Leanne