Learn Gardening Skills with the Clackamas County Master Gardener™ Volunteers

You are invited to a morning of stimulating gardening classes and demonstrations at our “Fall into Gardening” event. This year’s free event is open to all and takes place from 9 am to noon on Saturday, October 12^th at the Milwaukie Center: 5440 SE Kellogg Creek Drive, Milwaukie.  https://ncprd.com/milwaukie-center

This popular annual event offers the latest researched based ideas through classes, demonstrations, educational displays, a gardening questions clinic, and free soil pH testing service. Saturday’s classes will present timely, informative and entertaining topics for gardeners. https://clackamascountymastergardeners.org/fall-into-gardening/ Here’s the line-up for you to check out:

9:00-9:40:  The Joy of Houseplants -  Laura Eyer  Bring the outdoors in with houseplants! These plants are beautiful and can help create a personal oasis for you to enjoy. When you are looking for your newest plant, there are a few things to consider: Appropriate light exposure, watering schedule, temperature and environment (potting medium, size of container).  Laura will show different houseplants and the conditions that each needs to thrive and be happy.  **This class ends with a door prize drawing for several of Laura’s favorite house plants for some lucky attendees!

9:45-10:25:  Beyond Grass Lawns -  Carole Hardy  Carole presents alternatives to grass lawns and methods for replacing them. Learn how to remove grass lawns and alternatives to grass for lawn areas. Also learn what to plant instead of lawn to increase diversity of plants, provide homes for wildlife and reduce water needs in urban yards.

10:30-11:15:  De-Bunking Common Garden Myths -  Jane Collier  Did you know that coffee grounds are not acidic or that Epsom salt will not prevent blossom-end rot in tomatoes?  Do you know why we do not suggest putting rocks in the bottom of a container?  There is a lot of misinformation in the gardening world.  It takes serious research and scientific study to find the best methods to use in your home garden.  This class will de-bunk some of the more popular gardening myths.

While classes begin at 9 am, the doors will open at 8:30 am for early birds who wish to view educational displays and free handouts. Or you can visit Master Gardener diagnosticians who will identify mystery plants, diseases or pests - bring photos and specimens to enhance problem description and diagnosis. Master Gardeners will provide answers, including recommended remedial actions, that same morning. Plan now to attend!! 

Fall is the ideal time to test soil pH. Soil pH affects availability of soil nutrients for plant growth and is especially important to success in growing vegetables and blueberries. Each client may submit up to four soil samples. Instructions on collecting soil samples:  https://clackamascountymastergardeners.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/testing-soil-ph.pdf

Master Gardeners are trained volunteers, educated through Oregon State University Extension Service to offer the local community reliable, relevant and reachable gardening information.  Fall into Gardening is a program of the Clackamas County Master Gardener ™ Association, offered in collaboration with and in support of the OSU Extension Service Master Gardener™ Program and through the support of the North Clackamas Parks and Recreation District, and the Milwaukie Community Center. For more information check our webpage: https://clackamascountymastergardeners.org/fall-into-gardening/

OSU Extension Service prohibits discrimination in all its programs, services, activities, and materials.   Accommodation requests related to a disability should be made by 9/20 to Catalina Santamaria at 503-655-8631 [email protected] 

We are on Facebook too! https://www.facebook.com/ClackamasCountyMasterGardeners