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All 7 classes in these two series have been approved for Master Gardener Advanced Training

 

MORNING CLASS SERIES at 10AM

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Plant Select: Plants That Wanna Be Here! – Karen McCarthy

Saturday, April 6th, 10:00 a.m.

Are you overwhelmed thinking about how to transform your landscape to be a part of, rather than fight, our Central Oregon climate where we battle cold, wind, heat plus low precipitation? Plant Select is a nonprofit based in Colorado, a cooperative effort between Colorado State University and the world-renowned Denver Botanical Gardens. For over 25 years they have been identifying, doing trials and introducing plants for the landscape that not only look great but will also thrive in our harsh western intermountain landscapes. We’ll review a few old favorites plus some new introductions from Plant Select.

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Ins and Outs of Lawn-to-Xeriscape Conversion In Central Oregon – Dan Denning

Saturday, April 13th, 10:00 a.m.

As the impacts to water resources and frequency of drought conditions increase in Central Oregon, a common adaptive strategy to decrease water consumption in the home or business is to reduce the amount of non-functional high water need plant material and retrofit low efficiency irrigation systems. Commonly faced challenges to replacement include planning out the necessary steps, finding resources and setting yourself up for success by choosing appropriate plant and irrigation material to maintain your beautiful new landscape. This presentation will walk through the regionally appropriate steps to a conversion including: planning, demolition, soil prep, planting, irrigation and identifying available resources and rebates available.

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The Bees’ Needs: Make Your Garden A Sweet Spot for Pollinators – Nicole Bell
Saturday, April 20th, 10:00 a.m.

Backyards and urban landscapes can play a crucial support role for pollinators, especially when they contain the plants and other materials that provide food, habitat, and more for Oregon’s diverse bee population. Hear recent findings about garden bees from Nicole Bell, a member of Oregon State University’s Garden Ecology Lab. Not only will you leave with a baseline on what bees need to succeed, you will also learn practical information on what to plant for bees (ornamentals, native plants, or both?), navigating overwintering and drought in a pollinator-focused garden, and more!

Firewise Landscaping – Amy Jo Detweiler

Saturday, April 27th, 10:00 a.m. 

This class will cover an overview of the Home Ignition Zone, characteristics of fire-resistant and fire-prone plants, and generally firewise design principles and maintenance. Webinar will also include a case study and plant selections for Central Oregon.

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AFTERNOON CLASS SERIES at 1PM

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Epic Tomatoes from Your Gardens – Craig LeHoullier

Saturday, April 6th,  1:00 p.m.

This colorful, information packed workshop will take the participants through Craig’s nearly 40 year adventure with tomatoes, starting with a bit of history and lots about the array of varieties available, followed by a detailed journey from seed to culture to harvest and seed saving. He will ensure that the info in the workshop is focused on the particular challenges and conditions for our area. All questions that arise will be answered.

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Magnificent Monarchs and Other Oregon Butterflies – Amanda Egertson

Saturday, April 13th, 1:00 p.m.

Oregon is known as a migration pathway for western monarchs, and over 160 other butterfly species also call this region home. Please join us to learn about this insect’s amazing life history, their seasonal and overwintering patterns, a look at the beautiful array of butterflies in the area, and what you can do to support healthy butterfly populations in your backyards and beyond.

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Rodents and Other Adventures on a Residential Growth Frontier – Dana Sanchez

​ Saturday, April 27th, 1:00 p.m.

As neighborhoods grow, the overlap between home ranges of humans and wild creatures increases. We will cover basic ecology, or “facts of life” for several species that are commonly involved in interactions, and address tactics we humans can employ in efforts to avoid or manage prospective conflicts.

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