Garden Events & Classes

EVENTS

July 14, 6-9pm – Joy Creek Birthday Celebration, Joy Creek Nursery (Scappoose)—A summer soiree will celebrate the milestone 20th anniversary of Joy Creek Nursery, a retail and mail order specialty nursery. Enjoy live music and light refreshments in their twilit gardens. The retail yard will also be open for those of you who are inspired to shop.

July 14-15 – Oregon Lavender Festival—Dozens of lavender destinations (including Red Ridge Farms, Dundee) throw their doors open to the public so that visitors can experience Lavender in Oregon firsthand by touring lavender farms, lavender nurseries, and lavender celebrations of all kinds.

July 20-29 – Annual Waterlily Festival & Invitational Art Show, Hughes Water Gardens (Wilsonville)—This event also features Victoria and tropical waterlilies, display ponds and gardens, music and more. Opening Night celebration is July 20, 6:30-9pm.

July 21, 10am-4pm – Dog Days of Summer Garden Tour, sponsored by METRO and Washington County OSU Master Gardener's—Seven gardens plus demonstration gardens at the Washington County Fairgrounds feature sustainable practices and edible elements. Free event. No pets, please.

July 22, 1-4pm – 1st Annual Wine and Cheese in the Garden (Molalla)—Join Molalla Country Farm Loop members Out in the Garden Nursery, Goldin Artisan Goat Cheese, SuDan Farms, and Forest Edge Vineyard to relax in the tranquil serenity of the centuries old native oaks and inspiring gardens at Out in the Garden Nursery, 32483 S. Mathias Road, Molalla, Ore. Sip boutique wine, sample award winning goat cheese, nibble on delectable lamb, and visit some friendly goats. Wine, cheese, lamb, and plants will be available for purchase. Call Carol at 503-829-4141 or Carine at 503-810-1954 for more information.

July 28, 9:30am-4pm – Dancing Oaks Summer Garden Festival, Dancing Oaks Nursery (Monmouth)—This annual event is a benefit for the local Charter School. Enjoy the day meandering the magnificent garden; visit the many artists with beautiful items for sale; and listen to music under the gazebo of the pavilion. Delicious pies carefully made by the Pedee Women's Club will satisfy every sweet tooth. A benefit silent auction is in the plaza!

July 28-29, 10am-4pm – Art in the Garden, Garland Nursery (Corvallis)—Features more than 20 artists and crafters displaying and selling their wares, including watercolors, fused glass, unique jewelry, sculptures, mosaics and more. Wine tasting from three area vineyards will be available for purchase (noon-4pm).

August 5, 2-4pm – Japanese Maple Grafting Workshop, J Farms (Amity)—The American Conifer Society Western Chapter hosts the hands-on grafting workshop; you'll take home the trees you graft. The event is open to the public; you need not be a member of ACS to participate. J Farms is a wholesale specialty propagation nursery. Get a sneak peek at some new and exciting plant selections (see what a 'Penguin' is!). Members-only potluck follows. Check here for details.

August 5, 1-3pm – Dog Day in Summer, Joy Creek Nursery (Scappoose)—Events for the day include a round-table to discuss planting and designing with dogs in mind; bring your problems and ideas to share. In addition, games and contests for dogs and their owners are planned. These were the highlight of the day last summer! Even non-dog-owners got in the swing of it. Bring a donation of pet food for the Columbia County Humane Society and come ready for fun.

August 10-12 (store hours) – Annual Fuchsia Society Show & Sale, Portland Nursery (Stark Street location)

August 11, 2-5pm – Gather in 2 Gardens, a fundraiser for Great Plant Picks—Visit two picturesque gardens on Sauvie Island and spend time with the horticultural experts that make Great Plant Picks one of the premier plant education programs in the country. Enjoy wine and appetizers, bid on choice items in a silent auction and vie for exciting plant collections and an opportunity to tour Seattle's Elisabeth C. Miller Botanical Garden. Tickets are $40/person and are available at Garden Fever!, Joy Creek Nursery and online. Space is limited. For additional information, please contact Lucy Hardiman (503.231.0025, lucyflora@comcast.net).

CLASSES (unless noted, classes are free)

For a complete list of classes and workshops, visit the Web sites of these Garden Centers & Nurseries:

Al's Garden Center (Gresham, Sherwood, Woodburn)
Bauman Farm & Garden (Gervais) Cornell Farms (Portland)
Dennis' 7 Dees (Cedar Hills, Lake Oswego, Portland, Seaside)
Dancing Oaks (Monmouth)
Egan Gardens (Salem)
Farmington Gardens (Beaverton)
French Prairie Gardens (St. Paul)
Garden Fever! (Portland)
Garland Nursery (Corvallis)
Hughes Water Gardens (Wilsonville)
Joy Creek Nursery (Scappoose)
Oregon Garden, The (Silverton)
Portland Nursery (Portland)
Red Ridge Farms (Dayton)
Rogerson Clematis Collection (Lake Oswego)
Shonnard's Nursery/Florist/Landscape (Corvallis)
Smith Berry Barn (Hillsboro)
Terra Gardens Nursery & Bark (Salem)
Tsugawa Nursery (Woodland, Wash.)

July 14, 1pm – Clematis Myth Busting, The Oregon Garden (Silverton)—Linda Beutler, curator of the Rogerson Clematis Collection and author of Gardening with Clematis, will take the mystery out of this wonderful family of plants.

July 14, 10am – Flower Arrangements Using Roses, Heirloom Roses (St. Paul)—Bring a favorite vase and share in hands-on arranging using roses from our gardens as the main flower.

July 14, 10:30am-12:30pm – Summer Pruning for Fruit Trees & Espaliers, Garden Fever! (Portland)—The art and technique of pruning is a specialty of edible gardening expert Glen Andresen. At this lecture and garden tour, you will learn from his many years of experience and your new knowledge will reward you with a bountiful harvest. Lecture at Garden Fever, followed by a tour of Glen's urban home garden, 1.5 miles from the store. Participants must provide their own transportation to Glen's garden. To reserve a spot, call 503.287.3200.

July 14, 1pm – Attracting Wild Birds, Portland Nursery (Stark Street location)—One of the joys of a garden is the cheerful company it can attract to your backyard. Encourage birds to visit by providing appropriate habitat; Nikkie West is the coordinator for Portland Audubon's Backyard Habitat Certification Program. She will share ways to make your urban garden a more welcoming oasis for avian guests. Register here.

July 14, 1pm – Creating a Container Water Garden, Dennis' 7 Dees (Cedar Hills location)—Create a water feature with the experts from Oregon Aquatics. They will take you through the steps of building and maintaining a container water garden to enhance your home and garden that is customized to fit your style and budget. Cost: $25; fee can be used towards creating a container water garden or other purchase on the day of the class. Space is limited and registration is required to reserve your spot. Register here.

July 17, 10am-4pm – Willow Furniture Class, Farmington Gardens (Beaverton)—Brian and Samantha of The Willow Station will work one-on-one with each class member to ensure you create a beautiful product. They bring all the tools and materials needed and you are guaranteed to take home a finished project. Bring a bag lunch and a vehicle large enough to transport your finished piece of furniture. Cost: $10 registration fee to reserve your spot; a $125 materials and instruction fee is payable directly to The Willow Station on class day (charge is by the project so two can attend the class to work on the same project if desired). Free willow basket with enrollment. Space is limited. Call 503.649.4568 to register.

July 19, 5:30pm – Grilling in the Garden Dinner, French Prairie Gardens (St. Paul)—Delight in the bounty of seasonal flavors in the farm-inspired three course dinner while supporting sustainable local agriculture. Stroll the gardens before dinner with a glass of Oregon Wine or Craft Brews while listening to local musicians and enjoying a stunning Oregon sunset. Farm fresh produce and meat will be deliciously transformed into a succulent feast. Social hour: 5:30pm; dinner at 6:15pm. Cost: $30/person gratuity is not included); beer and wine sold separately.

July 21, 10am – Fall & Winter Vegetable Gardening, Shonnard's Nursery (Corvallis)—Learn about selecting, planting, and growing of vegetable crops for fall, winter, and spring (overwintering) harvests. Other seasonal vegetable gardening needs, such as late summer and overwinter cover crops for soil improvement and weed prevention will also be addressed.

July 21, 10am – Water Gardening in Containers, Hughes Water Gardens (Wilsonville)—Learn to create beautiful small water features for your patio or balcony.

July 21, 1pm – Herbs, Tsugawa Nursery (Woodland, Wash.)—Explore the wonderful world of herbs, including the ones that behave themselves and the ones that tend to "run away." You'll also learn how to use them in your landscape and some fun things you can create. Click here to register.

July 21, 1-2:30pm – Controlling Pests & Diseases in the Landscape, Portland Nursery (Division Street location)—Join Claudia Groth, The Garden Doctor, to learn great techniques and products to use for controlling pests and diseases in your ornamental landscape. Claudia will discuss various organic and chemical solutions for the most common issues found in the Oregon summer garden. She will also discuss great ways to prevent infestations and infections before they begin, and how to help ensure their survival. Click here to register.

July 21, 1pm – Pickling & Canning Class, Bauman Farms (Gervais)—Please call 503.792.3524 or email baumans@baumanfarms.com to register.

July 21, 10am (Lake Oswego location) & 2pm (SE Powell location) – Fairy Gardens, Mini Gardens & Mini-scapes, Dennis 7 Dees—Create your own miniature garden landscape. Class will cover selection of containers, appropriate small plants to use indoors or out, new design ideas, and care and maintenance of your creation. Cost: $25 fee to be used toward purchases for your project or towards purchasing a finished garden. Bring your own container if you have one you'd like to use. For Lake Oswego, register here, or here for the SE Powell class.

July 21, 10am-4pm – Willow Class, Garland Nursery (Corvallis)—Build your own willow furniture. Get the joy and satisfaction of knowing that the beautiful piece of willow furniture in your garden is a piece of art you created yourself. Cost (cash or check, please): $5 registration fee; $125 (for beginner project, choose from bench, chair, plant trough, end table, fern stand, or trellis) project fee to be paid day of class to The Willow Station. Please bring knee pads and sack lunch.

July 28, 2pm – Succulents for Planters, Living Wreaths and Rock Gardens, Egan Gardens (Salem)—Learn how to grow succulents in pots, in the ground or in living wreaths. Create beautiful displays using contrasting foliage colors and shapes.

July 29, 1pm – Gardening in the Shadows, Joy Creek Nursery (Scappoose)—A shade garden isn't just a combination of plants that perform well in shade. Greg Graves, former head gardener at the Miller Botanical Garden, will talk about creating levels of plants starting with the tall trees overhead going down to understory trees then shrubs and finally the groundcovers. A second factor in building a shade garden is developing seasonal interest to get more impact at certain times of the year. With the proper balance a shady garden can be interesting throughout the four seasons.

July 29, 11am – Building Ponds & Waterfalls, Hughes Water Gardens (Wilsonville)—Learn how to design and construct natural rock water features using flexible liner.

July 29, 1pm – Using Plants to Create Privacy, Portland Nursery (Stark Street location)—By hiding unsightly views or creating a cozy private space, living screens beautifully solve common problems of the urban garden. Magi Treece of Living Structures has years of experience in landscape design and will share some creative options and help with finding the right screen plant for your space. Register here

August 4, 1pm – Fruit Canning Class, Bauman Farms (Gervais)—Please call 503.792.3524 or email baumans@baumanfarms.com to register.

August 5, noon – What to do in the Garden in August, Garland Nursery (Corvallis)

August 11, 1pm – Carnivorous Plants: Murderous Vegetables with Barry Rice, The Oregon Garden (Silverton)

August 12, 1pm – Living Walls, Portland Nursery (Stark Street location)—The textures of low-growing and drought-tolerant plants can be even more striking when they are hanging at eye-level on a wall or fence, creating a pice of living art. Ryan Seely of Little Prince of Oregon, a wholesale grower, will share the basics of growing vertically. Register here.