Benton County
Master Gardener Association
BCMGA Membership Meetings
Membership meetings are open to members of BCMGA, Master Gardeners, and trainees, as well as the public. These meetings are great opportunities to get acquainted with the Benton County Master Gardener community and learn something new at the same time. Meetings occur in January, February, March, April, May, and October. Each meeting includes a presentation that counts toward continuing education recertification hours.
Meetings may be attended via Zoom, but we encourage you to attend in person and enjoy social time before and after the meeting. Coffee and tea are provided, and you are welcome to bring a treat to share. We have a raffle for those who attend in person. You receive 1 raffle ticket for attending, 2 tickets for wearing your badge, and 3 tickets if you wear your badge and bring a treat.
Meetings are in the Sunset Room in the Sunset Building at 4077 SW Research Way, Corvallis, OR 97333. Doors open at 6:30pm and the program starts at 7:00pm. Use the entrance on the east side of the building because all other doors to the building are locked at night.
Can't attend the meeting? Find recordings of the speaker presentations at the BCMGA YouTube channel. Recordings are generally posted within one week of the meeting date.
2026 Meeting Dates
Monday, February 23, 2026
February Benton County Master Gardener Member Meeting
BCMGA Member Meetings resume in February - on the fourth Monday, February 23. We will have a live remote speaker from Washington state (on Zoom only). Stay safe and snug but join us! The Zoom link will open at about 6:30, and we expect to start the program at 7:00 pm. Mark your calendars.
The topic:
Mycorrhizae – The Fungal Infection your Plants will Love
You’ve probably seen them before – those white threads too long and slender to be roots yet intimately associated with the root system of your landscape and garden plants. The threads are fungal hyphae, and their association with many plant species are collectively called mycorrhizae. Before you grab the fungicide, you’ll want to know how these fungal partners help your plants survive and thrive. We’ll also discuss the gardening practices that help, or hurt, mycorrhizal populations.
The speaker:
Dr. Linda Chalker-Scott, Ph.D. in Horticulture from Oregon State University, is Washington State University’s Extension Urban Horticulturist and an Emerita Professor in the Department of Horticulture. She is a certified arborist and consulting arborist. Linda conducts research in applied plant and soil sciences and publishes scientific articles and university Extension fact sheets. She is also actively involved in enhancing scientific literacy by teaching how to assess the credibility of information from print and online sources.
Linda also is the award-winning author of five books and was featured in a video series – The Science of Gardening – produced by The Great Courses. She also is one of the Garden Professors – a group of academic colleagues who educate and entertain through their blog and Facebook pages. Linda has been recognized by Garden Communicators International, the National Association of County Agricultural Agents, and the International Society for Arboriculture.
Details:
A Zoom link will be available closer to the event via the BCMG newsletter, website and email.
Laura Horsey
Vice President, Benton County Master Gardener Association
laura.horsey@gmail.com