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Biweekly Update for April 14, 2026

President’s Message

BCMGA is full-on into spring—our busiest time of year. The indomitable Leslie Hauser is reporting all lights are green for our annual plant sale, now less than a month away on May 2. “The plants are fantastic—they are bigger and better this year,” she says, “and over 140 volunteers are already signed up to help.” 


I still remember taking photos of the interior of the fairground’s Solar Barn during setup at my first BCMGA Plant Sale as a Master Gardener. It was such a sight to behold. So much work invested, time spent, and plant knowledge gained—all devoted to an event beloved by locals. 

We’ve also got some exciting committee changes taking place this spring. Veteran Master Gardener Signe Danler has agreed to be our new co-chair of what’s now called the “Plant Question Tables Committee,” formerly known as the Farmers Market Committee. We’re so thankful to Signe for signing on. 


We’re trying out a new arrangement with OSU Extension this year, in which the wonderful Kiana Ringuette, OSU Extension’s Master Gardener program assistant, will partner with Signe as co-chair of the committee. Kiana will be handling all the administrative aspects of running BCMGA tabling events in Benton County—things like scheduling the markets; maintaining a library of materials, supplies, and equipment; establishing processes for getting the supplies to tabling events; overseeing SignUpGenius; and communicating with trainees.  


This year all tabling events, not just the Corvallis Farmer’s Market, will be coordinated under the umbrella of the newly named committee. Events that the Plant Question Tables Committee have committed to for 2026 include Thyme Garden’s Earth Day Celebration on April 19; The Corvallis Farmers Market on the last Saturday of each month starting in May; and Philomath Farmers Market on the second Sunday of most months—details pending.  Contact Signe Danler with any queries you might have for this committee.

Jill Lodwig

BCMGA President


Editor's Note: Beginning in this edition of the blog, there are newsletter items, volunteer opportunities and continuing education classes that appear in the emailed newsletter that will not appear on this public forum.

BCMGA Plant Sale - May 2, 2026

🌷BCMGAs’ Annual Plant Sale is just around the corner - less than a month away! We’re still looking for volunteers to help fill a few key roles:

  • Assist with loading and unloading plants

  • Loan a wagon for use during the event

  • Join the parking team

  • Help with cleanup at the end of the sale


Your support truly makes a difference, and we greatly appreciate it! If you have questions or need help signing up, please contact Leslie Hauser, Plant Sale Volunteer Coordinator, at lesliehauser107@gmail.com.



🌷Help us spread the word! The Outreach Committee is aiming to place as many yard signs as possible to promote the sale. If you still have a sign from a previous event, now is the perfect time to put it out. If you’re willing to display a sign in your yard—or know of a high-visibility location where one could be placed—please reach out to David King at daking9898@gmail.com


BCMGA Association News

🌷Awards Nomination Schedule Changed. Nominations for Master Gardener of the Year and Behind the Scenes will now be taken in September with final selections being made at the October Board of Directors Meeting. There will be more details on the website and in the newsletter as the date approaches. 


🌷BCMGA Membership Meeting Co-Vice Presidents, Laura Horsey and Christine Welsch welcome all BCMGA members, Master Gardeners and trainees to the next membership meeting. Wear your badge for an additional raffle ticket. Bring a treat to share to earn another raffle ticket. 


Monday, April 20, 2026 at Strength Training and Injury Prevention for Gardening

Location: Extension Building, Sunset Room (Use East side entrance). 

Format: Hybrid meeting (in-person and online via Zoom)

Doors open at 6:30 p.m., program starts at 7:00 p.m. Please arrive on time as doors will be locked during the meeting. If you are late please text the cell phone number posted by the doorbell


Speaker, Nick Beauchamp, is an instructor and trainer at Fitness Over Fifty. We plan to arrange the room so that attendees have the option to try out the exercises. All exercises are done standing and require no special equipment or attire. 


🌷BCMGA Hats Have Arrived - A big thanks to Alan Taylor for working on hats with our BCMGA logo. He will be selling them at the membership meeting on April 20th for $20.


🌷Plant Desk is Missing Books from the Library: Thanks to Judy Engelking and Louise Theberge for doing an inventory of our Master Gardener help desk. Unfortunately they found that we are missing several books and other reference material. Our library is NOT for loans. We rely on our collection to help give our clients the answers they need. So if you might have borrowed something, PLEASE return it! Just leave it on the desk, and we’ll put it back on the correct shelf.


🌷May BCMGA Board of Directors Meeting - Meetings are held monthly and are open to membership. 

Monday, May 11, 2026 at 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM 

Location: Benton Community Foundation 

340 NW 5th St., Corvallis, OR

Enter through the South door. Which will lock after the meeting begins. 

Continuing Education

These are approved by OSU Extension for CE Credit. 

🌷The Food Garden 2026 - This is a free lecture series at the Lebanon Senior Center, 80 Tangent Street in Lebanon. It is organized by our friends at Linn County Master Gardeners. If you are interested in attending please RSVP to Sheryl Casteen casteen@aol.com


April 18th – Easy Plant Propagation Methods– Heather Wright, Amy Phillipsen, Agrarian Sharing Network


April 25th - Confessions of a Serial “It’ll Fit” Gardener (and Other Misguided Efforts) – Jean Chapin, MG & Landscape Designer


May 2nd – Pests and Predators in your Garden – an insect pictorial from egg to adult – Sheryl Casteen, MG, Anna Sassalos, MG


Volunteer Opportunities 

These activities are approved by OSU Extension for volunteer hours

🌷Join CGET (Community Garden Education Team) in 2026 -  CGET provides handson garden education in our community and is a great place to share your passion about growing edible plants. There are spots for both trainees and certified MGs. Check out the CGET Signup Genius page for all of the opportunities available.  


We need volunteers for our Seed to Supper in the Garden workshops in April. We will have a prep session this weekend so we'd like volunteers to sign up soon. If you have any questions reach out to Lauren at CGET.BentonMG@gmail.com


🌷Public Seed Library Volunteer Opportunities are now posted. In addition to the lectures mentioned above the seed library also hosts vegetable clinic table sessions and seed sharing events. They also need help keeping their inventory stocked. 



🌷2026 Plant Desk Sign Up Is Picking Up With the Warmer Weather- Shifts at the plant desk are now available Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Answering questions at the Plant Desk is at the heart of our work as Master Gardeners and an invaluable resource for our community. Please sign up when you can! 2026 Signup Genius


🌷Demonstration Garden Committee is at Work Again - MGs and trainees are welcome at the Demonstration Garden. Work parties are happening every Wednesday morning, rain or shine, from 9:30 to 11:30 at the Benton County Fairgrounds. You can drive through the north entrance by the gatehouse and park near the Floral Pavillion. Bring gloves and outerwear appropriate to the weather. 

OMGA News 

🌷Joy of Gardening Silent Auction Items Needed - The Joy of Gardening Conference has a silent auction each year to support grants and scholarships. Our OMGA Representative, Cathine Whiting is collecting items from now until June 22nd. She can pick up items from members and deliver them to the conference. Items that did well at past conferences include: practical books and garden journals; garden art; garden supplies and books; handmade items such as quilts, towels, or planters; food baskets; and adventure or themed baskets


Please contact Catherine at catherinewhiting@gmail.com or 206-384-7841

Community Events and News 

These activities are not sponsored by BCMGA but are of possible interest to members


Corvallis’ Food Action Team Seeks 2026 Garden Hosts - This will be the 13th year for the Food Action Team Edible Garden Tour. If you would like your garden to be featured on this year's tour, please complete this form by the end of April 24th, 2026:  https://forms.gle/XHKixCy6jEWeFXRk8


2026 Vancouver Pollinator Festival - Saturday, June 20, 2026 from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. This is a FREE event and no registration is required. At the Pollinator Festival you will discover the fascinating lives of bees, butterflies, and other pollinators, and learn how to create habitats that help them thrive. Learn more at the website: https://pollinatorfestival.org/


Nature Neighbors Program - Benton County Soil and Water District in conjunction with the Greenbelt Land Trust is launching this new certification to empower Benton County residents to create vibrant, sustainable wildlife habitats right in their own backyards. Information session on


Wed, April 29th  6-7:30pm  |  Corvallis-Benton Public Library, 645 NW Monroe

 


 
 
 

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