Biweekly Update - July 22, 2025
- Brenda Bye
- Jul 22
- 5 min read
President’s Message
☀️ Many of you are aware of the Garden Ecology Lab, but for those of you who are not, I wanted to highlight the work that is being done there. The Garden Ecology Lab is the initiative of Gail Langellotto, Ph.D., and it focuses on how the home garden supports biodiversity in the community. Research is being done by graduate and undergraduate students. Their research is highlighted in short blogs and the information is excellent. Several more blogs have been added and links to this research will be shared with you in an upcoming newsletter.
BCMGA is a member of the Garden Ecology League which supports the work of the Garden Ecology Lab (GEL). As a member of the League, we will be receiving a hardcopy of the blogs that have been produced through the GEL. For those of you who work at the desk, look for those to arrive in the near future.
There is also something going on with our native Oregon white oaks (Quercus garryana) in the mid-Willamette Valley. I noticed tip dieback (called flagging) in my white oak and talked with ODF and also consulted Dan Blanchard, Director of the OSU Arboretum. Dan found the answer in an article in OSU Today that came from the Department of Forestry. The good news is that this condition is usually not fatal to the trees and they should rebound in coming seasons. The condition is caused by the oak twig gall wasp (Bassettia ligni), and the flagging can be exacerbated by squirrels who feed on the larvae in the galls. This activity strips the cambium layer of the twig causing more severe damage. We may be getting questions about this. If you would like more information, here is the link.
From Paula Lupcho, BCMGA President
BCMGA Membership News
☀️BCMGA Summer Garden Tours - There is one garden tour remaining for the summer of 2025. Join Vice President Laura Horsey and your fellow Master Gardeners at the beautiful Japanese Healing Garden designed by Hoichi Kurisu. For more information about this garden see the Kurisu International webpage. An email was sent on 7/20/25. Please RSVP to VP Laura Horsey.
Date: Wednesday, August 6, 2025
Time: 6:30 PM
Location: The Japanese Healing Garden, 505 Mullins Dr, Lebanon Oregon
Meet at the Boulder Falls Hotel patio gazebo
☀️Annual BCMGA Summer Picnic - Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at 5:00 PM at Avery Park in Corvallis. More details will be announced soon.
☀️Health reminder from fellow MG Sandy Willis. Master Gardeners who spend extra time in the great outdoors should be vigilant about ticks this season. Another MG had a tick bite near Newport in June and later developed the classic bullseye rash, headache and joint stiffness of Lyme disease. Protect yourself with appropriate clothing and tick checks with immediate tick removal. If you develop symptoms of Lyme disease please seek care immediately for antibiotics.
Desk Training is Open
Desk trainers are now available for all trainees and veteran Master Gardeners who would like a refresher on desk procedures. The desk is open Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to noon and from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 pm. For trainees, these count toward your 20 hours of public outreach. For veteran MGs, these hours count toward your volunteer service hours for recertification. Go to 2025 Signup Genius.
Volunteer Opportunities
These activities are approved by OSU Extension for volunteer hours
☀️Farmers Market Clinic Table Needs Help This Weekend - There are two events happening this Saturday related to the Farmers Market Clinic Table. Certified MGs are needed to assist the trainees who have already signed up. Please sign up ASAP to keep this important public contact going strong using the SignUpGenius . We hope to see you there!
If you have questions contact Elaina Bauer at elainambauer@gmail.com
☀️ Garden Future Tabling - Garden Future is an OSU Project that aims to increase resilience in a changing climate. Through events, storytelling, and knowledge-sharing, we aim to connect with the public, listen to their experiences, and empower them with actionable steps for gardening in a changing climate. The Garden Future material is being featured at tabling events around Linn and Benton County. For more information on the Garden Future Project please see this OSU Extension webpage there is also a Volunteer Guide PDF available. Email Otillia for more information.
Benton County Fair with the Demonstration Garden:
Date: 7/30/25-8/2/25
Time: shifts from 11:00 am – 8:00 pm
Location: 110 SW 53rd St, Corvallis, OR 97333
Volunteers Needed: 1-2
Sign up Link: Benton County Fair Signup Genius comment: garden future
William L. Finley National Wildlife Refuge
Date: 08/22/25, 09/27/25
Time: 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Location: William L Finley National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center
26208 Finley Refuge Rd, Corvallis, OR 97333
Volunteers Needed: 4
Topics: Plant clinic, garden future
Sign Up Link: Finley Wildlife Refuge Signup Genius
☀️ July Propagation Workshops at PHS - There is one propagation workshop remaining on July 25 and it still has 4 openings! See the SignUp Genius for more details.
☀️ Demonstration Garden at the Benton County Fair: Trainees and veteran Master Gardeners are welcome to join Demo Garden Volunteers to interact with fairgoers. Be prepared for hot weather. You can be dedicated to “Garden Future” as mentioned above if you like as well. Here is the link again: Benton County Fair Signup Genius
Continuing Education Opportunities
Approved for CE by OSU Extension
☀️ Growing Oregon Gardeners OSU Level Up Series - These free online webinars are the 2nd Tuesday of the month at noon. The series runs from April through September 2025. For details and registration are available on the Extension website.
Extension and Community News
☀️ Benton County Fair wants your entries. Share your gardening skills in the floral and land products division. Or let your baking and fiber arts skills shine. The Benton County Public Information Office sent the following information to Benton County Master Gardeners.
Calling All Growers to the Benton County Fair
Did you know that all community members in Benton County can compete in the Benton County Fair's All Comers contest? Whether you're growing florals, food, or houseplants, canning, cooking, baking or just appreciating, the fruits of your labor are worth showcasing! You could win a few bucks and bragging rights galore — find out more at bit.ly/all-comers-MG. We look forward to seeing you there!
☀️ Looking for Local Pollinator Gardens to Join Garden Ecology Study - Taylor Janecek is a new Ph.D. student in the Garden Ecology Lab, who is looking for pollinator gardens in Eugene, Corvallis, and Portland metro. Taylor will be identifying the plants in each garden, to get a better sense of what gardeners are planting, what pollinators these plants support, and the standing crop of forage resources in OR pollinator gardens. Please see the Garden Ecology Lab Blog to register.
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