ENJOYMENT AND EDUCATION

Greg Aronoff's December 5 posting on The OSU Extension Service and Professional & Continuing
Educational site reminded me of the enjoyment and knowledge I have gained through the reading of all the postings. [https://tinyurl.com/LevelUpClasses]

The posting on December 5 extended an invitation to a free, guided webinar on Tuesday, December 13 in the evening on gathering winter greens and creating a winter arrangement.  Register at: DIY: Bringing nature in for the winter [https://extension.oregonstate.edu/mg/metro/events/diy-bringing-nature-winter-season-0]

 In the same posting, Chal Landgren, a Christmas Tree specialist with OSU Extension busts 7 myths regarding home care of your tree.  Who knew there is a myth about adding vodka in the water?  An answer was "only if you want to waste it".

If you aren't signed into the monthly postings I would urge you to sign up.  Contact pace@oregonstate.edu.  Not all postings are relevant to our side of the mountains.  An increased readership from Central Oregon, as well as other areas of the state,  would hopefully encourage a more statewide horticulture coverage.

Another on-line treasure is the OSU Garden Ecology Lab site.  In the summer of 2021 I followed and printed out the 10 week study of pollinators.  I have them all in a file folder and use the info as a guide for choosing plants [https://blogs.oregonstate.edu/gardenecologylab/]

The complete 10 week series from 2021 on Oregon Native Plants for Pollinators is available with fantastic field photos, culture notes plus an area map where you will find them growing. 

Bees were the topic in the October 2022 posting.  If that posting didn't answer your questions, you have 30 more postings on bees that you can access.  Eighteen postings can be found on Beneficial Insects.  In total there are 20 different categories to explore.  

If you have been fence-sitting over the issues of mixing native plants with your favorite perennials and annuals I suggest you read Douglas W. Tallamy's 'Nature's Best Hope'.

It is hard for many gardeners to be convinced that a shift in landscape design is necessary.  There are many reasons and we have heard them all.  BUT, have we taken them seriously?  AND, being the hopeful optimist that gardeners are, we won't feel a shift is necessary until it hits in our own landscape in some way.

Tallamy's first book, 'Bringing Nature Home' updated in 2009, certainly brought forward the importance of plantings in nature.  It was akin to a mini Horticulture course introducing many different aspects of nature.

'Nature's Best Hope' has a much stronger impact with his choice of words and his more simplistic explanation of exactly why we should try to keep a brush pile or why we shouldn't pull every weed in sight.

The book is a wonderful read and certainly encourages us to incorporate some of his thoughts and methods into our own gardening style.

Maybe a good addition to your Christmas wish-list.