Marion County Master Gardeners Association

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For Theresa Lee, the best part of being an Oregon State University Extension Master Gardener volunteer is the community.

“It’s like having a built-in friend community where everyone has a base love of gardening,” she said. “We share stories, new gardening tips, problem solve, and partake in unexpected learning.”

A retired forester, Theresa finds peace in gardening and values how the Master Gardener Program helps people stay informed about emerging issues, from invasive jumping worms to how climate change is impacting gardens across Oregon. She especially appreciates the program’s Garden Future initiative, which creates “a friendly, non-judgmental way to talk about how the climate is changing our gardening.”

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the OSU Extension Master Gardener Program. We’re collecting and sharing stories from volunteers across Oregon. If you are a Master Gardener volunteer — or ever have been — we would love to hear from you. Share your story with us! beav.es/mgstory

Take a look at what's happening at the Marion County Demonstration Garden this month! 👀
Register here: https://marioncomga.org/calendar/category/public/

Totally buggin’: Creating beautiful landscapes that support beneficials While bugs can often be seen as annoyances and consumers of our food, they play a vital role in how ecosystems function, form, and feed us, as well as affect plant evolution, agricultural systems, and backyard habitat. We'll dive into the flowers, host plants, and habitat structures that can...

Fertilizer aisle got you scratching your head?

From vegetables and fruit trees to berries and flowers, this Oregon State University guide breaks down what plants need, when to fertilize and how much to apply.

Because more fertilizer isn't always better.

Learn more, https://beav.es/f8A.

Not all bugs are bad for your garden.

Learn how flowers, host plants and habitat features can support pollinators and other beneficial insects while creating a landscape that looks great, too.

Join the free Growing Oregon Gardeners webinar on June 9.

Register, https://beav.es/f8c.

Ariolimacidae Banana slugs are an iconic species for the Pacific Northwest. They come in a variety of colors: yellow, green, gray, reddish brown, and even white. All color forms are found with and without spots. They eat dead plant materials and fungi. Found in Oregon on the west side of the Cascades to the coast, and in Umatilla county. If they find themselves in your garden they will likely feed on your vegetables but should not become a serious pest. Banana slugs are a very beneficial species because they help break down decomposing vegetation and return the nutrients to the soil.

Fun fact: they’re known for gnawing their mate’s p***s off after mating.
You’re welcome.

Photo courtesy of Oregon Department of Agriculture

There is still time to register for this great workshop! Register here: https://marioncomga.org/calendar/category/public/

There are more than 40,000 species of gastropods in the world. Oregon is home to at least 124 species of land slugs and snails — and here are 22 of them.

From giant banana slugs to tiny snails with delicate spiral shells, Oregon’s gastropods come in an astonishing range of colors, shapes and textures. Some are major garden pests. Others help break down decaying vegetation and recycle nutrients back into the ecosystem.

This beautiful poster was created by the Oregon Department of Agriculture using photography by Thomas Shahan, and yes — you can actually buy one.

Explore Oregon Department of Agriculture field guide posters: https://www.odaguides.us/

What's coming up in June? You know you want to be there! Register here: https://marioncomga.org/calendar/category/public/