CORVALLIS - Home gardeners with a little or a lot of experience can pick up practical pointers to make gardening easier at the annual "Insights into Gardening" workshop on Saturday, Feb. 12, at Oregon State University's LaSells Stewart Center.

The day-long event, sponsored by the Benton County office of the OSU Extension Service and the OSU Benton County Master Gardener Association, will feature an array of nine gardening classes, demonstrations, displays, and an on-site OSU Bookstore from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. with a 10 percent discount on all books and drawings for free books. Registration is $15.

Those registered may enroll in three of the following classes; class space is limited and registration is first-come, first-served. Topics include:

  • Tree fruit insects and diseases and how to maintain a healthy home orchard;

     

  • Small water features;

     

  • Living with wildlife;

     

  • Fruit trees for a sustainable home garden;

     

  • New veggies for the Willamette Valley;

     

  • Landscaping for curb appeal;

     

  • Beneficial pruning of fruit trees in your home orchard;

     

  • Metal garden art - trash to treasures;

     

  • Managing your landscape for beneficial insects.

The Native Plant Society, Nichols Garden Nursery, The Audubon Society, the OSU Extension Service, the Bonsai Society, Cascadia Monarchs, Chintimini Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, North American Rock Garden Society and many other local nurseries and educational groups will have informative displays up for the entire workshop.

Displays will include information on bats, bees and butterflies, well water testing, herbs, wildlife and insect identification. There will be a raffle, as well.

Registration forms and further information are available on the web at: http://extension.oregonstate.edu/benton/ Interested persons may also pick up a registration flyer at selected Benton County nurseries, garden suppliers, the Benton County Extension office in Corvallis (541-766-6750) or the Corvallis-Benton County Public Library.

Source: 

Julie Weiss, 541-738-1897

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