President’s Message
by Paula Lupcho
I have heard from OMGA’s Advocacy Chair about supporting HB2408 which is the bill requesting funding for the OSU Statewide Public Service Programs. This includes the OSU Extension Service. In 2023, a highly successful campaign was undertaken and Master Gardeners throughout the state were asked to contact their state legislators in support of full funding for OSU outreach programs. Once again, we are being asked to let our representatives know that we support full funding. You can call, write, or email your legislators. For more information about talking points or just to understand the pathway that a bill undergoes in Salem before being passed you can go to the following link on the OMGA website. Time is of the essence as the political process is already well underway. Thank you for supporting this effort.
BCMGA News
🌱BCMGA Annual Plant Sale Volunteer spots are now open! The sale is essential to funding the MG program we all love. It's the one time each year we ask everyone to rally together to make it run like a well-oiled machine. There’s a role for everyone—and it’s guaranteed to be loads of fun!
Check out the Signup Genius for openings or contact Leslie Hauser, Plant Sale Volunteer Coordinator with questions at (702)-340-6513.
Friday, May 2 - 8:00a-12:00p and 12:00p-4:00p volunteer shifts for set up
Saturday, May 3 - 8:30a-12:00p and 12:00p-3:30p volunteer shifts for the SALE
🌱 Call for Award Nominations - Do you know a Benton County Master Gardener who deserves recognition? Nominations are now open for the 2025 Master Gardener of the Year and Behind the Scenes awards!
Master Gardener of the Year honors a volunteer for outstanding dedication, leadership, and service. The award is based on years of service, association involvement, leadership with BCMGA, and outstanding and unusual service.
Behind the Scenes recognizes someone who quietly and unselfishly supports the program without being in the spotlight.
Submit nominations by April 7, 2025, to Michelle Brown. The Board will review submissions on April 14, 2025. The nomination form is available on the front page of the BCMGA website.
🌱Directory Update: The 2025 Membership Directory booklet is in the final stages of production. Membership Secretary, Michelle Brown will be mailing out the directory booklet, which contains information about activities and contact information for Board members, committee chairs, and members. The package also will include your membership card, which will include a sticker on the back with discounts to local nurseries.
🌱Mountain View Elementary School Garden Awarded a Grant! - Nancy Tovar and Susan Hoffman have been awarded a grant from Benton Soil and Water Conservation District to install a vibrant and sustainable pollinator garden at Mountain View Elementary School. The garden will feature native plants that attract a variety of pollinators, creating a dynamic outdoor classroom that fosters environmental awareness and conservation.
If you are interested in assisting with this project, contact Nancy Tovar: njtovar@gmail.com
🌱Join the CGET Leadership Team - The Community Garden Education Team plays a vital role in our mission to educate local gardeners about sustainable growing. We’re still looking for 1-2 more co-chairs to help lead this important work! Interested? Email CGET.BentonMG@gmail.com for details!
BCMGA Membership Activities
🌱Spring Social – Save the Date! All Benton County Master Gardeners and Master Gardener Trainees are invited to a Spring Social on Tuesday, April 8th, from 6:00–8:00 PM at the Benton County Extension Office.
This potluck event is a great chance to connect with fellow MGs and welcome our new trainees. If you’re able, please bring a dish to share—but if not, no worries! There will be plenty of treats for everyone.
🌱BCMGA Membership Meeting - The April Member Meeting is Monday, April 21st at 7:00, doors open at 6:30. Dan Blanchard will be giving a lecture titled “Herbaceous Perennials: Successful Design and Group Plantings.” Marisha Auerbach, who gave an interesting permaculture lecture earlier this month, has agreed to have a PDF of her presentation posted on the BCMGA website. Recordings of past meetings, including February’s talk by OSU’s Jim Myers are available on the BCMGA YouTube Channel.
🌱Save the Date – Wednesday, June 25th for our Member Tour at Leach Botanical Garden, Portland. The garden has significantly expanded and has been recognized as a "gem" in national publications. Tentative departure time is 10:00 am. The admission fee and the tour conducted by horticulture staff is approximately $10. Bring a bagged lunch to eat on the patio. For those who are interested, there will be an opportunity to visit the Rogerson Clematis Garden in West Linn on the way home. There is no charge for admission at Rogerson.
Please respond to this poll regarding possible attendance and transportation. Ridesharing will be available with personal vehicles or possibly 12-person vans from the OSU motor pool.
Volunteer Opportunities
These activities are approved by OSU Extension for volunteer hours
🌱Announcing a new BCMGA project at Letitia Carson School Garden!
We have a great, new opportunity to work alongside garden caretaker Rebecca Johnson at Letitia Carson School Garden at 2701 NW Satinwood St in Corvallis (formerly Wilson School)! BCMGA volunteers’ role in the garden will be providing advice and garden education to volunteers (school staff, parents, community members) and students.
Do you have a 30-minute workshop you’d like to lead for the Garden Club? Sign up for one (or more!) of the seven sessions April 7th through the week of May 22nd; 1st and 2nd grades will meet on Tuesdays from 2:30-3:30, and 3rd through 5th meeting Thursdays 2:30-3:30. The target is 20 members per group.
Join in April 5th, 12:00 pm for the season’s first work party. On the agenda: Top off raised beds with soil. Plan crops for the year. They plan regular work parties with an established volunteer base.
We would like to have a core group of Master Gardeners for this project; MG parents, grandparents, neighbors? Since this is a BCMGA project, you can record your volunteer hours!
Please let me know if you’re interested! Jennifer Klammer Jennifer.klammer@comcast.net, 541-602-0431
🌱Plant Propagation has Openings for Trainees - It’s time for the big pre-sale push! There is lots of work to do to have our plants healthy and looking good for the sale. Work is both outside and in the greenhouse so dress appropriately.
Sign up here: BCMGA 2025 Propagation SignUpGenius
🌱Calling All HousePlant Aficionados - CGET is looking for volunteers to lead a workshop on propagating houseplants. Houseplants are a popular way for college students to get introduced to gardening. Both Certified MGs and Trainees are encouraged to join the fun.
OSU Basic Needs Center, 1030 SW Madison
April 17th from 3-4 PM
Contact Cheryl Stratton Cheryl.stratton@comcast.net ASAP
🌱Help Needed at Plant Clinic - Plant Clinic is open year round, and questions will start increasing as the weather warms. Shifts are available on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. Check the new 2025 Signup Genius to grab a spot!
🌱Public Seed Library – Pop-Up Veg Clinics at the library are scheduled through June. These are a great, casual way to engage with local gardeners and give instruction on growing veggies and herbs, watering, fertilizing and so much more. There are dedicated Trainee volunteer spots starting in May. To sign up for Pop-Up Veg Clinics or to help with stocking the seed rack see the Seed Library SignUpGenius.
🌱Join the Community Garden Education Team and teach the community how to grow its own groceries! CGET has announced an exciting list of activities for 2025. These hands-on gardening workshops are some of our most popular every year. Trainees are encouraged to join in the fun too. Check out the CGET Signup Genius before the spots are all gone.
🌱Plant Sale Vegetable Propagation – The herbs and peppers are off to a great start and the tomatoes were planted last week. The coming weeks will include lots of transplanting and a bit of squash and cucumber seeding. There are a few spots for Session Leaders left to assist with instruction and quality control. Sign up via Signup Genius today!
Continuing Education Opportunities
Approved for CE by OSU Extension
🌱Spring into Gardening 2025 presented by Yamhill Master Gardeners on March 29, 2025 at Linfield University. The cost is $45 with classes on flowers, gardens and climate.
🌱2025 MG General Knowledge Classes available for CE Credit - Master Gardeners are invited to attend these trainee classes for 1 hour of CE horticulture credit. Trainees will have additional activities following these lectures.
Date: 4/3/2025 Entomology with Jessica Green
4/10/2025 Plant ID with Dan Blanchard
4/24/2025 Weed Science with Alec Kowalewski
Time: 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm
Location: Central Electrical Training Center (33309 OR-99E, Tangent, OR 97389)
Extension News
🌱If you need a replacement badge, now is the time! Please email Annie O’Shea to let her know.
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