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While flowering plants provide pollinators with food, insects also require shelter for nesting and overwintering. Most bees and wasps create nests in the soil or within dead plant stems or in cavities in wood. Many butterflies, wasps, moths, and lady beetles seek shelter in leaf litter and brush piles. Master Gardener volunteer Janet Morlan assembled some tips to reduce garden labor and protect pollinators. This is part of the Neighborhood Planter Kiosk series. Read Janet’s post for three things you can do to provide nesting & winter habitat.
- Shout outs
- Cocoon Care volunteer opportunities
- This Thursday! Cocoon Care helper training 9/29 @10am-12pm OR 9/29 @6:30pm-8:30pm. This course is recommended for volunteers nd trainees who are helping at cocoon care events. Please email Ranee Webb at raneewebb66@gmail.com to RSVP. Report service as “educational event prep: indirect”.
- Trainees welcome! Volunteer to help at Fall 2022 Mason Bee Cocoon Harvesting Classes. 10/8-10/25 (sites and times, including Corvallis). Assist instructors, support learners, and sell supplies. Some shifts are evenings or weekends. Learn more and RSVP. Report service as “instructor: direct”.
- Volunteer service hours and continuing education are due 10/31. Log your participation here.
- Congratulations to the growing group of trainees who have completed learning and service goals to earn their first Master Gardener Volunteer Certifications! Save the date for graduation and celebration on Saturday, November 19 from 2-4 in Tangent.
- Are you a trainee who needs help completing your service? I can email you plant clinic questions on demand! Or Schedule a visit about volunteering or contact Elizabeth Records.
- Cocoon Care volunteer opportunities
- Extension News
- New publication! Native Plant Picks for Bees. EM 9363 Published September 2022.
- Updates! Northern Giant Hornet: A Potential Threat to Honeybee Colonies in Oregon EM 9297
- BCMGA News
- Meetings: Please see member email for meeting locations in person and/or online.
- 10/10 – BCMGA board meeting 3:00-5:00.
- 10/24 Membership meeting. The October membership meeting will be on Monday, October 24 rather than October 17.
- Vote for 2023 BCMGA board members
- Learn how to identify and report emerald ash borer with Jennifer Killian, City of Corvallis Urban Forester.
- NEW! From Jeff Stephens: The board has recently approved the Greenhouse Facility Committee! The committee is looking for several MG members to join in designing, building and maintaining our propagation growing space at Philomath High School. Please contact Jeff Stephens (Greenhouse Facility Chairperson) at jeffks023 (at) gmail.com if you would like to help, or if you have questions and/or ideas to share.
- Meetings: Please see member email for meeting locations in person and/or online.
- Volunteer opportunities:
- New! 10/7-10/27 (various sites and times) Dig & Divide days for the BCMGA Plant sale. Contact Leslie at lesliehauser107 (at) gmail.com to be added to the email list or for more information.
- Community science. Contribute data to research on gardens, plants, and wildlife. Explore and sign up. Many projects are remote and on your own schedule. Report the time as “citizen science: indirect”.
- Office Plant Clinic sign-ups open: The office is open to the public on weekdays, and volunteers can sign up for plant clinic shifts as desired, to answer client questions or practice skills. Sign up HERE.
- Demonstration Garden at 9:30 a.m. You can access the garden through the RV park entrance to the Fairgrounds. Sign-up is not required and drop-ins are welcome. If you would like more information, please contact Denise Saunders at vdenisesaunders@comcast.net or Dan Dix at ddix@verizon.net
- Find more opportunities on the Benton Volunteer Opportunities Page.
- Continuing Education
- New! 10/11-10/25 (various sites and times) Mason Bee Cocoon Care classes! If you have mason bees, learn how to triple their survival (and increase your fruit) through cocoon care. Join a FREE hands-on workshop taught by Master Gardener volunteers! If you are a returning volunteer who is new to this class you can report the time as continuing education. Learn more and RSVP.
- Growing Oregon Gardeners – Level Up 2022:
- October 11: Soil Fertility and Nutrient Cycling in Garden Beds & Home Landscapes
- November 8: Growing the Good Stuff: from Sweet Potatoes to Bitter Melons
- Find more HERE.
- Community news (Please note that anything in this section is not eligible for MGV volunteer service nor endorsed by Extension, but is mentioned as a courtesy to our community.)
- Your extra pots are needed by the Plant Sale team. You can drop them off behind the shed at the Demonstration Garden at the fairgrounds.
- 10/8/2022 Houseplant & cuttings swap. 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm. Albany Library, 2450 14th Avenue SE. FREE, drop in. Please bring cuttings and starts of healthy houseplants to share. (Note, volunteer plant clinic spots for this event are filled, and volunteers serving at this event CAN earn service hours. Attending the event as a guest is not eligible for MGV service, but we hope you’ll bring and share houseplant cuttings!)
