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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 13, 2015)
2C THE DAILY ASTORIAN • FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2015 Rediscovering a garden in the garden Q&A with Beverly Arnoldy and Betsy Millard Q: What is the aim or purpose of the Discovery Gar- den? When was it started? A: The Discovery Garden was started during the Lewis & Clark Bicentennial and was conceived as a place to high- light the native plants that the Corps of Discovery encoun- tered during their time here. The garden is just behind the Columbia Pacific Heritage Museum and marks the original shoreline where William Clark walked. A couple of years ago the Washington State Master Gardeners approached us about taking on the garden as it had gotten quite over- grown. Since 2013 they have been its steward and it is looking great! Photos by Katheryn Houghton/EO Media Group Master Gardener Beverly Arnoldy explains the bog’s habitat with curious gardeners in a workshop in October. “There’s been a real effort here to bring back native plants, and as always, remove the weeds. Always with the re- moving of weeds.” Q: How many of the master gardeners maintain the garden? A: The Master Gardeners in Pacific County are part of the Master Gardener Foundation of Grays Harbor and Pacific counties (pnwmg.org). Twelve have contributed volunteer hours working in the Discovery Garden since the Master Gardeners took over the maintenance of the garden in February 2013. Q: Tell us about the plant varieties in the garden. A: Almost all of the plants in the garden are native to the local area. Many of the garden’s native trees and shrubs were planted as part of the 2005 Lewis & Clark Bicentennial celebra- tion. Since the Master Gardeners took over the maintenance of the garden in 2013, we have planted more native shrubs and many native perennial wildflowers and grasses. The vol- unteers have planted western yarrow, pearly everlasting, sea thrift, nootka reed grass, seacoast angelica, ocean spray, red flowering current, and serviceberry, to name a few. Q: What is the yearly rhythm of the Discovery Gar- den? Planting? Pruning? Harvest? A: That is a very interesting question that you ask. When we first took over the maintenance of the Museum Discov- ery Garden in early 2013, it was vastly overgrown. The trees and shrubs had not been pruned for several years. The gar- den was overgrown with weeds — especially with horse- tail, morning glory, shiny geranium, creeping buttercup, and other non-native invasive plants. Our first workshop at the museum in February 2013 was on proper pruning techniques. We used the trees and shrubs to demonstrate to the workshop attendees and to let them practice prun- ing on them. Because the weeds were so thick in the open areas of the garden, we spent several work parties in 2013 and 2014 laying down cardboard and then a thick layer of wood chips to suppress the weeds. Beginning in 2015, our group can honestly say that we are establishing a yearly rhythm. We hold four workshops a year at the museum — one for each season. Since the Master Gardeners have taken over the maintenance of the museum garden, we have completed several projects: installation of a rain water collection system significantly cutting down the cost of the museum’s monthly water bill; installation of three self-watering plant containers display- ing small shrubs and herbaceous perennials; replacing a ? 9-1-WHAT? Sharon Kulish-Bayles likes working in gardens because it’s a continuous lesson. “You have to learn with every changing element and season, you have to adapt as surroundings naturally change.” non-functioning circulating pond with a bog garden; and removing an aging foot bridge, replacing it with concrete, drain rocks and small gravel, and making it as part of the existing walkway. We are in the process of providing native plant signs for many of the native plants in the garden as well as adding a sign at both entrances of the garden announcing the Mas- ter Gardener’s designation as the county’s demonstration garden. Q: How does one become a WSU master gardener? A: Individuals become Master Gardeners for two basic reasons, a lifelong desire to learn about gardening and a willingness to share what you learn with others. The WSU Master Gardeners Foundation of Grays Har- bor and Pacific counties is gearing up for the 2016 Master Gardener training for residents of Grays Harbor and Pacific counties. Our training is guided by Washington State Uni- versity Extension program. Training orientation will take place in January 2016. Coursework will begin on Saturday, Feb. 6 and continue every other Saturday through June 18. The training will actively engage in WSU Master Gardener research-based methodology using computer-based learning modules and laboratory instruction led by our own WSU Master Gardener members. Mentors will be available throughout the training. Kelly Rupp adds soil that will be sustainable to the bog’s unique climate, which changes from Mediterranean in the fall to dry in the summer. Q: Is there a gardening book or books that your mas- ter gardeners group recommends to others? A: While WSU Master Gardeners are not in the business of recommending any particular book or website, here are some of the books and websites that I use when research- ing a topic or answering a question. • “Plants of the Pacific Northwest Coast, Washington, Oregon, British Columbia & Alaska,” by Jim Pojar and Andy MacKinnon. • “Gardening with Native Plants of the Pacific Northwest,” by Arthur Kruckeberg. • “The New Sunset Western Gardening Book,” Kathleen Brenzel (editor). • WSU Gardening in Washington State, http://gardening. wsu.edu/ — a compilation of fact sheets associated with home gardening and landscaping. • WSU Hortsense, http://hortsense.cahnrs.wsu.edu/ Home/HortsenseHome.aspx, — a compilation of fact sheets for managing common landscape and garden plant problems using integrated pest management. • WSU Pestsense, http://pestsense.cahnrs.wsu.edu/ Home/PestsenseHome.aspx — a compilation of fact sheets that provide information on how to manage common in- door pest problems. Beverly Arnoldy is a master gardener active with the Wash- ington State University Master Gardeners. Betsy Millard is the e[ecXtive director at the &olXmEia 3aci¿c Heritage MXseXm in Ilwaco, Washington. Just saying W e realize that the marijuana has only been legal for a month in Ore- gon, but we are seeing some weirdness on the emergency dispatch logs. There is no evidence of a cause-and-effect relationship and what not, but, sometimes, pot plus crazy equals paranoia. Follow reporter Kyle Spurr on his 9-1-What? Twitter watch, where a few of the sometimes head-scratching calls to area dispatch take center stage. The full feed is at www.twitter.com/9_1_WHAT. THE BEST OF THE WORST CALLS TO ASTORIA 911 DISPATCH 3 W AY S TO GE T Y O U R CO PY TOD AY ! OR DER ON LIN E w w w .DiscoverO urCoast.com /order S TOP BY ON E OF OU R 3 LOCATION S A storia • 949 Exchange St. Seaside • 1555 N . Roosevelt Dr. Long Beach • 205 Bolstad A ve. E. #2 o r CALL HOLLY LAR K IN S at 503-325-3211, x227 Em ail: hlarkins@ dailyastorian.com
