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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (May 10, 2018)
2 // COASTWEEKEND.COM Master Gardener plants seeds of knowledge, growth May 12 event features plant sale, seminar, Mother’s Day gifts, raffle prizes ASTORIA — Clatsop County Master Garden- er Association will hold a spring garden semi- nar and plant sale 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 12, at the Clatsop County Fairgrounds. Admission is free. Classes, vendors, raffles and gardening advice from Master Gardeners make this a daylong affair. Plant sale The plant sale is enormous this year. Tomato starts, vegetable starts, perennials, natives, ground covers, pollinators, succu- lents, ornamental grasses, Hostas, Dahlias and a great selection of houseplants and tropicals will be available. For Mother’s Day, Master Gardener has created vintage teacups and driftwood plant- ed with succulents — perfect green gifts and no work for you. Dozens of vendors will be on hand selling all things related to gardening, with many gift options for Mother’s Day: garden art, garden tools, kitchen items, food items and nurseries with even more plant options. Learn vertical gardening with 18 varieties of to- matoes on sale at the Master Gardener event. PHOTOS COURTESY CLATSOP COUNTY MASTER GARDENER ASSOCIATION Jennifer Bell (right), a biological science technician at Lewis and Clark National Historical Park, will teach at the Clatsop County Master Gardener Association’s spring seminar. Seminar This year’s seminar — themed “Coastal Garden Design” — provides options to gardeners with limited space and those wanting to expand their garden with easy- care native plants. • “Edible Vertical Gardening in Small Spaces” with Harry Olson: 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Olson, an Oregon State Master Garden- er from Marion County, is an award-win- ning expert on garden design for high yield in small spaces. Gardeners will learn how to grow fruits and vegetables they didn’t think they had the room or climate for. He shares his growing practices with a visual presentation of lush photos demon- strating the techniques used from his own garden and the Vertical Demo Garden at the Oregon Garden. Olson promotes organic gardening. • “Designing with Native Plants” with Jennifer Bell: 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Bell, a biological science technician at Lewis and Clark National Historic Park, is an enthusiastic native plant specialist. Na- tive plants are adapted to our local soil and climate conditions, making them easier to maintain. Gardeners will learn the practical benefits of native plant gardening, what plants are native to our coastal ecoregion, There is a huge variety of plants that thrive in our coastal gardens. And more Eighteen varieties of tomato starts will be available during the Clatsop County Master Gardener Association plant sale. where to get them and how to select and place native plants for different growing conditions. • “Grafting Vegetables” with Harry Olson: 1:45 to 3 p.m. Grafted vegetables are superhero vegeta- bles — stronger, bigger, more disease-resis- tant. Grafting tomatoes will be demonstrat- ed along with specific instructions. Peppers, melons cucumbers and eggplants will be discussed. Every gardener should be aware of this fascinating practice. Raffles round out the fun with high stakes and good chances to win art, paint- ing lessons, luscious baked goods, restau- rant certificates, a charming umbrella, wine, beer and other great items. And there are fun garden activities for kids. Bring your parents, too! Proceeds from this event fund the Clat- sop County Master Gardener Association’s scholarship fund, the Learning Garden, demonstration garden, pet-friendly demon- stration garden, plant diagnosis clinics, seed-to-supper gardening course, Fresh Starts program, Monthly Speaker Series and the Astoria Sunday Market info booth.
