Two free gardening events are coming to Beaverton in the first half of September, giving residents a chance to learn about soil science and explore carnivorous plants at the historic Jenkins Estate.
The Washington County Master Gardener Association (WCMGA) opens the month with a Zoom webinar on Tuesday, Sept. 1, from 7 to 8 p.m., according to an OregonLive listing of September gardening events across Oregon.
Titled "Building Healthy Garden Soils for Better Vegetables," the session features Bruce Gravens discussing techniques for improving soil health, including organic matter and no-till research applications.
The webinar is free but requires registration through the OSU Extension Service's Metro events page.
Then on Saturday, Sept. 12, the WCMGA Learning Garden at Jenkins Estate opens for "Pitcher Plants and Waterwise Wonders," a guided tour and nature journaling session running from 10 a.m. to noon.
Visitors will see carnivorous plants up close and learn about drought-tolerant adaptations suited to Oregon's dry summers. The event is free.
The Learning Garden sits on the 68-acre Jenkins Estate at 8005 S.W. Grabhorn Road, a property listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1978. The Tualatin Hills Park & Recreation District (THPRD) manages the estate, which features an early-20th-century home and stable. The garden has hosted regular free community workshops throughout the year, according to a THPRD event listing.
The WCMGA is a nonprofit affiliated with the OSU Extension Service, with hundreds of volunteers focused on sustainable gardening education.
Upcoming garden events
- Tuesday, Sept. 1 — "Building Healthy Garden Soils for Better Vegetables," 7-8 p.m., free Zoom webinar (registration required)
- Saturday, Sept. 12 — "Pitcher Plants and Waterwise Wonders," 10 a.m.-noon, free, WCMGA Learning Garden at Jenkins Estate, 8005 S.W. Grabhorn Road, Beaverton
- Saturday, Sept. 19 — "Putting the Garden to Bed," 10 a.m.-noon, free, PCC Rock Creek, Portland
