Gardener’s Den
SUNA’s Slug Queen
Living in SUNA means that you likely have a green thumb…or at least an appreciation for the incredible gardens in the neighborhood. But did you also know that your very own SUNA neighborhood, garden loving SLUG Queen, Queen Marie Slugtoinette, designed this website for you? Here on this page, at her majesty’s request, we’ll keep you up to date on garden events and tips for SUNA –and around Eugene. Look here for tours, sales and ideas for your own gardens. Please feel free to leave gardening suggestions for the season at the end of this page! Thanks and enjoy the season.
Sunday, July 5
Winter Gardening in the Pacific Northwest, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Fern Hill Nursery, 78703 Echo Hollow Lane, Cottage Grove. Workshop will cover the process of starting a winter garden. Fee: $35, couples $60. Call (541) 942-3118 or e-mail devon@fernhillnursery.com.
Sunday, July 19
Water: Catch it, Store it, Use it: Urban and Rural Designs, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Fern Hill Nursery, 78703 Echo Hollow Lane, Cottage Grove. Workshop will explore water conservation for the home and garden, including ways to store water in the landscape and above ground. Fee: $35, couples $60. Call (541) 942-3118 or e-mail devon@fernhillnursery.com.
Mondays, July 6 through July 27
Garden art class, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., University of Oregon Craft Center, 1228 University of Oregon in the Erb Memorial Union. Participants will learn techniques of hand building and sculptural form as they create their own garden ornament from clay. Fee of $59 includes 25 pounds of clay and glazing. Call (541) 346-4361 or visit http://craftcenter.uoregon.edu.
Saturday, July 11 and Sunday, July 12
Oregon Lavender Farm Tour & Festival, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; featuring more than 20 different lavender farms, nurseries, and the lavender-based Artisan Fair in Yamhill. Participating farms will feature different varieties of lavender, growing information and special activities for the festival. Free admission. Call (971) 533-7753 or visit oregonlavenderfestival.org.
Friday, July 17 through Sunday, July 19
Oregon Cactus and Succulent Society plant sale, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Portland Nursery, 5050 SE Stark St. One of the Northwest’s largest cactus and succulent sales features plants for beginners and avid growers, along with experts to answer questions. Free admission. Call (503) 259-0580 or visit portlandnursery.com.
Thursday, July 23
Rosetta Park grand opening, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., Rosetta Avenue off River Road, Eugene. The city of Eugene and the Northwest Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides will commemorate the park’s opening with music, food, kids’ activities, prizes and information about pesticide-free landscaping. Dedication with Mayor Kitty Piercy begins at 6 p.m. Call (541) 682-4907.
Preregister for Gardener’s Mini College
All gardeners, as well as trained Master Gardener volunteers, are invited to attend the annual Gardener’s Mini College Aug. 5-8 at Oregon State University. “Backyard Food Solutions: Local, Sustainable, Secure” is the theme for the conference, which will include more than 30 classes, tours and workshops.
Registration is $238 until June 26 and $245 until July 15 and includes all classes, three nights lodging and all meals. Lower rates are available without lodging and meals.
Register online at: http://extension.oregon state.edu/mg/mini-college, call (541) 737-3439 or e-mail minicollege2009@gmail.com.
Mark your calendar
See the July 23 issue of Home & Garden Monthly for information about the July 25 Tour of Homes, which will highlight builders’ showcase homes in the Eugene-Springfield area.
The same issue will include previews of the July 25 Town & Country Gardens tour in Cottage Grove and the July 26 BRING it Home tour, a showcase of properties that feature sustainability and green building concepts.