Master Gardeners host ‘Open Garden’ in Brentwood-Darlington

INCLUDES COLORFUL GARDEN VIDEO | Learn what gardening aficionados came from outer East Portland found when they visited this delightful summertime event …

-1 At the “Open Garden” welcoming table, volunteer and Multnomah County Master Gardener (since 2014) Doris Rains offers door-prize tickets to incoming guests.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton

Casual gardeners, and full-on gardening enthusiasts were crowding into the Multnomah County Master Gardener’s Demonstration Garden for their “Open Garden” on August 12.

Many of those who visited on that Saturday morning enjoyed the moderate temperatures as they toured the facility in the Brentwood-Darlington neighborhood, and spoke with volunteers.

The Demonstration Garden is alive with activity for visitors coming to the “Open Garden” conclave.

“This event is important to the mission of the organization because Master Gardeners’ main objective is educating the public about gardening, and helping them increase their knowledge,” chief event organizer and Master Gardener Linda Goldser told East Portland News.

In addition to speaking with Master Gardener experts, the many guests perused the unique garden’s “edible beds”, native plants, pollinator areas, xeriscape and dry farm beds, the children’s garden, the herb bed.

In addition guests were invited to pick and sample ripe blueberries and raspberries.

Snacking on blueberries, fresh off the bush, are East Portland residents Kat Doescher and Flora.

Talking with guests about the garden, is Multnomah County Master Gardener (since 2011) Sally Campbell.

After the garden’s gates were closed for the day, Goldser said that she – and the some-forty other members who worked a combined 160 volunteer hours on it – considered the Open Garden a big success.

Take a quick tour of this unique East Portland
garden, here:

“We kept the gates open because guests were still entering! We ushered the last guests out at about 2:15 p.m.,” she said. “In total, we hosted 148 visitors, who came with about 17 kids. Of those, 46 people posed gardening questions at our ‘Ask a Master Gardener’ table.”

Assisting with the “Identify the Seed” game are volunteers Kathy Carlile and Mary Abplanalp.

“Part of the reason for hosting this Open Garden is that can entice some of those visiting gardeners to come back during our ‘regular gardening time’, and join with us,” commented Goldser. “We were delighted that five visitors requested information about volunteering at the garden in the future.”

Like to play in the dirt, and commune with plants? Learn more about the Multnomah County Master Gardener Association by visiting their official website: CLICK HERE.

Comments are closed.