Heaven Scent
Find your happy place with Master Gardener classes
Bright colors, gorgeous scents, soft leaves — even the smallest gardens can be feasts for the senses. Waking up all five senses: sight, hearing, smell, taste and touch, is the motivation behind the Lincoln County Master Gardener Association’s demonstration garden in Lincoln City
Utilizing the garden’s existing plant plots, like those showing deer resistant and pollinator attracting species, new signs and a printed guide will alert visitors to a self-directed tour of particularly sense awakening plants.
“The new sensory garden tour is meant to encourage people to take the time to pay attention to what is around them,” said Demonstration Garden Co-leader and Master Gardener Kathy Burke. “Don’t bring your phone or a book, just come and sit and notice new things like the many colors of green, or the many different textures of the leaves. You can smell the herbs and even taste them if you want, at your own risk of course.”
Usually on her feet the whole time she works at the garden, Burke once had to take a call, so sat on one of the benches there.
“When the call ended, I stayed sitting and started to notice the things around me in a new way,” she said. “I’ve come to learn how relaxing and centering it can be. It’s a lot like meditation.”
Burke, who describes herself as a former “Walmart gardener” will be co-leading a “Challenges of Coastal Gardening” workshop, part of the series presented by the Lincoln County Masters Gardeners through the Oregon Coast Community College. This rich and varied series of workshops is designed to support and inspire gardeners of all experience levels.
“For me the real challenge is that many of us moved here from places where we could predict the growing season based on the time of the year,” she said. “Here the weather is so wonky. There are certain things you take for granted in other areas, like it’s always going to be hot in July. Here that's just not true.”
The demonstration garden is located on the Lincoln City campus of the Oregon Coast Community College, 3788 SE High School Drive
For more information about the Master Gardeners, go to orcoastmga.org.
Lincoln County Master Gardener Association Education Series
Presented in partnership with Oregon Coast Community College
Apple Talk and Tasting
Joan Crall and Steve Vogel
Learn how to get started growing apples and which ones to consider, followed by an apple tasting.
Friday, Sept. 26, 3 to 5 pm, Newport Campus
Winter Cover Crops
Carita Edson, Sandy Mathis and Shereen Rowland
Learn how cover crops provide benefits in the garden. Participants will receive a handout with resources and samples of cover crop seeds.
Saturday, Sept. 27, noon to 2 pm, Waldport Campus
Challenges of Coastal Gardening
Cathi Block and friends
A roundtable discussion with solutions to common problems encountered when gardening on the coast. Participants are encouraged to save time for a self-guided tour of the on-site demonstration garden.
Saturday, Oct. 4, 10 am to noon, Lincoln City Campus
Growing Vegetables at the Coast
Carita Edson and Marlene Shapiro
Explore when to start vegetables, how to choose the best location and understand the micro-climates along the coast.
Friday, Oct. 10, 1 to 2:30 pm, Waldport Campus
The Return of the Attack of the Killer Invasives
Larry King
Back by popular request, learn how to identify invasives, where to report them and how to effectively control them. The discussion will include weed control and the use of tools specifically designed for removal.
Saturday, Oct. 11, 1 to 3 pm, OSU Extension Service Office, Newport
Growing Garlic on the Oregon Coast
Joan Crall
An exploration of the varieties of garlic, proper growing practices and how and when to harvest and store. Weather permitting, the presentation will be followed by garlic planting in the demonstration garden located on campus.
Friday, Oct. 17, 2 to 4 pm, Newport Campus
Creepy Crawlies, Friends or Foes
Janice Smith
A holistic approach for minimizing pest damage by using knowledge of their biology and their role in the environment with the least effect on humans, the environment and non-target organisms.
Friday, Oct. 24, 2 to 3:30 pm, Newport Campus
Universal Design in the Home Garden
Julie Roth-Carter and Martha Mills
Explore adaptive gardening practices, a broad spectrum of garden design options and an array of helpful tools.
Friday, Nov. 7, 10 to 11:30 am, Samaritan Health Education Center, Newport
Invasive Pests: Threats to Forests and Native Plants
Dan Stark
Learn from the assistant professor of practice for the OSU Forestry and Natural Resources Extension about current and potential threats to Oregon forests, particularly native trees and plants in order to better understand the spread, impacts and consequences of invasive species.
Friday, Nov. 7, 1 to 2:30 pm • Lincoln City Campus
For registration and location information about the OCCC series, go to oregoncoast.edu/communityed.