Oregon PlantFest, Iris Society plant sale and more gardening events to welcome fall

Events are free unless noted. Please email calendar submissions at least three weeks in advance to [email protected].

ONGOING

Parade of Homes: Through Sept. 22. Explore three luxury homes on large lots at the Reserve at Lake River in Felida, Washington. clarkcountyparadeofhomes.com.

Annual Dahlia Festival: 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday through Sept. 29. Stroll through nearly 40 acres and a display garden of dahlias featuring more than 370 varieties, attend the Sunday Farmers Market, enjoy live music and more. Swan Island Dahlias, 995 N.W. 22nd Ave., Canby; dahlias.com.

45th Parallel Universe Garden Concert Series: 6 p.m. Sundays in September. Take in an array of live music and wine in a different garden setting at these weekly backyard concerts. $35; 45thparallelpdx.org.

Grow Your Own Produce, The Workshop Series: (online via Zoom) First Wednesday of the month through Nov. 6. Taught by permaculture expert Marisha Auerbach, each workshop features seasonally relevant information about planning, growing, maintaining and harvesting food from the garden. $30 per class; fertileground.org.

Walk With a Friend at Tualatin Hills Nature Park: 9 a.m. first Wednesday and third Sunday of the month. Take a guided walk and learn about the plants, wildlife and history of the park. Tualatin Hills Nature Park, 15655 S.W. Millikan Way, Beaverton; thprd.org.

East Multnomah Soil & Water Conservation District free webinars: Discover how to care for land in ways that benefit people, water and wildlife. From stormwater solutions to biochar to water conservation, these workshops will help you save time, money and energy. Register at emswcd.org/workshops-and-events/upcoming-workshops.

Greater Portland Iris Society meeting: 7 p.m. first Tuesday of the month in March, April, September, October and November. Enjoy discussions of irises with guest speakers. Ainsworth House, 19130 Lot Whitcomb Drive, Oregon City; greaterportlandirissociety.org.

Happy Valley Garden Club monthly meeting: 9 a.m.-noon second Tuesday of the month. Happy Valley Baptist Church, 14095 S.E. King Road, Happy Valley.

Ikebana for Every Season: 1-3 p.m. second Tuesday of the month. Become knowledgeable about basic concepts, techniques, tools, equipment and care for ikebana. $50 includes instruction, plant material and containers to practice with. The Resource Center, 219 S. Main Ave., Gresham; GreshamJapaneseGarden.org.

Portland Dahlia Society monthly meeting: 7 p.m. second Tuesday of the month February through November. Take part in a discussion of seasonal topics. Oaks Park Dance Pavilion, 7805 S.E. Oaks Park Way; portlanddahlia.com.

Oregon Fuchsia Society monthly meeting: 7 p.m. third Tuesday of the month. Western Seminary (Bueermann Hall), 5511 S.E. Hawthorne Blvd.; oregonfuchsiasociety.com.

Estacada Garden Club monthly meeting: 1-3 p.m. second Thursday of the month. Estacada Public Library, 825 N.W. Wade St.

The Art of Bonsai: 1-3 p.m. third Thursday and third Saturday of the month. Instructor Mark Vossbrink will guide you through the creation of a bonsai project. $40 includes instruction, plant, container, soil and all materials. The Resource Center, 219 S. Main Ave., Gresham; GreshamJapaneseGarden.org.

FRIDAY, SEPT. 20

Plant Spirit Journey — Rowan: 6:30 p.m. Meet the spirit of the rowan berry and learn about the practical uses of this rose family species. From $25; Hedgerow Herb Co., 811 E. Burnside St., Suite 116; hedgerowherbco.com.

SATURDAY, SEPT. 21

Hardy Plant Society of Oregon PlantFest 2024: Lecture & Plant Sale: 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Snatch up some new plants and listen to expert speakers discuss lesser known and unusual bulbs, the resurgence of peonies, and dwarf and unusual conifer cultivars. $20; Clackamas Community College, Gregory Forum, 19600 Molalla Ave., Oregon City; hardyplantsociety.org.

Greater Portland Iris Society Beardless Plant Sale: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Sept. 21-22. Find numerous species of irises to add color and texture to your garden setting, and get help with selection and cultural information from club members. Portland Nursery, 5050 S.E. Stark St.; greaterportlandirissociety.org, mtpleasantiris.com.

Introduction to Native Bees and Native Meadowscaping: 10 a.m.-noon. Learn about the vital role of native bees in our ecosystems and get tips to help prepare and create pollinator-friendly meadows in your yard using sustainable gardening practices. $15 registration required at [email protected], [email protected] or 360-737-1160; CASEE Center (Building B, Room 205), 11104 N.E. 149th St., Brush Prairie, Washington.

Introduction to Nature Journaling: 10 a.m.-noon. Learn how to use simple prompts and materials to more deeply connect and engage with nature, and draw and write about what you see. WCMGA Learning Garden at Jenkins Estate, 8005 S.W. Grabhorn Road, Beaverton; washingtoncountymastergardeners.org.

Kids’ Club – Spooky Fall Planters: 11 a.m.-noon Sept. 21 and 28. Learn how to grow pansies and violas, and plant a jack-o’-lantern or witch cauldron with fall flowers. $10; als-gardencenter.com.

THURSDAY, SEPT. 26

On the Road Tour – A Sense of Place: Discovering Hood River: 8:15 a.m.-5 p.m. Join the WSU Extension Clark County Master Gardener program for tours of OSU Extension Hood River County, Good News Gardening, and Packer Orchards and Farm Place; $35 registration required at eventbrite.com; email [email protected], call 564-397-5738, or visit extension.wsu.edu/clark/gardening/workshops-events.

FRIDAY, SEPT. 27

Introduction to Plant Propagation: 9:30-11 a.m. Engage in this hands-on workshop with instruction on basic propagation techniques and take home two plants. $5 registration at eventbrite.com; email [email protected], call 564-397-5738, or go to extension.wsu.edu/clark/gardening/workshops-events.

SATURDAY, SEPT. 28

Putting the Garden to Bed: 9-11 a.m. Get tips on planting trees and shrubs in the fall, tasks to prepare the vegetable and fruit garden for winter and techniques to protect the soil during the offseason. WCMGA Education Garden at PCC Rock Creek (Building 4, Room 103), 17705 N.W. Springville Road; washingtoncountymastergardeners.org.

SATURDAY, OCT. 5

Portland Dahlia Society Annual Show: Noon-5 p.m. Oct. 5 and 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Oct. 6. Chat with experienced dahlia growers and see hundreds of dahlias in bloom, plus floral arrangements competing for best in show. Oaks Park Dance Pavilion, 7805 S.E. Oaks Park Way; portlanddahlia.com.

Structural Pruning Pines for Character: 1-3 p.m. Watch instructor Laura Dufala unlock the hidden character of pine trees and analyze her approach and eye for making decisions regarding which branches to keep and which to remove. $45; The Resource Center, 219 S. Main Ave., Gresham; GreshamJapaneseGarden.org.

SATURDAY, OCT. 12

Perennial, Bulb and Seed Swap (& More): 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Get those excess plants potted up, gather up your overage of seeds and bulbs, and bring them to swap and share. Wildlife Botanical Gardens, 11000 N.E. 149th St., Brush Prairie, Washington; email [email protected] or call 360-737-1160.

SATURDAY, OCT. 26

Gardening with Pacific Northwest Native Plants: 10 a.m.-noon. Learn about the native plants that thrive in the Northwest and how to naturescape in support of wildlife and pollinators. PCC Rock Creek (Building 4, Room 103) and WCMGA Education Garden, 17705 N.W. Springville Road; washingtoncountymastergardeners.org.

Taste of the Orchard 2024: 5-8:30 p.m. Experience a farm-to-table style dinner, highlighting local, small-scale organic farms and fruits grown at a community orchard. $65; Niemeyer Center at Clackamas Community College, 19600 Molalla Ave., Oregon City; homeorchardeducationcenter.org.

SATURDAY, NOV. 2

Propagating Conifers from Cuttings: 1-3 p.m. Learn how to successfully propagate conifers by rooting cuttings. Instructor Norm Jacobs will decode plant physiology, explain container selection, soil mixes and the role of rooting compounds. $55 includes all materials; The Resource Center, 219 S. Main Ave., Gresham; GreshamJapaneseGarden.org.

SATURDAY, NOV. 23

Assessing and Pruning an Overgrown Landscape: 1-3 p.m. Instructor Francheska Snyder will walk you through how to prioritize pruning tasks, and how to prune based on the space, plant material and hardscapes present. $45; location provided upon registration; GreshamJapaneseGarden.org.

SATURDAY, JAN. 11

All Day Hands-on Winter Pruning Workshop: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Professional aesthetic pruner Francheska Snyder will guide pruners on a variety of Japanese garden plants. $100; Vanport International, 28590 S.E. Wally Road, Boring; GreshamJapaneseGarden.org.

THURSDAY, JAN. 23

The History of Japanese Maple Cultivars: (online via Zoom) 6:30-8 p.m. Instructor Norm Jacobs will discuss a period of change in the world of Japanese maples, with a focus on those introduced since 1980. $30; GreshamJapaneseGarden.org.

SATURDAY, JAN. 25

Pruning Fruit Trees: 1-3 p.m. Instructor Jonathan Faith will demonstrate how to prune a variety of fruit trees while discussing cross pollination, fertilizers and fungicide and insecticide sprays. $45; The Resource Center, 219 S. Main Ave., Gresham; GreshamJapaneseGarden.org.

SATURDAY, JUNE 7

Propagating Broadleaf Shrubs: 1-3 p.m. Learn how to successfully propagate deciduous and evergreen plants and other suitable woody plants from cuttings. Instructor Norm Jacobs will explain plant physiology as it pertains to propagation, selection of containers and soil mixes, and the role of rooting compounds. $55 includes all materials; The Resource Center, 219 S. Main Ave., Gresham; GreshamJapaneseGarden.org.

— Corey Sheldon

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