Session 1 (9:00 – 10:15am)
Companion Planting in the Vegetable Garden
presented by Darren Morgan
Sustainable Gardens
Abstract: Explore the art of companion planting – pairing different vegetables, herbs, and flowers together for aesthetic and practical benefits. Rooted in tradition and easy to try, companion planting is about planting diversity for resilience, abundance, and fun.
Biographical Sketch: Darren Morgan has worked at Shonnard’s Nursery in Corvallis for 35 years and is currently the nursery manager. He specializes in trees and shrubs, edible gardening, and most recently beekeeping. Darren also teaches community education classes and workshops at Shonnard’s as well as through Linn-Benton Community College.
Plant Superheroes
presented by Sherry Sheng
Landscape Plantings
Abstract: Get acquainted with plants that will thrive under challenging conditions. Meet dozens of stars from Great Plant Picks that meet these criteria: can live in a variety of soils, need moderate or less supplemental water, can tolerate heat, are cold hardy in USDA zones 7, are not prone to disease/pest problems, and offer more than one season of interest in the garden. Featured plants will include those that thrive in shade, those that are drought-tolerant, and those that attract pollinators.
Biographical Sketch: Sherry Sheng is an Oregon State University Extension Master Gardener, who leads the award-winning 10-Minute University™ Program. She gardens at home and at a community garden. Her instructional videos are at https://cmastergardeners.org/10-minute-university
A Love for Iris Rooted in Tradition and Innovation
presented by Liz Schmidt
Potpourri
Abstract: With more than a century of family knowledge behind her, third-generation farmer Liz Schreiner-Schmidt brings deep expertise to the art and science of growing bearded iris. This talk covers best practices for planting and care, troubleshooting issues like leaf spot and lack of bloom, and understanding what irises need to thrive long-term. Liz will also share the history of Schreiner’s Gardens and explain how the family’s hybridizing program produces many of the exceptional iris varieties grown today.
Biographical Sketch: Liz Schreiner-Schmidt is the third-generation owner and farmer at Schreiner’s Gardens, carrying forward her family’s nearly century-long legacy of growing exceptional irises. Raised among the flower fields, Liz worked in nearly every area of the business from a young age, building a deep understanding of both the land and the people behind it. After earning a degree in sociology, she returned to the family farm to raise her children and help lead Schreiner’s Gardens into its next chapter, blending tradition, innovation, and a deep love of irises.
Session 2 (10:30 – 11:45 am)
Native Plants: Creating Reciprocity Through Language and Relationship to Place
presented by Joseph Ham
Sustainable Gardens
Abstract: This presentation will describe how native plants intermix with the tribe’s history of colonization and Termination and regaining the tribal community’s identity through shared experiences of learning about our first foods and in our language of those plants. The more we learn about our practices and history, the more we can create a relationship that is mutually beneficial with people and plants.
Joseph Ham serves his tribal community as the Native Plant Nursery Assistant for the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde’s Native Plant Nursery, tatis haws. Prior to this role, he worked in various roles for the tribe including in the Language Department, Cultural Resources Department and alongside Native Plant Nursery Supervisor Jeremy Ojua in the Wildland Fire program for seven seasons.
Joseph values the interconnectedness of these past and current roles, and his purpose is thriving when first foods, familial history and cultural landscapes interact alongside our daily lives.
Growing Olives in Your Home Garden for Ornamental and Kitchen Use
presented by Neil Bell
Landscape Plantings
Abstract: Olive is a romantic and historical Mediterranean tree which makes a superb and unique ornamental evergreen for Willamette Valley gardens. In addition, it produces the prized fruit for processing into either table olives or oil. This presentation will explore considerations for choosing among the many cultivars of olive for ornamental and culinary use.
Neil Bell was Community Horticulturist for the Oregon State University Extension Service in Marion County and Polk County from 2000 to 2021, coordinating both county Master Gardener programs during that time. Since then he has been employed one day per week by OSU Extension to assist with evaluation of 116 olive cultivars at the North Willamette Research and Extension Center in Aurora.
Neil lives on 5 acres of Polk County bush west of Monmouth, where he continues to learn how to garden with wildlife, plentiful weeds and limited water.
Managing Insect Pests in Vegetable Gardens
presented by Heather Stoven
Potpourri
Abstract: Growing vegetables can be incredibly rewarding—but it also comes with its fair share of insect challenges. This presentation offers a practical, science-based guide to identifying, preventing, and managing common garden pests. We’ll explore pest cycles, how to recognize early signs of trouble, and which insects are actually beneficial allies. Attendees will learn integrated pest management (IPM) strategies tailored to home gardens, including cultural practices, physical barriers, and low-impact treatment options. Whether you’re a new gardener or a seasoned grower, you’ll leave with the tools and confidence to protect your crops while supporting a healthy, resilient garden ecosystem.
Heather Stoven is an Extension Horticulturist with Oregon State University, serving Yamhill County through OSU Extension’s Small Farms and Community Horticulture programs. With more than 15 years of experience at OSU, she provides research-based support to small-scale farmers, home gardeners, and Master Gardeners in Yamhill County. Heather’s work spans a wide range of horticultural topics, including integrated pest management, plant evaluation, and sustainable production practices. She has co-authored multiple Extension publications on both pest and beneficial insects and pollinator-friendly gardening.
Session 3 (1:00 – 2:15 pm)
Modern Approaches to Gardening with Native Plants
presented by Linda McMahan
Sustainable Gardens
Abstract: Gardening with native plants has changed dramatically over the past 30 years. Learn more about how native plants can enliven your own gardening experiences. We will cover some history, various approaches you might wish to pursue, and the interactions of native plants with governments and the horticultural industry. We will also explore some of the best plants for your own garden, references and on-line resources, how to encourage pollinators and other wildlife, overcome challenges in your own gardening, and where to find native plants.
Biographical Sketch: Linda is an Oregon native and holds a Ph.D. in Botany from The University of Texas at Austin, followed by a law degree from American University in Washington D.C. Her experience ranges from plant biochemistry to national and international plant and animal conservation in both private and government positions. She has also worked with many botanical gardens and is an Emeritus Associate Professor of Oregon State University’s Department of Horticulture. At OSU, she was part of the Extension Service, stationed in Yamhill County for more than 16 years, where she worked with and taught OSU Master Gardeners. Several of her OSU publications are about native plants, the most recently revised with coauthor Heather Stoven: Gardening with Oregon Native Plants West of the Cascades, EC 11577
A Visual Banquet of Japanese Maples
presented by Norm Jacobs
Landscape Plantings
Abstract: Today a gardener/landscaper can dream up a foliage form, seasonal foliage color, growth aspect, growth rate/size, site from full sun to near full shade, watering needs, and suitability for containers, and get a choice of Japanese Maple cultivars to suit. That’s the plus side. The minus side is that with literally thousands of named varieties, there are some that deserve neglect, and navigation can be daunting. Norm devotes a lot of time to weeding those out: the wimps, the same plant with a new name or 1 degree of separation, and the underperforming marketing pets. Best in class isn’t necessarily recent – some varieties that have been in cultivation for centuries remain unsurpassed. My own curated list hovers around 100. A lot has changed since I started growing Japanese Maples a half-century ago.
Biographical Sketch: Norm Jacobs has been gardening since age 6. While studying math/physics at Berkeley his passion for gardening, especially edible plants, grew. He is drawn to Asian garden design and is formally trained in this discipline. He and his partner Deb own a nursery called Arbutus Garden Arts. They focus on woodland gardens and specialize in Japanese maples, dwarf conifers, Epimedium and woodland (species) peonies, all propagated and grown from plants which performed well in their garden. They continue to trial new introductions, propagating limited numbers of those plants that they find attractive, distinctive and suitable in the face of climate change.
The Joy of Houseplants
presented by Laura Eyer
Potpourri
Abstract: Indoor gardening is enjoying a surge in popularity. The explosion of houseplant varieties is amazing. Growing houseplants is a great way to add lush greenery to your home. Though some houseplants are nearly foolproof to grow, all plants need basic care. Houseplants thrive in an environment that closely resembles their native habitat. Before buying new houseplants, know their basic needs to determine whether you have the right place for them in your home and can provide proper care. This presentation will cover many aspects of plant selection, environmental assessment and ongoing plant care.
Biographical Sketch: Laura Eyer has been an OSU Extension Service Master Gardener volunteer since 1992. As she dove into her role as an OSU Master Gardener, she quickly found that she enjoyed ornamental gardening, composting, soils and landscape design and learning about slugs and snails. In 1997 she began a landscape consulting business. Now retired, she enjoys her own garden and sharing her knowledge and love of gardening with others.
Session 4 (2:45 – 3:45 pm)
Drip Irrigation Systems for the Home Garden
presented by John Stables
Sustainable Gardens
Abstract: This presentation will cover the practical application of drip irrigation systems for the home gardener. Topics include: description of the components, their uses and their application along with the theory of how the systems work and how to size the system components to meet a variety of drip irrigation applications.
Biographical Sketch: John has taught high school horticulture for 30 years – 23 years at Hillsboro High School and 8 years at Amity High School. He has also taught adult horticulture education classes through Portland Community College as well as the Landscape Maintenance course for the college. He has experience installing irrigation systems in greenhouses including drip systems and ebb and flow hydroponic systems, in addition to setting up manifold systems for large-scale acreage drip systems utilizing T-tape and stake emitters.
The Beautiful Native Azaleas of America
presented by Mike Stewart
Landscape Plantings
Abstract: The Appalachian Mountains offer one of the most diverse selections of native plants anywhere in the world. Mike will present photographs of this beautiful area along with the 18 species of azaleas that grow from the Canadian border to Florida along this mountain range. America’s deciduous azaleas have some of the most brilliant colors in the genus Rhododendron with many having the added advantage of fragrance. These species are viable in the Pacific Northwest and are gaining popularity for the reasons listed above.
Biographical Sketch: Mike Stewart has been an essential contributor to the world of rhododendrons for decades, having held all the most significant positions with the American Rhododendron Society (ARS) and as owner with his wife of a highly successful rhododendron nursery. Mike is a past president of the Portland Chapter of the ARS, a past president of the ARS and past president of the Rhododendron Species Foundation and Botanical Garden in Federal Way, WA – holder of the largest collection of species rhododendrons in the world.
Slug Hunting: Know Your Enemy
presented by Claudia Goth
Potpourri
Abstract: One slug can lay up to 500 eggs in a year! But you don’t have to let slugs and snails get the best of your garden. Discover fun facts while getting the tips, tricks, and technology you need to protect your garden from these hungry invaders.
Biographical Sketch: Claudia has degrees in Plant Science and Soil Management, plus continuing study of plant pests and plant problems. The majority of her career has been working with home gardeners in the Pacific Northwest. She’s been the naturals specialist for Whitney Farms and Scotts/MiracleGro, served as technical specialist at Lilly/Miller and Supersoil, was heard as the “Garden Doctor” on Portland’s KEX radio and appeared on Oregon Field Guide talking kindly about slugs. These days, she can be found at Portland Nursery’s Information Desk, still helping people achieve their best garden. Claudia has volunteered as an OSU Master Gardener for over 30 years and was recently named a Diamond Pioneer for Career Achievement by OSU’s College of Agriculture.
