WSU Extension Master Gardener Advanced Education Conference

Backyard Citizen Science Opportunities in the Pacific Northwest
2023-09-28 15:45 - 17:00 (America/Los_Angeles)
Citizen science projects provide opportunities to learn and conduct research simultaneously. Many projects exist where anyone can participate from their backyard or neighborhood in the Pacific Northwest. Whether you want to get your hands dirty collecting soil samples, show off your photography skills monitoring wildlife, or share your taxonomic expertise of plants or insects, there is likely a project that would benefit from your skills and participation. Indeed, the contributions of Extension Master Gardeners to these projects over the past 50 years provides a lot to celebrate, but it’s also exciting to look forward and consider the next 50 years of advancing and sharing knowledge together. The purpose of this presentation is to reflect on the incredible contributions of citizen scientists in the recent past and share many projects with opportunities to contribute in the future.1.25 CE credits

The Ice Age Flood: The Washington Soil Mosaic
2023-09-28 14:15 - 15:30
The class will start with a discussion on the ice age floods that inundated portions of the Pacific Northwest. Then we’ll take a closer look at the impact of the floods upon soils; including the thin soils found in the Channeled Scablands, the formation of the Loess deposits found in much of Eastern Washington, and assorted soils found in the Puget Sound area that were derived from Glacial Till. 1.25 CE credits

Native Plants for Biodiversity
2023-09-28 14:15 - 15:30
Washington has over 5,000 taxa of native plants, ranging from very common and widespread species to rare plants and narrow endemics. This plant diversity supports most of our wildlife, beginning with the insects that feed on them, and makes our state the beautiful and interesting place where we’ve chosen to live. While most of the rare and sensitive species aren’t appropriate for the home garden, a great number of natives are good choices for the garden, but some may be hard to get. In this program you’ll be introduced to (or reacquainted with) a selection of garden-worthy natives for both sides of the Cascades that are available from specialty nurseries and other sources. The plants will include trees, shrubs, perennials, and groundcovers.1.25 CE credits

Edible Perennials for PNW Gardens
2023-09-28 14:15 - 15:30
If you want to eat from your yard but you can’t keep up with the planting, composting, watering, and weeding, include perennial edibles in your landscape. Join Lisa Taylor, author of the “Maritime Northwest Garden Guide” and “Your Farm in the City; An Urban Dweller’s Guide to Growing Food and Raising Animals” and garden educator extraordinaire in a spirited discussion about the perennial food crops that thrive in Maritime Northwest gardens. Learn about the benefits of edible perennials and how they provide beauty and food in any yard or landscape. Discover the wide diversity of edible perennials that thrive in our PNW climate. Expand your horizons and ease your garden work by including edible perennials in your garden. 1.25 CE credits

Community Connections: How Pierce County Extension Master Gardeners Support the WA State Corrections Center for Women
2023-09-28 14:15 - 15:30
Nature is for everyone with no exceptions. Pierce County Master Gardeners have supported the Washington Corrections Center for Women (WCCW) since 2000. Come join us and learn about the successes and benefits of community coordination. The WCCW Horticulture Program has greatly benefitted its students and graduates by focusing on science-based learning from WSU and OSU and putting that knowledge into action. Join us for a celebration of this program and to connect with our amazing students. 1.25 CE credits

Garden Allies: An Introduction to Life in the Landscape
2023-09-28 14:15 - 15:30
A frequent topic of gardening questions is about the insects and other life found there – and how to maintain an ecological balance while creating beautiful landscapes. This presentation takes a food web approach, emphasizing the interdependence of all life in the garden. We will explore how the lives of insects, birds, other animals, and soil organisms are inextricably interwoven with plants.

Following a brief overview of conservation biological control, we explore why this approach is ideally suited to home landscapes. The presentation includes effective approaches to helping gardeners reduce their reliance on pesticides, and to help them develop new perspectives on life in the garden. Master Gardeners will be provided with resources to supplement the presentation. 1.25 CE credits

The Rhododendron Species Garden
2023-09-28 10:00 - 12:00
Beautifully situated on 22 acres, the Rhododendron Species Garden houses one of the largest collections of species rhododendrons in the world. The garden is joined by many other species of plants with growing conditions similar to rhododendrons. Those include Japanese Maples, Pacific Northwest native trees, and many rare plants. Regarded as “One of the best and most beautiful places on the West Coast to see autumn foliage.”The garden is also host to the Pacific Bonsai Museum. It is one of only twomuseums in the country solely dedicated to bonsai, and one of only a handful of bonsai museums worldwide. The museum features sixty trees on exhibit at any given time.2 CE credits

Cost: $20.The Rhododendron Species Garden is located in Federal Way. Please meet at the Marriott Tacoma Downtown lobby at 900 am. We will depart at 9:15 am and return around noon.

WSU Research Station and Demonstration Garden Tour
2023-09-28 09:15 - 12:00
Active research at WSU Puyallup Research and Extension Center encompasses a wide variety of topics pertinent to Master Gardeners, including work currently being conducted on rain gardens, stormwater management, low impact development, strawberry and raspberry breeding, soils research and work on sustainable agriculture. Inside the lab, important work continues on plant diagnosis and pathology. Participants in this tour can view some of these projects and hear directly from researchers doing these studies. If time permits, participants can stop by the WSU Extension Pierce County Puyallup beautiful demonstration garden located just across the street from the Research Station, before returning to the hotel in time for the beginning of the conference.2 CE credits

Cost: $15.Please meet at the Marriott Tacoma Downtown lobby at 8:45 am. We will depart at 9:00 am and return around noon.

Guided Tacoma Downtown Walking Tour
2023-09-28 08:00 - 09:00
Join WSU Extension’s Pierce County Master Gardener Program Coordinator and Puget Sound local on a stroll through downtown Tacoma. Visit a local Master Gardener Garden at the Museum of Glass, catch breath-taking views of təqʷuʔmaʔ (Mt. Tahoma/Mt. Rainier). Leave with local recommendations for lunch & boutique shopping. The entire route is wheelchair accessible and outdoors. Dress for rain or shine. The tour will begin at Tollefson Square and end at the UW Tacoma Steps.This walking tour is free. Please meet at the Marriott Tacoma downtown lobby by 7:45 am.

The Gallucci Learning Garden and the Viet Huong Garden
2023-09-27 14:00 - 16:00
Join our community partner, Harvest Pierce County for a tour of these two urban community gardens, which are located in the heart of downtown Tacoma, close to the Marriott Tacoma Downtown Hotel. You may have seen the videos of these gardens, now enjoy them in person with a guided tour of both gardens. Both gardens are notable examples of how community gardens can create Community in an urban setting.

The Gallucci Learning Garden is located at 1401 S. G St, approximately 0.4 mi from the hotel. The Viet Huong Garden is at S 18th and S. G St.2 CE credits

Cost: $15Please meet at the Marriott Tacoma Downtown lobby at 1:30 pm. We will depart at 1:45 pm and return around 4:15 pm.

The Gardens at Point Defiance
2023-09-27 13:00 - 16:00
This 760-acre urban park has literally something for everyone. Areas of interestinclude a dahlia trial garden, a fuchsia garden, an herb garden, an iris garden, arose garden, and a native plant garden. There is also a lovely Japanese garden,many wooded trails, and access to Owen Beach on the Puget Sound.The park also hosts the Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium, which is the onlycombined zoo and aquarium in the Pacific Northwest. It houses 9,000 specimens,representing 367 animal species. The zoo is beautifully sited, with views of PugetSound and Mount Rainier. The zoo is lushly landscaped, respecting each animal’snative habitat. Plants representing every continent are displayed in the zoo, fromArctic tundra to Asian forest sanctuary.Bryon Jones, horticulturist for Point Defiance Zoo, will be our guide.2 CE credits

Cost: $40 Please meet at the Marriott Tacoma Downtown lobby at 12:15 pm. We will depart via carpool at 12:30 pm.

Ed Hume's Educational Garden Tour
2023-09-27 13:00 - 15:00
Ed Hume Seeds is a family owned and operated business located in the Pacific NW. They have been selling high quality seeds and garden products since 1977. The new Ed Hume’s Garden is a combination Children’s Garden and adult Educational Garden. It consists of 14 fun, educational garden areas, including the Quiz Garden; Blind Garden; Bird Garden; Flowering Plant area; Drought Garden; Native plant area; Herb Garden; Maze; Crazy Garden and more. 2 CE credits

Cost: $20 Please meet at the Marriott Tacoma Downtown lobby at 12:15 pm. We will depart via carpool at 12:30 pm. We will return about 4:00 pm.

Wright Park Arboretum and W. W. Seymour Conservatory
2023-09-27 12:00 - 14:00
This 27-acre garden gem boasts a collection of 145 species of native and exotictrees, of which 450 are labeled, and many are over 100 years old. The stars of thegarden are the 18 trees honored with the moniker Washington State ChampionTrees. There are some of the largest trees of their species.Reigning over Wright Park is the W. W. Seymour Conservatory. This regal glassconservatory was constructed in 1908 and is listed on the city of Tacoma,Washington State and national historical registers. Featuring a twelve-sidedcentral dome, and 3,000 pieces of glass, it houses more than 200 orchids, and 250exotic plant species. Special exhibits rotate on a seasonal basis.2 CE credits

Cost: $15Please meet at the Marriott Tacoma Downtown lobby at 11: 15 am. We will depart at 11:30 am.
