If you are a gardener, someone who loves plants and to dig in the dirt, and you don’t know about the Hardy Plant Society of Oregon, “Quell dommage!” (What a pity!). You do not have to be a professional in the landscape field to be a member (although many members are professionals), just someone who loves gardens and to garden.
HPSO is a non-profit 501c (3) run by a few part-time staff and an army of volunteers who created a top-notch organization. Founded in 1984 to serve Oregon and Southwest Washington, the organization now has 2700 members and continues to grow. There are now Hardy Plant groups across the country inspired by this local group. I just renewed my membership for another year and was dumbfounded when reminded that I have been a member of HPSO for 30 years! I keep coming back to the group because 1. The Speaker Programs (even during the pandemic) were and are educational for everyone at all levels. 2. The events HPSO sponsors are great fun (Study Weekends, Garden Travel, After Hours at various nurseries, Plant Nerd Night, Plant Sales, to name a few) 3. The Open Gardens HPSO organizes are a treat because you are invited into private gardens others never have the opportunity to see. 4. As a member you get discounts from nurseries and businesses around the region. And 4. The people are nice and always welcoming (gardeners are some of the kindest, nicest folks I know – there must be something in the dirt…). So now that you know about HPSO, run as fast as you can to the website and join (the cost of membership is a bargain). www.hardyplantsociety.org See you at the next gathering!
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If you are not familiar with the Garden Conservancy and you are an enthusiastic gardener or a professional in the landscape field you have been deprived. This is a non- profit organization which “works to preserve and restore gardens in many ways, in both short-term and long-term partnerships, employing multiple services.” Namely, “helping to restore, rescue and rehabilitate public gardens, assist gardens by providing a range of preservation services and help private gardens become public gardens.” In short, they good things for gardens in need. But in addition to doing good they have wonderful programs for their members. There are a few silver linings the Pandemic left behind and one of them for me, was introducing me to the Garden Conservancy virtual programs. As many organizations did, the GC went virtual with many of their programs and I went with them. Their virtual (Zoom) presentations have been top notch. But that is not all, the GC organizes Open Gardens all over the United States, north to south and east to west which are only open to members. They support a National Speaking Tour and other lectures. The Garden Conservancy goes a step farther with Digging Deeper programs. These are hands on workshops which range from Cultivating Edible Mushrooms: A Mushroom Inoculation Workshop to Addressing Drought Through Plant Selection & Hardscape Solutions and beyond.
And the best is that an individual membership is only $50 per year. Who knew? Whether you are a seasoned gardener, a nascent gardener or a professional there is always so much more to learn and the Garden Conservancy is a fabulous way to do it. Consider joining, I think you will not regret it. |
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