Whether on the hunt for family-friendly activities to fill those school-free summer days, looking to exercise a green-thumb, or just wanting to learn about nurturing a native backyard habitat, an upcoming Metro summer series of garden activities and programs has it all.
Launching this weekend at the Oregon Zoo and Blue Lake Regional Park, Metro and partners from Oregon State University’s Extension Service will begin hosting programs every Friday, Saturday and Sunday through August, except July 4.
Backyard Makeover at the Oregon Zoo
The Oregon Zoo’s Backyard Makeover exhibit, neighboring the Insect Zoo, hosts two garden landscapes, demonstrating simple changes that can make a yard both easier to maintain and inviting to local birds, butterflies, and other winged wildlife.
The before-and-after garden presents some of the design features that one could add to their own yard to make it more animal wildlife friendly, said Paul Sanford, Metro natural gardening educator.
The exhibit is available during all zoo hours, but stop by between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on program days and find Oregon State University Master Gardeners ready to talk about cultivating a native habitat while kids dig in worm bins, play games, and investigate animal footprints under a microscope. Take home free activity books as well as publications on promoting a lush garden that’s safe for the family and the environment.
Natural Discovery Garden at Blue Lake Regional Park
Open during all regular park hours, the Blue Lake Natural Discovery Garden offers visitors the opportunity to explore in a natural garden environment. But come from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on program days and find an array of family-friendly activities to dive into. Each week activities will focus on one of four themes – plants, soil, wildlife and water.
Join Metro’s natural gardening educators to learn about the life of a plant or flower while planting bean seeds in coconut shell pots to take home, glue seeds to a picture of a flower to make a mosaic, or explore the discovery garden with a bingo scavenger hunt and win a magnifying glass.
During soil week kids can participate in making soil with natural fertilizer and learn about how the elements help the plants grow. They can look for worms and other bugs in the compost bin and put those under the microscope, Sanford said.
“During water week we’ll get some of the water critters and they can look at them under the microscope and try to identify them,” Sanford said. “Each week it’s different.”
The Backyard Makeover exhibit at the Oregon Zoo is open during all zoo hours with program activities from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through August, excluding July 4. Entry is free with zoo admission. Ride MAX to the Washington Park station, or park at the zoo for a fee. Show proof that you rode TriMet and receive $1.50 off zoo admission.
The Discovery Garden at Blue Lake Regional Park is open from 8 am to sunset daily with program activities from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through August, excluding July 4. Participation is free with $5 per vehicle park entry fee; free for bicycles and pedestrians.
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