Nature

Certified Backyard Habitat. Click to enlarge

The Backyard Habitat Certification Program

By Neta Courcey
Certified Backyard Habitat
Wilkes East Resident

Like neighborhoods are to cities, cities to counties, and counties to states, backyard habitats connect our yards to greenways and to wilderness, providing the essential pathways of interconnectedness that nourish the larger community. Communities of humans thrive when they are connected to each other and to the larger community. Just as neighborhood groups like Wilkes East are essential to building and maintaining the larger community, backyard habitats are essential to the community of birds and other wildlife. The swath of habitat that neighbors create is vital, providing refuge areas containing food, water, nesting places and shelter. I am proud to have my little yard be a piece of the bigger network that creates a web of natural habitats throughout the Portland metropolitan area and the Pacific Northwest.

Learn About Our Native Plants When: Thu, May 04, 2017 6:30PM-9PM Where: St. Aidan's Episcopal Church and Nadaka Nature Park 17405 NE Glisan Street Get Map!

Explore the benefits of gardening with native plants. Discover the Portland areas most common native plant communities, learn which species do well together and get tips to help them thrive. A slide show will highlight their unique features and desired growing conditions so you can decide which plants will work best in your own yard.

Register for this workshop online.

This class is hosted in partnership by Friends of Nadaka, East Multnomah Soil & Water Conservation District, and St. Aidans Episcopal Church.

For more information about this event contact Katie Meckes at 503-222-7645 or katie@emswcd.org

When: Sat, May 06, 2017 1PM-2PM Where: Main City Park 219 S. Main Ave. Get Map!

Join the City of Gresham and Johnson Creek Watershed Council for a guided tour of the public demonstration garden. We will meet near the Coho shelter.

The Garden showcases the types of plants that are great for northwest gardens that also support our local wildlife and pollinators.

Local resident and native bee expert, Celeste Ets-Hokin, will speak about the bees in our gardens and the myriad of benefits they provide and work that they do.

Contact

Johnson Creek Watershed Council

Come Learn About Our Valuable Little Friends When: Sat, May 06, 2017 1:30PM-2:30PM Where: Main City Park 219 S. Main Ave Get Map!

Learn about the many fascinating and bee-utiful native bees that live in Gresham and the plants that support them.

Local bee expert, Celeste Ets-Hokin, will speak about the bees in our gardens and the myriad of benefits they provide and work that they do.

• Refreshments Provided
• Seating provided in the Coho shelter

Contact

Keri Handaly, 503-618-2657 or Keri.Handaly@GreshamOregon.gov

When: Thu, May 11, 2017 6PM-7PM Where: City Hall Council Chambers 1333 NW Eastman Pky Get Map!

Meet your wildlife neighbors in Gresham!

Staff from the City of Gresham, Johnson Creek Watershed Council, and local wildlife photographer, Caz Zyvatkauskas, will be presenting beautiful photos and videos of wildlife sightings in Gresham. Some are very unexpected!

Bring the whole family for an evening of wildlife photographs, interactive activities, and family-friendly fun!

Contact

Johnson Creek Watershed Council

Janel Hull, 503-652-7477 or janel@jcwc.org

Bring Your Gloves, and a Friend! When: Wednesday & Saturday Weekly Where: Vance Park Pollinator Garden (behind the Park Place Cafe) 1400 SE 182nd Ave Gresham, OR Get Map!

Bee the first on your block to help us plant flowers for our new community pollinator garden at Vance Park! We must get these native and other bee-friendly plants, generously provided by the City of Gresham, in the ground in time for our V.I.P. (Very Important Pollinator) visitors.

So bring your garden gloves, water bottle and flower power spirit to the Vance Park Peace Garden, each and every Wednesday and Saturday, from 12 to 3 (weather permitting), beginning Wednesday, April 12th. Refreshments and tools will be provided. 1400 SE 182nd Ave, Gresham. The garden is the fenced area behind the Park Place Cafe parking lot, on the north western side of the park off of 182nd.

As you help build this new pollinator garden, you'll also learn more about our North American native bees and what you can do to help them in your own backyard. Celeste, our local native bee advocate, will be available at all the planting parties to answer any questions you may have about these essential pollinators and the flowers they visit.

We ask that you please confirm your attendance by contacting Keri Handaly, City Watershed Steward, at 503 618-2657, or by emailing her at: Keri.Handaly@GreshamOregon.gov. You may also contact Celeste directly at celeste.ets.hokin@gmail.com, if you have any questions about a planting event or to confirm attendance. This will help us keep track of how many people plan to participate on a given day and enable us to communicate directly with volunteers, should there be any last minute changes to the schedule due to weather or other factors.

See you there!

Bring Your Gloves! When: Wed, Apr 19, 2017 10AM-12PM Where: Vance Park 1400 SE 182nd Avenue Get Map!

Join the City and it's partners in celebrating Arbor Month by increasing Gresham's urban forest at Vance Park tree planting event with Friends of Trees, the City, and Multnomah County.

For more information on this event contact Tina Osterink, Natural Resources Planner, at 503-618-2392 or Tina.Osterink@GreshamOregon.gov.

Get Your Green On! When: Sat, Apr 22, 2017 9AM-12PM Where: Nadaka Nature Park 17615 NE Glisan Street Get Map!

Looking for a way to give back this Earth Day? Join Friends of Nadaka to restore a healthy habitat at Nadaka Nature Park. We will be removing invasive species such as English Ivy from the 10-acre forested portion of the park. The event will start with a brief lesson on native and invasive plant species.

Tools, gloves and light refreshments will be provided. Dress to work in natural areas: long pants and closed-toe sturdy shoes. Please bring a water bottle and a friend.

Activities include:

• invasive plant removal
• litter cleanup
• garden weeding/cleanup

Register to volunteer.

For more information about this event, contact Monica McAllister at 503-956-8558 or monica@friendsofnadaka.org.

Bring Your Gloves! Volunteers Needed When: Sat, Mar 11, 2017 9AM-12PM Where: Conifer Parks at Fairview Creek 143 SE 205th Pl Get Map!

Well be planting native plants at Fairview Creek, one of the few surface streams in the watershed.

Dont miss this fun and exciting opportunity to support your watershed. Kid and family friendly.

Contact:

• Columbia Slough Watershed Council
• Phone: 503-281-1132
• Email: Volunteer@columbiaslough.org

Bring Your Gloves! When: Sat, Mar 18, 2017 9AM-12:45PM Where: McKinstry Company 16790 NE Mason St Get Map!

Ever wonder about that slow-moving channel of water running through Gresham, Fairview, and NE & N Portland? This free hands-on workshop will explore the unique character, challenges and opportunities of the Columbia Slough and its Watershed. Open to everyone interested in learning more about the Columbia Slough Watershed.

• Youll learn about soil & sediment in relation to water quality, how the Slough has changed over time, and what that means for fish, wildlife, people and businesses.
• Explore Macroinvertebrates (water bugs) that live in the Slough. Simulate and predict aquifer conditions with an interactive groundwater model.
• Test water quality through dissolved oxygen, temperature, and PH levels.

Note:

Pre-registration is required for this free workshop.
Light refreshments will be provided. Suitable for adults and teens 14 & up.

Organizer: Columbia Slough Watershed Council

Contact: Karen Carillo, 503-281-1132 or karen.carrillo@columbiaslough.org