Our Bedrock
Mission Statement:
Gardens and programs that inspire, educate and enrich our lives and our community.
Purpose Statement:
To educate and encourage citizens on the importance of developing, restoring, maintaining and conserving wildlife habitat and the native plants that comprise that habitat.
Membership:
Welcome new members!! We hope to see you at our monthly classes and upcoming events.
Renewal Information:
Renewal notices (for the most part except for exceptionally large volume months in which case they are emailed) are sent out via USPS during the month in which it is due.
However, to help us cover our processing costs for the convenience of using online payments, it is necessary to include those costs in our online membership fees. Amounts remain the same as before for checks/cash.
Memberships/renewals help support our organization and our volunteer maintained gardens! Thanks to those who have renewed and have done so continuously and generously.
February Class
Please review the attached flyer for our class at the CASEE Center on Saturday February 15th at 10:00am ~ entitled Mushroom Hunting for Beginners ~ conducted by Rebecca Lexa, Naturalist.
Even if you are wary of mushroom hunting, come learn about these fascinating fungi! We’ll discuss skills to identify various mushrooms and learn where to find them.
January Class–Recap
What a turn-out!! Our class, Houseplants 102–A not-so-ordinary discussion about plants, conducted by Clark County Master Gardeners, proved to be a very popular subject. Seems to be a large overlap among people who enjoy indoor and outdoor gardening. A broad range of topics were covered to promote knowledge towards healthier houseplants. Some folks shared their successes and experiences, which further illuminated the discussions.
Annual Report
Enjoy reviewing the accomplishments, events and happenings of 2024 and plans for the future of NatureScaping and the Wildlife Botanical Gardens.
Annual Report 2024
Student Gardener Program
This is an educational program that pairs CASEE students with adult volunteer mentors. The aim is to learn together around nature themed subjects and complete related activities in the Wildlife Botanical Gardens. The program will be facilitated by Amanda Shaffer again this year. The Spring session will occur on three consecutive Saturdays, March 8th, 15th and 22nd from 10:00am to 1:00pm.
Students will get the opportunity to help design a native plant garden, reconstruct an intentional brush pile, and help to keep walkways through the gardens safe and beautiful.
If you are interested in joining us in working with CASEE students this season, please email Amanda at thegreensgal@gmail.com.
Save the Date
We are having our annual Bare Root Trees, Shrubs & Perennial sale this year at the Wildlife Botanical Gardens in Brush Prairie on Saturday, April 26th from 9am to 4pm, and Sunday, April 27th from 10am to 3pm. Members up to date with their dues will have access to the sale for the first 2 hours (with sign-up) prior to opening it up to the public. More detailed information regarding shopping will be forthcoming. The CASEE Center will be selling natives from their greenhouse; and Garden Delight Herb Farm will also join us with their booth. Download our 2025 Plant Sale Flyer..
This is our big fundraising event of the year and it takes lots of volunteers before and during the sale event!
Some volunteer needs: Heelers, Label-placers, Field Helpers, Holding area, Baggers, Checkers, Cashiers, etc.
More details to come. Our success depends upon our volunteers–please consider helping!
Did you know…..
NatureScaping had a table at the recent Hockinson Seed Swap & Giveaway–4th year in a row. We saw some friends and partner organizations. We talked with some nice folks with whom we shared information about our organization and gardens. See pic.
Organizational News
As outlined in the President’s Message in the Annual Report, we have seen changes throughout 2024 and now beginning in 2025. We’d like to give a little extra shout-out to those who have served, those who continue to serve and to welcome those new to serve. We also have some new volunteers training to help with our website, social media and marketing. And of course our volunteers in the gardens. Thanks to all!!
Hidden Garden Spot
Beginning in January, we are trying out a new “challenge” feature for those who frequent the gardens regularly and to encourage others to do so. See if you can recognize the spot in one of the gardens where this photo, “Bear Statue” (taken by Kim) was taken. See pic.
Note: Look at the end of the attached News Nuggets and Reading Material PDF to find out the answer.
Always striving to best share information, our standard flyers in display boxes at the gardens are now on our website.
Booklet
With funding from a Washington Native Plant Society (WNPS) grant and with many volunteer hours from committee members (you know who you are) a longtime dream has been fulfilled.
We have created a free 52-page booklet as an educational tool that includes dozens of high-quality photos, descriptions and other information regarding native plants found at The Wildlife Botanical Gardens and reasons to incorporate them in your landscape. Here is the link to finding it on our website:
*Alisa–5 stars & comment–“Great place for photos and to walk around in nature”.
Nature Related Quote of the Month:
From Alfred Austin: The glory of gardening: hands in the dirt, head in the sun, heart with nature. To nurture a garden is to feed not just on the body, but the soul.
