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.

Welcome members–those who have renewed and those newly joined! (some at higher levels). Thank you so much! Memberships help support our organization and our gardens!

Note: We can now accept memberships and renewals online with this link: Membership/Renewals.

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.

Separate donations can also be transacted online!

Donations/Memorials.

 

October Class

Note: We are back to our (pre-COVID) in person classes at the CASEE Center on the 3rd Saturday of the month at 10:00am! Woohoo!

Saturday October 15th at 10:00am entitled ~Plant Propagation ~ conducted by Julie Carlsen, NatureScaping Coordinator, Perennial Princess & Master Gardener. NS October 2022-Plant Propagation

Learn plant propagation timing and techniques. There will be demonstrations of stem cuttings and perennial division.

Please let me know if you would like to attend this class to ensure proper chair set up and materials–members are always welcome.

 

September Class-Recap

It was a pleasant morning to create our Lasagna Garden bed. Attendees did a great job of helping in the construction. We used a lot of food scraps among other things! You can come see the bed in the Compost Recycling Demo Area at the far west end of the gardens.

Note: For past recorded Zoom classes, we have a playlist at the Camas Library YouTube page where you can view most of the recorded class sessions from past months at:

Camas Library YouTube-NatureScaping Classes

 

Saturday Morning Work Parties

This is the last month for our regular Saturday Morning Work Parties (SMWP) from 9-noon. Each Saturday morning, volunteers are guided by one of our garden coordinators to work on needed tasks/projects in the various gardens. Non-Saturday dates may be available as determined. We have a sign up system using SignUpGenius. Additional sign up dates will be routinely added. To sign up to work on listed days, here is a link: SignUpGenius

 

Save the Date 

Perennial, Bulb & Seed Swap (& More)

October 8th 10am – 1pm

We are again partnering with the Master Gardeners of Clark County to help provide all of those gardeners who want to find homes for their excess plants, bulbs and seeds a way to do so while at the same time perhaps getting some new plant material in exchange. Bring some, get some. New for this year….we will also have a “mini” plant sale and the CASEE Center will open their greenhouse for the sale of potted native trees/shrubs.

We do ask that you follow certain guidelines to make things easier for everyone. Please see the attached flyer for details: Seed Swap Flyer 2022

 

GiveMore24-Recap

Thursday September 22nd was the day of local giving in Southwest Washington. On behalf of NatureScaping and the Flying Flower Garden crew, please accept our heartfelt thanks to all of you who very generously donated to us via GiveMore24. Your contributions will help us meet our goals to expand the Flying Flowers Garden–creating a new garden area for everyone to enjoy at the Wildlife Botanical Gardens.

 

Did you Notice…..

Speaking of the Flying Flowers Garden–a progress report from the FFG crew… They have been busy layering the compost–to date they estimate that in excess of 84 cubic yards has been spread (thanks to Ron for the material). Meanwhile planning for the other stages of the project is ongoing and they are beginning to source plants.

 

 

Bulletin Board

Come see the latest artistic Autumnal presentation displayed on the shed in the center of the gardens (thanks Rosemarie) on your next visit to the gardens and/or see

 

 

 

BirdFest & Bluegrass Festival

The weather cooperated for Ridgefield’s big event on October 1st. Lots of new folks in the area that now know about the Wildlife Botanical Gardens! If you didn’t get to attend and/or didn’t see our display,

 

Calling Any Potential Coordinators….

NatureScaping needs a new Garden Coordinator for the Collector’s Garden in the Wildlife Botanical Gardens. This position is a volunteer position for someone who enjoys gardening and wants to creatively shape a new theme or keep the same theme. The current description for this garden is on our website at naturescaping.org.

We are looking for a gardener who has a vision to create and maintain a wildlife friendly garden. We require at least a 3 hr per week commitment. If interested please let Marlene Dellsy (marlene52ns@gmail.com) know or for more information email to: info@naturescaping.org.

If you have a friend who may be interested, share the garden and become Co-Coordinators.

 

Tours/Visitors

A group of mostly seniors, from the Villages Clark County came out to the gardens for the Autumn solstice.

We were invited to speak to the members of GFWC-Battle Ground (General Federation of Women’s Clubs) introducing NatureScaping to those unfamiliar with us. A lovely group! I’m happy to say, many were already supporters of us and our gardens.

 

Sharing……

In case you have not already heard….

New Booklet

We are pleased to announce that 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:

https://naturescaping.org/resources/free-booklet/

 

Comments… 

Lots of comments recently…I think we can see how the gardens are appreciated!

From Business Google 

To see photos (contributed by anyone)

White Lotus gave the following 5 star review & posted photos: “It was nice to get to see this hidden treasure! It was quiet, calming and uplifting to be able to get grounded and balance the rest of my chakras. I was able to see so many different plant species and enjoy them . The bees were out and about and there is even different examples of composting available to see. Great place to take your family, friends r even visit on your own. Please be mindful and respectful of how loud you are when you arrive and while walking through. It’s a nice little peaceful tucked away sanctuary. Hope you enjoy!!!”

Amy gave the following 3 star review: “Small but cute. well maintained. Hidden gem. Wish it was bigger!”

Arianna With 2 N’s gave us the following 5 star review:
“Gorgeous and peaceful, saw so many squirrels and birds, even a MOLE!”

Other sources

Several visitors left donations and comments in our donation box mounted on our shed.

Family from MT and CA said: “We really enjoyed the gardens! Great job!”

Visitors from Loomis CA said: “Thank you so much for making this available to all garden lovers!”

Meaghan gave an online donation and said: “My husband, myself, and our 1 year old love the botanical gardens so much. Please keep up the wonderful work at this special place.”

 

Nature Related Quote of the Month

From Unknown: “Autumn shows us how beautiful it is to let things go”.

 

Stay safe and enjoy!!