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.
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.
Memberships/renewals help support our organization and our volunteer maintained gardens! Thanks to those who have renewed and have done so continuously and generously.
September Class
Saturday September 21st at 10:00am ~ entitled Introduction to Native Bees and Native Meadowscaping ~ conducted by Kyle Roslund, founder Vancouver Bee Project (www.vancouverbeeproject.org)
Learn about the vital role of native bees in our ecosystems by expanding your borders or filling in that ugly and underused parking strip with a pocket meadow. We’ll talk about tips to help prepare for and create beautiful, pollinator-friendly meadows in your own yard along with sustainable gardening practices. Send photos of your space to Kyle at: info@vancouverbeeproject.org and we may use some of them to discuss things to consider.
August Class–Recap
Andy and Tobie Bryant, owners of Battle Ground Blooms www.battleground blooms) gave us some insights as to the ups and downs of starting and maintaining a small family-run business. Many of their experiences can be translated to our own yards and it was good to learn from them what has worked (or not!). We also viewed some pics of beautiful flowers they grow and several attendees won bouquets.
Saturday Morning Work Parties
We could always use more help in the gardens! Get your hands dirty and volunteer! Our Saturday morning work parties (SMWP) will last through October. Each Saturday morning (from 9:00am to noon) volunteers are guided by one of our garden coordinators to work on needed tasks/projects in the various gardens. Non-Saturday dates and other opportunities may also be available at times. We have a sign-up system using SignUpGenius. To sign up to work on listed days, here is the link: SignUpGenius
Save the Date
Perennial, Bulb & Seed Swap
October 12th 10am – 1pm
Soon it will be prime time to divide and collect–we are again partnering with the Master Gardeners of Clark County to conduct our 8th annual event. Gardeners who want to find homes for their excess plants, bulbs and seeds can do so while at the same time have the option for getting some new plant material in exchange. Bring some, get some. Extra bonus, the CASEE Center will open their greenhouse for the sale of native potted trees/shrubs.
Garden Tidings…..
*Erin Harwood (of Plant Magic with Erin and Garden Delights Herb Farm) wrapped up of her Plant ID Primer class series at Clark College recently with the last class held in the field. The class selected the Wildlife Botanical Gardens. In Erin’s words: “I am incredibly grateful for this organization and also for this space. Along with the weather that eve – which was glorious and just right – honestly it was truly magical. I really felt like the plants were supporting us all along the way”.
*It just so happens that Erin also conducted a Flower Pounding (also known as: Hapa Zome or Tataki Zome) event for some of our members at the end of August on a lovely evening in the gardens. We selected flowers, leaves and even some weeds!, placed them onto art paper covered with parchment paper and then pounded them with hammers. Some of us created colorful artsy cards. Some of us just got exercise with hammers!
If you’d like to try it, Erin shared her guideline information sheet Here.
*Help us, help you….
Wondering what to do with your old (broken down or no longer used) garden tools? If they are (mostly) metal, we’ll take them off of your hands! What will we do with them you ask? They will be used to create a future mystery art project for the Flying Flowers Garden! Take part in future art!!
Leave your shovels, rakes, pruners, pitchforks, pick axes, post hole diggers, trowels, hedge pruners, etc. labeled as “FFG” at the door of the shed (in the center of the gardens), and they will be collected. Thanks in advance.
Sharing……
Members’ contributions
*On a recent visit to the gardens, Kim shared, “just wanted to share this cute shot I captured at the Botanical Garden…a little bird looked like he was saying “hello” to the little mini figurine on the tree stump…”.
Can you recognize in which garden this photo was taken? 
Answer at the end of the newsletter.
* A lovely meditation poem that won a prize at the Clark County Fair, written by a budding poet.
*One of our gardeners captured this precious photo one recent afternoon. What a doll! 
Flyers
Always striving to best share information, our standard flyers in display boxes at the gardens are now on our website. Find them referenced on the following pages:
https://naturescaping.org/the-gardens/
https://naturescaping.org/the-gardens/flying-flowers-garden/
https://naturescaping.org/the-gardens/hummingbird-place/
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:
https://naturescaping.org/resources/free-booklet/
Recent Comments:
Visitors sharing their thoughts of and experiences at the gardens….
From Yelp Business:
Bev–5 star review, pics & comments: “I visited with my two grandchildren on a hot day in August and we had a great time. There are many different gardens (butterfly, bird watching, and more). They are interconnected by trails and very shaded. There are many benches to sit on and cool off and enjoy the wildlife. There’s a separate hiking trail to a forest and pond. The kids loved the pond and we saw lots of big frogs. I highly recommend spending a couple hours here.”
From Google Business
William–5 star review & pics
Kathy–5 star review & comment: “Absolutely beautiful. Volunteers must put in many hours to maintain. I have visited twice now. Both times were great. Saw the change in blooming which was fun.noticed things I hadn’t before. Also like that dogs can walk the trails if leashed. My twelve year old grandson loved it as well. Will definitely be back.”
Note: See recent photos posted by visitors:
From Comment Cards:
Anonymous–Excellent rating & comment: “Very pretty, amazing”.
Carlos–Excellent review & comment: “Gardens are an essential part of learning about nature and a natural life away from the stress of every day life. Thank you to all the people who contributed to this remarkable garden”.
Akmel–Excellent review
Shelton–Excellent review & comment: “Ever since I was a child gardens and nature was an escape for me! This area is so beautiful and well kept! Thank you all for all you do”!
Nature Related Quote of the Month
From Ralph Smart: “There is no Wi-Fi in the forest, but I promise you will find a better connection.”
P.S. Answer to Kim’s pic: Cottage Garden