Clackamas County Master Gardeners will help grow your green thumb through their free Lecture Series, presented on the second Monday of the month from 7–8 p.m. at the Milwaukie Center, 5440 S.E. Kellogg Creek Drive in Milwaukie, Oregon.

May 11: Microbiomes on Fresh vs. Store Bought Fruits and Vegetables presented by Gwynne Mhuireach (approved for one hour of continuing education credit). Mhuireach will share her research regarding microbiomes of garden-fresh versus store-bought fruits and vegetables, as well as their potential impact on the gut microbiome after consumption.

June 8: Bees and Pollination, presented by Dewey Caron (approved for one hour of continuing education credit). Pollinators are in peril, like many insect populations. What might we do to improve pollinator health? The needs are similar for all living organisms: food resources, protection from harmful chemicals, a place to nest and the opposite sex to ensure the next generation. The group will discuss pollinators who we might want to attract and develop a strategy for meeting their basic needs, one garden at a time.

October 12: Hot Topics in Vegetable Gardening presented by Chip Bubl (approved for one hour of continuing education credit).

November 9: Microplastics in Garden Soil presented by Anna Perry (approved for one hour of continuing education credit). What are microplastics, and how might they impact my garden? Microplastics are ubiquitous in the environment, yet very little is known about their impact on garden soils or garden ecology. This talk will provide an overview of what we know about plastics in soils: where they come from, and how they might affect soils, plants, and other life within the soil.

December 14: Greens and Gather: A Holiday Workshop. Join in for a cozy holiday workshop where Master Gardeners turn winter greens into beautiful, handmade wreaths, sharing creativity, laughter and seasonal cheer.