• Treekeepers of Washington County programs
• Cedar Mill Garden Club meeting
• Backyard stream stewardship workshop
• Friends of Trees Training
• Native plant sale
• Master Gardeners:Arborvitae and their lookalikes: identification and natural history

Treekeepers of Washington County programs

We work to protect and advocate for trees in urban unincorporated Washington County. Don’t miss our upcoming events! All events are free. Visit the Treekeepers website treekeeperswc.org to learn more.

Ivy Pulls: join our on-call ivy crew

October-March

English ivy hangs on through winter at a time trees are particularly vulnerable. The invasive vines keep growing while trees are dormant, and the excess weight can increase risks for trees. Help us save trees by removing ivy and other invasive plants that threaten them. ​ Weather makes it hard to schedule events, so please, sign up here and we’ll notify you when there is a good weather window so we can schedule an ivy pulling event.

Tree lover’s book club

Tuesday, November 10, 6-7 pm, Cedar Mill Community Library Oak Room, 1080 NW Saltzman Rd.

Please join us for our first Tree Lover’s Book Club event to discuss Suzanne Simard’s new book, When the Forest Breathes. Please read as much of the book as you can before our meeting. We’ll also choose a book together for the next book group meeting, which will take place in January 2027. All are welcome and no reservation is needed. See you then!

Cedar Mill Garden Club meeting

Wednesday, October 21, 10:15-11 am (business meeting), 11-12 pm (presentation)

Our annual installation of officers & business meeting will be first, followed by a Master Gardener presentation to learn all about Plant Propagation. Drop-ins are always welcome. For more information, please contact Cathy at cathyramsey308@gmail.com or 503-866-4222.

Backyard stream stewardship workshop

Saturday, October 24, 8:45-3 pm, 7175 NE Evergreen Pkwy, Ste 400, Hillsboro, registration required

Join the Tualatin Soil and Water Conservation District for the Backyard Stream Stewardship Workshop, a full-day FREE workshop open to Washington County urban and suburban residents to learn more about how to take care of the stream on or near their property. Participants will learn from experts from partnering organizations, hands-on activities, and an optional field trip. Attendees will gain a better understanding of how to improve wildlife habitats, address an overabundance of weeds, reduce erosion, increase soil health, and improve water quality. Space is limited and registration is required. Visit the workshop information page to learn more! If you have any further questions, please contact Anna at anna.le@tualatinswcd.org.

Friends of Trees Training

Tualatin: Saturday, October 10, 8:45 am-2 pm, Portland: Saturday, October 24, 9:45 am-2 pm, locations on information page

Want to meet wonderful people, learn more about trees and your environment, and lead climate action in your community? Becoming a Crew Leader with Friends of Trees is a great way to do all this while building skills and making Oregon a greener place to live!

Every Fall and Winter, thousands of volunteers from around the Portland Metro Area gather on Saturday mornings to plant large trees in neighborhoods and native plants in parks and natural areas. Crew Leaders play an important role in making these events safe and creating a positive environment for people to enjoy connecting with the outdoors! No experience is necessary- we will provide the training and make sure you are paired with an experienced crew leader who will help show you the ropes for your first several planting events. Reach out to us with questions at volunteer@friendsoftrees.org or 503-595-0213. Or register at this web page.

Native plant sale

Monday-Friday, 9 am-5 pm, Saturday, 10 am-3 pm, until early November, 15655 SW Millikan Way

The Friends of the Tualatin Hills Nature Park maintain the native plant demonstration garden in front of the Nature Center. They are holding a native plant sale at the Nature Center this fall. Funds from the plant sale provide scholarships for nature education, support park improvements and events.

Fall is the ideal time to add native plants to your garden, where they support native wildlife, increase the resiliency of your yard, reduce pests, and improve soil health. Three dozen species are available to purchase, with daily restocking. Simply pick out the plants you want and take them inside to the front desk of the Nature Center to purchase.

The Friends of THNP will continue to partner with Sparrowhawk Native Plants in the spring for the pre-order sale. Information about that sale will be shared early spring.

Master Gardeners program

Arborvitae and their lookalikes: identification and natural history

Tuesday, November 3, 7-8 pm, Free Zoom Webinar, Pre-registration required.

Presented by: Elizabeth Price, Master Gardener volunteer

What is the difference between true Arborvitae (Thuja spp.) and false Arborvitae (Chamaecyparis spp.)? What is the difference between false cedars (Thuja spp. and Chamaecyparis spp.) and true cedars (Cedrus spp.)? In this webinar, Elizabeth Price will disentangle the confusing naming conventions for these groups of conifers. She will also highlight foliage and cone characteristics for quickly differentiating among these notoriously difficult-to-identify conifers. Price will also discuss the fascinating natural history of these plants, including “Why Arborvitae were named the “tree of life” or “Arbre de Vie” by early explorers” and why warming climate is causing Alaska-cedars to die of the cold. Registration link will be active the month the class is offered.