Email news releases with complete information about free events to eventsbestbets@oregonian.com. Events listed are free unless otherwise noted.
August 18-26
SATURDAY, AUG. 18
Pomes and Stones: Grow Your Own Tree Fruit: 10 a.m.-noon. Learn how to select a tree, plant it and take care of it. Luke Jensen Sports Complex, Bud van Cleve Community Room, 4000 N.E. 78th St., Vancouver. 360-397-6060, ext. 5738 or extension.wsu.edu/clark/gardening
WEDNESDAY, AUG. 22
Wednesday Morning Honey Bee Hikes: 10-11 a.m. Look for wildlife, listen to the wind and creek, water the Children's Discovery Garden, read a story and craft something fun. 2-5 years accompanied by adult; $3 per child, nonwalkers and adults free. Leach Botanical Garden, 6704 S.E. 122nd Ave. 503-823-1671 or leachgarden.org
SATURDAY, AUG. 25
Greater Portland Iris Society Bearded Iris Plant Sale: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Sat and Sun, Aug. 25-26. Find an assortment of bearded irises that grow well in the Willamette Valley. Iris growers will have color photos to help with your selection. Portland Nursery, 5050 S.E. Stark St.
Gift Orchid Survival Workshop: 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Master Gardener Janis McBride will demonstrate methods that help turn gift orchids into long bloomers. Learn about how orchids grow, pest management, nutrition and repotting techniques. Pacific Park, Natural Demonstration Area, Northeast 18th Street and 172nd Avenue, Vancouver. 360-397-6060, ext. 5738 or extension.wsu.edu/clark/mg/workshops-events
Women's Club of Manzanita Tour of Homes: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Visit six new or remodeled homes in Manzanita. $10; ncoastorwomensclub.org/tour-of-homes
Annual Dahlia Festival: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sat, Sun and Mon, Aug. 25-27 and Sept. 1-3. Stroll through 30 acres of dahlia fields and explore three rooms full of arrangements. Swan Island Dahlias, 955 N.W. 22nd Ave., Canby. dahlias.com
Free Garden Tours at Pittock Mansion: 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Featuring new perennial beds and roses. OSU Master Gardeners will lead tours and answer questions on the second and fourth Saturdays of the month through September. Thirty-minute strolls focus on plants and garden areas while providing a glimpse into the Pittocks' contributions to Portland's gardens. 3229 N.W. Pittock Drive. pittockmansion.org
North Willamette Regional Dahlia Show: Noon-5 p.m. Sat and 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Sun, Aug. 25-26. View more than 2,000 dahlias from around the Northwest. Experts will be available to answer questions, and bouquets will be available for purchase. Oaks Park, Historic Dance Pavilion, 7805 S.E. Oaks Park Way. portlanddahlia.com
MONDAY, AUG. 27
Dry Farming Field Days: 5-7 p.m. Learn about dry farming and see tomatoes, squash, melon, zucchini, beans and corn grown with little or no supplemental irrigation. Registration required. 46 North Farm, Astoria. 541-766-3553 or smallfarms.oregonstate.edu
WEDNESDAY, AUG. 29
Wednesday Morning Honey Bee Hikes: 10-11 a.m. Look for wildlife, listen to the wind and creek, water the Children's Discovery Garden, read a story and craft something fun. 2-5 years accompanied by adult; $3 per child, nonwalkers and adults free. Leach Botanical Garden, 6704 S.E. 122nd Ave. 503-823-1671 or leachgarden.org
TUESDAY, SEPT. 4
Teaching Gardening at Detention Facilities/Schools/Neighborhoods: 6:50 p.m. Presented by Rima Green. First Baptist Church, 5755 S.W. Erickson Ave., Beaverton. washingtoncountymastergardeners.org
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 5
Garden Volunteer Informational Meeting: 9:30-10:30 a.m. Learn about volunteering in the Legacy Gardens. Legacy Good Samaritan Medical Center, 1015 N.W. 22nd Ave. RSVP required; call 503-413-7012. legacyhealth.org/gardens
Wednesday Morning Honey Bee Hikes: 10-11 a.m. Look for wildlife, listen to the wind and creek, water the Children's Discovery Garden, read a story and craft something fun. 2-5 years accompanied by adult; $3 per child, nonwalkers and adults free. Leach Botanical Garden, 6704 S.E. 122nd Ave. 503-823-1671 or leachgarden.org
SATURDAY, SEPT. 8
Salem Hardy Plant Society Fall Plant Sale: 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Browse more than a dozen nursery and garden art vendors and talk with nursery owners. Sebright Gardens, 7185 Lakeside Drive N.E., Salem
Free Garden Tours at Pittock Mansion: 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Featuring new perennial beds and roses. OSU Master Gardeners will lead tours and answer questions on the second and fourth Saturdays of the month through September. Thirty-minute strolls focus on plants and garden areas while providing a glimpse into the Pittocks' contributions to Portland's gardens. 3229 N.W. Pittock Drive. pittockmansion.org
SUNDAY, SEPT. 9
First Annual Laurelhurst Home Tour: 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Explore six of the neighborhood's classic houses. $25; laurelhurstpdx.org/home-tour
TUESDAY, SEPT. 11
Garden Tour and Wellness Walk: 10 a.m. Gather in the Stenzel Garden for a garden tour followed by a neighborhood nature walk. Legacy Good Samaritan Medical Center, 1015 N.W. 22nd Ave. 503-413-6507 or legacyhealth.org/gardens
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 12
Wednesday Morning Honey Bee Hikes: 10-11 a.m. Look for wildlife, listen to the wind and creek, water the Children's Discovery Garden, read a story and craft something fun. 2-5 years accompanied by adult; $3 per child, nonwalkers and adults free. Leach Botanical Garden, 6704 S.E. 122nd Ave. 503-823-1671 or leachgarden.org
Urban Weeds: 6-8:30 p.m. Learn about the most common garden and landscape weeds. Find out how these aggressive plants take over and get tips to help avoid turning to synthetic herbicides. Leaven Community Center, 5431 N.E. 20th Ave. Register online at emswcd.org or call 503-222-7645
Summer Sippin' Lecture Series: Tea: 7-8:30 p.m. Tea grower Elizabeth Miller will give some insights on growing, processing and brewing. Learn about the creation of green, black and oolong teas and the biochemical changes that take place in the tea leaf over the harvest season. Taste the difference between teas made from spring flush and those made from leaves plucked later in the summer. $15 or $40 for the four-part series; registration required. Leach Botanical Garden, 6704 S.E. 122nd Ave. leachgarden.org or 503-823-1671
THURSDAY, SEPT. 13
Native Plants: 6-8:30 p.m. Explore the benefits of gardening with native plants. Discover Portland's most common native plant communities, learn which species do well in similar growing conditions and get tips to help them thrive. Gethsemane Lutheran Church, 11560 S.E. Market St. Register online at emswcd.org or call 503-222-7645
SATURDAY, SEPT. 15
Rain Gardens 101: 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Learn how rain gardens add beauty and color while helping restore the health of urban streams. Get step-by-step details on how to plan, design and build your own rain garden. Livingscape, 3926 N. Vancouver. Register online at emswcd.org or call 503-222-7645
Seeds: Sowing/Harvesting/Saving: 10-11 a.m. Learn what seed packets don't tell you when planting and when to harvest, how to clean, store and test before planting. Washington County Master Gardener Association Learning Garden at Jenkins Estate, 8005 S.W. Grabhorn Road, Beaverton. washingtoncountymastergardeners.org
Learning Garden Open House: 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Tour the Master Gardener Learning Garden and free workshops held onsite. Washington County Master Gardener Association Learning Garden at Jenkins Estate, 8005 S.W. Grabhorn Road, Beaverton. washingtoncountymastergardeners.org
Winterize: Putting your Garden to Bed: 11 a.m.-noon. Learn about steps to protect your plants, take advantage of the indoors for garden tasks, prepare for spring and support the ecosystem in your garden. Washington County Master Gardener Association Learning Garden at Jenkins Estate, 8005 S.W. Grabhorn Road, Beaverton. washingtoncountymastergardeners.org
Saturday Seminar: From the Bud to the Bottle: 11 a.m.-noon. Learn about how grapes are grown and wine is made. Complimentary for Club Adelsheim members; $25 for nonmembers. Adelsheim Vineyard, 16800 Northeast Calkins Lane, Newberg. adelsheim.com
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 19
Wednesday Morning Honey Bee Hikes: 10-11 a.m. Look for wildlife, listen to the wind and creek, water the Children's Discovery Garden, read a story and craft something fun. 2-5 years accompanied by adult; $3 per child, nonwalkers and adults free. Leach Botanical Garden, 6704 S.E. 122nd Ave. 503-823-1671 or leachgarden.org
Summer Sippin' Lecture Series: Cocktail Bitters: 7-8:30 p.m. Cindy Capparelli, proprietor of Portland Bitters Project, will talk about the world of bitters and how to make best use of them. Learn about medicinal history, modern uses and how essential bitters are made. Experience the role bitters can play in adding complexity and punch to cocktails. $15 or $40 for the four-part series; registration required. Leach Botanical Garden, 6704 S.E. 122nd Ave. leachgarden.org or 503-823-1671
SATURDAY, SEPT. 22
Free Garden Tours at Pittock Mansion: 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Featuring new perennial beds and roses. OSU Master Gardeners will lead tours and answer questions. Thirty-minute strolls focus on plants and garden areas while providing a glimpse into the Pittocks' contributions to Portland's gardens. 3229 N.W. Pittock Drive. pittockmansion.org
-- Corey Sheldon