Take a look and discover all of the activities in the Multnomah County Master Gardener Demonstration Garden during this special annual event …
At the welcome table, at their ‘Open Garden’, are Multnomah County Master Gardener™ Demonstration Garden members Barbara McCanne and Susan Barnett.
Story and photos by David F. Ashton
Hidden away in the Brentwood-Darlington neighborhood, volunteers from the Multnomah County Master Gardener™ Demonstration Garden welcomed the public into their one-acre educational garden during their annual “Open Garden” on August 9th.
The local volunteers (and interns) who are certified through the Oregon State University Extension Master Gardener™ program informed guests about their “farm” of small fruits and vegetables, native and perennial plants, and pollinators – and answered questions about creating habitat, as well as gardening methods.
During “Open Garden” day, OSU Extension Master Gardeners Kim Butchereit, Alice Goldstein and Sharon Helms, and Cynthia Chase, stood by to share their knowledge with visitors.
Garden Co-Chair Linda Goldser makes sure the public “open garden” runs smoothly.
“This was our fourth annual ‘Open Garden’ at which 42 Master Gardeners welcomed what turned out to be 172 guests during the four-hour event,” explained Garden Co-Chair Linda Goldser.
“All of us, including our Co-Chairs Heidi Nichols and Carole Hardy always look forward to showing off our garden!,” she exclaimed.
Visitors take a self-guided tour of the Demonstration Garden.
Gonzalz family say they’re fascinated at a display showing centipedes and millipedes.
“Guests enjoyed seeing the many different ‘garden stations’ – like the blueberry bed, and our dry farming bed – where they received answers to their gardening questions,” Goldser told East Portland News.
The low-key event allowed visitors to amble through the area at their own pace, as they learned about edible vegetable beds, as well as pollinator and native plants areas, and were able to observe the Xeriscape bed, Dry Farm bed, Children’s Garden, and Herb bed.
“Grow your own garden!” invites Master Gardener™ Intern Elise Elshire.
Guests learned that the garden’s produce is donated to local food pantries – in 2024, that added up to 2,467 pounds of vegetables and fruits.
They also stopped by tables hosted by The Xerces Society, the OSU Master Preservers, Multnomah County Vector Control, and by Concentrates.
“This was a wonderful family event,” Goldser reflected.
Learn more about the Multnomah County Master Gardener Demonstration Garden, the classes they offer and the volunteer opportunities they provide at their website CLICK HERE.
On our Front Page: “Would you like to taste ground cherries? Not ‘ground up‘ cherries, but ground cherries!” offers Master Gardener Judy Breen at the event.
© 2025 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News™
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