This Friday, Saturday and Sunday hold some fantastic garden-related events: you can buy quality native plants, train to identify invasive weeds, tour ten fabulous Naturescaped gardens, and – my favorite – learn about native pollinators at a seminar at the Zoo.

Xerces Society’s Pollinator Workshop
Friday May 14 from 9 – 3:30 Seminar at the Oregon Zoo (directions here)
This seminar will cover pollinators and pollinator conservation including native bee biology and identification and choosing plants and creating habitat to support pollinators around your home, garden or farm. Register on line. The cost – $33 – includes lunch and zoo admission. For more information, contact Melissa Protz: 503-226-1561 x5868.

Multnomah County Weed Watchers Free Weed Training
Friday May 14 and Saturday May 15 from 12 – 2
Metro Regional Center
600 NE Grand Ave.
Portland, OR USA 97232
Help protect Oregon’s landscape by preventing the spread of harmful invasive species. You’ll discover tips to identify, locate and report invasive species before they become a problem, with live and preserved invasive specimens to examine. Details here; register here.

Naturescaping for Backyard Habitats Garden Tour
Saturday May 15, 11 – 4
Organized by the Backyard Habitat Certification Program and East Multnomah Soil and Water Conservation District’s Naturescaping program.
Visit 10 Certified Backyard Habitats – tour the gardens, chat with garden hosts, and gather ideas for naturescaping your own yard to create habitat for native creatures including birds and insects. Register on line here. If you’re interested in turning your own garden into a Certified Backyard Habitat, sign up for a home visit here.

Portland Audubon’s 14th Annual Native Plant Sale
Saturday May 15 and Sunday May 16, 10 – 4
Audubon Society of Portland
5151 NW Cornell Road
Portland, OR 97210
For information about this and other Audubon events, go to the Audubon Society’s calendar.