Imagine a beautiful garden that thrives without a lot of water, work or money. Sounds good, right? Naturescaping is the formula for how to get that garden, and upcoming workshops sponsored by the East Multnomah Soil and Water Conservation District will teach you the secret formula.

It’s really not that secret, but sometimes we forget the basics in our quest for the sweetest home or the grandest garden. All sorts of things will grow in our backyards here in Portland, and many of us get carried away when some exotic plant jumps off the shelf at us while we’re innocently roaming the local nursery. But that doesn’t mean we have to take that eye-catching, fancypants specimen home.

Humble natives are happy here, and really make the best garden companions. They’re good buddies for butterflies, birds, and other welcome garden visitors. Natives are our trusted old friends.

These free introductory workshops are taught by professionals and are put on as part of EMSWCD’s ongoing educational programs. Landscape architects will teach you the basics of designing (or transforming) a landscape so that your yard uses less water, reduces stormwater runoff and pollution, and at the same time doesn’t eat up your time, money, or energy. Preregister online. Details are below.

Naturescaping and Native Plants Workshops:
Where: Redeemer Lutheran Church, 5431 NE 20th Avenue, Portland, OR 97211 (US).
Date: September 17, 2011
Time: 9:00 AM -  1:00 PM

Where: St. David’s Episcopal Church , 2800 SE Harrison Street, Portland, OR 97214 (US).
Date: September 25, 2011
Time: 1:00 PM -  5:00 PM