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Erin Galbraith

Jan 01

Critter on a Flower

By Beet 2026 01 January

 

Each time I photograph a new insect in my garden it feels like unlocking a piece of a mystery. This issue’s enigma: a diminutive, fuzzy bee, dusted with orange pollen and basking in the radiant July morning light on a matching orange sulphur cosmos bloom.

Despite my best efforts: consulting iNaturalist, flipping through my new Common Bees of Western North America guide – I couldn’t pin down this little apidae’s identity. Its elusive charm only deepened the intrigue, reminding me of the countless hidden pollinators buzzing quietly among our backyard blooms.

Next time you’re near a sunflower, pause. Watch the bustling honeybees, the stumbling bumblebees, and, if you’re patient, the tiny, solitary gems like the metallic green sweat bees in the family halictidae, or perhaps leafcutter, mason, or resin bees in the family megachilidae. They are easy to overlook, but vital to our garden ecosystems.

Do you have a guess at this bee’s identity? Drop me a note—I’d love to solve this garden mystery!

Nov 29

Critter On A Flower

By Beet 2025 12 December

 

A queen Yellow-faced Bumblebee (Bombus vosnesenskii) sleeping on an aster blossom one early autumn morning. Yellow-faced Bumblebees are native to the West Coast of the United States. These large fuzzy pollinators nest in abandoned rodent holes, and the queens can often be found spending the night on cosmos or aster flowers in my yard.

 

Oct 30

Three Essential Organizational Tools Every Gardener Needs This Fall

By Beet 2025 11 November

As the nights grow cooler and our focus changes from fading summer blooms to the bright hues of autumn leaves, it is the perfect time to get ourselves organized for the upcoming gardening season. While most of us think of “gardening tools” as our everyday maintenance equipment, like trowels and pruners, there is a set of behind-the-scenes essentials that can make our gardening journeys a smoother experience that is both incredibly rewarding and more enjoyable.

Here are my top three recommendations:

  1. A Garden Journal

A dedicated logbook can transform your gardening experience. Record planting dates, harvests, seasonal changes, and observations to learn what works best in your garden. If you are able to purchase one, I highly recommend New York Botanical Garden’s Gardener’s Log: A 5-Year Planner. I like the format and helpful seasonal checklists. Any notebook or journal will work, but I recommend one with dot or grid pages for designing beds. Your new gardening log will turn your good intentions into a lasting record of growth and success.

Do you consider yourself a “Chaos Gardener?” Not every aspect of your process needs to be chaotic. The next time you toss a handful of biennial Sweet William seeds into a blank space in your pollinator garden, you’ll have a record to which you can refer when they bloom like crazy two years later. You’ll know what those first-year rosettes are, too!

Do you have a greenhouse? It’s helpful to record planting dates, plant arrangements and light setups, temperatures, other patterns you notice, watering needs, equipment you use or wish to acquire, and any pest problems and solutions so you can improve your methods the next year.

 

  1. Empty Seed Packets

I’ve learned the hard way that seeds tend to multiply and clutter your space—until you take control! Instead of storing seeds in mismatched boxes, bags, or other awkward containers; invest in proper storage. I recommend using sealable paper seed packets, which keep your seeds dry and well-organized. You can label them however you like: with species, harvest date, place of origin, and any other notes, such as stratification, germination, or planting requirements.

 

  1. A Seed Binder or Photo Album

My collection of seeds was once a jumble in an 18-gallon Sterilite tub—divided between spice jars, used snack baggies, salt cellars, mesh sacks, and shoeboxes. Now, I keep the entire collection neatly in a sturdy green binder labeled “Seeds” in loopy gold lettering. This makes my seed collection portable, easy to browse, and space-efficient—especially important if, like me, you live in a small space. An old photo album with a binder closure would work just as well.

You can also keep related items in the same binder, such as printed photos of the plants in your garden that were grown from your seed packets, general photos of the plants whose seeds you collected, favorite salsa recipes, and even plastic plant stakes you have saved from a previous year. You could divide the binder however you like: examples would include organizing by planting season, natives/wildflowers, perennials, annuals, herbs, ornamentals, fruits and veggies, or even just alphabetically.

For years, I harvested and saved seeds from my pollinator garden, wildflower patches in the woods near my house, and friends’ gardens. Leftover seeds accumulated in a variety of containers, making it difficult to find what I needed. Recently, I decided it was time to bring order to my seed collection.

I hopped online to order my supplies—sealable envelopes and a sturdy green binder—and spent a few days carefully cataloging my seeds. I labeled each envelope with species, harvest date, and notes on origin or special conditions. Seeing my entire collection organized in one place was a revelation. No more digging through mismatched boxes—just a tidy, portable seed library that I can’t wait to show off.

 

Oct 30

Critter On a Flower

By Beet 2025 11 November

 

The Mordellidae are a family of beetles commonly known as “Tumbling
Flower Beetles” for the movements they make when escaping predators.
They are also known as “pintail beetles” due to their abdominal tip,
which helps them perform these tumbling movements. I found this one on
a Western Wallflower.

Sep 30

Critters on Flowers: European Woolcarder Bee Caught in a Fuzzy Embrace

By Beet 2025 10 October

 

 

I have photographed many a critter perched prettily on flowers. This afternoon, I stumbled upon a truly enchanting sight that might be my most favorite yet: a European Woolcarder Bee being completely enveloped by a salvia blossom.

The snug way this bee nestled inside the salvia bloom showcased one of nature’s most beautiful and functional designs. With its stretchy proboscis flawlessly fitting into the flower’s ligulate shape, the bee is essentially a tiny, fuzzy key fitting into a lock, all aimed at pollination.

The colors are just as stunning as the form. Cadmium yellow stripes stretch across the bee’s fuzzy body, beautifully contrasting with the violet lips of the salvia blossom. These hues are not only eye-catching, but also serve a purpose—nature’s way of signaling and attracting pollinators.

The European Woolcarder Bee earns its name from its habit of combing and gathering fuzz from woolly plants like Lamb’s Ear, to line its nest. I have a big patch nearby, so I like to imagine this insect quietly collecting fluff for its cozy home for one (they are solitary bees). I also like knowing my garden has its own special role in this system.

 

 

Sep 01

Critter on a Flower

By Beet 2025 09 September

“I love this photo of a large crab spider on a brightly colored zinnia flower, with its crown of yellow and cheerful pink petals. The dichotomy of beauty and a dangerous predator struck me. This photo also represents a paradigm shift in my garden.

At first my new raised flower beds were populated solely by cucumber beetles and a handful of honeybees. The leaves were brown, and all of my flowers were full of holes. I saw no sign of the native pollinator and predator diversity I observe in my long-established pollinator garden, existing in its own world no more than 60 feet away.

Then everything changed. The spiders and ambush bugs came! Bumblebees, hummingbirds, butterflies, docile solitary wasps, and native bees! The diabrotica slowly vanished as the ecosystem righted itself. The flowers outgrew their insect damage without any intervention from me. That almost magical change happened at the very time I took this photograph.”

 

Jul 30

JCMGA Annual Membership Meeting Minutes June 13 2025

By Beet 2025 08 August

Jackson County Master Gardener Association 2025

Annual Membership Meeting Minutes

June 13, 2025

Board Members Present:

Barbara Low, President, Winter Dreams Summer Gardens WG Co-Chair, Member Services WG Co-Chair

Marcie Katz, Past President, Co-Chair Spring Garden Fair WG

Linda Millus, President-Elect, Member Services WG Co-Chair

Keltie Nelson, Treasurer, Co-Chair Marketing & Technology WG

Carrie Holmes-Stanton, Co-Archivist

Regula Pepi, Assistant Treasurer

Ann Ackles, Membership Secretary

Colet Allen, OMGA Representative & Winter Dreams Summer Gardens WG Co-Chair

Kaleen Reilly, Member-at-Large

Mary Schrouder, Member-at-Large

Jane Moyer, Fundraising WG Chair

Michael Hornbeek, Community Outreach WG Chair

Lucy Pylkki, Spring Garden Fair WG Co-Chair & Marketing & Technology WG Co-Chair

Erin Galbraith, Co-Student Representative

Linsey McNab, Co-Student Representative

Grace Florjancic, OSU MG Program Coordinator

Board Members Absent:

Kathy Apple, Recording Secretary

Teresa Jarratt, Co-Archivist

Rebecca Cohn, Member-at-Large

Joanne Daane, Member-at-Large

Jory Kaplan, Member-at-Large

Janine Salvatti, Gardens WG Chair

Guests Present:

Sandy Hammond

Sandy Hansen

Elizabeth Peard

Susan Koenig

Call to Order:  President Barbara Low called the 2025 JCMGA Annual Membership board meeting to order at 9:05 am.

Working Group Overviews

  • Marketing and Technology Working Group: Chair Keltie Nelson reported to the Board that this working group is welcoming more members, increasing the number of editors for the Garden Beet, and hopes to set up a barcode system in the future.
  • Gardens and Grounds Working Group: Chair Marcie Katz reported about improvements to various Demonstration Gardens, including the placement of new signs by the Chip Dump Area and in the Lavender Garden as well as painted Pods and other beautification of the Gathering Area. She also reported about general cleanup days in June and July.
  • Fundraising Working Group: Chair Jane Moyer discussed various initiatives, including rewards programs with local businesses, garden guide sales, and upcoming events like the Fall Festival. She emphasized the importance of these efforts in supporting JCMGA’s activities.
  • Community Outreach Working Group: Chair Michael Hornbeek reported on this working group’s activities over the past year, including tabling events, partnerships with local organizations, and updates to policies regarding educational scholarships and community garden grants. Michael also discussed the group’s plans for future outreach efforts.
  • OMGA Working Group: OMGA representative Colet Allen provided updates on the Joy of Gardening event, legislative advocacy efforts, and potential changes to bookkeeping practices across chapters. She also emphasized the importance of attending legislative days and the positive experiences from those events.
  • Program Support: OSU Program Coordinator Grace Florjancic provided updates on the Master Gardener class of 2025, community education classes, and the Cultivating Companions program. She highlighted the success of the Seed to Supper program and discussed plans for future educational initiatives.
  • Member Services: JCMGA President Barbara Low updated the Board on upcoming events including the Annual Picnic, First Lunch, and Winter Dreams Summer Gardens. WDSG falls on Oct. 16th, 17th, 24th, and 25th and will include a lineup of 16 presenters, at this point.

Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned by Board President Barbara Low at 9:53 am. Immediately following was the regular June board meeting.

Respectfully Submitted by Erin Galbraith in lieu of Kathy Apple, Recording Secretary

Jul 30

JCMGA June 13 2025 Board Meeting Minutes

By Beet 2025 08 August

Jackson County Master Gardener Association

Board Meeting Minutes

June 13, 2025

Board Members Present:

Barbara Low, President, Winter Dreams Summer Gardens WG Co-Chair, Member Services WG Co-Chair

Marcie Katz, Past President, Co-Chair Spring Garden Fair WG

Linda Millus, President-Elect, Member Services WG Co-Chair

Keltie Nelson, Treasurer, Co-Chair Marketing & Technology WG

Carrie Holmes-Stanton, Co-Archivist

Regula Pepi, Assistant Treasurer

Ann Ackles, Membership Secretary

Colet Allen, OMGA Representative & Winter Dreams Summer Gardens WG Co-Chair

Kaleen Reilly, Member-at-Large

Mary Schrouder, Member-at-Large

Jane Moyer, Fundraising WG Chair

Michael Hornbeek, Community Outreach WG Chair

Lucy Pylkki, Spring Garden Fair WG Co-Chair & Marketing & Technology WG Co-Chair

Erin Galbraith, Co-Student Representative

Linsey McNab, Co-Student Representative

Grace Florjancic, OSU MG Program Coordinator

Board Members Absent:

Kathy Apple, Recording Secretary

Teresa Jarratt, Co-Archivist

Rebecca Cohn, Member-at-Large

Joanne Daane, Member-at-Large

Jory Kaplan, Member-at-Large

Janine Salvatti, Gardens WG Chair

Guests Present:

Sandy Hammond

Sandy Hansen

Elizabeth Peard

Susan Koenig

Call to Order:  President Barbara Low called the regular JCMGA June Board meeting to order at 9:59am, following the conclusion of the 2025 JCMGA Annual Membership Meeting.

Additions to the Agenda:  No additional items were added to the agenda.

Approval of the Consent Agenda:  All filed, written reports under the Consent Agenda were reviewed by members of the Board.

MOTION:  It was moved and seconded to accept the Consent Agenda as presented.  Motion passed.

Approval of the Agenda:

MOTION:  It was moved and seconded to approve the agenda as written. Motion passed.

Approval of the Board Meeting Minutes from May 9, 2025:

MOTION:  It was moved and seconded to approve the May 9, 2025 Board Meeting Minutes as written.  Motion passed.

Approval of the Board Retreat Meeting Minutes from May 23, 2025:

MOTION:  It was moved and seconded to approve the May 23, 2025 Board Retreat Meeting Minutes as written.  Motion passed.

Finance Report:  Treasurer Keltie Nelson presented the financial statements for June 2025 and responded to questions from the Board. Discussions included budget allocations and the need for better categorization of fundraising activities. The financial report highlighted the success of the Spring Garden Fair, which exceeded revenue expectations.

MOTION:  It was moved and seconded to approve the financial statements for June 2025.  Motion passed.

MG Program Coordinator Report:  Program Coordinator Grace Florjancic provided an update on the potential reinstatement of programming in Josephine County, pending a vote on tax collection. The Board discussed the logistics and financial implications of a positive vote and the gradual rebuilding of services in the county.

President’s Report:  President Barbara Low reported on the success of the Spring Garden Fair and the potential for expanding vendor space by renting an additional building. The president also talked about Doug Kirby’s (Gardens & Grounds) plan for irrigation and blackberry removal, which he will present to the Gardens Working Group.

Membership Secretary Report:  Membership Secretary Ann Ackles reported the need for funding hard copy mailings for members who prefer not to access the material online. She also reported that she has been reviewing a list of outstanding members from the past 5 years, with the hope that some might re-engage with the program.

Update on Community Gardens Grants:  Michael Hornbeck, Chair of the Community Outreach Working Group, reported that the process for granting money to community gardens is working well. After a thorough review, all five applicants were granted money based on their individual needs. A field trip to community gardens, once they have been given some time to become established, has been proposed.

Spring Garden Fair Update: Marcie Katz, Co-Chair of the Spring Garden Fair Working Group, updated the board on the sparsely-attended SGF Appreciation Luncheon, presented awards to Master Gardeners who were outstanding during this year’s SGF, and then talked about the possibility of holding next year’s event inside — by renting and utilizing the Pagham Building instead of the lawn area. After some discussion a motion was made in favor of renting the Pagham Building.

MOTION:  It was moved and seconded to approve the rental of the Pagham Building next year (instead of the lawn space), along with the Mace Building.  Motion passed.

OMGA and JCMGA Award Nominations Committee Update: Linda Millus, Member Services Working Group Co-Chair, reported that nominations have been sent to the state for 2025’s JCMGA and OMGA  Awards. The Board approved the nominations.

Discussion & Business:

  1. Hiring an Employee Versus a Contractor: The Board engaged in a lengthy discussion, led by Treasurer Keltie Nelson, of logistics and potential liabilities associated with hiring an employee to help manage the Native Plants Nursery.

MOTION:  It was moved and seconded to hire a part-time employee to work four hours per week, from February through October, in the Native Plants Nursery. The motion was seconded. After a friendly amendment was made to include the contingency that the position will be “paid for by a grant or sponsorship,” the motion was repeated and again seconded.

AMENDED MOTION: to “hire a part-time employee to work four hours per week, from February through October, in the Native Plants Nursery, paid for with a grant or sponsorship” passed, with seven members “for” and five members “against.”

  1. Upgrading Zoom Account so More Members Can Access it: Treasurer Keltie Nelson proposed that we add additional Zoom meeting licenses so that someone would be available at all times, especially to host impromptu meetings. After a discussion, it was suggested that we start by adding one additional Zoom license.

MOTION:  It was moved and seconded to pay for one additional Zoom license.  Motion passed.

Note: The remaining items on the June 2025 JCMGA Board Meeting agenda will be addressed during the July board meeting, due to time limitations.

Adjournment:  The meeting was adjourned by Board President Barbara Low at 11:31am

Next Meeting:

  1. The next regular Board meeting will be held July 10, 2025 from 9:00am to 11:30am.

Respectfully Submitted by Erin Galbraith in lieu of Kathy Apple, Recording Secretary

Jul 01

JCMGA Board Spring Retreat Minutes 2025

By Beet 2025 07 July

Jackson County Master Gardener Association Board Retreat Meeting Minutes

May 23, 2025

Board Members Present:

Marcie Katz, Past President, Co-Chair Spring Garden Fair WG

Linda Millus, President-Elect, Member Services WG Co-Chair

Keltie Nelson, Treasurer, Co-Chair Marketing & Technology WG

Regula Pepi, Assistant Treasurer

Ann Ackles, Membership Secretary

Colet Allen, OMGA Representative & Winter Dreams Summer Gardens WG Co-Chair Teresa Jarratt, Co-Archivist

Joanne Daane, Member-at-Large

Mary Schrouder, Member-at-Large

Jory Kaplan, Member-at-Large

Jane Moyer, Fundraising WG Chair

Michael Hornbeek, Community Outreach WG Chair

Lucy Pylkki, Spring Garden Fair WG Co-Chair & Marketing & Technology WG Co-Chair Janine Salvatti, Gardens WG Chair

Erin Galbraith, Co-Student Representative

Lindsey McNab, Co-Student Representative

Guests Present: Lynn Kunstman

Board Members Absent: Barbara Low, Kathy Apple, Carrie Holmes-Stanton, Kaleen Reilly, Rebecca Cohn, Grace Florjancic

Call to Order: Marcie Katz called the Board Retreat meeting to order at 9:04am, in lieu of Barbara Low, JCMGA Board President.

Retreat Agenda: Marcie Katz facilitated discussion of the following agenda items:

  1. Part-Time Employee for Native Plants Nursery: Guest Lynn Kunstman was invited, as the head of the Native Plants Nursery, to attend this board meeting. The discussion centered on hiring a part-time nursery worker for 4 hours per week. The board debated between hiring an employee or a contractor, considering the costs and benefits of each option. The possibility of securing sponsorships to cover part of the salary was also explored.
  2. Should we start a “New Building” line item in the budget, using some of the 2025 Spring Garden Fair’s profits? Board members favorably discussed including a new line item in the budget, using some of the profits from the 2025 Spring Garden Fair toward a new building. It was suggested that JCMGA start with the new greenhouse. The board also discussed whether it might be more logical to allocate a percentage of Spring Garden Fair profits, rather than a fixed dollar amount.

1 C. How to use the “JCMGA Accomplishments for 2024”: The importance of publicizing the Jackson County Master Gardener program’s accomplishments to increase community awareness was emphasized. Suggestions included sending out regular public service announcements, utilizing social media—including live-streaming, and engaging with local media outlets.

  1. Spring Garden Fair Expansion: The board considered renting an additional building, the Padgham Pavilion, at the Jackson County Expo Grounds for the Spring Garden Fair to accommodate more vendors. Concerns about added expense and the ability to attract enough vendors to fill the space were discussed.
  2. Collaboration Between Working Groups: The need for better communication and collaboration among working groups was brought up. It was suggested that committee chairs meet regularly—possibly quarterly—to discuss overlapping goals and improve coordination.
  3. Reviewing our “2025 Strategy Plan”: The board read through and briefly discussed the items listed in the “2025 Strategy Plan” document.

Announcements:

  1. SGF Volunteer Luncheon: Saturday, June 7th — 12:00-2:00pm
  2. JCMGA Annual Membership Meeting: Friday, June 13th — 9:00am
  3. JCMGA Annual Picnic: Saturday, June 28th — 5:00-8:00pm
  4. OMGA Silent Auction: July 11th-12th Adjournment:

The meeting was adjourned by Marcie Katz at 11:28am.

Next Meeting: The next regular Board meeting will be held June 13, 2025 from 9:00am to 11:30am.

Respectfully submitted by Erin Galbraith (Co-Student-Representative), in lieu of Kathy Apple, Recording Secretary