The Oregon Master Gardener Association and OSU Extension Service have organized the 25th annual Gardeners Mini-College, scheduled for July 24 through 26. This year’s event agenda includes featured talks on rain gardens, gardening with native plants, backyard bees and alternatives to pesticides. Forums on spiders in the garden, winter vegetable gardening and the worldwide legacy of Clematis also have been scheduled.

The theme for this year’s mini-college is “Going Green on our Silver,” which pays tribute both to the 25-year history of Gardeners Mini-College, as well as the sustainable gardening techniques that the Master Gardeners teach and promote. It’s not necessary to be a current OSU Master Gardener in order to attend the mini-college.

A July 24 screening of the OPB documentary “Silent Invasion” will precede Sam Chan’s July 25 talk on taking action on invasive species in the garden and in the community.

Also on July 25, author Doug Tallamy will discuss his book “Bringing Nature Home.” He also will deliver the keynote address at an awards banquet to be held later that same evening.

A walking tour will include the trees and shrubs on OSU’s grounds and the Oak Creek Center for Urban Horticulture.

Workshops offered include cooking with garden herbs, the use of both digital cameras and drawing to capturing basic plant forms.

For more information and to register, visit http://extension.

oregonstate.edu/mg/.

If you have questions about Gardeners Mini-College, send e-mail to: minicollege2008@gmail.com