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NOVEMBER NEWSLETTER
"How beautifully leaves grow old. How
full of light and color are their last days."
— John Burroughs
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Weed of the Month: Garlic Mustard
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Our November Weed of the Month is Garlic mustard
(Alliaria petiolata). Garlic mustard is a biennial plant, meaning it takes at least two years to complete
its life cycle. In the first year, it is strictly vegetative and basal (growing on the ground). The leaves are small and kidney shaped with shallowly scalloped edges. In this phase of life, it could look similar to other plants that begin as basal vegetative
clusters such as checkermallows or ground ivy. An easy way to distinguish garlic mustard from other plants in its vegetative state is the aroma of garlic when leaf parts are crushed.
In the second year, the plant begins to grow a vertical flowering stalk and the leaves along
the stem change shape. Now, they are triangular with dentate edges. The flowers are small and white with four petals in a cross formation. They tend to bloom quickly and fall off earlier than other parts of the plant.
Garlic mustard is an extremely problematic species. It tends to quietly invade forest understories
and riparian areas and escape detection until the infestation is significant. The seeds of this species are also easily spread via human activities by being stuck on shoes, animals, and equipment tires.
Early Detection, Rapid Response in action
In
July of this year, an approximately 1-2 acre infestation of Garlic mustard was detected in Benton County near Monroe, OR. The infestation was reported on the
Oregon
Invasives Hotline, which triggered Benton SWCD and Oregon Department of Agriculture to respond, as there has not been a reported positive detection
of Garlic mustard in Benton County for over a decade. Together, Benton SWCD and ODA have been treating the infestation with the help of funding from the Oregon State Weed Board. Read more about this story on the
Benton
County Cooperative Weed Management Area (CWMA) page here.
Have you seen Garlic Mustard in Benton County? Report it NOW.
Make a report on
OregonInvasivesHotline.org
OR
email Cierra Dawson at cie...@bentonswcd.org with a photo of the plant and an approximate location.
Funding is available to help remove this species at no cost to you.
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Winter Native Plant Sale: species still available!
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Red Flowering Currant
A favorite of pollinators from bees to hummingbirds, this is a beautiful ornamental shrub with drooping flower clusters that ranging from white to magenta to red.
Blue-black berries are an important food source for many animals. Fast-growing and resilient, this shrub prefers part shade but is resilient in many light and soil conditions. Drought-tolerant too!
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Pacific Ninebark
If you have a naturally-moist area of your garden with space for a large shrub to make itself at home, the Pacific Ninebark might be the perfect choice. This spreading, attractive shrub has round clusters of white flowers that bloom
from April to July. With its maple-like leaves and reddish, shedding bark, this is a graceful addition to any rain garden or streamside.
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Red Columbine
An iconic Pacific Northwest understory species that lends a bright spot of color to any shady garden patch. An actively self-seeding perennial, these graceful, nodding flowers rise high above clumps of delicately lobed leaves. They’re
a beacon for hummingbirds, with a long bloom-time from late spring through summer.
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GRAND OAKS PLANTING DAY: VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!
November 15th | 1pm-4pm
Join Benton SWCD staff and SOLVE Oregon in planting over 250 native shrubs at Grand Oaks in Corvallis. Learn from community members about their ongoing conservation
efforts, and get a chance to participate in a large-scale habitat restoration project! Register
here
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WEBINAR: LIVING WITH YOUR DOMESTIC WELL AND SEPTIC SYSTEM
November 12th | 3pm-5:15pm
Learn steps to protect the health of your family, neighbors and animals, your property investment, and the
safety of groundwater resources. Registration for the webinar is required to receive the zoom link the day before. Webinar registration closes 24 hours before the class. Register
here
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THE CONFLUENCE OPEN HOUSE
December 11th | 4pm-6pm
The Confluence in downtown Corvallis is the future home of local conservation and community nonprofits, including
BSWCD! This amazing structure is built to Living
Building Challenge standards, including local reclaimed and urban-salvage wood. No registration required - drop by anytime at
412 SW 2nd St.
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PLAN FOR YOUR LAND
January 28-March 7, 2026
Local experts. Practical tools. Smarter land stewardship. Join local watershed councils to learn about conservation
planning, get expert guidance on land management, and learn about the funding sources that could help kickstart projects on your land! This 6-weeks series is FREE and will be taught by subject matter experts who live and work in Benton, Lane, Lincoln, Linn,
Marion, and Polk Counties. Register
here
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