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Two individuals smiling and holding a Backyard Habitats certification sign, standing in a garden with blooming flowers and a house in the background.

2024 Certifications and Upgrades

By JP Marchetti-Mendez / April 1, 2024

At Backyard Habitats, we not only provide incentives and knowledge to program participants working toward creating wildlife habitats, but we also enjoy recognizing and celebrating all those who met the…

A small garden with a bench and trees.

Open Gardens Project – Featuring Coyote Sue & Myk’s Habitat

By JP Marchetti-Mendez / August 30, 2023

This habitat in Lake Oswego has part sun, shade, and moist soil.

A backyard with a wooden fence and a tree.

Open Gardens Project – Featuring Burke’s Habitat

By JP Marchetti-Mendez / August 30, 2023

This habitat in the city of Gresham has full sun, part sun, shade, dry, and moist soil.

A small backyard with bushes and trees.

Open Gardens Project – Featuring Sally’s Habitat

By JP Marchetti-Mendez / August 30, 2023

This habitat in the Rose City Park neighborhood has full sun, part sun, shade, and dry soil.

A black and white bird is sitting on a branch.

The Chickadee’s Guide to Gardening

By JP Marchetti-Mendez / April 13, 2023

As we continue to experience the devastating effects of climate change and habitat loss, it’s become increasingly important to consider how our actions can impact the environment. We can make…

A woman in a plaid coat holding a sign.

2023 Certifications and Upgrades

By JP Marchetti-Mendez / March 22, 2023

At Backyard Habitats, we not only provide incentives and knowledge to program participants working toward creating wildlife habitats, but we also enjoy recognizing and celebrating all those who met the…

A selection of plants in trays in a garden.

Plant Sales – Spring 2023

By JP Marchetti-Mendez / February 1, 2023

We’ll use this post to talk about the local native plant sales happening before June 2023. Scappoose Bay Watershed Council April 8, 2023, @ 9:00 am – 2:00 pmScappoose High…

Open garden family event flyer.

Summer Partner Events & Classes

By JP Marchetti-Mendez / July 22, 2022

Many of our partners are offering great classes, events, or resources this spring. Check our the list of partner events we know about.

A sign in front of a garden with trees and plants.

Open Gardens Project – Featuring MCMGA’s Demonstration Garden

By JP Marchetti-Mendez / July 8, 2022

This habitat in the Brentwood-Darlington neighborhood has full sun, part sun, shade, and dry soil.

A selection of plants in trays in a garden.

Plant Sales – Fall 2022

By JP Marchetti-Mendez / June 28, 2022

We’ll use this post to list some of the local native plant sales happening in the fall of 2022. Fall is the best time of the year to plant native…

A cat sitting on top of a wooden platform.

Helping Birds

By JP Marchetti-Mendez / March 24, 2022

There are ways we can help birds! The Backyard Habitat encourages folks to keep cats from roaming unsupervised outdoors and implement actions to reduce bird-window collisions. 

A man and woman wearing face masks in front of bushes.

2022 Certifications and Upgrades

By JP Marchetti-Mendez / March 22, 2022

At Backyard Habitats, we not only provide incentives and knowledge to program participants working toward creating wildlife habitats, but we also enjoy recognizing and celebrating all those who met the…

A selection of plants in trays in a garden.

Plant Sales – Spring 2022

By JP Marchetti-Mendez / December 20, 2021

We’ll be using this post to talk about the local native plant sales happening before June 2022. Scappoose Bay Watershed Council April 9, 2022 @ 9:00 am – 3:00 pmScappoose…

A garden with rocks and plants in it.

Open Gardens Project – Featuring Riverplace’s Habitat

By JP Marchetti-Mendez / September 15, 2021

Riverplace condos near the South Waterfront Park naturescaped their grounds to coordinate with the natural beauty of the Willamette shore.

A person taking a picture of flowers with a smartphone.

Garden ID Resources

By JP Marchetti-Mendez / August 13, 2021

People often ask us to identify wildlife, plants, and pests. Although we are happy to help, there are currently many free resources that do an excellent job at that. These are some that our program participants may find useful.

A small garden with plants and a fence.

Open Gardens Project – Featuring Renita’s Habitat

By JP Marchetti-Mendez / May 24, 2021

Site Information: Renita’s habitat in Vancouver has part sun to shade conditions, with dry soils

A wooded area with lots of trees and bushes.

Open Gardens Project – Featuring Debbie’s Habitat

By JP Marchetti-Mendez / May 19, 2021

Site Information: Located in SW Portland, Debbie has a part sun, part shade yard with a 40-degree slope, and a conservation easement covering 65% of the lot.

A garden in a yard with trees and flowers.

Open Gardens Project – Featuring Mr. Bizzy Bee’s Habitat

By JP Marchetti-Mendez / April 7, 2021

Site Information: This habitat has part sun, shade, dry, and moist areas.

A person is standing in the rain in a wooded area.

Open Gardens Project – Featuring Oliver’s Habitat

By JP Marchetti-Mendez / April 7, 2021

Site Information: SW Portland habitat, with full sun, part sun, shade, dry, moist, wet, slope, and miscellaneous mystery fills/matrices in lieu of soil.

A dead tree in the middle of a garden.

Open Gardens Project – Featuring Susan’s Habitat

By JP Marchetti-Mendez / April 7, 2021

Site Information: This habitat in unincorporated Washington County has full sun, part sun, shade, dry, moist, and sloped areas.