native plants

Explore the Fanno Creek Trail in Tigard, combining fitness and nature in a fun-filled morning with great views of the creek as it meanders through three city parks and other natural areas. Enjoy the area's beauty and see the habitat that is home to birds, fish and other critters - and learn how Metro and its partners have worked together to bring this vision to life. Local author Laura O. Foster gets you up to speed on the creek's past, as well as efforts to preserve and protect it for decades to come. Meet at the Tigard Public Library at 8:45 a.m. Free, but registration is required. If you have questions, call 503-797-1545. You can now register and pay online for Metro activities. Go to Metro's online calendar (www.oregonmetro.gov/calendar), find your event by searching or browsing, and follow the instructions. To register by phone, call 503-797-1650 option 2.

Perched above the town of Gaston, Metro's 1,200-acre Chehalem Ridge Natural Area is a majestic place - but it's also a work in progress. Be one of the first to explore newly thinned sections of this signature natural area, where Metro is helping transition a timber crop into a diverse, mature forest. Along the way, you might hear bird calls or spot a glistening Cascade peak in the distance. Be prepared to walk three miles at a moderate pace, including uneven terrain off the main path. Free, but registration is required. Details will follow registration. If you have questions, call 503-797-1545. You can now register and pay online for Metro activities. Go to Metro's online calendar (www.oregonmetro.gov/calendar), find your event by searching or browsing, and follow the instructions. To register by phone, call 503-797-1650 option 2.

Help remove blackberry and ivy at the Meldrum Bar Park natural area. This work is part of on-going habitat restoration at an 11 acre site. Tools and gloves provided for volunteers of all ages and abilities. Please dress for the weather and bring sturdy shoes. Pre-registration required.

Friends of Trees is seeking new crew leaders for the upcoming October-April planting season. Being a crew leader is a great way to meet people, develop valuable leadership skills and, of course, learn how to plant trees the right way. You'll also get to wear a Friends of Trees vest at weekend plantings and receive the respect and admiration of the volunteers on your crew, as well as receive a coveted Tree Team t-shirt and great food (a hallmark of all of our planting events). Almost 400 active volunteer crew leaders work with Friends of Trees currently.

Crew leaders are one of our most important volunteer roles as they help teach our volunteers how to plant trees and work together as a team. During our planting season, each crew leader commits to guiding small groups of planters at four Saturday morning plantings. We have over 70 public planting events scheduled this season. Join this fun and energetic team by signing up for a required one-day training. The trainings are popular and space fills quickly, so register soon. This year's trainings are generously sponsored by KBOO Community Radio.

Green Space Initiative Training Saturday, Oct. 27 (9 a.m.-3 p.m.) - NW Portland Register HERE for this training.

If you have any questions, please visit www.FriendsofTrees.org/Volunteering or call us at 503.595.0213. === Friends of Trees' mission is to bring people in the Portland-Vancouver and Eugene-Springfield metro areas together to plant and care for city trees and green spaces. We've been doing so for 23 years! Share on emailShare on linkedinShare on google_plusone Share on facebook_like

10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 22

Oxbow Regional Park is rich in tracks at this time of year, when mink, beaver, otter and black bear often leave clear footprints in the sand. Learn to read the ground like a book. Metro naturalist and tracker Dan Daly introduces you to basic track identification and interpretation, and the stealth skills needed to watch wildlife up close. Suitable for adults and children 10 and older. Bring water and a snack and meet at the floodplain parking area. Leave pets at home. Registration and payment of $11 per adult or family required in advance. There is a $5 parking fee per vehicle payable at the park. You can now register and pay online for Metro activities. Go to Metro’s online calendar (www.oregonmetro.gov/calendar), find your event by searching or browsing, and follow the instructions. For questions or to register by phone, call 503-797-1650 option 2.