Free Seminars

For 2025, the Gresham Japanese Garden is offering free seminars to the community instructed by GJG volunteers. The blueberry seminar and the pollinators seminar are co-hosted by Al’s Garden Center. Even though these are free seminars, we still like to know who will be attending. Please register below.

Introduction to Residential Honey Beekeeping: March 5, 2025 – 6:30-8pm
BRUCE JANES AND JIM BUCK, GJG BEEKEEPERS

There is a lot to learn about starting your own beekeeping. Learn the basics of residential honey beekeeping. Why do people become beekeepers. What you need to consider and the differences between beekeeping in a rural vs urban setting. Also, hear a bit about the financial responsibility to get started. What equipment and tools you need. Hive terminology and where is the ideal spot to place a hive. Instructors. The different types of bees, workers, drones and queen and what their responsibilities are in the hive.

Instructor Bruce Janes volunteers in a commercial apiary, and is a member of three bee clubs. Bruce is excited to teach this class because his philosophy is that the first step to becoming a successful beekeeper is to learn as much as you can about the bees themselves. Competent honey beekeepers requires hands-on training and mentorship. Before purchasing honey bees or equipment, new beekeepers should seek as much training as they can.

Co-instructor, Jim Buck will talk about Flow Hives. The Flow Hive was developed in Australia by father-son entrepreneurs, Stuart and Cedar Anderson, who have sold thousands of them all over the world. They have designed a honey super with plastic comb and levers which allows the honey to flow out of comb with the turn of the levers. This ingenious design circumvents the need to remove frames and extract honey through centrifuges. Jim has used the flow hive successfully for three years and enjoying sharing my experience and tips with others.

Growing and Caring for Blueberries, Tuesday, March 25, 2025 – 6-7:30pm

JIM BUCK, GJG INSTRUCTOR AND LYLA HUNT, AL’S GARDEN & HOME STORE ASSISTANT MANAGER

The Growing and Caring for Blueberries seminar will describe the main parts of a blueberry plant, what soil conditions the plants favor, how and when to fertilize blueberries, the harvest times and show-and tell for various varieties, pruning recommendations, and responses to a couple common diseases that may occur. Al’s Garden & Home will also be bringing coupons to spend on re-stocking your blueberry crop.

Creating a Pollinator Habitat for Your Garden and Home, May 17, 2025 – 10:00-11:30am

DEB PETERS, GJG INSTRUCTOR AND JUDY ALLERUZZO, AL’S GARDEN CENTER INSTRUCTOR

Pollinators, such as bees, butterflies, moths, and hummingbirds, are crucial for the reproduction of many plant species. This seminar will focus on native host plants for butterflies and how to create your own a pollinator yard. Learn where and how to plant milkweed and other plants to attract monarch butterflies.

Also, join Al’s Garden & Home during ‘Pollinator Week’ June 16-22, 2025 with a Ladybug Release June 14.

Pruning Flowering Shrubs : May 31, 2025 – 1-2:30pm

JIM CARD, GJG GARDEN DIRECTOR

Learn the basic cuts of pruning through a hands-on demonstration of pruning rhododendrons and azaleas. Jim Card Garden Director will speak specifically about flowering shrubs; when to prune and how to prune,