Microplastics 101: A Crash Course in Tiny Pollutants

With the arrival of Washed Ashore: Art to Save the Sea, presented by Dar Stumpf & Clyde Reed, we’ve been talking a lot about microplastics and the damage they do to the environment. The nine breathtaking sculptures a part of this exhibit are made out of plastic pollution collected on Oregon’s beaches, and each one […]

Our Waters, Our Responsibility: Plastic Pollution in the Great Lakes

The Great Lakes are an invaluable resource to both humans and wildlife alike – they support over 3,500 species of plants and animals, and provide drinking water to more than 40 million people in the U.S. and Canada1. Spanning over 94,000 square miles of surface area2, these lakes connect several states and regions. Across the […]

Meet the Washed Ashore Animal Advocates: Sylvia, Scrappy, & Hugo

It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s a… giant whale tail made of plastic? If you’ve been keeping up with our recent blog posts, you’ve already met Edward, Marigold, Clementine, Stanley, Giacometti, and Rosa. Here, you’ll meet the final three Washed Ashore Animal Advocates you can find in the Garden – Sylvia, Scrappy, and Hugo […]

Meet the Washed Ashore Animal Advocates: Stanley, Giacometti, & Rosa

Have you seen our Washed Ashore exhibit yet? Washed Ashore: Art to Save the Sea, presented by Dar Stumpf and Clyde Reed, is an exhibit brought to life through an ongoing project to clean up oceanic plastic pollution that washes up on Oregon’s Pacific Coastline. Using the debris, the Washed Ashore team creates breathtaking sculptures […]

Your New Botanical Summer Playlist

Whether you need a new playlist for your commute to work, want to listen to some tunes as you wander through the Garden, or just need to throw a dance party, we’ve got you covered. Check out our 2025 Botanical Summer Playlist, based on the Garden and some of our events this summer! Colors of […]

Meet the Washed Ashore Animal Advocates: Edward, Marigold, & Clementine

The Washed Ashore: Art to Save the Sea exhibit, presented by Dar Stumpf & Clyde Reed, is making a splash at the Garden this summer! These nine impressive sculptures are made entirely of plastic debris collected on Oregon’s Pacific shoreline, and assembled by a team of talented artists and volunteers with the Washed Ashore Project. […]

Beneath the Waves of Washed Ashore: Art to Save the Sea

It takes plenty of moving parts to make an exhibit happen! Rachel Mueller, PR & Content Coordinator, sat down with Brad Parks, Conservation/Education Director, to chat about all the behind-the-scenes aspects of Washed Ashore: Art to Save the Sea, presented by Dar Stump & Clyde Reed. RM: For our new readers. What is The Washed […]

How to Really Recycle to Make a Difference

The sculptures of the Washed Ashore: Art to Save the Sea exhibit are on their way back to Oregon this week. After experiencing these beautiful yet eye-opening sculptures in person this summer, many visitors to the Garden walked away pondering how they could make a difference in their local environment. One way to help improve […]

The Problem with Nutrient Pollution & Algae Blooms

By Josie Knuth, Marketing & Communications Intern Washed Ashore: Art to Save the Sea reveals the devastating impact plastic pollution has on local habitats of water species like Stanley the Sturgeon and Giacometti the River Otter. Unfortunately, plastic isn’t the only pollutant swimming in the homes of Stanley and Giacometti. Algae, the smelly, green stuff […]

Welcome Beneficial Insects into Your Garden with an Insect Hotel

It’s not uncommon to see your garden infested with insects and have the urge to get rid of them. But as Mark Konlock (Director of Horticulture) says, sometimes you have to learn to live with the damage of insects because it likely means you’re supporting a healthy ecosystem full of plants, trees, insects, and other […]