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Garden Ecology Lab

Studying the plants, insects, microbes, and decisions that improve or degrade a garden’s ability to promote environmental and human health.

Research

Our current projects focus on native plant - pollinator interactions, microbes in garden soils, urban agriculture and food production, and garden biodiversity. We work directly with gardeners to identify high priority projects that align with our areas of expertise. We are always on the lookout for new projects, but need to consider new projects in the context of current lab capacity, expertise, and funding.

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Teaching 

Teaching is a core component of the Garden Ecology Lab mission. Our group teaches credit, non-credit, and community classes on a variety of topics related to gardening and urban agriculture. Effective and supportive mentoring of undergraduate and graduate students is central to our work.

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From our Blog

Garden Ecology Lab

Garden Ecology Lab Feed

Plant of the Week: Common Self-heal

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Dec 20, 2025

NOTE: Prunella vulgaris ssp. lanceolata is native to the Pacific Northwest (and much of the rest of the U.S.), unlike the straight vulgaris, which is Eurasian. This week, we will be featuring common self-heal, Prunella vulgaris. Other common names include heal-all, woundwort, heart-of-the-earth, carpenter’s herb, brownwort, and blue curls. This perennial, low growing, herbaceous flowering […]

Plant of the Week: Western Columbine

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Dec 8, 2025

In this plant of the week, we are highlighting the Western columbine, or Aquilegia formosa. This perennial flower is native to the western part of North America, with occurrences in the western U.S. and throughout Canada and Alaska (1, 2). A welcome sight in Oregon gardens, A. formosa invites novice and experienced gardeners with its low maintenance nature. It does best in partial shade […]

Honoring a Quintessential Master Gardener

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Dec 4, 2025

I was saddened to learn that Dr. Jean Natter recently passed away. Her obituary details a remarkable life of learning, love of science, and service. I came to know Jean through my work with the Oregon State University Extension Master GardenerTM Program, where Jean was a long-time volunteer educator. For many years, she taught the […]

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