Scientific Research that Informs Sustainable Gardening Practices
The Garden Ecology Lab group engages in a diversity of scientific research projects that are focused on informing sustainable gardening and landscaping practices. Below, you will find a variety of resources that have been emerged, as a result of our studies. You can also find this collection of resources as a collection in Oregon State University Scholars Archive.
Garden Ecology Lab Briefs
In cooperation with 10-Minute UniversityTM, and funded by the Clackamas County Master Gardener Association, these briefs will help you translate research findings into sustainable gardening practices.
- Supporting Diverse Bees with Native Plants
- Supporting Biocontrol with Native Plants
- Exploring Color through the Eyes of Bees
- Leafcutter Bees have Petal Preferences
- The Diets of Specialist Bees
- Ecological Traits of Urban Bees
- Common Garden Soil Bacteria Microbes
- Gardeners Overapply Compost and Fertilizer
- Common Bees of Portland Gardens
- Cultivating Garden Soil Bacteria Microbes
Learn More About the Bees in Your Garden
- iNaturalist Guide to Summer Garden Bees of Portland: this online guide provides an overview of bees found in Portland-area gardens.
- Portland Bee Guide: this booklet is a companion to the online, iNaturalist Guide (above). It contains natural history details for 67 species that were collected from Portland area gardens during a 3-year study (2017-2019).
Learn More About the Plants that Attract Pollinators
- Native Plant Picks for Bees: this OSU Extension publication highlights 10 native plants that are highly attractive to bees, and is based upon Aaron Anderson's Ph.D. research.
Learn More About Native Plants for Garden Spaces
- How to Buy a Native Plant: an infographic to help you identify wild-type native plants in retail outlets.
- What's in a Name: Reading Plant Labels: an infographic to help you decipher and understand plant labels in retail outlets.