Lake Oswego has earned many titles from Best School District in Oregon to one of the 10 Best Towns for Families, but this month we celebrate Lake Oswego’s 35^th year as an Arbor Day Foundation’s Tree City USA designee for its strong commitment to managing and caring for trees. This year, the city also received the foundation’s Growth Award for the sixth time in recognition of innovative and preemptive actions taken including treating 28 ash trees in Foothills Park with systemic injections to defend against Emerald ash borer infestation, planting more trees than were removed on City-owned properties and hosting seven free Urban and Community Forestry educational workshops throughout 2023.

BEE CITY USA TOO! The City of Lake Oswego also achieved Bee City USA affiliation last year in recognition of its efforts to support a variety of wildlife such as bees, butterflies, birds, insects and other pollinators.

With all that to celebrate, the City has put together a lineup of activities.

SOIL YOUR UNDIES FOR SCIENCE. Life underground is just as biodiverse and complex as the plant communities that live above, and Oswego Lake Watershed Council wants to help residents measure and nurture that life. It is as easy as burying a pair of cotton undies for 60 days! Celebrate Arbor Month by participating in the 4th Annual Soil Your Undies challenge! Sign up to receive your challenge kit, which includes a brand-new pair of cotton undies for you to bury in April and unearth in July. Participants can follow along with biweekly soil health tips and experiments to try out while the soil microbes are feasting on all of the buried undies. Learn more about the challenge and register here: www.oswegowatershed.org/soil-your-undies-2024(link is external).

BUZZWORTHY BEE NAME SURVEY. The Parks & Recreation Community Stewardship Program is buzzing with energy and they need YOUR help to name their adorable bee character! This new pollinator friend symbolizes a commitment to environmental care and sustainability and will join their Stewardship Gnomes, Blossom, Greenie, and Oak, flying around parks all summer long. Cast your vote online to name their buzz buddy. The survey closes on April 30, 2024 at 5 p.m. and the chosen name will be announced at the Farmers’ Market on May 18, 2024.

TRILLIUM FESTIVAL. Saturday, April 6 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Tryon Creek State Natural Area, 11321 S. Terwilliger Boulevard.  Join Friends of Tryon Creek for a festive day in the woods to celebrate the return of the Trillium, an early-season perennial native to our local forests. In addition to the Native Plant Sale, this family-friendly event includes a Gardening Resources Fair and interactive learning stations around the Nature Center and trails. More event details are available at www.tryonfriends.org/calendar.

HERITAGE TREE CELEBRATION. Tuesday, April 9 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., Lake Oswego Public Library, 706 4^th Street. Get up close with one of the City’s four new Heritage Trees, a 72-inch diameter giant sequoia directly across the street from the library entrance. Learn about the City’s Heritage Tree Program and fun facts about sequoias with a cookie to sweeten the deal. Bartlett Tree Experts will be giving away seedings too.

TREES FOR POLLINATORS WORKSHOP. Saturday, April 13 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., Iron Mountain Park, 2401 Iron Mountain Road. Learn about Pacific Northwest tree species and the pollinators they attract, then plant some of them in the park. Capacity limited to 25 participants. Call 503. 534.5438 or email stewardship@lakeoswego.city for free registration.

BARNYARD TALES. Thursday, April 18 from 10:30 to 11:15 a.m., Luscher Farm bunkhouse Classroom, 125 Rosemont Road. Children ages 5 and younger are invited to the Farm for an Arbor Month story featuring Alexander Appleseed. Participants will take home an apple with seeds to plant at home. Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Pre-registration is required and capacity is limited. Enroll at loparks.org.

OAK WOODLAND RESTORATION. Saturday, April 20 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., Park at 14903 Westlake Drive. Join Oswego Lake Watershed Council for a morning of land tending and restoration at Westlake HOA Oak Woodland. This oak woodland habitat is home to centuries old Oregon white oaks and a diversity of wildlife. Volunteers will learn about Oregon white oak ecology, land tending and the cultural value of oak ecosystems, while helping remove invasive species and plant natives. For additional information and free registration, visit online.

SUSTAINABILITY RESOURCE FAIR. Saturday, April 20 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Lakeridge Middle School, 4700 Jean Road. Come learn what diverse organizations across our community are doing to advance sustainability. This year’s fair will include even more hands-on activities and free resources to learn how you can help protect the environment, save money, and live well, including an EV ride-and-drive and free electronic waste recycling with Green Century Recycling. More details online.

SPRINGBROOK PARK PRESCHOOL NATURE WALK. Wednesday, April 24, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., Springbrook Park, Park at Uplands Elementary School or along the street, 2055 Wembley Park Road, meet at the park kiosk behind the playground.Preschoolers can join Friends of Springbrook Park for a fun and interactive nature walk through Springbrook Park. Exploration buckets will be provided for hands on discovering. This event is free and no pre-registration is required. Preschoolers need to be accompanied by an adult. Questions: Anne Lider 503-701-2291 or anne.lider@gmail.com(link sends e-mail).

BE A TREE HERO. Saturday, April 27, 9 to 11 a.m., International Leadership Academy, 14788 Boones Ferry Road. Parent and Child invasive ivy pull together! Join the Oswego Lake Watershed Council and help save the trees next to Springbrook Park. Please wear sturdy footwear and gloves for upland forest work.  Contact stephanie@oswegowatershed.org(link sends e-mail) with questions. Or, be a TREE HERO in your own yard. Pull ivy during the month of April and send before and after pictures to stephanie@oswegowatersned.org(link sends e-mail) to receive a special gift.

OREGON WHITE OAK PLANTING PARTY. Saturday, April 27, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., Woodmont Park, 13492 Atwater Lane. Celebrate Lake Oswego Arbor Month with a community tree-planting event! Join Parks & Recreation staff to learn about Oregon white oaks and practice proper planting techniques by helping to install new trees in the park. All ages welcome. Dress for weather and wear close-toed shoes. No restrooms. Parking is limited, please carpool or ride your bike. This event is supported with grant funding from Oregon Community Trees. Call (503) 534-5438 or email stewardship@lakeoswego.city(link sends e-mail) for free registration. 

STEWARDSHIP WORK PARTIES. Take your pick of three different work parties in Woodmont Park (April 7), Freepons (April 21) or Southwood Park (May 18). Find details here.

Stay up-to-date on what’s happening in Lake Oswego and all the reasons you’d love living here. Subscribe to our blog by clicking the “Sign me up” button in the top right-hand column. And if you’re considering moving to Lake Oswego, give one of us a call. We live and work in Lake Oswego and can give you a true-to-life picture of what it’s like to live here, what the neighborhoods and schools are like, how much homes cost in Lake Oswego, how you can access the lake….and anything else that you might be wondering.

Kevin Costello 503.939.9801  kevin.costello@cascadehassonsir.com

Riley Costello  971.322.6205  riley.costello@cascadehassonsir.com