City of Tigard
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Native Garden
History and Purpose
In 2021, the Library initiated a multi-year project to replace the landscaping with native plants that, once established, will require fewer resources, and will educate our community about sustainability and local ecology. Our project’s goals aligned with the city’s commitment to climate resiliency and with our library’s strategic plan action to enhance outdoor spaces to extend learning, play, and community engagement beyond the library building.
The focus of our new landscaping is on plants native to Oregon and the Pacific Northwest, which were carefully selected by one of our librarians who is also an OSU Master Gardener™. The plants were chosen for their sustainability, growing needs and site location, which will require very little care once they get established. Trees, shrubs, perennials, and sedums with a variety of bloom times were planted, which will result in an array of blooms that attract butterflies, pollinators, and birds. We intend to add informational signage to the landscaping so that our community can follow along with our progress.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why is the garden looking so messy/ why is the garden full of weeds?
A: Our front landscape is a new native garden that is in its second year of growth. Native plants take some time to establish and out compete invasive plants, so the library has a dedicated group of volunteers from the Tigard Garden Club, Boy Scouts, and Girl Scouts that slowly pull as many of the unwelcome plants in a gentle way to not over disturb the soil and the native plants.
Q: Why are there so many weeds in the landscape?
A: Weed is a generic term for any plant in "a place it does not naturally live or a plant that you don’t want in your garden space because of your aesthetics." OSU defines a weed as "a plant that can be a nuisance but is not necessarily an invasive plant. A plant may be a weed in some places, but not in other places."
Q: What plants are in the landscape?
A: A plant list and planting plan are available. Laminated print outs are available for review and photocopy upon request.
Q: What is a native plant?
A: A native plant is a species of plant that has historically grown in a particular area without human introduction. In many ways, the more locally that area can be defined, the better. The Willamette Valley (along with the Vancouver, Wash. area) is an ecoregion, meaning that the climate, vegetation, geology, soils, and wildlife are similar throughout the area. Plants native to an ecoregion have had thousands of years to adapt to local conditions and, in some cases, co-evolve with the wildlife there.
Q: Who manages the garden?
A: The landscape was designed by a local Master Gardener who has provided management instructions to the Volunteer Coordinator. The Volunteer Coordinator works with interested and experienced volunteers to maintain the spaces.
Q: Why isn’t there irrigation in your small garden surrounded by boulders?
A: The rock garden is designed to survive on rainfall and soil moisture infiltration. At the peak of summer, volunteers take turns hand watering per recommendations from our Master Gardener/designer.
Q: Where can I learn more about native plants for my garden?
A: Take a look at Metro’s native plant guide for Willamette Valley - https://www.oregonmetro.gov/native-plants-willamette-valley-yards-booklet