A spring afternoon at Rogue Community College’s Redwood Campus will offer a closer look at the region’s diverse plant life as Oregon State University Extension Service in Josephine County prepares to host a hands-on educational event for the public.
Scheduled for May 9, 2026, the Master Gardener Speaker Series will feature an Arboretum Walking Tour designed to highlight plant species that thrive in Southern Oregon’s unique environmental conditions. The event will run from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. and will begin in Room J-1 at Rogue Community College, located at 3345 Redwood Highway in Grants Pass.
The walking tour will be led by Ted Smith, head landscaper and groundskeeper at Rogue Community College, who will guide participants through the campus arboretum. Along the way, attendees will be introduced to a variety of native and non-native plant materials adapted to the Klamath-Siskiyou eco-region, an area known for its rich biodiversity and complex terrain.
Organizers say the event is intended to provide practical insight into plant selection and landscape design that aligns with the local climate and soil conditions. The Klamath-Siskiyou region, which spans parts of Southern Oregon and Northern California, is recognized for supporting one of the most botanically diverse temperate ecosystems in North America. The arboretum tour offers a localized look at how that diversity translates into real-world landscaping and gardening practices.
The Master Gardener Speaker Series is part of a broader educational effort by OSU Extension to connect community members with research-based knowledge on gardening, horticulture, and sustainable land use. Events like the arboretum tour are designed to make that information accessible through direct, in-person experiences, allowing participants to observe plant characteristics, placement, and maintenance considerations firsthand.
Community members attending the tour can expect a structured walk through the grounds, with opportunities to learn about plant identification, seasonal growth patterns, and how both native and adapted species perform in Southern Oregon’s climate. The setting at Rogue Community College provides a curated landscape where educational elements are integrated into the campus environment.
The event is open to the public, and no prior gardening experience is required to attend. Individuals with an interest in landscaping, native plants, or regional ecology may find the tour particularly useful as it connects academic knowledge with practical application.
Additional details about the event are available through OSU Extension in Josephine County. Those planning to attend are encouraged to review information ahead of time or reach out directly with any questions. Accommodation requests related to disabilities can be arranged by contacting the OSU Extension office in advance to ensure accessibility for all participants.
As the growing season gets underway in Southern Oregon, the May 9 arboretum tour provides an opportunity for residents to step outside, explore a living collection of plant life, and gain a clearer understanding of what thrives in the region’s distinct ecological landscape.