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Backyard Makeover exhibit at the Oregon Zoo

Sustainable living  ›  Natural gardening  ›  Learning gardens  ›  Backyard exhibit at the zoo

Enjoy family activities in a wildlife-friendly garden tucked between the Insect Zoo and Lorikeet Landing, and learn how to cultivate native habitat in your own backyard.

Habitat begins at home

The Backyard Makeover exhibit at the Oregon Zoo shows you how to attract beautiful winged wildlife to your yard. In the exhibit, you will see two gardens. One is the kind of garden you might have seen in the 1970s. Right next to it is the same garden, but with a few additions of plants and other features that provide food and shelter for birds, bees and butterflies, and that help you use water wisely.

A yard with habitat attracts natural pest eaters – much safer than chemical insecticides. And the native plants these helpful critters love are easy to grow when they are planted in the right spot and need little water once they’re established since they are used to our climate.

Summertime family fun with gardening experts

Fridays through Mondays, June through September, Metro staff and Oregon State University Master Gardeners offer advice and activities that are fun for the whole family. These experts can answer your gardening questions and provide resources to help you get started on your own makeover to attract wildlife to your backyard.

While you’re learning from the garden guides, the kids can dig in a worm bin and play games. Activity books and crayons are also available when the exhibit is staffed, along with free publications that help you protect kids, pets, water and wildlife while growing a healthy and abundant habitat that helps make your neighborhood more livable

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Come visit

The Backyard Makeover exhibit, located between the Insect Zoo and Lorikeet Landing, is open during regular zoo hours for no cost additional to zoo admission. The exhibit is a joint effort between Metro’s Oregon Zoo and natural gardening program, and Oregon State University's Extension Service.

Getting to the zoo

need assistance?

Natural gardening advice from OSU Master Gardeners™

Clackamas County, 503-655-8631
Multnomah County, 503-445-4608
Washington County, 503-821-1150

Program information and pesticide disposal from Metro

Metro Recycling Information
503-234-3000
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