Union County is offering two events to tidy up and beautify its environment in different ways, each contributing to enhancing the ambience of the area.

On April 20, La Grande Main Street Downtown is coordinating a Community Clean Up Day from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in conjunction with local businesses. Volunteers will meet up at 102 Depot St. and will take on tasks, such as litter pickup, window washing and sprucing up storefronts to replanting and cleaning out tree wells in the downtown area.

Les Schwab, 2306 Adams Ave., will have a trailer out for disposal of old rimless tires and ACE Hardware, 2212 Island Ave., will also take leftover paint for recycling. In addition, Red Cross Drugs, 1123 Adams Ave., has a prescription drug takeback station for human drugs only (no over-the-counter drugs) and a separate area for “sharps.”

Liz Turner, aka The Compost Chick, will be out and about during the event discussing how to turn food waste into productive compost. She will be accompanied by Minnie and Pearl, two adorable goats who happen to be expert landscapers.

Patrick Gower of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will be stationed at Charles Reynolds Pollinator Park on Washington Avenue around the corner from Depot Street to discuss the benefits of native plants and pollinators and how to incorporate native plants into a garden or planter.

If you have gloves and a garbage bag, fantastic, bring them along. If not, they will be provided, along with appropriate tools to get the job done. For more information or to volunteer, contact Sarah Marcotte at 541-805-2820.

In addition, La Grande Main Street Downtown will also offer an opportunity for community members to sponsor a hearty native plant to enhance the downtown area. These plants require very little upkeep, as they are indigenous to Eastern Oregon and are specifically adapted to the area. The dirt and the plant are provided and the sponsor provides the pot.

Contact Marcotte at 541-804-2820 for more information. She will be out and about during the event to answer questions about this program as well.

Cove

For something a little different, the Cove Community Association is hosting an Earth Day Clean Up on April 20 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. You can join a group of community members to pull invasive weeds, pick up litter, and participate in a “bioblitz” nature inventory along the Tish Croom Nature Trail at the Ascension School.

A free lunch will be provided for volunteers following the cleanup.

Volunteer RSVP is requested. Contact Ethan Shaw at eshaw.layoftheland@gmail.com or 608-469-3603 for more information or to sign up.

The city of Cove’s popular Clean Up Day garbage drop off event will be happening on May 18. Information can be obtained from the Cove Community Association at 541-910-1798 as planning progresses.