Master Gardeners … are volunteers trained by Washington State University Extension to provide science-based information to home gardeners about best gardening practices.
Our Foundation … supports the Master Gardener Program through fundraising, organizing educational events, managing demonstration gardens and more. Learn more by visiting the Who We Are page.
Upcoming Events
Check our full calendar for more.
What a Day for Daylilies!
Visitors at our Daylily Bloom Exhibit at Hovander last month got to view close to 100 different varieties of these showy flowers, and vote on their favorites. The winners are:
Diana’s Evening Gown
Claws of Moonlight
Ruby Regalia
September 26 is D-Day at Hovander
Learn how to Dig and Divide Dahlias and Daylilies.
If you want Dazzling flowers, Dependable color, and Durable blooms in your garden, from late spring till the first frost, Don’t miss these Demonstrations.
Tour the Dahlia Garden and Decide among the wide variety of shapes, colors, and sizes (from Diminutive to Dinner Plate), and cut some flowers to take home.
Dare to take a look at this pdf to see 33 Distinctively Different Daylilies already potted, and available for sale at the event. Disease-resistant and Drought-tolerant, Daylilies will Decorate your garden and Delight you Daily!
Click here for more info.
It’s not Difficult – Do it!
Got Gardening-Related Questions?
Even though temperatures are cooling and the full swing of planting season is winding down, there will always be questions, and we will always be here to try and provide gardening-related advice, information and inspiration. Our regularly scheduled Docent Sunday“Ask-a-Master Gardener” events are done for the year, but Master Gardeners can still often be seen working in the Hovander Demonstration Gardens. So, take a stroll and feel free to ask. You can also contact our Plant Clinic, or read our “Your Garden This Month” column below for useful tips and advice. You can also visit the WSU Extension website for links to many sources of gardening-related information.
Demonstration Gardens
Come visit our Demonstration Gardens where you can learn about sustainable gardening techniques and experience history in two beautiful Whatcom County Parks.
Hovander Homestead Park Demonstration Gardens: Bring your family and enjoy the children’s garden, vegetable garden, pollinator garden, and much more at this lovely park in Ferndale. Learn more here.
Roeder Home Demonstration Garden: Experience this beautiful and unique urban garden at one of Bellingham’s historic landmark homes. Learn more here.
Plant Clinic
Pruning questions? What is eating the leaves on my pear tree? What to plant in this spot?
If you need help in solving gardening challenges or problems, contact the WSU Diagnostic Plant Clinic and let trained Master Gardeners assist you in diagnosing a problem, and getting the information and answers you need.
Master Gardener News
Volunteers Needed
Even though temperatures are getting cooler and gardening season is winding down, there is still work to do in our demo gardens at Hovander and the Roeder Home (harvesting, pruning, mulching, edging, weeding, signage, etc). Register to volunteer here.
It’s Election Time …
The Whatcom Master Gardener Foundation Board is holding annual elections in October. We are looking to replace four members whose terms are expiring at the end of the year. Serving on the Board is an excellent way to be involved in the decision-making of our organization. See the Member Area for more details, and who to contact if you’re interested.
WSU Master Gardener Advanced Education Conference – September 30-Oct 2.
This is a great opportunity to learn from experts, gaining new skills and knowledge you can share with the public in your MG activities and put to use in your own home gardens. Choose from over 30 classes on a wide range of topics, over 3 days. For more info and to register, visit the Conference website.
Ways to Get Involved
Master Gardeners do so many beneficial things in the community – growing vegetables and fruit for food banks, educating children, staffing Answer/Plant Clinics, engaging youth with gardening, taking care of demonstration gardens, mentoring new gardeners and much more. Find out how to help support these activities by donating or becoming a Master Gardener.
Your Garden in September
Tent Caterpillar Control
Populations of tent caterpillars are usually held in check by winters cold, enough to kill many of the egg masses laid in the fall. But a mild winter may mean a tent caterpillar heyday in the spring. There are things you can do, however, to help mitigate the damage and mess they make out of your plants. The larval stages of several moths and butterflies create tents, but the controls for these caterpillars are all the same. Click to continue.
Master Gardeners
Be sure to visit the “Member Area” to find out about Master Gardener-Only events, sales, and news, including:
The Foundation Annual Meeting on October 21, 2021
All Whatcom County Master Gardeners are invited. We will discuss updates, hold elections, and present awards.
We will also announce the winners in our Photo Contest.
Community Partners
The Whatcom Master Gardener Foundation is grateful to all the organizations that have supported our activities. Those local businesses shown below have contributed money, goods, and/or services worth $50 or more, within the last two years.
