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, educational events, demonstration gardens, and more. Learn more by visiting the Who We Are page.
Pollinators are Still Busy in the Landscape
National Pollinator Week has ended, but you can make every day a Pollinator Day! Master gardeners working in Hovander Homestead Park’s Pollinator Demonstration Garden invite you to add a diversity of bee habitat to your flower-filled yard. Read for more ideas….
Featured Events
Events
Check our full calendar for more.
Your Late Summer Garden
With Fall looming, it’s time to employ some strategies in your veggie garden to enhance what you currently have growing and also plant some crops to harvest before our shorter days and cold weather greatly impact their growth. Read more, plus explore an archive of other gardening tips.
Demonstration Gardens
Whatcom County Master Gardeners maintain three Demonstration Gardens where you can view plant varieties, 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.
WeGrow Garden: Located in the heart of Bellingham, the WeGrow Garden demonstrates raised bed gardening and composting systems, provides youth and community educational programs, and donates over 500 pounds of produce each year to local food banks. Learn more here.
Plant Clinic
WSU’s Whatcom County Diagnostic Plant Clinic is a FREE service with trained Master Gardeners available to assist you in diagnosing a problem, identifying plants and garden pests, and solving most gardening challenges. Visit the WSU Extension website for more information and seasonal hours. Or, click on one of these helpful links for DIY diagnosis and gardening tips:
- WSU Hortsense – is a great source for all kinds of plant-related information.
- Your Garden This Month – our monthly column for useful gardening tips and advice.
- Garden Essentials – our blog on plant and pollinator science and issues.
Native Plants in Your Home Garden
We encourage you to understand the value and appreciate the beauty of plants that have grown in our region since before European settlements. Native flora supports local wildlife and pollinators, helps protect water quality, and when established, requires a minimum amount of care. Here are a few ways to increase your native knowledge:
- Take a hike in the woods
- Plant a native in your yard
- Visit a Native Plant Demo Garden at Hovander or Skagit
- Test your native knowledge and take our NATIVE PLANT QUIZ.
- Visit some of these websites below to learn more
Washington Native Plant Society
Washington State University Guide to Landscaping with Western Washington Natives
King County Native Plant Resources for the Pacific Northwest
Whatcom Conservation District Neighborhood Native Landscaping Program
Big Changes are Happening…
in our WSU Master Gardener Demonstration Gardens at Hovander Homestead Park
Whatcom County Master Gardener volunteers have been working with a professional Landscape Designer and County Parks personnel, to imagine a new design for the Demonstration Gardens, with these key goals in mind:
- Move all garden beds outside the safety buffer zone of the underground oil pipeline.
- Create an inviting main garden entrance.
- Widen some existing trails and construct new universally accessible trails that connect all garden areas.
- Improve educational and directional signage.
- Create new demonstration garden areas such as a “Hedgerow” and others.
- Create a better space for workshops, learning opportunities, and other events.
- Expand and improve your overall experience in the Demonstration Gardens.
Click HERE to see a drawing of our planned improvements and to read more details about changes in the works.
Want to Become a Master Gardener?
Join the 2025 Class to acquire skills and gardening knowledge you can give back to our community. For more detailed information about the WSU Master Gardener Program, how to apply, and the schedule, CLICK HERE. If you are interested but unable to participate in the training, consider supporting the WSU Master Gardener Program by making a donation HERE.
Certified Master Gardeners
Be sure to visit the Member Area where you can:
- reach SignUp Genius and sign up for Master Gardener Only workshops, field trips and events
- find out about volunteer and continuing education opportunities, Committee meetings, etc.
- join the Master Gardener Facebook group
- access Master Gardener contact information
- find Foundation Board meeting minutes, forms, and more
Subscribe to receive email updates for events and classes.
Your contact information will not be shared with any third party, and will only be used for the purpose described above. You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the link in the footer of our emails.
Each year, Whatcom County Master Gardeners present awards to individuals who have shown extraordinary dedication to the Program by making exceptional contributions of time, effort, and enthusiasm.
CLICK HERE to read more about these awards and the honored recipients.
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.
