Sharing Success, Educating Each Other, and Celebrating Activities

The Master Gardener Gazette is the quarterly newsletter of the Island County Master Gardener Foundation. Issues are published by the editorial team in January, April, July, and October. All content is submitted by WSU Extension Master Gardeners.

Each issue contains the following regular features and including highlights noted below.

  • From the President – updates on Foundation activities
  • From the Program Coordinator – highlighting WSU Extension topics
  • From the Education Garden – people and projects at the garden
  • Master Gardeners Around Island County – accomplishments, celebrations, education – all we have done
  • Meet Our Newest Master Gardeners – bios of those who became certified Master Gardeners since the previous issue
  • Plant Detectives – plant clinic mysteries solved by Master Gardeners
  • Upcoming Events
IssueHighlights
July
2026		Foundation Board plan for fundraising event management. Symptoms and management of root rot. Highlights of the Northwest Native Lowland Garden. Thank you and fond farewell to our retiring Program Coordinator.
April
2026		Program Coordinator’s report on impact of Master Gardener volunteer work in 2025. Pruning and general care of hydrangeas. Master Gardener Education Series for the summer.
January
2026		Strategic planning by the Foundation Board. Gardening resolutions. Winter care of fruit trees. Plans for Camano Education Garden.
October
2025		Highlights of the year from the Foundation President. Permaculture guild at the Education Garden. Building community through shared values of Master Gardener volunteers. Identifying apple varieties. Growing giant pumpkins.
July
2025		2025 David Gibby International Master Gardener Search for Excellence award goes to the Whidbey Gardening Workshop! How Master Gardeners make an impact in the community. Pop quiz on common summer plant problems.
April
2025		Master Gardener goals and training opportunities. New interns in the Class of 2025. Enhancing plant clinic practices. Whidbey Gardening Workshop report. Greenhouse management practices at the Education Garden.
January
2025		Health benefits of gardening and volunteering. Common questions at plant clinics and resources for gardening questions. Managing the challenges of Cork Bark Elm at the Education Garden.
October
2024		A Halloween-inspired cautionary tale on the importance of research-based solutions to plant problems, in the spirit of Edgar Allan Poe. Fond farewell to our outgoing Foundation President. Resources for developing presentations.
July
2024		Identifying and managing poison hemlock and similar weeds. Highlights from the Plant Sale. Update on the Crevice Garden at the Education Garden. First training class to be held on Camano Island.
April
2024		Plant clinic locations and times for 2024. Reflections on the intern experience from a member of the class of 2024. Whidbey Gardening Workshop thanks and feedback. Preview of Education Series for 2024. Master Gardener volunteer statistics from our work in 2023. New garden leads and team members in the Education Garden.
January 2024Where native plants come from. Coming events and projects for the Foundation. Reflecting on volunteer contributions going into the new year. Visitor Engagement Task Force at the Education Garden. Celebrating Years of Service awards for Master Gardener volunteers.
October 2023Using the Master Gardener Plant Problem Blog to answer clinic questions. Preview of Foundation events. WSU Extension funding initiative for endowed faculty chair in Horticulture. Shade Garden history and new project at the Education Garden. Introduction of Class of 2024 Master Gardener trainees.
July
2023
Identifying Cypress Tip Moth on conifers. Farewell to three long-time Master Gardeners retiring or moving. Cottage Garden history and activities at the Education Garden. Partnering with Island County Noxious Weed Board. Fiftieth Anniversary of the Master Gardener program.
April
2023		Resources for identifying plant problems. Remembering Don Lee. Collaborations with other local non-profits. Program priorities of the WSU Extension Master Gardener Program. Prairie Garden development and how to get involved at the Education Garden.
January 2023Preview of the beauty, bounty, and benefit at the Whidbey Gardening Workshop for 2023. Call for inspiration and contribution to the annual Plant Sale. Dave Thomas celebrates 40 years of Master Gardening. WSU Extension endowed chair campaign. Native Garden delights and greenhouse projects at the Education Garden.
October 2022Identifying sources of stress in Stewartia. Four-Season Garden and enhanced entry area at Education Garden. Reflections from the Foundation President and Program Coordinator on the establishment of this newsletter.