Starting April 13, 2024, and every second Saturday through September, Veteran Clallam County Master Gardeners will lead a fast-paced walk through the Port Angeles Fifth Street Community Garden to examine what is happening (or should be happening) in local vegetable gardens.

At our May garden walk, Jan Bartron pinpointed the leaf miner larva which happily tunneled between the leaf surfaces of the hidden Swiss chard plant. The damage is unsightly but can either be cut away leaving the remaining leaf parts perfectly edible and still nutritious. Others of us know and are willing to eat that larva and damage as extra protein.

June 8th focus will be on keeping vegetable and fruit plants healthy with integrated pest management options. More water conservation tips will also be shared to remind each of us of the expected upcoming dry summer season.

All garden walks occur from 10-11:30 am., rain or shine. All garden walks are free and open to the public. The walks are beneficial to people new to vegetable gardening, new to the Pacific Northwest, as well as more seasoned vegetable gardeners.

Walk participants will:

• Learn what needs to be done in the vegetable garden each month.

• Learn what problems are likely to appear.

• Learn what integrated pest management control measures exist for common pests and diseases.

• Ask questions and get timely science-based advice.

Both interns and veteran Master Gardeners are welcome! All Master Gardeners earn continuing education credit for attending the walks.

The Fifth Street Community Garden is located at 328 E. Fifth Street in Port Angeles, just off Peabody and right across from City Hall.

The Master Gardener Foundation of Clallam County supports our efforts by paying our rental fees and providing necessary supply funding. Master Gardener volunteers tend two double plots in the southeast corner of the garden and the blueberry patch nearest the compost bins. Our presence encourages other plot renters and the public to seek answers to their vegetable gardening questions.