Photo Copyright Amy McIntyre/WSU Clallam County Extension Long time organic gardener, Pam Larsen, will present "Growing Great Garlic," live via Zoom from noon to 1 pm on Thursday, August 13. Use this Zoom link to join the presentation live. Garlic is delicious and easy to grow here on the north Olympic Peninsula. In this presentation find out when and how to plant it to get the best crop, what varieties do well locally, when to harvest, and what diseases to…

Jorden Van Delden, Washington DNR Wildland fire and Forest Health Specialist, on fire duty. Wildfires are becoming larger and more common across the western United States. Few people know that Clallam County has one of the highest risks for wildfire in western Washington. Washington Department of Natural Resources wildfire and forest health specialist, Jordan Van Delden, joins us to talk about making home landscapes more resistant to wildfire. He will share information on home ignition zones: Immediate, Intermediate, and Extended…

Propagating species Rhododendrons from seed can be a rewarding experience! Bob Zimmerman, rhodie enthusiast and expert propagator, from Chimacum Woods Rhododendron Nursery joins us to share his tips and techniques for propagating Rhododendrons from seed at home. Find a direct link to the Zoom Presentation here. Green Thumb Education Series Presentations are held from 12 to 1 pm on the second and fourth Thursdays of most months. Talks are currently only being offered by online streaming, due to current social…

Master Gardener, Bob Cain, will teach a class about fungal plant problems and how to safely manage them on Thursday, April 8 at noon. Join Bob Cain, whose master’s and doctoral theses were based on how plants produce their own fungicides in response to infection, and how soil fungi produce antibiotics, respectively, to learn about common fungal disease issues on the Olympic Peninsula and how to treat them with organic and conventional fungicides. He will discuss the environmental conditions which…

Regular compost bins and the Johnson-Su Bioreactor Join Al Cairo on Thursday, September 9, 2021, for his hour-long Zoom presentation which begins at noon. Cairo, who, along with help from like-minded Master Gardeners, built a Johnson-Su Bioreactor in 2018 and 2019 at the Woodcock Demonstration Garden, will discuss today’s critical climate reality and how gardeners can actively participate in drawing down atmospheric CO2. He will inform attendees about the Soil Food Web and how to build and use the Johnson-Su…

Bruce Pape will provide tips to help get your orchard off to a good start, September 23, 2021 Learn how to enjoy excellent home harvested tree fruit from your very own yard from Bruce Pape, who has been nurturing fruit trees for over forty years. He will talk Thursday, September 23rd, about fruit trees in the residential setting during his Zoom presentation from noon to 1:00pm. Planning to plant some trees this fall? Listen in and find out what you…

Clallam County Master Gardener, Tom Del Hotal, a Certified Arborist, member of the International Plant Propagators Society, and California Rare Fruit Growers, will teach gardeners how to take advantage of Clallam County’s unique microclimates to grow a wide variety of fruiting plants from many areas of the world, during his hour-long Zoom presentation on Thursday, October 14th beginning at noon. Attendees will also learn about Tom’s own one acre property which grew over 58 types of fruit with more than…

Speaker, Keith Dekker, taking care of his tools. Learn about garden tools from Master Gardener and PlantAmnesty volunteer, Keith Dekker, on Thursday, December 9th from noon to 1:00 pm during his Zoom presentation. Dekker will share his preferences for which quality tools to buy, which products to use when sterilizing and lubricating them and, how to extend their life and save money in the process. He will advise attendees on how to keep their tools sharp and clean, and how…

Bess Bronstein's Head Shot Photo Credit: Bess Bronstein Join us on January 27th, 2022 for "Renovation of an Aging Garden" by Bess Bronstein Find a direct link to the Zoom presentation here. An orderly garden over time can become a wild crowd of trees and shrubs, especially if it had been over-planted initially or becomes overgrown when pruning has not been ongoing. However, all is not lost. Often removal or moving plants can help, but pruning is essential when renovating an…

Speakers, Audreen Williams and Jeanette Stehr-Green. Blueberry bushes require an annual pruning regimen to promote strong growth and good berry production. Commonly used pruning techniques, however, can be counterproductive with blueberries. Come learn best practices for pruning blueberries with Master Gardeners Jeanette Stehr-Green and Audreen Williams via Zoom on Saturday February 5th, 2022, from 10:30 am to 12:00 noon. Hope to see you there! Please join us via Zoom by clicking this link.

Dave Allen at his nursery Join us for "Native Plants in the Landscape" presented by Dave Allen from Shore Road Nursery. Find a direct link to the Zoom presentation here. The Zoom Meeting ID is: 920 0799 1742 Passcode: 709395 Including native plants in your garden is a beautiful way to help support pollinators, provide shelter for wildlife and offer help to problem areas in your green spaces. Discover more about how native plants can help enhance habitat values in…

photo credit: Nancy Kohn Join this Zoom webinar by clicking on this link. The Zoom Meeting ID is: 920 0799 1742 Passcode: 709395 Soil provides the network to deliver air, water, and nutrients to your plants. Knowing your soil, and understanding what to do to improve it, is the key to gardening success. On Saturday, February 19, from 10:30 am to 12 noon, Meghan Adamire, Clallam Conservation District Planner, and John Stednick, Clallam County Master Gardener, will teach home gardeners…

Green Thumb Lecture Series on February 24th from noon to 1pm Come hear Clallam County Master Gardener, Bob Cain, present on "Using Horticultural Oils" via Zoom on Thursday February 24th, 2022 from 12:00 to 1:00 pm. Find a direct link to the Zoom presentation here. The Zoom Meeting ID is: 920 0799 1742 Passcode: 709395 Green Thumb Education Series Presentations are held from 12 to 1 pm on the second and fourth Thursdays of most months. Talks are currently only…

Join us for "Weeding Out The Truth: What Works and What Doesn't for Weed Control" with Christine Heycke Find a direct link to the Zoom presentation here. If you are looking for household alternatives to over-the-counter herbicides, there are a lot of recipes on the Internet for home remedies to kill your weeds. You may choose these methods as a money-saving technique, to avoid the use of harsh chemicals, or simply for convenience because you can mix them up in…

Laurel Moulton will share all about the Power of Heat Units Join us on Thursday March 24th for "Harnessing the Power of Heat Units For Your Garden's Success" presented by Laurel Moulton, Clallam County's Master Gardener Coordinator. Join us on Zoom via this link. Gardeners and farmers often use calendars to calculate when crops will grow and ripen, and when the best times are to employ pest man-agement strategies. Using a calendar alone, however, may not capture fluctuations in weather…

Muriel Nesbitt in her garden Join us on April 14th for "Aphids: Climate Sentinels" presented by Clallam County Master Gardener Muriel Nesbitt. If you garden, chances are you’ve encountered aphids on your beloved roses or attached to the leaves of a favorite garden vegetable. Aphids are an annoyance to gardeners but their role in the food chain and farming may become more problematic due to climate change. Join Clallam County Master Gardener Muriel Nesbitt for a Green Thumb Gardening Tips…

Delvin Solkinson Teaching in the Forest. Photo by Dana Wilson What is permaculture and why is it important to you? Simply put, permaculture is an approach to gardening and land management that focuses on self-sufficient ecosystems. Permaculture gardens draw inspiration from nature with methods like edible landscaping and wildlife gardening to create a low-maintenance, self-contained and productive ecosystem. Join permaculture expert Delvin Solkinson on April 28th for a Green Thumb Gardening Tips Zoom presentation from noon – 1:00 p.m. and…

A garden full of iris blooms. Daffodils…check. Tulips…check. If you truly want to add amazing colors to your garden, don’t leave the incredible iris off your flowering bulb checklist. After all, iris is named for the Greek goddess of the rainbow! But with almost 300 species to chose from, where can you go for iris advice? Join iris expert Ross “Rusty” BeVier Thursday, May 12th from noon – 1:00 p.m. for a Green Thumb Gardening Tips Zoom presentation, “Types of…

Keith Dekker pruning a Japanese Maple Japanese Maples can be a lovely showpiece or an accent in your landscaping or garden, and with the proper maintenance they can provide many years of beauty and enjoyment. One important facet of Japanese Maple care includes the proper way to prune them, because effective pruning will improve the look and vigor of your tree. Join Clallam County Master Gardener Keith Dekker for the Green Thumb Gardening Tips Zoom presentation “The Art and Science…

Please join us for: "Tips for Diagnosing Tomato Plant Problems to Set You on Your Way Towards Solving (or Better Yet, Avoiding) Solanaceous Crop Problems" presented by WSU Extension Diagnostician, Jenny Glass via Zoom. Use this link to join the Zoom Presentation on Thursday June 9th at 12:00 noon. Or join by phone: 253 215 8782 Meeting ID: 920 0799 1742 Passcode: 709395 Jenny Glass, diagnostician at the WSU Puyallup Plant & Insect Diagnostic Lab for the past two decades, has…

Bob Cain prepares the soil for planting “Scheduling Planting for Fall and Winter Gardening” by Bob Cain Thursday, June 23, 2022 12 noon to 1pm on Zoom  The Olympic Peninsula is uniquely suited to grow vegetables all year thanks to its geographic position and mild climate. And with food prices on the rise, it pays to know more about growing vegetables year-round. Find out how four-season gardening can benefit your family by providing good nutrition and additional food security. Join…

“Nutrient Decline in Vegetables – What is the Evidence?” by Muriel Nesbitt Thursday, July 14, 2022 Find a direct link to the Zoom presentation here. Or join by phone: 253-215-8782 Meeting ID: 920 0799 1742 Passcode: 709395  What is nutrient density and why is it important to you and your family? Simply put, it is the amount of nutrients in a serving of food, or a certain amount of food (i.e., eight ounces). A deficiency in food nutrients can affect…

Fall and Winter Vegetable Gardening Bob Cain, Clallam County Master Gardener Saturday, July 16, 2022 10:30 am to 12 noon via Zoom Find a direct link to the Zoom presentation here. Or join by phone: 253-215-8782 Meeting ID: 920 0799 1742 Passcode: 709395 On Saturday, July 16, from 10:30 am to 12 noon, Clallam County Master Gardener Bob Cain will share tips on growing vegetables on the North Olympic Peninsula in fall and winter. Bob will discuss: Environmental factors that…

Lowell Dietz is passionate about growing fungi Morels. Chanterelles. Portabellas. If you can’t get enough mushrooms, why not try growing them yourself? Join mushroom hobbyist Lowell Dietz for a Clallam County Master Gardener Green Thumb Gardening Tips Zoom presentation on July 28th from noon – 1:00 p.m. Find out more on the soil and cultivation needed for growing these fabulous fungi. Find a direct link to the Zoom presentation here. Or join by phone: 253-215-8782 Meeting ID: 920 0799 1742…

New sweet potatoes varieties can be grown in Clallam Are you growing bored with planting the same thing in your vegetable garden year after year? The Olympic Peninsula’s growing season isn’t always kind to vegetable varieties that need a warmer climate or a longer growing season. Join Carol Miles, Director of Washington State University’s Mount Vernon Northwestern Washington Research and Extension Center, for a look at new vegetable varieties that can bring renewed interest and additional nutrition to your garden…

Norm Schaaf posing for a photo on a hike Are you a landowner with a forested property? Don’t miss the next Green Thumb Gardening Tips Zoom presentation – “Forest Management for Landowners” on Thursday, August 25th from noon – 1:00 p.m. with forestry expert Norm Schaff. Whether you have two wooded acres or 20, there’s much more to forest management than you think. Find a direct link to the Zoom presentation here. Or join by phone: 253-215-8782 Meeting ID: 920…

Succulents are plants that store water in their fleshy leaves, stems and roots to withstand times of drought. They are beautiful and interesting, but are they easy to care for? Can you plant succulents in your garden here on the Olympic Peninsula? Will they withstand a cold winter? Do they really need less water than other plants? Agave…Burro’s Tail…Christmas Cactus. There are over 10,000 varieties, many are hardy, and can tolerate pests and diseases. From Aloe Vera to Zamioculcas Zamiifolia,…

Lavender has been cultivated for its scent, beauty, taste and medicinal properties for over 2,500 years. And with over 47 varieties to choose from, growing lavender can be an aromatic and rewarding pastime. Join Victor Gonzalez, lavender grower and owner of Victor’s Lavender Farm in Sequim for a Clallam County Master Gardeners Green Thumb Gardening Tips Zoom presentation “All About Lavender” Thursday, September 22nd from noon – 1:00 p.m. Victor will provide best practices for lavender planting, spacing and variety…

Photo of Benji Astrachan and banana squash by Benji Astrachan According to the United States Department of Agriculture, about 34 million people in the U.S, including 9 million children, experience food insecurity each year. Food insecurity is a lack of consistent access to enough food for every person in a household to live an active, healthy life. Growing your own vegetables and fruits is a fun, healthy and delicious way to add fresh produce to your diet. Did you know…

The rotted roots of a Douglas-fir impacted by laminated root rot by Rachel Brooks. Trees in forests help the ecosystem stay in balance by storing and filtering water in their roots, offering shade and habitats for many species, and providing the air we breathe. What happens when forest health is compromised? From state and national parks to private landowners, forest strength is critical to Western Washington’s well-being. Join Washington Department of Natural Resources forest pathologist, Rachel Brooks, Thursday, October 27th…

Do you love sharing gardening information with your community? Are you a gardening enthusiast? Then you may love being a WSU Master Gardener! Come find out more about this premier WSU Volunteer Organization that has 4,000 members across the state! Our local community is looking for educators to share research based, sustainable gardening practices with them and that could be you!   Please join us Online via Zoom by using this link. Wednesday November 2nd from 6:00 pm to 7:00…

Is the soil beneath your fruit trees helping or hindering your orchard’s health? Water, nutrients and healthy roots are essential to get the highest quality fruit and most productivity from your orchard trees. And a better understanding of the biological, physical and chemical characteristics of soil can help you make the most of these essential functions in orchards. Join Clallam County Master Gardener Paul Kolesnikoff: Thursday, November 10th from noon – 1:00 p.m. for the Green Thumb Garden Tips Zoom…