June 27 Open House to Showcase “Jewel of a Teaching Garden”
MOUNT VERNON –The WSU Extension Skagit County Master Gardener Discovery Garden officially took root in 1996 and over the past three decades has flourished as a community hub for education, an inspiration, and a classroom for how to care for and protect the environment.
Master gardeners invite the community to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Discovery Garden at an open house from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, June 27, 2026, at the garden, 16602 State Route 536 (Memorial Highway), just west of the Washington State University Northwestern Washington Research and Extension Center (NWREC). Admission and parking are free.
The open house will highlight the Discovery Garden and also includes the neighboring Salal Native Plant Garden and the NW Fruit Garden, showcasing a wide variety of trees, berries, native plants, and more on a total of eight acres.
The open house will feature three gardens:
Discovery Garden: This 1.5-acre oasis is maintained by the volunteers of the WSU Extension Skagit County Master Gardener Program. The Discovery Garden features 33 garden “rooms,” ranging from herbs and heathers to roses and vegetables, designed to educate and inspire gardeners of all ages. Master gardeners will be on site to answer questions, demonstrate best practices, and inspire home gardeners.
Salal Native Plant Garden: Adjacent to the Discovery Garden, this half-acre greenspace of native plants is maintained by volunteers of the Washington Native Plant Society’s Salal Chapter to demonstrate how native plants can be incorporated into the home landscape. A shaded trail leads visitors into a natural setting featuring dogwood, salal, cascara, vine maple, ferns, trillium, and more. Volunteers, representing north Snohomish, Skagit, and Island counties, will be on hand to guide garden tours and answer questions.
Read more about the history of the Discovery Garden on our blog.
The event will offer booths and more:
Get your “passport” and enjoy each open house activity:
- Check out the Children’s Garden
- Learn more about pollinators
- Learn about Washington Green School and how to become a master gardener.
- Review the application and apply for the Skagit County WSU Extension Master Gardener Program.
- Bring samples to the Master Gardener Plant Clinic, located on the patio of the NWREC building.
- Plant Sale: master gardeners will offer a variety of annual and perennial plants for sale, all propagated and nurtured over the past months by volunteers.
- Check out booths by:
- Skagit County Noxious Weed Program
- Skagit County Clean Water Program
- Skagit Conservation District
Proceeds support:
- Outreach and education programs
- Community events
- Sustainable gardening initiatives
The event also builds awareness of the master gardener program, encourages local food production, and inspires community members to get involved.
Event Details
- Date: Saturday, June 27, 2026
- Time: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
- Location: Discovery Garden 16602 State Route 536 (Memorial Highway), Mount Vernon, WA
- Cost: Free admission and parking
- Check travel routes—SR 536 detours may impact access
About the WSU Extension Skagit County Master Gardener Program:
Master gardeners are trained volunteers who work in partnership with WSU Extension Skagit County to educate the public and enhance the quality of life in the community by promoting sound and sustainable gardening practices. Training is tied to the master gardener program’s nine priorities: clean water, water conservation, wildfire preparedness, local food, pollinators, climate change, plant biodiversity, soil health, and nearby nature.
About the Skagit County Master Gardener Foundation
The Skagit County Master Gardener Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that supports and promotes the WSU Extension Skagit County Master Gardener Program. SCMGF is a member of the Master Gardener Foundation of Washington State (MGFWS). The SCMGF mission, in partnership with WSU Extension, is to support Skagit County home gardeners by promoting science-based gardening practices and education.