THE ISLAND GARDENER

June ~ 2026

President's Message

There is something wonderfully comforting about looking back through the history of our Garden Tour and Garden Faire and realizing that, despite the passing years and changing times, the heart of it all has remained beautifully the same.

I was deeply inspired by the article our club historian, Perri Gibbons, wrote about the rich history of these beloved traditions. It reminded me that while details may evolve, the reasons we gather together have always been rooted in community, curiosity, beauty, and connection. Of course, our tour has long served as the club’s important annual fundraiser, but perhaps even more meaningful is the way it brings people together to learn, to share, and to celebrate the magic growing all around us.

And maybe now, in a world that can sometimes feel a little less gentle and a little less beautiful, these moments of connection matter more than ever. I imagine every Garden Club president has sat quietly at some point and wondered: What do I hope my legacy will be? Should the tour raise the most money? Be the most breathtaking? The most educational?

Laura and I certainly pondered all of these things. But in the end, what mattered most to us was creating a tour that felt welcoming and inclusive — one that truly belonged to the whole community. We wanted to share the gifts of this island with everyone, regardless of age, experience, or gardening knowledge. Continue reading below...

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Continued...One especially joyful addition this year grew from the idea that gardening should begin with wonder — especially for children. Robin Latham, one of our extraordinary new members, encouraged us to create activities designed just for young explorers. She reminded us that to nurture a lifelong love of gardening, we must first help children fall in love with nature itself — with dirt beneath their fingernails, flowers swaying in the breeze, birdsong in the garden, and the simple delight of making something with their own hands.

Robin has lovingly created activities throughout the tour that invite children to discover, imagine, and create. At 4th Seed, the wool dyeing farm, children can try their hand at trellis weaving; at West Beach Farm, they can make whimsical pinecone bird feeders using peanut butter and seeds for our feathered garden friends. These are only a few of the many magical experiences she has planned. We hope you will embrace these moments of childhood discovery as part of our effort to welcome every generation into the joy of gardening.

This year we also found opportunities to educate and care for our community in thoughtful new ways. Visitors will notice sanitizing mats at garden entrances, helping protect our hosts’ gardens and farms from harmful biohazards. What began as a practical solution also became an opportunity for learning — reminding us how interconnected our gardens truly are, and how caring for one another’s spaces is another form of stewardship and kindness. Continue reading below...

A huge thank you goes out to our incredible partners!

Your vital support of our ticket sales ensures the continued growth and success of our annual Garden Tour.

Continued...Perhaps most exciting of all has been the chance to celebrate the incredible creativity and talent found here on Orcas Island. Across our seven gardens you will find artists, musicians, growers, dreamers, and teachers generously sharing their gifts. We are honored to feature artists such as Barbara Babcock and Virginia Sides; musicians including the joyful ukulele group and Scott and Lee Rome; as well as experienced growers offering wisdom on large-scale farming.

Together they remind us that gardening belongs to everyone. Whether your garden is a sunny field, a windowsill, a greenhouse, or simply a hopeful pot on the porch, there is room for all of us to grow.

Most of all, we hope this year’s tour leaves you feeling inspired — inspired to plant something beautiful, to learn something new, to connect more deeply with your community, and perhaps to dream a little bigger than before. Laura and I are so grateful to share this journey with all of you, and we hope you leave this year’s Garden Tour feeling more connected, more creative, and more in love with the beauty that surrounds us every day.

Robin Sullivan, OIGC Co-President

Don't Miss Your Chance to Win!

Thank you to the Market Garden!

Our thanks goes out to the Market Garden for donating a $100 gift card for our garden tour raffle. Raffle tickets are only $1 each and sold only at the garden location, Kiwi Base Camp during the tour.

Make a detour and stop by to browse their beautiful plant selection, visit Market Garden across from the Island Market.

Sneak Peek into this Year's Gardens

Warm Valley Farm

If you think you know this farm from the many times driving by it to the ferry…. think again!! You will be amazed by the creative energy on display beyond the gates. Joel and Annie have worked hard to energize the property while staying true to the property’s long history, including early days as bulb growers, the orchard and the barn. I can’t wait to visit Shawna’s “scent garden”. Come swoon for yourself!

4th Seed Farm (Saturday only)

Ewe, Me and Tea? You know sheep and goats. You know yarn. Suzanne knows both and will share the process with us, including shearing, dying and processing. And if wool isn’t your bag, maybe you’d prefer a teabag. Under produced in this country, Roger is testing different varieties to find tea plants most suitable for our climate. If you’ve been curious about the old log cabin, close to the road, this will be your opportunity to take a peek inside.

The Friendship Garden (Sunday only)

Here’s a hidden treasure right in the heart of Eastsound! If you love colorful, cottage gardening, this one is a must see. Leith’s friendship garden with the emphasis on the many gifted plants from her treasured family members and friends makes it special. You will appreciate the possibility of how beautiful flowers and bushes can spark memories of loves ones.

West Beach Farm

How encouraging to experience a family farm in today’s world! The Averna’s picture perfect working farm has everything you imagine … vegetables, flowers, and pasture raised meat. You can feel things growing and thriving…cows, sheep, chicken, ducks, kids (not goats, the human kind), and a big garden. Bonus experience, if you find and meet Champ, their bunny!

Kiwi Base Camp

With the natural features, grasses and sedges, you might be forgiven for daydreaming of the mountain meadows, which OIGC member, Hillary Willis, designed for the owner. But then, you might be distracted by the open spaces which encourage fun and play. Relaxation or celebration? You decide! Paul's property with an emphasis on low maintenance, deer and drought resistant landscaping, will be of special interest to local gardeners.

Wikstrom's Garden

The steep property overlooking Buck Bay might not seem like an ideal place to garden, but to a creative (she might say stubborn) woman, it’s a delightful challenge. Jo has carved out mini-gardens, or “rooms” which feature different themes. It’s an explosion of color which Jo uses to invite pollinators and to craft her lovely flower arrangements. You won’t be able to resist the invitation to sit and soak in the artistic ambience.

Wise Owl Wellness Farm

It’s a joy to meet someone as passionate about her mission as Jule. She believes in and demonstrates the principles of growing food to achieve healthy diet and lifestyle. The sheer variety of pIants grown- vegetables, herbs, flowers, camas bulbs, berries, fruit and nut trees will encourage guests to consider the many ways plants enhance our lives. You will feel more grounded and connected just visiting Wise Owl Farm.

Written by our own Perri Gibbons in her own delightful way

Beyond the Trowel

As you set out to explore our gardens during the tour this year, dedicate some time to observe the innovative farming tools that modern growers use to simplify labor, maximize efficiency, and streamline their daily operational tasks.

Additionally, pay close attention to the creative, eco-friendly practices and sustainable methods these farmers implement to actively phase out single-use plastic pots, reduce plastic waste, and promote healthier, more environmentally conscious growing systems.

Japanese-style hand tools for sale at Wise Owl Farm

Paperpot Transplanter seen at West Beach Farm

Plastic reducing soil blocker demo at Wise Owl Farm

Library Cabinet Display

We want to express our deepest gratitude to Perri Gibbons for designing such a stunning and thoughtful display of our special gift to this year’s garden tour owners.

A heartfelt thank you also goes to her incredibly talented daughter, Virginia Sides, who provided the beautiful watercolor paintings. Each delicate piece perfectly captures a unique feature of the spectacular gardens on our tour.

Please be sure to stop by the cabinet and take a closer look at their amazing work!

Fostering a Lifelong Love of Nature

I am so very excited to support the Orcas Island Garden Club by offering, for the first time this year, family-friendly children’s activities at our upcoming 2026 Garden Tour, Gardens With a Purpose. We hope we can spark interest and engagement in protecting our natural world.

In addition to exploring the purpose and beauty of each garden, we hope to encourage and share our love of gardening with children of all ages and to promote educational opportunities that engage young people in appreciating and discovering the amazingly beautiful nature that surrounds us. We hope to encourage kids to look carefully at the science and magic occurring in our gardens and farms. Also, most gardens will offer make-and-take activities such as weaving a woven wall hanging out of sticks, yarn, handmade stamp art cards, pinecone bird feeders, planting a sunflower and making your own fragrant flower petal sachet. All activities will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis, while materials last. At Kiwi Garden, come dressed in festive garden attire and take a family photo in our photo booth to create lasting memories. We also invite children to participate in a fun, scavenger hunt at the Friendship Garden on Sunday to find unique hidden objects.

Bring sun hats, water bottles, your well-supervised youngsters, and your sense of wonder! Several of the gardens will have adorable, irresistibly cute farm animals, including goats, chickens, sheep, friendly dogs, and cats, which we welcome you to see, but please do not feed or pet them. Come enjoy fun family time touring some of our lovely island’s gardens and experience our natural world.

Robin Latham, Children's Activities Coordinator

Upcoming Events

June 20: Decatur Island Garden Tour
June 27-28: Orcas Island Garden Club Tour
July 3: Wise Owl Wellness Farm Pop Up Event
July 4: Fourth of July Parade
July 8: Bookclub Meet Up: Close to Home
July 16: Thor Hanson Talk at the Market Garden Nursery
July 17: OIGC Annual Picnic (New this year in July!)
August 8: Library Fair and Book Sale

Join us for these and many other exciting events!

More details can be found on our new Club Calendar!

VIEW CLUB CALENDAR

Decatur Island Garden Tour

June 27-28

Orcas Garden Club Member, Sarah Jones, has invited OIGC members for a tour of six unique gardens on Decatur Island. Sarah is arranging transportation on Decatur for confirmed, visiting guests and her sister, Deb Exton, is contacting Island Express and can help make reservations for the $48 boat ride each way. Sarah and her garden on Decatur were featured in our April newsletter.

To learn more and join in the fun contact Sarah at sarahj@windermere.com

Wise Owl Wellness Farm Pop Up Event

July 3

Getting Ready for 4th of July Parade!

July 4

Ten creative hands, a mountain of bright tissue paper, and a whole lot of laughs!

Our crafty crew recently gathered to create giant, vibrant floral masterpieces to deck out our 4th of July parade float. The morning was a brilliant blur of experimentation and design, resulting in stunning oversized blooms and fabulous floral headpieces. We had so much fun bringing this vision to life, and the float is going to look spectacular. Thank you to Nancy Wrightsman, Cindy Woods, Kristi Fountain, Robin Sullivan, Laura Walker, Debra Nichols, Ginger Moore, Haven DePietro, Karen Johnston and Nancy Reas for giving your time and talents.

This Year's Eastsound Theme is: Among the Wildflowers. We would love for you to be a part of the fun! Join us and walk alongside our float in this year's parade. Please contact Cindy Woods if you are interested in signing up!

Parade Details!

Date: Saturday, July 4

Start Time: 12:15 PM

Line-Up: 10:30-11:00 AM

Line-Up Location: School Road and Madrona Street

OIGC Book Club - July Special Edition!

Wednesday, July 8, 1:30-3 PM

Orcas Island Public Library - Community Room

(Zoom link will be made available the week prior)

In honor of Thor Hanson’s upcoming visit to Orcas, please join us for a special edition of the OIGC Book Club, where we’ll be discussing his most recent book, “Close to Home”.

Thor talks about the importance of taking a pause to look around you as nature isn’t just ‘out there somewhere’ but can be found in your backyard, on your balcony, even in your potted plants. He also introduces us to the many varieties of ‘citizen science’ that we can all participate in. A truly inspiring read!

The book is available at the library and at Darvill’s. All are welcome!

If you have questions about the Book Club please reach out directly to Adrienne at adrienne.ewalker@yahoo.com

Special Guest Author Event with Thor Hanson

Thursday, July 16, 1-2 PM

The Market Garden Nursery

Library Fair and Book Sale

August 8, 10 AM - 3 PM

Orcas Island Public Library

Book Lovers!

This year, we are proud and excited to be supporting the Orcas Island Library’s 70th annual Library Fair and Book Sale! You can help too! Please drop any used books, puzzles and board games at the front desk of the library. We’ll be picking some of the garden and nature-themed books for a table the library will be hosting during the garden tour, as well as our OIGC table at the Book Fair! We look forward to seeing you all there!

If you have questions about the book sale or would like to volunteer, please reach out directly to Adrienne at adrienne.ewalker@yahoo.com

Inspired Members

As I sit here one week before our annual Garden Tour, I feel a bit like the lady in the circus spinning plates on sticks—running from one to the next, trying to keep them all balanced in the air. Organizing the Tour is always a complex undertaking, but this year one particular challenge reminded me just how fortunate we are to have such an incredible community behind us.

This year, Orcas Isle Cider and Goat & Co generously partnered with us to help boost our fundraising efforts. Through our online ticketing platform, we offered Garden Tour guests the opportunity to make an additional donation beyond the cost of their ticket. As a thank-you, donors would receive a cider from Orcas Isle Cider and a cheese box from Goat & Co, available for pickup on the day of the Garden Tour. After launching the promotion, we discovered that obtaining the necessary permit to serve hard cider would be far more complicated than expected. More than once, it appeared we might have to cancel the offering.

What followed was an extraordinary team effort. Laura Walker, Perri Gibbons, Tony Suruda, Allen Fienberg, Haven DePietro, Lisa Pederson, Ginger Moore, and City Councilmember Justin Paulsen all stepped in to help solve problems, make calls, navigate regulations, and advocate on the Club's behalf. Their willingness to jump into action at a moment's notice was both inspiring and humbling.

As I reflected on the number of people who became involved, I realized that this story is about much more than a permit. It is about a community of people who care deeply about one another and about the success of this organization. The Garden Tour is our only fundraiser of the year. Proceeds help fund educational programs, special Dig-In events, guest speakers, and grants to community organizations such as Kaleidoscope and Forest School. We are grateful to Orcas Isle Cider and Goat & Co for helping us expand our fundraising efforts and to everyone who worked behind the scenes to make it possible.

If the Garden Club's commitment to education, community, and stewardship resonates with you, I hope you’ll consider joining us in support. A donation can be made through our Givebutter campaign by visiting our website and clicking on “Ticket Sales”—a small click that helps keep a very big garden community growing. The generosity, dedication, and teamwork shown by so many people over the past few weeks have reminded me that no one in this Club is ever left spinning plates alone.

Robin Sullivan, OIGC Co-Lead Garden Tour & Co-President