PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

Laura Walker

Hello and welcome to a new and exciting season for the Orcas Island Garden Club and with it comes our excellent first edition of our newsletter. You’ll find it jam packed with gardening tips, favorite recipes, personal stories, event highlights and more! We kicked September off with a very fun Dahlia Day member event at Stefanie Susol’s beautiful garden. It was a memorable and beautiful sunny day that generated lots of smiles and offered some good advice for growing these sometimes challenging flowers. Over the years, much like we have grown and nurtured our gardens, we have cultivated our friendships. It was delightful to observe many of those friendships reunite that day. We hope to keep this energy going by offering many other opportunities to learn and gather together.  

We are delighted to feature Eliza Habegger on Creative Rewilding with Native Plants as our monthly meeting topic this month. Did you know that native plants are those that grow naturally in a particular region, yet over the last two centuries more than 200 native plant species in the United States have disappeared? Learn how important these plants are to our ecosystems and surprising ways to incorporate them into your garden. As a humble gardener on a learning journey, I have recently developed a deeper appreciation for native plants, and I am looking forward to the program. Tune in to learn all about the value of these special plants.

My current favorite native plant you ask?? Absolutely, the Nodding Onion, renowned for the unique ‘bowing’ orientation of its flowers. Allium cernuum is in the lily family and it’s also commonly known as the lady’s leek. I adore the little pom of star-shaped blossoms in shades of light pink and pale lavender that bend from the stalk. These little flowers make a great addition to rock gardens, borders, and cottage gardens. Like all the Allium species, Nodding Onion has a pungent smell when crushed or bruised, making it generally deer resistant. The Nodding Onion is a forgotten flavor and featured in The Ark of Taste, a living catalog of delicious and distinctive foods facing extinction. I was very fortunate to receive my first cluster from Master Gardener, Julia Turney. Most recently, I’ve been shaking their dry little heads to collect tiny black seeds that will be planted next year to increase my collection!

Just like native plants, we gardeners are filled with resilience and adaptation as our gardens move through the seasons. Join me in supporting the purpose of our club to ‘stimulate knowledge and the love of gardening’ by developing your knowledge and sharing it with your fellow gardeners.  As my nodding onion friend, I bend my head in honor to be your president this year and hope you will reach out to me with ideas for future events and your involvement.  

Laura Walker

Your OIGC President

https://slowfoodusa.org/why-slow-food/

SEPTEMBER 20:

FIRST GARDEN CLUB PROGRAM OF THE SEASON

Orcas Island Garden Club presents . . .

ELIZA HABEGGER

Creative Rewilding with Native Plants

Wednesday, Sept. 20 at 10:00 am

Madrona Room at Orcas Center or via ZOOM

Please join the Orcas Island Garden Club on Wednesday, September 20, 2023 when we welcome Eliza Habegger to present Creative Rewilding with Native Plants. 

Eliza Habegger will be talking about the creative use of native plants in home gardens. Learn about converting lawn to wildflower habitat, growing natives on a green/living roof, and using native pollinator plants in the vegetable garden. 

Eliza Habegger holds a B.A. in Biology/Botany from Cornell University. She joined the San Juan County Conservation Land Bank in 2003. She was previously employed by The Nature Conservancy and the New York Botanical Garden. Her current responsibilities as Land Steward include ecological assessment, monitoring, and restoration on Land Bank Preserves, and managing the Salish Seeds Project native plant nursery. Salish Seeds is a joint project of the Land Bank and San Juan Preservation Trust. With family roots on Waldron Island, Eliza lives with her husband and son on San Juan Island, where she tends an ever-expanding garden and orchard, messes around with art, and builds sheds.

The presentation begins at 10 am at the Orcas Center and will be followed by social time. The presentation will also be available via Zoom. For a link to the live zoom presentation go to the Orcas Island Garden Club website and click the link below the list of presentations. The presentation will be recorded and should be available on the Garden Club website approximately one week following the presentation. To watch the recorded presentation, go to the tab ‘Recorded Presentations’ under Resources on the club website.

For more about the Salish Seeds Project and Eliza’s role go to: https://sjclandbank.org/the-salish-seeds-project-bringing-back-island-wildflowers/

SOCIAL HOUR RETURNS TO OUR MEETINGS -- AT LAST!

We've heard from many members about how much they've missed the coffee and goodies and socializing following Garden Club meetings, and we're excited to announce that with the September meeting the Hospitality Time will return.

With everyone's safety in mind, the Board has been cautious about bringing back this part of our socializing, and our decisions have been -- and will continue to be -- guided by County Health recommendations.

We recognize that not everyone will feel comfortable participating yet, but for those who are ready, we'll have hot beverages and goodies following the meeting on September 20th. PLEASE JOIN US!!!!

MEMBERSHIP DRIVE -- IT'S TIME TO RENEW OR JOIN

Our annual membership drive is in full swing. Thanks to those of you who have already renewed or recently joined. Your support makes it possible for the Garden Club to continue offering great speaker programs, the annual Garden Tour, monthly newsletters, and special member events.

If you haven't joined or renewed yet, there's still time!

Names of new and renewing members are automatically added to the raffle list each month. Members are also eligible to attend special Member Events throughout the year. So if you haven't already done so, send in your renewal soon to get in on the fun!!!

SEPTEMBER RAFFLE WINNER

THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT

We are grateful for the support from local businesses.



Books for our monthly raffle prizes and plants for door prizes at our meetings are generously donated to the Garden Club by Darvill's Bookstore and Lorna's Driftwood Nursery.

UPCOMING EVENTS

September 20: Master Gardeners host final Q&A at Driftwood Nursery for this season

September 20th from 11:00-1:00 will be one of the WSU Master Gardeners' final Question and Answer Tables at Lorna’s Driftwood Nursery in Eastsound this season. 

If you have plant problems or an insect of interest, please bring the sample or bug in a ziplock bag accompanied by the form you can print, found at https://extension.wsu.edu/sanjuan/master-gardeners

If you are unable to come, the alternate drop off location is the Front Desk at the Orcas Library.

Farm Tours of the San Juans: Celebrating Farms, Food and Community

(https://www.farmtourssanjuans.com/)

Sept. 22 - 24: San Juan Island

Sept. 29 - Oct. 1: Orcas Island

Oct. 6 - 8: Lopez Island

Volunteers are still needed to help with the Orcas Farm Tours on Sept. 30 and Oct. 1 in exchange for a complimentary ticket to the Hoedown at Slanted Apple Farm on the evening of Sept. 30. If interested, email Kelsey Hamilton at kelsey@girlmeetsdirt.com or text Kelsey at 425-879-4773.

Sept. 30 : Pick up Native Wildflower plants ordered from Salish Seeds Project

Plant pickup: Be sure to bring payment in the form of check payable to the SJC Land Bank or exact change. Plants must be picked up on Saturday, September 30 between 11am – 12 pm. The Land Bank does not have space to hold plants.

Pick up locations listed below:

San Juan Island, Salish Seeds Project nursery at Red Mill Farm, 290 Valley Farms Road

Lopez Island, Sunset Builder’s Supply, 4194 Center Road

Orcas Island, Coffelt Farm, 1071 Crow Valley Road

Shaw Island, Graham Preserve

Waldron Island, Alden and Alana’s Place

If you have a question or need help, contact Tanja Williamson at 360-378-4402 or email tanjaw@sjclandbank.org.

Sept. 30 -- Great Islands Clean-up -- 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Join your Orcas Island community as we get together on Saturday, September 30th for the Great Islands Clean-up! Bags, grabbers and vests will be available for pick-up at The Exchange starting Monday, September 26th or meet at the Village Green at 10am the day of the event. Garbage collected from roads and beaches can be dropped off at the Village Green by 2pm the day of the event.

INFORMATION: https://exchangeorcas.org/great-islands-clean-up-fall-2023/

Contact pete@exchangeorcas.org or 360-376-4089 for more Orcas event details.

San Juan County Annual Gardening Workshop Series :: Oct. 17 thru 26

Registration deadline: October 11

Join the San Juan County WSU Master Gardeners for eight workshops on a variety of interesting gardening topics. The workshops run October 17 through October 26, 2023. Our key note speaker is Dr. Doug Tallamy whose presentation is Nature’s Best Hope. READ MORE

The series will be via webinar and recordings will be available to all registrants.  

Master Gardener Training 2024

Are you a gardener in San Juan County? Do you enjoy learning and sharing your knowledge with others? Have you just moved to the islands and want to get involved in the community and learn about gardening in our unique ecosystem? The WSU Extension San Juan County Master Gardener Volunteer program may be just what you are looking for!



November 30: Deadline for Applications

January 23: Classes begin

OCTOBER GARDEN CLUB PROGRAM -- October 18

The crevice gardens at Far Reaches Botanical Conservancy

Please mark your calendars and join us on Wednesday, October 18, 2023, at 10:00 a.m., when we welcome Sue Milliken and Kelly Dodson to present The Crevice Garden and Plant Conservation at Far Reaches Botanical Conservancy. Sue and Kelly will be presenting remotely from Port Townsend. 

Sue and Kelly will speak about their crevice garden, which Paul Spriggs helped build, and speak to various plants, cultural needs, and availability as well as seeing what some of these plants look like in their native habitat. 

For more about Kelly and Sue and the Far Reaches Botanical Conservancy go to: https://farreachesbotanicalconservancy.org/

GETTING TO KNOW YOU: VALA ROSS, COMMUNICATIONS CHAIR

Born and raised on Orcas, Vala was an independent island kid who developed a love for gardening at an early age. She recalled visiting a friend’s home garden. Her friend’s mother, Jenny Pederson, who you probably recognize as the owner of Darvill’s, had a magical garden. She remembered being amazed at how she could turn a columbine flower into a fairy. Vala was so inspired by Jenny’s passion and energy that the memory of the experience she recalls to this day. She also had the opportunity during her high school years to participate in the FEAST program, which stands for Food, Education and Sustainability for Teens. This hands-on food, farm and community involvement program was her first introduction to growing food.  

At present, she and her husband, Tyrus, are the proud owners of the Walker Family Farm. You know the spot! Just look for the little blue refrigerator sitting just outside their fence filled with eggs on Crow Valley road. She laughed and explained that she’s raising lots of things on the farm. Chickens, flowers, vegetables and oh yes, children. She is a rockstar mom with five boys, the oldest attending college and her youngest a preschooler, William, who is a "ton of fun."

Walking through her garden, paths playfully entice you and lead you every which way to special little hideaways. She considers herself a steward of her property by repurposing left over building supplies to transform the materials into useful things in her garden such as garden beds, tables and even her greenhouse.  

"September is dressing herself in showy dahlias

and splendid marigolds and starry zinnias."



-Oliver Wendell Holmes

MEMBERS EVENT ~ DAHLIA DAY at STEFANIE SUSOL'S GARDEN

Dazzling, Divine, Delicious Dahlias!



by Nancy Reas

September 2

I am hooked! Dahlias are my new favorite summer flower! I and almost forty other Garden Club members wandered through the dahlia beds at Stefanie Sosul’s garden today for a special Garden Club members-only event.

We saw old friends and met new ones as we reveled amid hundreds of perfect, geometrically shaped blossoms in almost every color, except for one wild and crazy white stand-out. Singles and doubles, 3 feet short to 10 feet tall. All labeled. The bees smothered their cute little rumps in orange pollen, then flew off for more. I will dream tonight of standing in a field surrounded by delicious dahlias, which are edible, by the way, and make a tossed salad sparkle.

This was my first year growing dahlias, and I’ve wondered if I really need to dig up my eight plants for the winter. Stefanie does, so I have my answer.

See you at the next event. You won’t be disappointed!

Raffle Winner:

David Turnoy

Raffle Bouquet

won by Jan Jacobson

Raffle Bouquet won by Karen Hiller

NATIVE PLANT SPOTLIGHT

Achillea millefolium

Common Names: Yarrow, Milfoil, Common Yarrow, Bloodwort, Carpenter's Weed, Devil's Nettle, Gordaldo, Hierba De Las Cortaduras, Nosebleed Plant, Old Man's Pepper, Plumajillo, Sanguinary, Soldier's Woundwort, Thousand-leaf, Thousand-seal

This plant grows from Alaska to California, including British Columbia and on both sides of the Cascades crest and at the coast of Washington. Achillea grows 4 to 29 inches in height with numerous, small and flat-topped white flowers.  

SOURCE: https://www.wnps.org/native-plant-directory/6:achillea-millefolium

REFLECTIONS & RECIPES

by Helen Huber

I’m going to try and be gracious here because my relationship with zucchini has evolved since childhood. And it’s a good thing too because zucchini was one of the two "vegetables” Mom served frequently that was sure to disappoint.

Technically, it was the only fresh vegetable she ruined, but canned peas and their healthy “juice” (read: salty canning fluid) were also on weekly rotation. The zucchinis looked innocent enough, waiting on the counter. But there was always an unfortunate transformative zucchini experience. Thinly sliced zucchini would endlessly simmer. Stewed tomatoes and all their unknowable bits would be stirred into the almost colorless zucchini, a vegetable that is 94% water and 100 % taste and texture-free.

Taking note, I steadfastly avoided zucchini for decades. Now, as I become older and wiser, I’ve found a place in my heart and cooking repertoire for zucchini, which I grow with abandon and use almost daily in the summer, when the plants are full and new recipes become favorites. Perhaps you’ll find yourself in the same abundant zucchini boat.

Regardless of whether you grow it yourself or buy it from local, organic farmers, I hope you have a transformative zucchini experience or two.

“And then the sun took a step back,

the leaves lulled themselves to sleep,

and autumn awakened."

-Raquel Franco

BLACKBERRY EATING

by Galway Kinnell

I love to go out in late September

among the fat, overripe, icy, black blackberries

to eat blackberries for breakfast,

the stalks very prickly, a penalty

they earn for knowing the black art

of blackberry-making; and as I stand among them

lifting the stalks to my mouth, the ripest berries

fall almost unbidden to my tongue,

as words sometimes do, certain peculiar words

like strengths or squinched,

many-lettered, one-syllabled lumps,

which I squeeze, squinch open, and splurge well

in the silent, startled, icy, black language

of blackberry -- eating in late September.

TOP BENEFITS OF USING NATIVE PLANTS

by Laura Walker

PRESERVES THE BIODIVERSITY – Offering variety and preserving biodiversity allows the organisms within an ecosystem to depend on each other for survival. Native plants play a crucial role in providing food and shelter for insects and wildlife.

SAVES MONEY & WATER – Native plants, once established, generally require less water than their non-native companions because they have adapted to typical rain fall. They also develop deeper root systems that allow them to dive deeper for water and store it for longer periods.

FILTERS POLLUTANTS – Having adapted to their ecosystem’s soil, native plants can survive off the available nutrients without the help of fertilizer. They have naturally developed defenses against local insects and diseases making the use of pesticides less necessary. The resulting benefit is less polluted stormwater runoff to waterways. Many also store greenhouse gases. As the water seeps into the ground, the native plant’s deep roots help filter the pollutants from the water.

OFFERS HEALTHY & ROBUST PLANTS WITH LOW MAINTENANCE – Native plant sanctuaries or meadows require less intervention to thrive. Since they are adaptive to local climate and seasonal conditions, they are more likely to survive inclement weather.

CONTROLS EROSION & RESTORES HABITATS – The deep root systems of native plants help to stabilize and anchor the soil. Planting native plants enhances the natural habitat that so much of our local wildlife rely upon for fruit, nectar, seeds, and shelter.

BEAUTIFIES – Many native plants have showy flowers that display textures, heights, colors, and scents. They offer brilliant seasonal changes adding a pleasing aesthetic element to your yard.

Source: https://www.audubon.org/content/why-native-plants-matter

FOR YOUR READING PLEASURE

Reviewed by Perri Gibbons

A Buzz in the Meadow

By Dave Goulson

I read and loved Goulson’s previous book, A Sting in the Tale. We share a fondness for those bumbling bumblebees. In this book, Goulson continues the story of turning a derelict farm he buys in rural France into a wildlife haven. He creates a place for bees to thrive, yes, but ultimately it encompasses so much more.

Goulson does an amazing job of advocating for all animal and insect life showing the importance of interconnectedness in the environment. I enjoyed the spotlight on various species and appreciated how he made science and biology easily understood and accessible. Lastly, although statistics and environmental degradation are even worse than when this book was published, Goulson has an infectious optimism. The book has inspired me to take a closer look at my small property and to do my part in making it more wildlife-friendly. I bet it will do the same for you.

Available at the Orcas Library and Darvill’s Bookstore

PROJECT UPDATE :

THE LITTLE FARM ON OLGA ROAD across from Inn at Ship Bay

Carol Wetzel & Allan Tone

Dear Reader,

You may be wondering - what is going on with the property across from the Inn at Ship Bay. A few ideas have trickled in, such as, “She’s planting one of everything! And “pot” or, “the glass building is a new restaurant.” 

An avid gardener for 30+ years, I never plant one of anything - as evidenced by the 40 hydrangeas, 12 ninebarks, 200 native perennials, 75 roses, 200 iris, 150 peony, 400 lilies, 150 day lilies, 40 orchard trees, 125 grapes, 40 berries and 0 pot plants plugged into an acre in less than a year.  

After a year of toil, and, this is subject to change, here’s our big idea for The Little Farm on Olga Road, which is directly across the street from the Inn at Ship Bay, but not their new restaurant.

When Allan and I moved to Orcas Island two years ago, we had no intention of developing a farm. We did want to do something with our fallow hay field furiously growing tansy weed in severely depleted soil. Initially we wanted to create a habitat for native bees and birds. 

Then we met Alex Wolf, who designed and manages the Orcas Christian School’s permaculture garden.  Alex and Emmet Wood, a Master Gardener, and both trained at the world-renowned Bullock’s permaculture farm, opened our eyes to a world of possibilities. Over several months, they carefully crafted a plan for our farm; a permaculture vision we never could have imagined on our own. 

Then I took Floret’s online course for aspiring cut flower growers, and things shifted towards growing flowers too. 

One year in, we have absolutely accomplished the goal of creating space for native bees. Our place is positively teaming with birds, bees, and hummingbirds. As we ramp up, we have been able to provide free flowers to our neighbors, the Chamber Music Festival, and the Food Bank.

MESSAGE FROM THE NOXIOUS WEED PROGRAM

The Noxious Weed folks are asking us to be on the lookout for Palmer amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri), an annual native to the southwestern U.S. For the first time, two positive identifications of this plant have been made recently in Washington state.

Please contact Jason Ontjes, our local Noxious Weed Program Coordinator, if you spot anything that you believe might be Palmer amaranth. His email is: jasono@sanjuanco.com.

For more info:

https://www.mda.state.mn.us/plants/pestmanagement/weedcontrol/noxiouslist/palmeramaranth

https://www.aphis.usda.gov/plant_health/plant_pest_info/weeds/downloads/wra/amaranthus-palmeri.pdf

"I trust in Nature for the stable laws of beauty and utility. 

Spring shall plant and Autumn garner to the ends of time."



Robert Browning

MEET THE NEWSLETTER TEAM

PERRI GIBBONS: I’ve long had a passion for roses, but when I moved here, my rose devotion took a back seat while I learned to grow fruits and vegetables in the PNW. How, then, have so many roses popped up all over my property? This one, Bella’roma, was a Mother’s Day gift from my daughter. It’s the only rose shrugging off this brutal late summer wind and sun to gift me with these lovely blooms. It may not be the most disease resistant rose I own, but the fragrance makes me swoon every time I walk near her. And, as you can see, not too thorny.

Of all Flowres, methinks a Rose is best.

-William Shakespeare, The Two Noble Kinsmen

Methinks too, Bill!

~ Perri

HELEN HUBER: They were small but there were lots of them. If I only could have stood under, by, around the tree and bathed myself in the sweet smell of ripe peaches I would have been happy. But I actually got to them before the raccoons and made a batch of dried peaches and both peach chipotle jam and double ginger peach jam. It’s just peachy!

LAURA WALKER: I love to watch the transformation of a peony from bud to blossom. Honestly, I have a tough time cutting my flowers so I just enjoy them while they are blooming and providing for my garden wildlife. At first, I was alarmed after observing ants crawling all over my peony flowers. Then I learned that the ants and the flowers share a mutual relationship. Peony flowers provide nectar for the ants and in turn, the ants protect the blossoms from other harmful insects. How cool is that?!

NANCY REAS: The main reason I grow scarlet runner beans is because I love the red flowers. I let the beans grow fairly large because they like to hide in the vines, and I don't find them until they're gigantic. But I just cut them up, douse them with olive oil, salt, and pepper, and roast them at 400 degrees for 15 to 25 minutes. If you want to get fancy, you can add garlic or capers or lemon juice. 

NITA COUCHMAN: This summer my cucumber plants were prolific. I love the gorgeous delicate curlicue spirals they send out, the happy yellow blossoms, and the satisfaction of discovering that yesterday's 3-inch fruit is now almost 4 inches! And then, to top it off, that magical juicy crisp crunch as I bite into something that grew in my very own garden!

CINDY BURMAN-WOODS: Long term I plan on raised garden beds. In the short term I’m using Veratek metal planters on my deck and my plants are thriving; even a huge heirloom tomato plant that was mislabeled “cherry”. Autumn is fast approaching and it’s beginning to look like fried green tomatoes on the plate.

GO AHEAD AND SMILE . . .

MEMBERSHIP UPDATE

2023-2024 Membership to date : 80

BOARD MEMBERS 2023-2024