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October 2025

Happenings

Rose Garden is Freshly Barked

(All photos by Gary Ritchie, except for group portrait, taken by Karen Johnson)

Our faithful volunteers just refreshed the Centennial Rose Garden with new bark across the rose beds—and the garden looks so happy! If you love that fresh-bark scent (who doesn’t?), stop by soon to enjoy the last flush of blooms before we put the roses to bed for winter. Cut-down begins October 1 and continues through the month.

Prep weeding was done by Paula Nelson. Lead rose volunteer Gary Ritchie arranged delivery of 15 yards of medium nugget bark from Walrath Landscape Supply. Jose Guzman, the Olympia Tumwater Foundation maintenance lead, expertly guided the dump truck down our narrow drive, where the load was tipped onto a tarp for easy clean-up.

Volunteers Gary Ritchie, Doreen Milward, Dorothy Taylor, Midge Price, Bill Hansen, and Pat Ream shoveled the bark into wheelbarrows and spread it around the roses. Any leftover will freshen shrub beds elsewhere on the Schmidt House grounds.

Many thanks to everyone who pitched in—this bark will last for several years.

Next up: filling a few open spots with new rose bushes. We’ll place the order this winter and plant in February.

Want to help the rose garden thrive—by donating or by learning hands-on rose care? Contact Karen Johnson at 360-890-2299 or karen@olytumfoundation.org

Calling All Preschool and K-3 Grade Teachers!

The Olympia Tumwater Foundation’s Early Learning Grant Program is now open for the 2025–26 school year! We encourage all preschool and K–3 teachers to apply and to share this opportunity with colleagues.

Applications and full program details are available at www.olytumfoundation.org

under Scholarships and Grants. The deadline to apply is October 20, 2025, and submissions may be sent electronically or by mail.

Schmidt House History Talks Return October 2

After our summer hiatus, monthly History Talks are back, beginning in October. Join us each month for a free hour-long talk on social or natural history, each presented by a recognized expert. All talks will be at noon on the first Thursday of the month. Doors open at 11:30. First-come, first-seated until we reach capacity.

October 2: New Land: Southeast Asian Refugees Finding Home in Washington

Ed Echtle, oral historian for Legacy Washington, will talk about his recent book New Land, which he co-authored with John Hughes. The book is a collection of conversations with Vietnamese, Lao, and Cambodian refugees who resettled in Washington after Governor Dan Evans opened Washington’s door, giving the refugees a new land and a new home. Join us to hear these inspiring stories.

Where: Schmidt House, 330 Schmidt Place SW, Tumwater

When: Noon, Thursday, October 2, 2025

Cost: Free! Donations are gratefully accepted.

Doors open at 11:30.

For more information, contact Karen Johnson at 360-890-2299 or karen@olytumfoundation.org.