Master Gardners host gardening workshop for peninsula newcomers

Seeking to help gardening green thumbs who are new to the Olympic Peninsula, Master Gardeners Larry Roth and Margery Whites lead a workshop on Saturday, Sept. 23, at the Master Gardener’s Woodcock Demonstration Garden.

Set for 9 a.m.-noon at Woodcock Road in Sequim, the workshop addresses gardening and landscaping challenges in the unique climate of the Pacific Northwest. Roth and Whites will divide the workshop into four sections, each beginning with a lecture and followed by small group discussions with veteran Master Gardeners.

The event is free but registration is required by Thursday, Sept. 21. Call the WSU Extension Office at 360-565-2679 to reserve a seat; space is limited.

Roth and Whites will first discuss how to choose appropriate plants for a homeowner’s property based on their specific microclimate. They will then review basic landscape planning that will help homeowners grow and maintain a sustainable garden.

In the third section of the workshop, Roth and Whites will help attendees develop problem-solving techniques for specific challenges that may occur during our wet winters and dry summer months.

Finally, the pair will offer tools to find appropriate information and resources for additional gardening information.

Roth and Whites are both retired professors from St. Cloud State University in Minnesota. They moved to the area two years ago and experienced many challenges while trying to garden in this unique climate.

This workshop is part of The Saturdays in the Garden lecture series sponsored by the Clallam County Master Gardeners.