Be sure to fill out online diagnostic form

— by Kate Yturri for Orcas Master Gardeners —

The Orcas Master Gardeners will be at Driftwood Nursery this Wednesday May 11 from 11 am-1pm. We will be at the Orcas Saturday Market on May 14 from 10am-1pm. Please bring your plant questions! We are happy to help!

We are celebrating the month of May! Governor Inslee has signed a proclamation making the week of May 23 Master Gardener Week! San Juan County has 58 Master Gardener volunteers that put in 3675+ hours in 2015.

We have started our plant problem diagnostic clinic. The clinic meets twice monthly on the first and third Thursday, April through September and supports the Master Gardener Farmers Market booths on Orcas and San Juan Islands and Lopez Island table at Sunset Builders Supply. We encourage county residents and visitors to submit plants with poor vigor, signs of disease or insect damage. We also identify plants and insects of concern or interest.

The recommended method of submitting plants is to collect them as close as possible to the Saturday Farmers Market or Driftwood booth dates. The plant sample should include leaves, stems, flowers and fruit if possible. The more diseased plant sample we receive the greater the chance we can make an accurate diagnosis. In order to preserve the sample, place it in a Ziploc bag with a slightly damp paper towel and refrigerate it.

It is very important that you complete the plant submission form found online at
https://sanjuan.wsu.edu or at your island Master Gardener booth. Please call Connie Donemnech at the Extension office ph: 360.370.7663 | https://sanjuan.wsu.edu with questions.

We look forward to assisting you! Happy Gardening!