The Island Gardener – September 2026

Welcome to a brand new season with the garden club! Once again, we are mixing things up! The newsletter will have some familiar favorite series coming back and many new exciting columns we can’t wait to share with you. In our ‘Leadership Smoothie’ column you’ll hear not only from the presidents but also other leaders within the club. They’ll share their personal stories, values, perspectives or updates. We don’t know what to expect but like a smoothie, these messages will be a delicious concoction of random ingredients that surprisingly work together. We hope you find these Smoothies to be satisfying, healthy and rejuvenating. We hope to be that positive element that boosts your mood! Are you ready? Grab your favorite morning beverage and settle in for some delightful reading!

A Message from Co-President Robin Sullivan

Chapter 68

Once upon a time, on a magical little island far, far north, and west, a group of gardeners decided to start a story. . .And somehow, sixty-eight years later (give or take a little), we’re still writing it.

There have been memorable characters, unexpected adventures, a few plot twists, some cliffhangers, and, thankfully, lots of happy endings. Along the way there have been gardens and flowers, new ideas, old friendships, plenty of laughter, and more than likely a few secrets that got tucked away between the pages.

And now, it’s time for us to write another chapter.

One of the things I love about a long-running story is that some of the characters keep coming back. We know each other, we’ve shared a few chapters, and we’ve watched friendships grow. Then, every year, new faces join the story, bringing new ideas, new energy, and new friendships.

I’ve gotten a little sneak peek at what’s coming, and I have to say, some of our characters have been busy behind the scenes. They’ve been making plans, dreaming up ideas, finding interesting people to bring into our story, and doing plenty to make this year special. I’m so grateful to everyone who has helped make it happen. We’ll meet gardeners, artists, naturalists, experts, and other fascinating people who will introduce us to new ideas and perhaps make us see our own little corner of Orcas a bit differently.

And then there are the things we can’t plan—the short conversation that turns into an hour or two, the unexpected laughs, the new friendships, or the little discovery that becomes a favorite memory. Our first chapter opens this fall with a journey into the fascinating world of fungi.

So come join us. Bring your curiosity, your stories, and your love of gardens. After all these chapters, there’s still plenty of story left to tell.

Welcome to Chapter 68. Let’s see where this story takes us!

Robin beaming front & center in her fancy pink hat getting set for the parade walk.