Our hope is our guests take in the creativity and ingenuity of these unique places to spark new ideas for their own garden. Each owner has a personal journey of challenges and successes. Be sure and look for the owner and ask, “What would you like me to learn and take home from my visit?” They’ve all thought about this and are eager to share.

This year we’ve used Give Butter, a new ticket processing system which allows ticket purchasers an easy way to donate to our cause. To date we’ve received $405 in donations above ticket sales. These generous donations will make such a huge difference in the education we provide to our community. So, thank you to those kind folks out there!

We are a nonprofit and literally all the money received from ticket sales and donation goes back to our greater community of gardening friends on Orcas and beyond. This will help cover the cost of our newsletter and website platforms, the Orcas Center meeting space costs, community outreach projects such as Project Daffodil, monthly program speakers, member events, and grants to community organizations. Thanks for your help in making a difference! If you see me out and about during your visit, please say hi!  

Laura

Annual Orcas Island Garden Club 2025 Garden Tour

Saturday, June 28th and Sunday, June 29th

The Orcas Island Garden Club’s annual Garden Tour will be held Saturday, June 28h and Sunday, June 29th from 11 am to 5 pm each day.

We will be showcasing five gardens that we hope will represent the true Orcas Island Experience. Wander through apple orchards and walk on sensory trails. Learn from dedicated friends and neighbors how to manage vegetable gardens on an island with varied multi climates. Meet the friendly sheep and learn how they can help your garden weather the winter. And of course, stop and marvel at the explosion of colorful flowers that bloom on our beautiful island.

I’ve driven by this property for a long time wondering what was growing there. My curiosity has been replaced with delight to discover this is a burgeoning apple orchard with the goal to produce delicious apple cider. Newly planted pears have what has to be the best name ever… Perry pear! OK, I may be a bit biased.

This little garden supervisor dog was insulted when I mistook her for an apple. Sorry Fie!

The rumors are true! There will be free cider tasting paired with delicious cheese.

It felt magical driving up to this property with the fog rolling in. Barefoot walking is a fairly new concept for me, although I certainly did a lot as a kid. I was reminded of our speaker last year, the author of Rooted, who devoted a chapter to the benefits and experience of connecting to the Earth. Here will be the opportunity for Earthing, Forest Bathing and a labyrinth. I felt more grounded and connected just visiting.

This visit will be for the young and young at heart! Don’t miss the grass maze!

This sign made me laugh and is perhaps an emblem of the farm’s joie de vivre approach to gardening. The community garden was coming out of dormancy when we visited, so it’s exciting to think about meeting volunteer participants and learning cool skills such as bean pole building.

The rustic outdoor kitchen is where the magic happens with the community of gardeners gathering to sample their harvest. I can just imagine the healthy, nourishing… wait! I won’t have to imagine! There will be soup on hand for sampling.

The locally crafted Zack Lech gates open to a world of history. The eighteen years I’ve lived and cultivated a new garden on Orcas have been a huge learning curve for me. So, it’s encouraging to discover an established homestead which has evolved with time, but today still provides beauty and bounty to the community.  I bought some tomatoes from Orcas Farm at the Saturday Market, and now want to see where they grow.

Be Prepared for Your Garden Visit

Here are a few reminders to help you prepare for a successful visit to the Garden Tour!

Our tour this year is unique to tours in the past and you’ll find many include a calm and immersive feel. Whether it’s your entire garden or just a small, dedicated space, creating a serene garden involves incorporating specific elements and design principles that cultivate a peaceful and calming atmosphere, providing a positive impact on your well-being. It can give an increased connection with nature and engage our nurturing instincts by caring for plants and give us a chance to have a positive impact on others who visit our gardens.

I thoroughly enjoy the gardening publications that come out of the UK. I think the British are very forward thinking about their gardening practices, designs and methods. I recently read “How to Create a Calm and Relaxing Garden”. I found it profoundly inspiring and aligns so well with our tour so I’m sharing in the hopes you’ll find it interesting too!

• Mindful Design: Intentionally planning the layout with winding pathways and secluded corners creates a sense of exploration and allows for quiet reflection.
• Sensory Engagement: A serene garden should stimulate the senses in a gentle and harmonious way:
• Sight: Incorporating a variety of lush greenery and plants with different colors and textures, particularly soothing greens, blues, and pastels, creates a visually appealing and tranquil environment.
• Sound: The presence of water features like fountains or ponds, the gentle rustling of leaves and grasses in the breeze, and the sounds of birdsong contribute to a calming soundscape.
• Touch: Including plants with varied textures, like fuzzy Lamb’s ear or smooth succulents, invites tactile exploration and adds another layer of sensory engagement.
• Smell: Fragrant plants such as lavender, roses, or aromatic herbs can create a soothing atmosphere.
• Natural Elements: Integrating natural elements like water, rocks, and native plants enhances the tranquil ambiance and attracts wildlife. 
• Seating Areas: Strategically placed benches or seating arrangements encourage relaxation and contemplation, allowing for extended enjoyment of the serene space.
• Minimalist Design: A minimalist approach with clean lines and uncluttered spaces promotes openness and tranquility.

By thoughtfully incorporating these elements, a serene garden can become a personal sanctuary that offers a refuge from the stresses of modern life, fostering relaxation, rejuvenation, and an overall sense of peace.

Source

Thank you to everyone who was able to attend this year’s Garden Club Members Only Picnic! Information, laughter, food, and memories were shared amongst guests and we hope you had as much fun as we did! Nearly 40 folks attended our annual garden club picnic which was decorated in a woodland theme. We enjoyed a special educational presentation from Christian Oldham from KWIAHT about the elusive sharp-tailed snake that may be living in our Orcas gardens devouring slugs by night! 

Laura announced the new and continuing board members and then by doing a bit of research and delving into some interesting history and symbolic meaning of plants. She correlated plant characteristic with individual’s attributes and selected a plant for each person she honored. Longtime members took home a Bee’s Friend plant, and everyone went home with a Lupine flower. Native plants were raffled off as well. 

Please click the button below to view all the pictures from the event.

And a heartfelt thank you to member Judy Winer for helping us yet again secure our favorite venue ~ the Orcas Island Yacht Club picnic area with beautiful views of the water.

Until next year!