WORKSHOP OVERVIEW
The 2025 workshop will be held two weeks later than in past years on March 15, 2025 at Oak Harbor High School. This puts the workshop closer to the symbolic first day of spring when many of us are excited for longer days, warmer weather, and that flush of new growth in our gardens. We hope the later date will stir your excitement for getting out in your garden and putting all the information you learn at the workshop to the test.
If you attended the 2024 workshop, you will recognize the structure of WGW25. Again, we will offer 40 classes, demonstrations, Make-n-Take classes, a plant clinic, and our ever-popular Marketplace where you can browse vendors’ booths for gardening tools, books, and décor, and have a cup of coffee and a snack at the 4-H booth.
Our theme this year is “Focusing on our Priorities”. What are our priorities, you ask? Well, the Washington State Master Gardener Foundation has developed a set of nine priorities aimed at addressing environmental and horticulturally based challenges. The priorities are: climate change, clean water, water conservation, soil health, pollinators, local food, plant biodiversity, nearby nature, and wildfire preparedness. Learn more here: (Priorities | Master Gardener Program | Washington State University) or click on the priorities below for more information.
Many of the offered classes will support learning about these priorities and what we as gardeners can do to help meet the challenges. Look for the priority(ies) the class supports in the class descriptions on the website.
Click each priority for more information.
Our keynote speakers this year are Kelly Dodson and Sue Milliken from Far Reaches Farm. Several years ago, they started Far Reaches Botanical Conservancy whose mission is to facilitate the acquisition and introduction of threatened and vulnerable ornamental plants. The plants they collect will be maintained as a living reference collection for public education and scientific purposes with the goal of conservation through cultivation via distribution to botanic and public gardens, botanists and researchers plus professional and amateur gardeners and horticulturists.
To put additional focus on the Master Gardener priorities, two series of classes have been developed. The first is on climate change with the opening class providing up-to-date information (developed by the State Master Gardener Program) on climate change and its impacts. Other classes in the series will tackle fire-wise landscaping, designing a climate smart garden, and the effects climate change has on biodiversity.
The second series is about native landscapes. This series will take us beyond most of our planned gardens but will contain information that can be pulled back into our garden designs, or provide information meant to heighten our appreciation of the natural ecosystems. You can take all or just one of the classes in each series; You will not have to register for all (unless you want to!).
Of course, we will also offer other classes on garden basics, garden maintenance, garden design, ornamental plants, and fruits and vegetables. Another new feature this year are three 75-minute classes. Sometimes there is just too much information for the regular 60-minute class. Look for these and all classes in the course descriptions coming soon.
WGW25 is developing into another fun, informative, and exciting workshop that you will not want to miss!
And the “Make-n-Take” Classes!
Again this year, the Whidbey Gardening Workshop offers the much appreciated hands-on classes during which each student creates something to bring home and enjoy in their own gardens. For a small additional fee, you’ll make it and take it home. These sessions may fill up fast, so complete your registration early!
