To kick off a new year in the garden, I reached out to two of Jefferson County’s gardening mavens: Bridget Gregg, director of the WSU Extension Master Gardener Program, and Suzanne Eggleston, board chair of the nonprofit Master Gardener Foundation. 

Top priorities for Master Gardeners are community education and environmental stewardship. “Bringing research-based horticultural information to home gardeners is our mission,” Gregg said. “This year, we’ll also emphasize the role gardeners can play in our county’s water quality.”

Master Gardeners will receive advanced education and mentoring on rain garden assessments and improvements. “We’re excited to share ideas that promote healthy gardens, conserve water, and reduce harmful run-off into our waterways,” Gregg adds.

Local “Ask a Master Gardener” clinics, staffed by volunteer Master Gardeners, are expanding. Gardeners can visit in-person sessions at the Port Townsend Library from January to December on the first Tuesday of each month from 12–2 p.m. The Jefferson County Library clinic is offered in Port Hadlock from March to October on the second Saturday of each month from 1–3 p.m. Community members can submit questions online at any time by visiting https://extension.wsu.edu/jefferson/gardening-2022/plant-clinic/.

New this year are free “Garden Know-How” talks plus Q&A, offered half an hour before Jefferson County Library clinics. Gregg explains that “presentations by Master Gardeners will cover seasonally relevant topics, based on the types of questions we receive from the community.” 

Master Gardener volunteers will hop aboard the Quilcene Bookmobile this spring to offer pop-up clinics. The mobile Seed Library will also travel with the Bookmobile. The Seed Library, which offers free, locally developed seeds to gardeners, re-opens its permanent location at the Jefferson County Library in March. 

This month, Master Gardeners are fielding questions about fungal spots on foliage as well as plants that are blooming earlier than normal with warmer weather. This has been especially prevalent in plants like irises, jasmine, and red flowering currant.

“New growth and flowering is happening at the same time plant die-back typically occurs,” Gregg said. “Finding fungus on these plants during winter is part of the normal process of breaking down old plant matter.” 

To address these issues, remove diseased foliage with a clean, sharp tool to increase sunlight and air circulation. Dispose of affected foliage in the trash and sanitize cutting tools with alcohol or hydrogen peroxide before further use. If gardeners are concerned about early flowering, Gregg advises that it’s best to wait and see.

“If there is freezing weather ahead, you may lose some flowers,” she said. “Adding a thick layer of coarse organic mulch around plants, shrubs and trees will help promote consistent soil temperature and moisture.” 

The Master Gardener Foundation’s mission is to support Master Gardener educational and community outreach programs. It offers support in the form of funding for the Master Gardener Program, community grants, and scholarships for new Master Gardener and Growing Groceries training. Board Chair Suzanne Eggleston, who is also co-manager of the Swan Farm Food Bank Garden, says that the Foundation's priority for fundraising — and fun — is resuming the in-person Plant Sale on May 4 this year from 9 a.m.–2 p.m. 

“Since we didn’t have a plant sale last year, there is pent up energy in the Foundation!” Eggleston said. “It’s great to see Master Gardeners gathering for work parties, reconnecting, and catching up. This year, we’re thrilled to partner with the Food Bank Growers.” The volunteer Food Bank Growers — some are also Master Gardeners — manage 11 gardens and support four Jefferson County food banks in Brinnon, Port Hadlock, Port Townsend, and Quilcene. 

“They’ll produce a wide variety of garden veggie starts, while Master Gardeners will focus on young trees, shrubs, colorful annuals and perennials, including native plants and pollinator favorites,” Eggleston said. “Some Master Gardeners are passionate about growing tomatoes and peppers, so they’ll contribute those as well. All the plants will be grown from fresh local seed or propagated from our own gardens, and cared for by Master Gardeners.”

Both Gregg and Eggleston are excited about the year ahead, expanding programs, and getting people back together.

“Last year, we were trying to get back to normal and resume some programs that had been scaled back,” Gregg said. “We’re excited to grow our presence in the community.”

Eggleston agreed, adding that “the camaraderie and working together toward a common goal is the best part.” 

For more information on Master Gardener programs, including “Ask a Master Gardener” clinics, Seed Library, Speakers Bureau, and future classes, visit https://extension.wsu.edu/jefferson/gardening-2/.

For additional information about the Master Gardener Foundation, visit https://jcmgf.org/.

Barbara Faurot is a Jefferson County Master Gardener and Master Pruner, working with other volunteers who serve as community educators in gardening and environmental stewardship.