By Victoria Smith
We’ve had some unseasonably warm days and a serious lack of rain and snow this winter, making us wonder if we’ll have an early spring. My daffodils started setting buds the first week in January, while my dahlias were finally killed by our first hard frost on January 21.
The December flooding in Whatcom and Skagit Counties was a reminder that our climate is changing in unpredictable ways: our winters are warmer and we get rain instead of snow. The Washington State Department of Ecology reminds us on their website that “we need to be better prepared to deal with both winter floods and summer drought – and that includes improving our ability to capture more of the precipitation we get, whether it comes as rain, sleet or snow.”
As we plan this year’s gardens, we need to be mindful of our water usage, and consider which plants are best suited to our changing local climate. I have a lot of experience with waterwise gardening, so this month I’d like to reintroduce myself to the Point Roberts community and to our new owner/publisher at the All Point Bulletin.
I’m a California native who grew up across the bay from San Francisco. I began my gardening journey pulling weeds with my grandmother, and I was rewarded with a small garden patch of my own when I was five. I proudly shared my radishes and pansies during kindergarten show and tell.
I’ve worn many hats since that time. I was an educator, an accountant, a business owner, a Cub Scout leader and a garden coach. My husband and I raised our kids in the hot Mediterranean climate of California’s San Joaquin Valley, where we grew food and flowers throughout the year. I wrote gardening curriculum for elementary school classrooms, volunteered on community garden projects, and replaced 6,000 square feet of suburban lawn with drought resistant gardens.
We moved to Point Roberts in 2021. After decades of gardening in extreme heat, I was once again a beginner, starting from scratch. I had to adapt to the cool Pacific Northwest climate, a partially shaded lot, and a much shorter growing season. I had a lot to learn and enrolled in the WSU Whatcom County Master Gardener (WCMG) program around the time the border reopened. I received my Master Gardener certification in 2022 and served as the public education coordinator the following year.
Master Gardeners are trained volunteers who have completed a one to two year training and internship program through their local extension office covering a diverse set of topics, from the basics of gardening to integrated pest management, efficient watering systems, soil improvement, plant selection, climate change and more.
I do that in a variety of ways, including teaching classes here and on the mainland, volunteering with the Garden Buddies program in the Earthwise Gardens in Tsawwassen, volunteering at Seedy Saturday free seed exchanges and Ask A Master Gardener Tables at public events. I’m also available to answer gardening questions during Senior Lunch at the community center on Gulf Road, between noon and 1 p.m. on Wednesdays and Fridays.
To say I am smitten with gardening is a gross understatement. I’ve been gardening for more than 50 years.
Having said all that, let me assure you that anyone with the desire can grow a garden. You don’t need months or years of training, you learn as you go. You don’t need a huge yard or fancy raised beds or perfect soil, and you don’t need to spend a lot of money to get started. You simply need to start where you are, with what you have, and a bit of guidance if you want or need it.
I’ll be teaching several classes in the next few weeks, and you’re invited. I’ll be speaking at the Point Roberts Garden Club meeting at the community center on Tuesday February 27 at 7 p.m. The topic will be Getting Ready to Garden: Things to Do (And Not to Do) Right Now. This class is for all levels of experience and will help you ease into the gardening year in a gentle way.
On Saturday March 14, I’ll be presenting the first of several classes sponsored by the Point Roberts Seniors Association. Our topic will be Seed Starting 101: Proven Tips For Success. You’ll learn about indoor and outdoor seed starting methods including direct sowing versus starting in trays or pots, supplies needed, how to care for your seeds and get them ready to transplant, and when to start each type of seed. I’ll also share online resources for planning your garden and creating a seed starting schedule that works for you. Look for more information on this class after Valentine’s Day.
Have a great February, and I’ll see you in the garden.
Comments are closed.