Topic: Nature

What Birds Are These?

Written on February 14, 2019 at 1:28 pm, by

We received this photo from Ruth Offen, “Just saw this gathering of I think commerants or loons all floating together. First thought it was herring ball, but not. Have you or anybody else seen this sight before?” Click on the photo to enlarge the image and if you know these birds and what they are doing please  Continue Reading

Humming Bird in Snow

Written on February 13, 2019 at 5:36 am, by

Thanks to Richard W. Wright for this great photo (Taken Feb 12, 2019)… 

Roy Island and Dream Lake at Lakedale

Written on February 11, 2019 at 5:35 am, by

Thanks to John Miller for this drone shot at 300 ft elevation, of Roy Island and Dream Lake at Lakedale Sunday morning… click on photo to enlarge image.

Snow Covered Logs at Third Lagoon

Written on February 9, 2019 at 5:40 am, by

Thanks to Nancy DeVaux for this photo of snow yesterday at third lagoon… click on photo for larger image…

Snow in San Juan Valley

Written on February 9, 2019 at 5:35 am, by

Thanks to Colleen Bennett for this photo of yesterday’s snow… 

The Eagle and the Hawk

Written on February 7, 2019 at 5:30 am, by

Thanks to John Miller for this great photo… click to enlarge photo.

Dinner and Movie at Cynthia’s Bistro Celebrates Mushrooms

Written on February 5, 2019 at 5:30 am, by

Joining together once again Cynthia’s Bistro at 65 Nichols Street and Friday Harbor Film Festival… Please join us on Thursday, February 7 at 5:00 pm for an evening of an informative movie from the archives of Friday Harbor Film Festival and a creative dinner by Cynthia’s complimenting the film. As you learn about the magic  Continue Reading

Snow Geese Sunrise

Written on January 29, 2019 at 10:06 am, by

John Miller shares this photo he shot with a drone on Fir Island yesterday morning. Click to enlarge. Thanks for sharing John!

Master Gardeners Native Plant Sale

Written on January 21, 2019 at 9:17 am, by

  Interested in using native plants in your landscape? There are many wonderful reasons to use PNW natives: they are often long lived and don’t need maintenance, they provide year-round color and garden interest, they can be used to stabilize hillsides and prevent erosion, and some are drought and heat tolerant, helpful in a warming  Continue Reading

FHL Tide Bites

Written on December 4, 2018 at 5:46 am, by

A Unique Challenge: Marine Subtidal Ecology at UW Friday Harbor Labs by Pema Kitaeff & Alex Lowe Despite windy weather and choppy water just the day before, the morning of Friday June 22nd 2018 dawned gloriously sunny and calm: a gift of optimal conditions bestowed on the patient planners of field work. Few have been  Continue Reading

Images from Zion

Written on November 21, 2018 at 9:03 am, by

San Juan Island photographer Bob Stavers shares some photos from his recent trip to Utah… I recently spent a week in Zion National Park with a wonderful photographer and teacher, Matt Suess. Here are a few images I am working on from that very productive trip. I hope you enjoy them.  Just click  here:  https://www.flickr.com/photos/44888236@N00/albums/72157697726925890

Volunteer Day on Turtleback Mountain

Written on November 20, 2018 at 5:47 am, by

The SJC Land Bank invites you to to meet your new Orcas Stewardship Staff and throw in a little habitat restoration to boot. Join us in the oak restoration units to help plant plugs grown in the Salish Seeds Project nursery. We will depart promptly at 9:45 am from the South Trailhead parking area (Deer  Continue Reading

Know Your Island Walk – Goldenback Trail

Written on October 23, 2018 at 5:49 am, by

The Land Bank’s new Stewardship Coordinator, Erin Halcomb will lead us on the Goldenback Trail – a relatively new trail within the Land Bank’s Westside Preserve. In 2016, the property was generously gifted to the Land Bank by the Reiss family, and the half-mile trail was constructed shortly thereafter. The trail is moderately difficult, a  Continue Reading

Magical Ornamentals – Salvias, Roses and the Drama of Leaves

Written on October 16, 2018 at 5:48 am, by

  A panel of San Juan Island Master Gardener volunteers will share their ornamental obsessions and inspire you to join them in their love of salvias, roses, and plants with beautiful leaves at the Annual Gardening Workshop, this Saturday, October 20th. Ornamental garden plants aren’t ‘idle lovelies’ – they create pollinator habitats and bird joy,  Continue Reading

Soil need some help? Landscape a little bare?

Written on October 11, 2018 at 5:48 am, by

  The San Juan County Master Gardeners are pleased to welcome Craig Cogger, WSU Soil Scientist Emeritus, and Everett Chu, Owner of Azusa Farm and Gardens LLC, Certified Professional Horticulturist and Landscape Designer, to the Annual Gardening Workshop. Dr. Cogger will discuss “Assessing and Amending Your Garden Soil,” with guidelines for testing, fertilization and organic  Continue Reading

Apply now to become a WSU Master Gardener!

Written on October 10, 2018 at 5:49 am, by

Love to problem solve? Interested in gardening? Looking for a fun way to get involved? Applications are now being accepted for the 2019 San Juan County WSU Master Gardener Training Program. Volunteer trainees receive over 60 hours of training, both in the classroom and online. The training is taught by local and regional experts and  Continue Reading

KYI: Know Your Island Walks…

Written on October 9, 2018 at 5:50 am, by

by Theresa Simendinger… KYI Walks are Great Events to Find New Areas and Trails on San Juan Island On September 22 seven brave folks, in spite of morning-long rains, met at Horsetrail Road for a tour of the Mitchell Hill area …led by a horse! The mare above is Zanzibar, a Tennessee Walker who did  Continue Reading

Noted Authors to Attend Master Gardeners Annual Gardening Workshop

Written on October 4, 2018 at 6:15 am, by

From the Master Gardeners… Did you know that most plant problems are not the result of disease or insects? But differentiating between a disease, a pest, or a disorder to correctly treat the problem can be a real challenge. Last year’s popular keynote speaker, Dr. Linda Gilkeson, returns to the Master Gardeners Annual Gardening Workshop  Continue Reading

An Open House at Lake Zylstra Preserve

Written on October 1, 2018 at 6:15 am, by

Thanks to Nancy DeVaux for sharing her visit to the Land Bank’s Lake Zylstra Preserve… (click on the photos for a larger image). “As the rain let up Sunday afternoon a steady flow of islanders showed up at the Open House to get an early look at Zylstra Lake, a new 60-acre acquisition by the  Continue Reading

Annual Gardening Workshop: Operating Instructions for a Garden That Fits YOU

Written on September 26, 2018 at 6:30 am, by

Would you like your garden to be a remarkable reflection of who you are and what you care about? To be a landscape that supports wildlife and creative exploration? Join keynote speaker Lorene Forkner Edwards and the San Juan County Master Gardeners at their popular Annual Gardening Workshop for inspiration and truly workable ideas to  Continue Reading

San Juan County WSU Extension Offering Two Fall Workshops

Written on September 26, 2018 at 6:23 am, by

Cover Cropping Workshop Get ahead of spring weeds now with a fall cover crop! Attend a free WSU San Juan County Extension workshop on how to use cover cropping to control weeds and build soil this winter.  Chris Benedict, WSU Extension will present a hands on workshop at Morningstar Farm. Topics will include pros and  Continue Reading

Volunteer Event – Trail Construction at Mount Grant Preserve

Written on September 25, 2018 at 6:45 am, by

We’re ready to launch Mount Grant trail construction and welcome any trail blazers interested in helping! Starting October 6th, we’ll meet Saturdays (10/6, 10/13, 10/20)  and Wednesdays (10/10, 10/17, 10/24) working from 10am to 2pm. Trail construction will involve brushing, limbing, and transplating vegetation; moving rocks, timbers, and brush piles; and grubbing/grading trail surfaces.    We’ll meet  Continue Reading