Local Resources for Garden-Lovers This Spring
As March brings us into spring, gardens all over the North Sound are waking up from their winter slumbers. Nurseries that might have closed for the season are open again, and local destination gardens are coming into bloom. Read on for resources galore, from local businesses to the area’s Master Gardeners and their gorgeous Discovery Garden in Mount Vernon.
Master Gardeners: Community Members, Community Resources
Master Gardeners are volunteers who receive training to become experts on horticulture, usually through a university extension (part of a university dedicated to ongoing education for people not enrolled in that university’s scholarship programs.) It’s a point of pride that Washington State University founded the first Master Gardener program in 1973; the concept has now spread to all 50 states, some Canadian provinces, and even outside of North America. The programs exist to meet community demand for education about and assistance with urban horticulture, a need that boomed in the ‘60s and ’70s and has remained ever since.
Our local Master Gardeners are trained by and work with WSU Extension in Whatcom, Skagit, and the San Juans. Their mission is to “provide education and mentoring to home gardeners about sound and sustainable,” even “science-based,” gardening. Master Gardener programs are often supported by self-run, non-profit foundations like the Skagit County Master Gardener Foundation and the Master Gardener Foundation of Whatcom County. They host plant sales, educational programs, run plant clinics (particularly helpful to beginners who don’t know the difference between root-bound and overwatered), and sometimes put their skills to work in demonstration gardens, as seen in Mount Vernon’s beautiful Discovery Garden.
Discovery Garden
No exaggeration: the Skagit County WSU Extension Master Gardener Program Discovery Garden is a jewel in Skagit’s crown and a must-visit for its extensive beauty and abundant community resources. There’s no better place to take visiting relatives who enjoy gardening, or to let your little kids run around and delight in the sheer variety of plant life.
The Discovery Garden began in 1994 as plans for a demonstration garden, with smaller themed gardens designed by Master Gardeners within a larger area. From 1996-1998, planting and construction took place, and the original 13 garden “rooms” were created. At this time in 2024, there are 30 garden rooms over 1.5 acres, each with a unique theme that can teach folks about horticulture.
The Discovery Garden has free admission and is open daily from dawn to dusk, with Skagit County Master Gardeners working the garden every Tuesday. Anybody is welcome to go and amble the ADA-accessible paths. Garden themes range from the wide-appealing Easy Care Garden to specific interests like the Japanese Garden, the Succulent Garden, and the Rhododendron Garden. Some areas can be used for events, like the Pavillion, and some gardens are designed for families and kids, like the Children’s Garden and the DIG-IT! School Garden.
In addition to the Discovery Garden, the surrounding area is occupied by six acres of fruit trees (many in stunning examples of espalier) and berries thanks to the Western Washington Fruit Research Foundation orchard, and an additional half-acre of native plants in the Salal Native Plant Garden. Keep an eye out for the Discovery Garden Open House, a summer event where you can explore all eight acres and meet with Master Gardeners and other experts.
Photo Courtesy of Christianson’s Nursery
Other Resources
There’s no shortage of classes you can find to help you get started or keep going! Check out the Whatcom County Library System events page for low-pressure classes at your local library. Cloud Mountain Farm Center, WeGrow Garden (where you’ll learn from Whatcom County Master Gardeners), and many local plant businesses and nurseries also host workshops.
Shop and Grow
For the home pro…
Growsource
2200 Division St., Bellingham
360.318.8554
growsource.com
Growsource began back in 1996 with the goals of providing high-quality soil for local growers and turning unused landscaping by-products into soil enhancement. Nowadays they provide all sorts of substrate, starting with rich soil and compost and including barks, gravel, and rock to help with water conservation, weed control, and yard layout. Landscapers and gardeners alike can pick up or order delivery from Growsource to bring their big projects to fruition! They even have a convenient calculator on their website to help you ballpark how much product you’ll need for your landscape.
For the green thumb…
VW’s Home & Garden
8210 Portal Way, Blaine
360.366.3906
vwhomeandgarden.com
Stop in at this spacious family-owned and -operated store in Blaine to shop for a bit of everything—home goods, clothes, decorative garlands and houseplants, annuals, and perennials. Keep up with the seasons with their colorful hanging baskets of flowers in spring and summer, plentiful gourds in fall, and glorious poinsettias and wreaths in winter.
For the whole family…
Christianson’s Nursery & Greenhouse
15806 Best Rd., Mount Vernon
360.466.3821
christiansonsnursery.com
This well-known Skagit County locale is not just an expansive nursery with greenhouses and roses as far as the eye can see… It’s also a destination for community events! Classes and workshops here can teach you how to grow vegetables, craft with organic materials, forage, and much more. Keep an eye on their calendar for family-friendly fall festivals, visits from Father Christmas, and their annual Rosy Day Out, a celebration of the rose, coming up in June!
Photo Courtesy of Christianson’s Nursery
For the outdoors appreciator…
Whispers of Nature
220 Fisherman Bay Rd., Lopez Island
360.298.8665
whispersofnatureherbs.com
If you love plants and gardens but have no business attempting to keep them alive yourself, take some time out to visit Whispers of Nature on Lopez Island. This home farm and garden was founded in 2006 by Susie and Nick Teague. Their healing herb garden lines a seven-circuit labyrinth, which is usually open for walking either by yourself or guided by a facilitator by appointment. You can also take some of the garden home in the form of their healing herbal products!
Photo Courtesy of Kenna Johnston and Julia Cronyn
My Garden Nursery
929 E. Bakerview Rd., Bellingham
360.366.8406
mygardennursery.com
Garden Spot Nursery
900 Alabama St., Bellingham
360.676.5480
garden-spot.com
Kent’s Garden & Nursery
5428 Northwest Dr., Bellingham
360.384.4433
Kentsgardenandnursery.com
Vander Giessen Nursery
401 E. Grover St., Lynden
360.354.3097
vandergiessennursery.com
Plantas Nativa
315 E. Champion St., Bellingham
360.715.9655
plantasnativa.com
