In March, they helped us get our disaster preparedness kits ready to go.

And now, we’re all invited to come join them in a celebration of trees.

What’s up with the Grange?

Find out Friday, as the San Juan Island Grange joins forces with WSU’s Master Gardeners to celebrate Arbor Day, in tandem with the Grange’s “Open House”.

Oh yeah, the month of April is also Grange month.

The Arbor Day event gets under way at 2:30 p.m. at the Grange Hall, and will run to 5:30 p.m. Master gardeners and various other experts will be on hand to answer questions on a wide range of topics, such as composting, tree care, native plants, milk goats and poultry, and, naturally, the importance of trees in our lives.

Just as April is the time that trees spring into action and put on new growth, the Grange is throwing open its doors and inviting islanders to check out the work it’s doing in serving San Juan Island and the community.

Refreshments? They’re provided.

The Grange’s Arbor Day celebration and Open House is its second “public outreach” program, following on the heels of last month’s well-attended disaster-preparedness forum, in which the Grange teamed up with the local Department of Emergency Management to provide information, advice and steps islanders can take to be ready to help themselves and their neighbors survive a natural disaster.

For more info about the Grange, visit its blog at, http://sjigrange.wordpress.com/

— Scott Rasmussen