Submitted by the Master Gardener Program.

San Juan County residents looking for information about home horticulture have a significant resource in the Washington State University Master Gardener program. Master Gardeners are university-trained volunteers who provide unbiased research-based horticulture advice to help people find answers to their gardening questions.

Starting each spring, Master Gardeners provide Ask A Master Gardener events at venues throughout the county, making themselves available for gardening-related questions.

Ask a Master Gardener events are held on Lopez, Orcas, San Juan and Shaw islands.

Orcas/Shaw Island: Orcas Island library, Wednesdays, April 16, noon to 2 p.m., May 14 and 31, 10 a.m. to noon, and April 26, noon to 3 p.m., at the Orcas Earth Day event. More Orcas/Shaw dates are coming.

San Juan Island: SJI Farmers Market at Brickworks, Saturdays, April 5 through Sept. 6, 9:30-11 a.m.

Lopez Island: Sunset Builders Supply, Saturdays, May 17- June 28, 1-3 p.m.

If you have a specific plant problem or want a plant or insect identified, Master Gardeners hold diagnostic clinics to analyze problems that are submitted to the program. To submit your plant or insect for diagnosis, follow these steps:

• Put your problem plant in a sealed plastic bag or your insect in a container. Keep it cool.

• Fill out and attach a plant problem or plant/insect identification form. These forms can be found at Ask A Master Gardener events, the WSU Extension office or on the website https://extension.wsu.edu/sanjuan/master-gardeners/.

(Please note, samples can not be analyzed without this form.)

Bring your sample to the next Ask A Master Gardener event or drop it off at the WSU Extension office located at 221 Weber Way, lower level in Friday Harbor. If the office is closed, leave outside the door in the labeled cooler.

Samples are analyzed twice a month by Master Gardeners. Findings and recommendations are emailed to you.

For more information and to find the date of the next Ask A Master Gardener event near you, visit our website https://extension.wsu.edu/sanjuan/master-gardeners/ or email ​askamastergardenersjc@gmail.com