On July 20, the Legislature adjourned its third special session without passing a Capital Budget, putting funding for new WWRP projects on hold until further notice. Although the House announced an budget agreement with the Senate on June 30, Senate Republicans were unwilling to vote on the budget until their demands on the Hirst water rights decision are met.

Curious about mushrooms in your yard and the forests in western Washington? Learn which of the common mushrooms are edible, which ones to avoid, and how fungi interact with your trees and plants on Wednesday, October 18, 7 p.m. at the Island County Multipurpose Center (Blue Building), 141 N East Camano Drive. Speaker Scott Chase, Island County Shore Stewards coordinator, will include photos and interesting information about how mushrooms have been part of our culture and mythology for hundreds of years. The Camano Wildlife Habitat Project, sponsored by Friends of Camano Island Parks, hosts public presentations the third Wednesday of the month. For information, call 360-387-2236, visit www.camanowildlifehabitat.org, or email camanowildlifehabitat@gmail.com.

 The annual WSU Waste Wise plastic plant pot exchange will be held on Saturday, September 23rd, from 10 am - noon at the Camano County Annex parking lot, south of the Health Clinic and tennis courts.    Recycle your plastic plant pots, or pick up ones you can use at home to start next spring's seedlings!  No charge; all is free. Home gardeners, organizations and volunteer groups are highly encouraged to come and get what they need.  If your group is having a plant sale next spring, this is a great time to get your free pots. Pots come in all sizes, and what is left over will be recycled. If you are bringing pots, they should be 4" or larger, without any dirt, tags or wire.  (You don't need to wash them; just knock the dirt out, please. )  No flimsy thin plastic "starter packs" or trays, please. WSU Waste Wise volunteers will be on hand to assist you. If you have any questions, contact Scott Chase at (360) 387-3443, ext 258, or email schase@wsu.edu

We have lots of shrubs and trees, great for planting in the fall while they are dormant or nearly so. They will be ready to put on new roots early in the spring. We even have some perennial flowers, like the Helenium autumnale in the photo. I will have a full list available in mid-September.

If you have any questions, please let me know. The sales are cash or check only, no credit cards taken. Sale takes place rain or shine (it will be late October after all!). Please share this email with others. Proceeds from the sale help Washington Native Plant Society with funding education and research.

Brenda Cunningham

nativegarden@fidalgo.net

The Salal Native Plant Garden is located immediately south of the Master Gardener Display Garden at the WSU NW Research Center on Memorial Highway (16650 SR 536), west of Mount Vernon. Built by volunteers from the Salal Chapter of the WA Native Plant Society, the garden is a terrific resource for homeowners who want to learn how to incorporate more native plants into their landscaping.

Learn the roles pollinators play in the home garden; how to attract beneficial insects like bees, ladybugs, and other pollinators, and when and how to use pollinator-friendly gardening practices Wednesday, September 20, 7 p.m. at the Island County Multipurpose Center (Blue Building), 141 N East Camano Drive. Holli Watne, volunteer with the Skagit Conservation District and an amateur entomologist, has been developing and giving insect classes since 2011.  She has a Masters in Environmental Education from the North Cascades Institute. The Camano Wildlife Habitat Project, sponsored by Friends of Camano Island Parks, hosts public presentations the third Wednesday of the month. For information, call 360-387-2236, visit www.camanowildlifehabitat.org, or email camanowildlifehabitat@gmail.com.

With popcorn in hand, watch and wonder as the creatures of the wild forage for food, raise young, maintain their plumage, battle for territory and much more on Wednesday, August 16, 7 p.m., at the Camano Multipurpose Center (blue building), 141 N East Camano Drive. Puget Sound area watercolor artist and photographer, Craig Johnson with his wife and writer Joy Johnson, have created a remarkable DVD that beautifully illustrates what can happen when native habitat is allowed to flourish, even in as small a space as a suburban backyard.  The Johnsons show the delights possible by recording the birds and other creatures that visit their backyard.  Using Craig’s animations, graphics, and photographs, the Johnsons offer some simple suggestions to increase the variety of birds visiting your yard. It’s also helpful for identifying birds in Pacific Northwest yards. The Camano Wildlife Habitat Project, sponsored by Friends of Camano Island Parks, hosts public presentations the third Wednesday of the month. For information, call 360-387-2236, visit www.camanowildlifehabitat.org, or email camanowildlifehabitat@gmail.com.